Alpacas, a Meadery, a Historic Cafe & Some Thrifting
I’ve wanted to check out Old Station Meadery since I learned of its existence a couple years ago. The universe finally aligned this month to give me the opportunity to get out there, so I grabbed my travelling buddies and off we were on another adventure.
Old Station Meadery is located in New Sarepta, a hamlet in Alberta, about 30 minutes south of Sherwood Park, an easy drive straight down Highway 21.
A little detour...
We took a brief excursion to Sunnyhill Alpacas.
I need to preface the story of our delightful excursion to the farm by clarifying that the Sunnyhill Alpacas Farm is not open to the public. If you want to visit, you’ll need to wait until Alberta Open Farm Days to check out the operations - unless you are in the market for a new alpaca. Kevin & Leanne, owners of Sunnyhill Alpacas, are breeders of these incredible creatures.
I have decided that these cute critters are my new favourite animal. You can tell how much Leanne and Kevin love them, too, as they told us about each animal. The first pen of alpacas they introduced us to are pregnant females - we missed the babies by a month, they should start arriving in June.
Gestation takes about 344 days, they explained, and unlike a cow, the mamas don’t lick off their babies. The babies, called cria, arrive conveniently between 10 am - 2 pm, a fun evolutionary survival mechanism. This instinct goes back to their native land - the Andes Mountains in South America. Giving birth during the warmer part of the day ensures that the cria can dry off and stand before the cold evening temperatures set in.
Sunnyhill is also careful to plan their breeding for the babies to arrive in warm weather. They hand breed, keeping the males separate from the females so that they can ensure precise genetic outcomes and improve herd quality.
I asked if the alpacas like to be petted, “They might, they kind of have cat-like personalities”, says Leanne, “they are curious, but petting them has to be on their own terms”. We were graced by their presence as they slowly made their way over to see who we were, making cute little humming sounds along the way. Once the first one came to the fence, most of the others followed. My friend asked what kind of noises they make, “Well you can hear the humming noise they’re making now”, said Leanne, “but if they sense danger, they will surround the babies to protect them, making a squeaking sound”. We also learned that they don’t like storms.
We were surprised by their size, alpacas are quite a bit smaller than their llama cousins, averaging about 150 pounds, and their chubby exterior appearance is all fleece - they are quite lean.
Other fun facts about alpacas:
- Alpacas produce some of the finest fibres in the world
- They are shy, but curious - enjoy being part of the herd
- About ¼ of the size of a llama, producing much softer fibre
In Canada, alpacas are primarily raised for their fibre; for breeding; agri-tourism; and manure that is highly valued by landscapers. The manure is excellent for gardening, considered to be nutrient rich and low odor. You can purchase it from Sunnyhill Alpacas if you are searching for alpaca poop.
The ladies we met were all due to be shorn, but that will wait until after the babies come now. Sunnyhill has integrated a Fibre Mill and Store - The Twisted Sisters & Company Fibre Mill, specializing in yarn and small knitted products made from their yarn. They have some of the most beautiful mittens if you want to treat yourself, available for purchase online.
Open Farm Days takes place on August 15 & 16 this year - you can learn more about Sunnyhill and other farm experiences online at https://albertaopenfarmdays.ca/.
New Sarepta & Old Station Meadery…
Leaving the alpaca farm, we travelled just a few minutes down the road into the Hamlet of New Sarepta, population of about 500 according to the last census. We drove around the hamlet (former village) before hitting the meadery. We felt that some portions of the historic “downtown” would benefit with some freshening up, but we enjoyed the little information signs along the way. We were a bit pressed for time, so didn’t stop in at New Sarepta Market or The Boars Nest, but both have great reviews.
Old Station Meadery
This is the company that inspired our little adventure to begin with. I wanted to check it out for a couple years now, and I love any place where I can learn some stuff and experience some new things while supporting local businesses. This checked all the boxes for me. My travelling buddies loved it, too.
Unfamiliar with what a Meadery is? You aren’t alone - there are less than 10 in the whole province of Alberta. Similar to a winery or distillery, they produce and sell mead, which is created by fermenting honey with water, often called “honey wine”. Mead is an alcoholic beverage, largely believed to be the oldest kind of alcohol known to mankind.
Mead, or honey wine, is of course, dependent on bees. Meads have a very distinctive taste, unlike any other. They will taste significantly different in different locations, based on what the bees are foraging - it changes the flavour of the honey, which will change the flavour profile of the mead. Other factors that affect the taste are the type of yeast, fermentation temperature, fruit and spice additions, and more.
Did you know? Alberta has the largest beekeeping industry in Canada - the third largest in North America
Old Station Meadery started as a small beekeeping and berry operation about 10 years ago, fermenting the honey from the garage of the Meadery’s founder, Will Munsey. He never intended it to be more than a hobby until Will heard that New Sarepta was going to get a new fire station and the County was considering demolishing the old one.
With the support of a few friends, they opened the doors on the new Meadery, serving the public, in May of 2022. The mead is crafted from honey, fruit and herbs all produced locally, in Leduc County. Some locals donate their rhubarb, inspiring Will, the “Mead-Maker”, to create a sparkling mead called ‘The People’s Barb’, one of my favourites!
We weren’t able to meet with the owners while we were there, but Wendy was super accommodating! She took great care of us, walking us through all of the different choices and flavour profiles. When you go… you get to sample two meads (complimentary) and then order by the glass. Or you can order a flight (which I would recommend). For food, they don’t have a kitchen on site, but you can order a meat pie or fruit pie, both sourced locally. The patio is pet friendly, as long as your pet is friendly.
If you don’t want to take the trip out to New Sarepta, you can find Old Station’s products at Crossroads Liquor Store in Sherwood Park.
There are several reminders in the back, among the fermenting equipment and other business. First - a thank you reminder of all of the friends that participated to help get this business built; and ‘The Philosophy of Mead’:
- Arrows of truth are best dipped in honey
- The only real failure is the failure to imagine
And - without the honeybee… nothing.
We are grateful for the honeybee - and the mead-maker - we left after purchasing with seven bottles to take home between us.
Lunch in Millet
While it isn’t a direct drive to Millet and many folks might have gone in a different direction for lunch, we wanted to do some thrift store treasure hunting - and we were inspired to try out the Old Bank Cafe. It’s not far, about 25 minutes if you didn’t miss your turn twice like I did. In retrospect, we might have split the adventures into two different days… lingered a little longer at the Meadery.
There is also a nice little provincial recreation area - Coal Lake North Provincial Recreation Area - in between New Sarepta and Millet, if you were in the mood for a picnic lunch or some fishing or kayaking.
Millet is known as the ‘prettiest little town in Alberta’ and it was certainly friendly! With a population of about 2000 people, we met several along the way that were more than willing to tell us about their community and welcome us in.
Old Bank Cafe
I am a big history fan, so any old historic building immediately has my heart. This building was renovated on the exterior, but many of the old touches on the interior remain. The current owners have leaned into an eclectic vintage decor which I loved. It is cute and cozy, warm and inviting.
You can grab a casual coffee and pastry, or in the evenings they offer fancier meals. Renowned for their eggs benny and cheesecake stuffed french toast - their online reviews are outstanding, but we were boring and all opted from sandwiches of sorts. I picked the brisket dip, it was one of the specials. My photos don’t do it justice - I would highly recommend it. One of the pricier items on the menu, but it was enough food for two meals and the dip was so flavourful and incredible.
Switchback Mercantile
Located in the historic Millet Mercantile building, this is a unique store filled with all sorts of unique finds for folks who love treasure hunting. Sadly, the owner will be closing out the business, finding it difficult to compete with online shopping, but she still has lots of inventory so make sure to stop in before she closes. We found the prices really reasonable and a great opportunity to find something really unique for your collection or a gift.
Thrifters of Millet
Great vibe with some good music playing, super friendly owner. Good selection of clean items in good repair, another treasure hunter’s delight. It is a privately owned business, with items secured from estate sales and auctions. They don’t rely on donations, but graciously accept them - they actively give back to the community in meaningful ways.
Other Noteworthy:
- The Butterfly Boutique - High end women’s clothing, gift and lifestyle boutique. They must be doing something right, they’ve been there for over 40 years. Shop in store or online.
- Range Road Produce - Farm fresh produce with great reviews. Subscription boxes are available or stop by the store conveniently located right on Highway 2A.
- Leanne’s Bar & Grill - We didn’t stop in on this trip but the place must have good food because several locals recommended it.
- Millet Museum and Archives - We just ran out of time, but the museum has great reviews, with exhibits inside and out, including their restored antique fire truck. We are hoping to head back soon and experience everything this little museum has to offer. They are hosting a big event on June 27th - the Day Family Century Farm Opening. They will have an exhibit honouring the Century Farm; Lunch BBQ by the Millet Fire Department; outdoor market; antique tractors; kids games; and followed by a dinner at the Millet Legion. Contact the museum for more details.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our day, it was delightful. Can’t wait for the next road trip!
Until next time,
Jenny from the blog
If you’d like to learn more about mead, alpacas, or the region, here are some more links for you:
- Alpacas History in Canada - https://www.alpacainfo.ca/alpaca-history.php
- Alpacas Owners Association - https://www.alpacainfo.com/
- Canadian Llama & Alpaca Association - https://www.claacanada.com/
- Wines of Canada / Meaderies - https://www.winesofcanada.com/mead.html
- Discover Leduc County - https://discoverleduc.ca/
- Town of Millet - https://www.millet.ca/