Well, its not Mead, but it's a story about Grog.
This popped up today in my carousing the websites so I thought it was interesting enough to post.
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/what-was-grog-scientists-analyze-ancient-nordic-drink-2D11926342
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/what-was-grog-scientists-analyze-ancient-nordic-drink-2D11926342