Компания Norse Hall в Западном Вирджинии готовит открытие нового зала дегустации и расширение производства мёда и острого соуса

MARTINSBURG - What began as a pandemic-era idea among friends has grown from five-gallon fermentation buckets into a 6,500-gallon-a-month production operation for a West Virginia mead and hot sauce company. Norse Hall, owned by Ryan Willingham, Shannon Kiser, Keith Schoenith and Matt Wolf, is preparing to open its new tasting room and retail space, offering customers a place to sample the company's mead and hot sauces while experiencing an atmosphere inspired by Old World Scandinavian culture. The business began in October 2021 after Willingham and Kiser had discussed starting a company focused on beard products and hot sauce. The idea took shape during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the friends were spending more time together and experimenting with products. "We decided that we'd start a business," Kiser said. Hot sauce became the company's first product, helping fund the development of its mead. The company began selling products at farmers markets, local events and restaurant pop-ups before moving into distribution. Its mead is now available at grocery stores, bars and restaurants, with distribution expanding into Maryland and other areas. Willingham said the company's goal was to create a lighter, more approachable style of mead. "We wanted to create essentially a light beer version of what mead is," he said. Norse Hall's products are made with natural ingredients, and the company has emphasized local sourcing when possible. Its hot sauce operation also holds a distinction as West Virginia's first FDA-approved hot sauce manufacturer, according to the owners. The company's new tasting room is intended to give back to customers who supported Norse Hall during its early years. The space features wood, beams and candles designed to create an Old World atmosphere, while the owners hope to eventually add a fireplace, and even more outside. "We wanted a much more campfire vibe," Kiser said. "Something where people can come in and hang out and chill and talk to one another." The tasting room also reflects the company's use of Norse mythology. The owners said their Scandinavian heritage helped inspire the branding, while they wanted to reclaim Norse imagery as something welcoming rather than allowing it to be associated with groups that have misused it. "Everybody is welcome here," Willingham said. The company's growth has required a significant expansion in production. After initially producing mead in a basement, the owners purchased the current property in May 2023 and began manufacturing there. The operation can now produce as much as 6,500 gallons per month, compared with about 500 gallons per month at the previous facility. The facility includes four 1,200-gallon fermentation tanks, secondary tanks for flavor infusion and six German-made bright tanks used for carbonation and preparation before canning. The canning machine can produce about 1,000 cans per hour. The owners hope to continue expanding into Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and other East Coast markets before eventually taking the brand nationwide and internationally. A grand opening for the tasting room is tentatively planned for the first week of November. For now, Willingham said the focus remains on building a place where customers can enjoy the company's products and feel connected to the business. "The whole idea was born out of the necessity to just do something as friends and then create a product and a business that people can feel you're part of," he said.