Dansk Mjod Odin's Skull 750ML

Dansk Mjød Odin's Skull 750ML is a robust Danish mead brewed with honey, cinnamon, apples, and hops, bottled at a potent 19% ABV. At nearly twice the strength of most wines, it stands among the most powerful commercially available meads in the world — a distinction that has earned it a dedicated following among mead enthusiasts, reflected in an Untappd rating of 4.2 across nearly 3,000 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 19% (38 Proof)  |  Origin: Billund, Denmark  |  Style: Hopped Spiced Mead  |  Producer: Dansk Mjød A/S

Production & Heritage

Dansk Mjød A/S operates out of Billund, Denmark, and has built a reputation as one of the most recognized commercial mead producers in Europe. Odin's Skull is fermented from a base of honey with malted barley and ale yeast — a process closer to braggot-style brewing than traditional still mead production. What sets it apart from typical meads is the deliberate addition of hops, which introduces a dry, bitter counterpoint to the honey sweetness, along with cinnamon and apples that layer warmth and fruit into the fermentation. The result is a 19% ABV mead with structural complexity rarely found in the category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense honey dominates the nose, quickly joined by warm cinnamon bark and baked apple. Beneath those top notes, subtle hints of toasted grain and floral hops emerge as the mead opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and honey-forward, thick with toffee and dried fruit sweetness that coats the palate. Mid-palate, cinnamon and ginger spice build a genuine warming sensation, while the hops arrive late to pull the sweetness back toward balance. Toasted nut and malt undertones add depth through the peak.

Finish: Long and warming, the honey sweetness lingers before giving way to a drier, slightly tannic character. Baking spices and a faint trace of citrus peel emerge in the aftertaste, leaving a satisfying bitter-sweet close.

How to Drink Odin's Skull

Serve Odin's Skull slightly below room temperature — around 55–60°F — in a tulip glass or wine goblet to concentrate its layered aromas. Its high ABV and residual sweetness also make it surprisingly versatile in mixed drinks. A Mead Mule (substituting mead for vodka with ginger beer and lime) plays off the existing ginger and spice notes. A Hot Toddy variation using Odin's Skull in place of whiskey amplifies the honey and cinnamon warmth during colder months. A Mead Sour with fresh lemon juice and a touch of egg white lets the hops and citrus peel character shine through in a frothy, balanced serve.

Best For

• Gifting a mead enthusiast or craft beverage collector looking for something beyond standard honey wine
• Pairing with a holiday or winter dinner spread featuring rich, spiced dishes
• Adding a conversation piece to a tasting flight of meads or fortified wines
• Norse mythology fans and history buffs drawn to Viking-era drinking traditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Odin's Skull taste like? Odin's Skull delivers intense honey sweetness layered with cinnamon, toffee, dried fruit, and toasted nuts, balanced by a distinctive hop bitterness that keeps the finish from becoming cloying. A warming spice character runs throughout, with ginger and baking spice notes building as you sip.

How does Odin's Skull compare to Dansk Mjod Viking Blod? Both are produced by Dansk Mjød at 19% ABV, but Viking Blod uses hibiscus and hops for a tart, floral-forward profile, while Odin's Skull leans into cinnamon, apples, and a more dessert-spice character. Odin's Skull is generally sweeter and spicier, whereas Viking Blod is drier and more acidic.

Is Odin's Skull good for sipping neat? Yes — its 19% ABV is strong for a mead but manageable for neat sipping, especially when served slightly chilled. The complex spice and honey layers reward slow, deliberate tasting.

Where is Odin's Skull made? Odin's Skull is produced by Dansk Mjød A/S in Billund, Denmark. Billund is located in the Jutland peninsula region of Denmark.

What foods pair well with Odin's Skull? Strong blue cheeses like Danish Blue or Roquefort complement the honey sweetness with sharp, salty contrast. Roasted pork with apple glaze mirrors the mead's apple and cinnamon notes. Gingerbread or spiced cake echoes the baking spice profile. Smoked salmon or gravlax pairs well with the hop bitterness. Dark chocolate truffles match the toffee richness without overwhelming the palate.

What sizes does Odin's Skull come in? Odin's Skull is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Odin's Skull worth the price? Odin's Skull positions as a premium specialty mead, priced above mass-market honey wines but justified by its 19% ABV, complex spiced profile, and the scarcity of comparable high-strength meads in the market. For mead drinkers seeking something with real depth and structure, it represents solid value within the craft mead category.

Why Odin's Skull?

In a mead market crowded with simple, one-note honey wines, Odin's Skull distinguishes itself through the uncommon use of hops — a technique that bridges the gap between mead and braggot-style brewing, adding structural bitterness that most meads lack entirely. Its 19% ABV places it among the strongest commercially available meads, yet the cinnamon, apple, and hop balance prevents the alcohol from dominating. With nearly 3,000 ratings on Untappd averaging 4.2 out of 5, it has proven its appeal well beyond the niche Viking-novelty crowd. For anyone serious about exploring what mead can be when it pushes past tradition, Odin's Skull is one of the most compelling bottles in the category.