Craft collaborations rarely surprise anymore, but Welsh honey meeting English coffee beans in a seven-malt stout breaks the mold. Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. just dropped Second Breakfast, a limited-run collaboration with Rave Coffee that transforms traditional stout brewing into something genuinely innovative. This isn’t another gimmicky coffee beer—it’s what happens when mead makers who understand honey meet roasters who respect beans.
The partnership bridges Wales and England, bringing together Hive Mind’s award-winning honey expertise with Rave Coffee’s roasting precision from Cirencester. Founded by brothers Matt and Kit Newell in 2018, Hive Mind has earned recognition, including the Golden Fork for Wales and several Great Taste awards, through sustainable beekeeping practices.
Cross-Border Craft Alliance
Kit Newell, Hive Mind’s co-founder, describes “the natural kinship between roasted malt and coffee,” emphasizing their shared commitment to authenticity and quality. The collaboration represents more than recipe development—it connects two independent producers who prioritize craft over convenience. Welsh honey from local bees provides floral sweetness while Rave’s Second Breakfast blend—used both whole and ground—creates layered coffee notes that evolve as you drink.
Seven distinct malts create the backbone, while rolled oats smooth the edges. The coffee bitterness never overwhelms—instead, it balances with honey sweetness and roasted malt depth. This technical precision reflects both companies’ dedication to ingredient transparency and flavor innovation.
Seven-Malt Complexity Meets Sessionable Design
Aromas hit like freshly brewed espresso mixed with dark chocolate, but the “light, sessionable” body means you can actually finish a pint without planning your next nap. The seven-malt foundation provides complexity while maintaining drinkability—a balance that speaks to serious brewing intelligence rather than flashy experimentation.
The brewing process incorporates whole and ground beans from Rave’s Second Breakfast coffee blend, layering espresso and roast flavors throughout the beer rather than simply adding coffee as an afterthought. This methodical approach creates depth that unfolds with each sip, supported by the smooth, creamy mouthfeel from rolled oats.
Limited Availability Through Small Batch Series
Second Breakfast launches through Hive Mind’s small batch series, emphasizing the limited-run nature that makes these collaborations special. Available for pre-order through their online shop, this represents the growing UK trend of cross-category partnerships between independent producers. The release sits within broader craft beverage movements toward locality, ingredient transparency, and environmental stewardship.
When meaderies start collaborating with coffee roasters, the craft beverage world gets more interesting—and more delicious. This particular partnership may inspire further limited-edition releases from both brands, reinforcing Hive Mind’s role as an innovator in modern mead and honey-infused brewing.
