{"title":"Pips Meadery","description":"\u003cp\u003ePips 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!--verhaal--\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrom beer to mead in Gurnee\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePips 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDessert mead with intense flavors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePips Meadery at Hoptimaal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!--faq--\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere does Pips Meadery come from?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePips 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat kind of beer does Pips Meadery make?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePips 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%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere does the name Pips come from?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePips 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pips-meadery-amalgamation-2026-diamond","title":"Pips Meadery Amalgamation 2026 (Diamond)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmalgamation 2026 (Diamond) is the latest release in Pips Meadery's well-known Amalgamation series, a mead clocking in at a hefty 14% ABV.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs part of the Amalgamation line, expect an intense, barrel-aged sour mead, though specific flavor notes for this particular edition haven't been disclosed by the brewery. At 14% ABV, this is one to sip slowly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBrewery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePips Meadery is a small, family-run meadery from the Chicago area known for experimental, dessert-leaning meads and top rankings on Untappd.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pips Meadery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58917183914329,"sku":null,"price":47.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/IMG_0353_processed.png?v=1787236046"},{"product_id":"pips-meadery-amalgamation-2026-club","title":"Pips Meadery Amalgamation 2026 (Club)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmalgamation 2026 (Club) is the latest release in Pips Meadery's much-talked-about Amalgamation series, arriving from the US at a hefty 14% ABV.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpect a dense, syrupy body and a warming finish typical of a mead at this strength, carried by the sweetness of fermented honey.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBrewery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePips Meadery, based in the Chicago area, grew out of a personal passion for beer and mead into a family-run operation known for experimental, often dessert-inspired recipes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pips Meadery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58917184012633,"sku":null,"price":47.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/IMG_0352_processed.png?v=1787236045"},{"product_id":"pips-meadery-amalgamation-2026-heart","title":"Pips Meadery Amalgamation 2026 (Heart)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2026 release of Pips Meadery's Amalgamation series, subtitled \"Heart,\" brings another high-strength mead to Europe. At 14% ABV, this is a bottle that demands attention through sheer power.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a mead, this drink is built on fermented honey, giving it a fuller, sweeter foundation than a typical beer. Expect a warming mouthfeel and a long, intense finish driven by the high alcohol content.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBrewery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePips Meadery is an independent meadery from the Chicago area, known for experimental, often dessert-inspired meads, with the annual Amalgamation series ranking among its most sought-after releases.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pips Meadery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58917184110937,"sku":null,"price":47.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/IMG_0351_processed.png?v=1787236045"},{"product_id":"pips-meadery-amalgamation-2026-spade","title":"Pips Meadery Amalgamation 2026 (Spade)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmalgamation is the annual barrel-aged sour mead line from Pips Meadery, and the 2026 edition carries the name Spade. At 14% ABV, this is a bold, concentrated mead from the dessert-leaning side of this American meadery's portfolio.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpecific tasting notes for this vintage haven't been published by the brewery, but the Amalgamation line is known as Pips' barrel-aged sour mead series. Expect a concentrated, warming character in line with the 14% ABV.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBrewery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePips Meadery is a small, independent meadery from the Chicago area, focused entirely on handcrafted mead with experimental, often dessert-inspired flavor combinations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pips Meadery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58917184209241,"sku":null,"price":47.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/IMG_0354_processed.png?v=1787236045"}],"url":"https:\/\/hoptimaal.com\/en\/collections\/pips-meadery.oembed","provider":"Hoptimaal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}