Pips Meadery
Pips Meadery is a family business from Gurnee, Illinois, that makes mead. Owner Matt Preis switched from brewing beer to making mead in 2012. Pips plays most often in the dessert category, with intense flavors and unexpected combinations, and sometimes deliberately goes beyond balance.
- LocationGurnee, IL
- Founded2012
- TypeMeadery
- Untappd 4.6 · 100k ratings
- At Hoptimaal0 in stock · 4 in total
In stock now 0
Right now we have nothing from Pips Meadery in stock. Below you can see what we had before; new beers from Pips Meadery show up here automatically.
Previously at Hoptimaal 4
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
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From beer to mead in Gurnee
Pips got its start in 2012, when owner Matt Preis switched from brewing beer to making mead, fermented honey. The meadery is on Tri-State Parkway in Gurnee, Illinois.
The name has several layers. Pips refers to the seeds in fruit and to counting symbols such as the figures on playing cards and the dots on a die. It is also a nod to son Parker, who was born with a disability. As a family business, Pips wants to always remain a home for him.
Dessert mead with intense flavors
According to its own site, it started with an obsession to taste every beer and every mead. From that grew the wish to make its own interpretation of mead. Pips plays most often in the dessert category and sometimes stretches beyond balance to bring out intense flavors and unusual combinations.
The philosophy is down to earth: they make what they like to drink themselves, work on continuous improvement and listen to customer feedback. The site names mead as the starting point, but the range extends to everything around wine.
Pips Meadery at Hoptimaal
We have had four meads from Pips Meadery, all from the Amalgamation 2026 series: Heart, Spade, Club and Diamond. They come in 33 cl and are 14% alcohol. They are rated highly on Untappd. They are not in stock at the moment, so check the brewery page for what is available now.
At 14%, you serve this as a dessert drink and not as a thirst quencher. Drink the mead cool but not ice cold, so the flavors can open up, and use a small glass. A 33 cl bottle is also easy to share, especially if you want to take it slow.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Pips Meadery come from?
Pips Meadery is in Gurnee, Illinois, in America. According to one source, it started in 2012, when owner Matt Preis switched from brewing beer to mead.
What kind of beer does Pips Meadery make?
Pips doesn't make beer but mead, fermented honey. They play most often in the dessert category, with intense flavors and experimental combinations. At Hoptimaal you will find the Amalgamation 2026 series at 14%.
Where does the name Pips come from?
Pips refers to the seeds in fruit and to counting symbols such as the figures on playing cards or the dots on a die. It is also a nod to Parker, the founders' son.
