Wild Blossom Boysen Da Hood 375ML

Wild Blossom Boysen Da Hood 375ML is a 16% ABV boysenberry melomel — a honey-and-fruit wine — produced in Chicago, Illinois in a 375ml bottle. This expression comes from Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery, the first winery in Chicago and the first meadery in the state of Illinois, a producer distinguished by raising its own bees and collecting its own honey on-site.

Quick Facts: ABV: 16%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Melomel (Boysenberry Mead)  |  Producer: Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery

Production & Heritage

Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery operates out of 9030 S. Hermitage Ave on Chicago's South Side, where it holds the distinction of being the city's first winery and Illinois's first meadery. The Boysen Da Hood melomel is produced using honey harvested from bees raised directly by the meadery, combined with boysenberry fruit to create a fruit-forward honey wine. The environmental footprint of their operation is notable: each bottle produced correlates to approximately two million flowers pollinated by their bees, generating an estimated 20 to 40 million seeds for new plant growth.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Expect ripe boysenberry and raw honey on the nose, followed by subtle floral undertones. The fruit character is prominent, with a gentle sweetness carried by the honey base.

Taste: The entry brings bright boysenberry tartness that meets honeyed sweetness at mid-palate. The 16% ABV provides moderate warmth and body, while the berry and honey interplay creates a balanced, fruit-driven profile typical of well-made melomels.

Finish: The finish carries lingering berry notes with residual honey sweetness. A mild tannic quality from the fruit adds structure and prevents the close from feeling overly sugary.

How to Drink Boysen Da Hood

Serve lightly chilled, around 50–55°F, to let the boysenberry aromatics open up without muting the honey backbone. A Mead Spritz — Boysen Da Hood topped with sparkling water and a lemon twist — makes a refreshing warm-weather drink. A Berry Mead Sangria works well by combining the melomel with fresh seasonal berries and a splash of brandy. For a simple dessert cocktail, try a Boysenberry Mead Float poured over vanilla ice cream, where the tartness of the berry cuts through the cream.

Best For

• Introducing curious wine or beer drinkers to the world of mead
• A distinctive hostess gift for dinner parties
• Pairing with a cheese and charcuterie course
• Supporting a small-batch, environmentally conscious Chicago producer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Boysen Da Hood taste like? Boysen Da Hood delivers a fruit-forward profile where ripe boysenberry meets natural honey sweetness, balanced by moderate body and gentle tartness from the fruit.

How does Boysen Da Hood compare to Schramm's Madeline Boysenberry Mead? Both are boysenberry-based meads, but Schramm's Madeline is a Michigan-produced mead from a dedicated mead house known for higher-ABV dessert-style expressions, while Boysen Da Hood sits at a more moderate 16% ABV and emphasizes the use of house-raised bee honey from an urban Chicago meadery.

Is Boysen Da Hood good for mead beginners? Yes — its accessible 16% ABV, familiar berry fruit character, and smaller 375ml bottle size make it a low-commitment way to explore melomel-style meads.

Where is Boysen Da Hood made? Boysen Da Hood is produced by Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery at 9030 S. Hermitage Ave in Chicago, Illinois — the first winery in Chicago and the first meadery in the state.

What foods pair well with Boysen Da Hood? Soft-ripened cheeses like brie, where the berry tartness cuts through the richness; dark chocolate truffles, which echo the fruit's depth; roasted duck with a berry reduction for a savory match; mixed green salads with goat cheese and berry vinaigrette; and vanilla bean panna cotta as a complementary dessert pairing.

What sizes does Boysen Da Hood come in? This expression is available in a 375ml bottle, a half-standard format well suited for individual enjoyment or sampling.

Is Boysen Da Hood worth the price? Boysen Da Hood positions as a craft-tier melomel from a pioneering small-batch producer; the 375ml format keeps the commitment modest while offering a genuinely unique product from one of very few urban meaderies in the United States.

Why Boysen Da Hood?

Wild Blossom's status as Chicago's first winery and Illinois's first meadery is not marketing embellishment — it is a verifiable historical fact that gives this producer genuine pioneer credibility in the American mead landscape. The use of honey from bees raised on-site, rather than commercially sourced honey, connects the final product directly to a specific terroir and apiary in a way few competitors can claim. The environmental dimension — approximately two million flowers pollinated per bottle produced — adds tangible ecological value beyond the liquid itself. For anyone seeking a distinctly Chicago-made, fruit-driven mead with an authentic small-production story, Boysen Da Hood is a compelling and uncommon find.