Here's a link to a fun little article about the resurgence of mead. I believe I got the link from chalkhorse. I have several friends who make mead, in many different variations, and I find I like my mead more dry than do most folks. Fortunately, so does Lakshmi, who makes lots and lots of it. *g*

Speaking of mead, I watched Beowulf last night, and it wasn't to my taste. I think it was made for people who play video games and read graphic novels, neither of which I do. Also, the obvious 3-D tricks were quite annoying, even without the 3-D. Giant spear point, much? And the bits-hiding maneuvers were much better in The Simpsons Movie. Sheesh. If I were a twelve-year-old boy, I probably would have loved it. Alas, as I am not, I did not care for it at all. Sorry, Neil.