Mead lovers camp outside Bushwakkers for another year

For those who waited hours outside Bushwakker Brewpub in Regina, it was no longer just about a case of limited edition blackberry mead.

Brian Mercer camped overnight in a fishing shack. When the doors finally opened at 11 a.m. on Saturday, he and his friend, Marshall Dixon, had been waiting for about 22 hours to be first in line.

It’s just something they do now.

“For a lot of people now, it’s more of a tradition. They get together, a lot of people who sit in this line know each other,” Mercer said.

Mead is a fermented drink made from honey, water and yeast — in this case, 400 pounds of Lumsden Valley honey and 84 pounds of blackberries in each 800-litre tank.

The beverage is sold once a year and limited quantities are available for customers.

“It’s like a sweet berry taste with a little bit of beer flavour. It’s a nice carbonated drink that you really enjoy,” Mercer said.