Albuquerque Brewery Releases Largest Mulled Spice Mead Bottling Yet

Steel Bender Brewyard rolled out its Mulled Spice DebaucherMead on December 20, 2025, a winter release notable for both its flavors and its scale. The brewery produced roughly 3.5 barrels for this run, resulting in more than 500 750 ml bottles, the largest single bottling in the DebaucherMead series to date. At about 13.3 percent ABV, the spiced mead is positioned as a seasonal sipper and a holiday gift option.

Flavoring for the batch centers on traditional mulled spices. Cinnamon, orange peel, allspice and cloves were blended into the mead to create a warm, aromatic profile intended to complement the higher alcohol and honey base. The release continues Steel Bender's ongoing experimentation with adjuncts in mead, expanding the brewery's beverage range beyond its core beers and previous small mead runs.

For local shoppers and cellarers the offering has practical appeal. The Mulled Spice DebaucherMead is pouring at the Steel Bender taproom, and the brewery is selling a limited number of gift sets that include a bottle and a branded tumbler. The tumblers were produced in collaboration with a local pottery maker, giving buyers a commemorative keepsake that ties the package to Albuquerque makers and the local craft community. The brewery recommends cellaring bottles upright at room temperature, advice that makes storage straightforward for buyers who want to age a bottle or keep it ready for seasonal serving.

Availability is limited by the batch size, so buyers who want a bottle for gifting over the holidays should plan to visit the taproom soon. The larger bottled run does mean more offsite sales than previous DebaucherMead releases, which may help spread interest in mead among Steel Bender patrons and holiday shoppers looking for unique, locally made beverages.

This release highlights a small brewery leaning into seasonal variety and partnerships, offering a tangible option for shoppers seeking locally produced holiday gifts and for cellaring fans tracking the evolving mead scene in Albuquerque.