A mead-making business called Four Brothers Mead is slated to open at 124B E. Main St. in Festus over the next couple of months.
“We have a place on Main Street where we’ll start production once remodeling is done by the building owner,” said Dan Luck, 36, of Festus, one of the four owners.
Only two of the owners are actually brothers, but all four share a connection. Each one is currently serving or has served in the U.S. military.
In addition to Luck, the owners are his brother, Joe Luck, 34, of Festus, their brother-in-law, Chris Schulte, 34, of Wentzville and their friend, Bryan Becker, 31, of Fenton. Schulte is married to the Lucks’ sister, Eva.
Dan Luck said the four were looking to go into business together and decided on mead, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water.
“My wife and I got married in Hermann. We tried mead at a local shop. It was great,” Joe Luck said. “Bryan and I searched around seeking something to open. We decided to make it.”
Dan Luck said mead is not commonly sold in the area.
“There really is not a lot of mead to find in the Midwest,” he said. “I would describe it as a honey wine. Instead of fermenting grapes like a traditional wine, it’s fermented honey. It’s less acidic than wine.”
“I feel it has a smoother taste than wine,” Joe Luck added.
The men said they will make their mead in Festus, but they will not sell it on the premises.
“We will not have a retail element on site to sell to the public,” Dan Luck said. “You will be able to buy our (product) through our website, which will be available soon.”
In addition, the owners hope to get local stores and restaurants to sell their mead, Dan Luck said.
He said the business could offer on-site sales at some time in the future.
“We don’t have the space right now to accommodate a retail element,” Dan Luck said. “Once we are successful, we think we’ll explore on-site sales.”
Four Brothers Mead will be distributed in 750-milliliter bottles in a variety of flavors.
“We have five different flavors: a traditional, an orange peel, a maple, a cinnamon fall spice, and a coffee,” Dan Luck said. “The coffee we use is from another Missouri veteran-owned company, Got Your Six Coffee.
“We’re all veterans. I am Air Force. The other three are Army. Two are still in the Army – Bryan and Chris. A portion of our profits will go to support veteran causes, particularly preventing veteran suicide.”
The men said they are looking forward to starting their mead-making operation.
“I’m just excited to be able to offer our mead in the Midwest and I look forward to supporting veterans’ charities through our sales,” Dan Luck said.
For more information, visit the Four Brothers Mead page on Facebook or its Instagram account or email the business at contact@fourbrothersmead.com.