<P> Mead (/ ˈmiːd /; archaic and dialectal meath or meathe, from Old English medu) is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains, or hops . The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 20% . The defining characteristic of mead is that the majority of the beverage's fermentable sugar is derived from honey . It may be still, carbonated, or naturally sparkling; dry, semi-sweet, or sweet . </P> <P> Mead was produced in ancient history throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, and has played an important role in the mythology of some peoples . In Norse mythology, for example, the Mead of Poetry was crafted from the blood of the wise being Kvasir and turned the drinker into a poet or scholar . </P>

What is the average alcohol content of mead