2-3-26 We’re doing a pre-recorded episode today!
We are talking with Krzysztof Jarek and Mateusz “maTEJ” Błaszczyk, meadmakers and founders of the Mead Madness Cup and the European Mead Makers Association.
Kings of Mead represent the powerhouse duo of Krzysztof Jarek and Mateusz “maTEJ” Błaszczyk, two recognizable mead authorities in Europe. Hailing from Poland—the global heart of mead tradition—both have been crafting mead for over 15 years, blending deep-rooted heritage with modern innovation.
As cornerstones of the global mead community, they launched their YouTube channel over 8 years ago, becoming pioneers in digital mead education and inspiring a generation of makers worldwide. As Master MJP (Mead Judging Programme) judges, they have trained the vast majority of European mead judges, conducting certification courses across the UK, South Korea, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Norway, Italy, and Mexico.
Their leadership is fundamental to the industry:
- Mateusz “maTEJ” Błaszczyk is the visionary initiator of both the European Mead Makers Conference (EMMcon) and the Mead Madness Cup. He is also a published author of books on mead making.
- Krzysztof Jarek has served as the Director of the Mead Madness Cup since 2019, overseeing its growth into one of largest and most prestigious competitions.
In a landmark move for the industry, Kings of Mead are coming to the USA this year to conduct the first-ever MJP (Mead Judge Programme) training in the United States. This historic event marks a bridge between the ancient traditions of Europe and the vibrant, growing American mead scene.
To listen live, you can find us on Youtube, Twitch, X (Twitter), and Facebook on the Gotmead Page. On our new platform, chat is part of the podcast! Just comment from wherever you are watching, and we’ll see it!! If you’d like to call in, we can get you a link to come on!
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Sponsor:
Look no further than Honnibrook Craft Meadery in Castle Rock, Colorado, for your go-to destination for wonderful, light, and refreshing mead! We have 20 meads on tap and four seasonal mead slushees. If you want to ask your mead making questions, you can send us a question via email, join to ask a question on the show, or via X @realGotMead and we’ll tackle it online! The show runs from 9PM EDT/6PM PDT (United States) for about 2 hours every other Tuesday starting Jan 13, 2026.
To join live, you can use this link, and here are instructions on how to join in. Once you enter the waiting room, we get a notification and will bring you in!
Upcoming Shows
- Feb 10 – Roger Wanner – W A Meadwerks – New York
Show links and notes
- Let There Be Melomels by Rob Ratliff
- The Big Book of Mead Recipes by Rob Ratliff
- Let There Be Session Meads by Rob Ratliff
Upcoming Events
- Feb 5 – Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sapulpa, OK – Trivia Night
- Feb 6 – Red’s on 7th, Delavan, WI – Meads and Masterpiece – mead tasting and wine glass painting
- Feb 6 – Manic Meadery, Crown Point, IN – Grown Up Book Fair
- Feb 6 – Chubby Cheeks Meadery, Temecula, CA – Halo Mega Bowl LAN party
- Feb 8 – Clear Skies Meadery, Rockville, MD – Acoustic Jam with Mike Rocke
- Feb 8 – Drinking Horn Meadery, Flagstaff, AZ – Beeswa Candle Making Valentine Workshop
- Feb 13 – Starrlight Meadery at the Honeysuckle Tea House, Chapel Hill, NC – Valentines Mead Tasting
- Feb 13 – Clear Skies Meadery, Rockville, MD – Make Your Own Mosaic Heart
- Feb 13 – Hex Meadery, Kaukauna, WI – Anniversary Party
- Feb 13 – Manic Meadery, Crown Point, IN – Paint and Drink: Valentine Animal
- Feb 14 – Bee Immortal Mead, Round Rock, TX – Valentines Mead Workshop
- Feb 14 – Southern Origin Meadery, Canon, GA – Couples Painting Each Other (Tiktok trend)
- Feb 18 – Lancashire Mead Company at the Jorvik Viking Centre, York, UK – Mead Tasting event
- Feb 19 – Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sepulpa, OK – Fiber Crafting
- Feb 21 – Monks Meadery, Atlanta, GA – Exhibition Armored Combat
- Feb 28 – Grimsby Hollow Meadery, Middleville, MI – Drink Mead, Learn Things: Anatomy of a Killer: When Doctors Become Predators
- Mar 20-21 Valkyrie’s Horn Mead Competition, Minneapolis, MN – entries open!
- Mar 28 – Zymarium Meadery, Orlando, FL – Bonsai and Cheers with L&J Nursery
- Mar 28 – Folklore Brewing and Meadery, Dothan, AL – Dothan Songwriters Festival
- April 11 – Mershon’s Artisan Cider, Stoughton, WI – Wisconsin Cider and Mead Festival
You can buy mead online at https://shopmeads.com
She is also an experienced marketing coach and consultant who has recently decided to focus her marketing expertise exclusively on the craft beverage market to help meaderies, cideries, breweries and distilleries expand their business and get more customers while doing what they love.
- 2-3-26 Krzysztof Jarek and Mateusz “maTEJ” Błaszczyk – Mead Madness Cup and EMMA - February 3, 2026
- 1-27-26 Ryan Carlson – Optimizing Fermentation - January 27, 2026
- 1-13-26 Ryan Carlson – The Case for Open Fermentation – Fermenting History - January 13, 2026