SAP HOUSE MEADERY
6 Folsom Rd, Center Ossipee, NH
Sap House Meadery is a local meadery in Center Ossipee, producing mead - one of the oldest alcoholic beverages, made by fermenting honey.
The business was founded by cousins Ash Fischbein and Matt Trahan, both of whom grew up in Ossipee.
Long before opening their own establishment, they experimented with making beer, cider, and mead at home.
They began making mead together around 1999, gradually developing their own approach to this traditional drink.
After a family Christmas dinner in 2009, they seriously began considering turning their longtime hobby into a real business.
They wanted to create something new in their hometown, contribute to the development of Center Ossipee, and attract more visitors to the area.
For the founders, it was important to open Sap House in Ossipee, the community where they had grown up.
A Strong Connection to Ossipee
Over time, the meadery became one of the local businesses contributing to both the economic and tourism appeal of Ossipee.
A Modern Approach to Mead
One of Sap House’s main goals is to change the perception of mead as an old-fashioned drink that is always overly sweet, heavy, and strong.
Here, mead can be dry or sweet, still or sparkling, traditional or experimental, showing how diverse this historic beverage can be.
Mead is sometimes described as honey wine, although technically it belongs to its own category of alcoholic beverages.
Because honey rather than barley is the primary fermentable sugar source, Sap House mead is also gluten-free.
A Taste of New Hampshire
Their Sugar Maple Mead is described as “The mead that started it all,” combining honey with the distinctive character of maple syrup.
The company also places a strong emphasis on local ingredients, using elements such as berries, herbs, vanilla, and maple syrup in different recipes.
Their range goes far beyond traditional sweet mead and includes signature and experimental meads, barrel-aged varieties, honey seltzers, and richer dessert-style options.
The Tasting Room
The tasting room in Ossipee is more than just a shop or bar. Visitors can enjoy tasting flights, seasonal and limited releases, mead cocktails, and small plates.
The staff also introduces guests to different mead styles and food pairings, making the visit as much about discovering the product as simply tasting it.
Despite the brand’s growth, Ossipee remains its production center, keeping Sap House closely connected to the town where its founders grew up and first began experimenting with mead.
My Role as a Photographer
My task was to capture the exterior, interior, and overall atmosphere of Sap House Meadery in a way that would help visitors to the Explore Ossipee website notice the location and want to add it to their itinerary. During the shoot, I personally enjoyed the interior, the details of the space, and the tasting experience, so I can confidently recommend Sap House Meadery as one of the places truly worth visiting in Ossipee.