A Medieval Meadmaker in our Midst

By Nico Charron-Groulx

Photo by Nico Charron-Groulx

Most days, Kelly O’Sullivan is getting ready to take Museum Studies at Grant MacEwan university, but in his spare time he becomes Ulrich Von Kues, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) specializing in historical alcohol. Ulrich joined the SCA as a fencer in the East Kingdom, participating more regularly after moving to Caldrithig. During the pandemic, Ulrich took up a new hobby: alcohol. Researching medieval alcohols around the world, he began brewing mead, which is “an easy one,” according to him. Ulrich paints a lively picture of his home brewing, with a “closet of fermentation” and bottles stashed in bins.

Ulrich usually makes batches of about 8 bottles but can reach 12 at most, using multiple 4-5 gallon fermentators. To pursue this interest, he became apprenticed to the Laurel Arwyn of Leicester, who guides his research projects. Indeed, Ulrich has written several research papers for the SCA and defended them in A&S competitions. He is currently writing a paper on gender roles in Norse mead hall traditions, as well as making his first foray away from mead by brewing apple raspberry cider. Next, he intends to research Asian alcohols, establish a library of favorite recipes, and make a second attempt at pineapple mead. He explained that this flavoring comes from adding fresh fruit to the fermentators, with results like the pink raspberry mead he once offered to Kayla to celebrate her second victory at Crown.

Ulrich has always had an interest in reenacting, but says he stayed with the SCA for its community. He finds events to be particularly valuable - and fun- experiences. Since brewing isn’t transportable, he spends more event time fencing, but focuses on the casual, social aspect. He explained that the SCA brought him solid friendships and chosen family, saying that “fencing is fun, brewing is fun ... but realistically it’s been the people that have kept me playing.”