COLUMBUS — Bearded Viking Mead Company opened the doors to its brick and mortar location in Columbus, Montana, on May 3 of this year.
“You just run out of things to do when you’re bored," said J.T. Robertson, owner and founder of the meadery, "I had three beehives and had harvested 100 pounds of honey … Life is about doing, so don’t talk about it – just go do it.”
Mead is a honey, water, and yeast-based alcoholic drink thought to have origins as far back as 20,000 years ago, which took Robertson two weeks to learn to make through YouTube.
“I also learned how to drink in the Marine Corps," noted Robertson, who served for 14 years in the armed forces.
He enlisted on September 12, 2001, following the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
“I had a nine month old daughter, and I had never been in a fight before," said Robertson, "I enlisted to protect her. I chose the Marine Corps because they were the fastest ones to teach me how to fight."
Veterans make up 85% of the Bearded Viking Mead Company staff.
“If you tell them to do something, they’re gonna go do it. I don’t have to babysit – or, I don’t have to micromanage, I guess, is the proper term," said Robertson.
The greatest reward, according to Robertson, is seeing his product, made with Montana-based materials, being enjoyed by Montanans.
“I go to Billings, or I go to Bozeman, or I go to Livingston, and I see people drinking the mead and they don’t even know who I am and I’m just watching them enjoy it," said Robertson.
At the time of publishing, the meadery is open for its winter hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 - 10:00 p.m. The company is located at 4595 MT-78 in Columbus.
