Meet Matt Ackerman of Loveland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Ackerman.

Hi Matt, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a mead maker, but at heart I’m a community builder who happens to speak the language of fermentation and Norse mythology. Back in 2020, my business partner Eric and I took what had been years of home meadmaking and a shared love of Norse culture and decided to turn it into something bigger: MeadKrieger Meadery.

We started with nothing more than an idea, a garage, and a giant stack of licensing and regulatory paperwork. I leaned on my background in chemical engineering and operations to dial in the science and systems, while we slowly converted my personal garage into a legal manufacturing space so we could start producing mead commercially. Very quickly it became clear that if we wanted to really share this with people, we needed a proper tasting room where guests could experience the mead and the culture around it.

That’s what led us to Downtown Loveland. We brought in another owner/investor, bought a building, and started the remodel, thinking it would be a 6–9 month project -which turned into about a year and a half once Covid hit and supply chains went sideways. There were definitely moments where it would have been easier to walk away, but we kept holding onto the vision of creating a modern “mead hall” where people could gather, slow down, and feel welcome.

Today, our tasting room is a local go-to, and we keep pushing for high standards in both the glass and the guest experience. We produce Norse‑inspired, award‑winning meads from local honey, and pour them alongside other Colorado meads, wines, and ciders. What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built a place where first‑time mead drinkers and hardcore enthusiasts can sit side by side, learn something new, and leave feeling like they’ve been part of a story – not just a transaction.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road, but the bumps are a big part of our story. We started in March 2020, right as the world was shutting down, and ran head first into licensing hurdles, construction delays, and all the uncertainty that came with launching a hospitality business during a pandemic.

On the practical side, converting a personal garage into a legal production space and then taking on a full building remodel in downtown Loveland was a huge lift; permits took longer than expected, supply chains broke down, and what we thought would be a 6 to 9 month buildout turned into roughly a year and a half. Financially and emotionally, holding a vision that long without being fully open to the public was tough. The upside is that every delay forced us to refine our recipes, our processes, and our sense of purpose, so by the time guests were finally sitting in the tasting room, we were more resilient, more intentional, and very sure of why we were doing this.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I wear a few different hats, but the through line is that I am a founder and brand ambassador for a community‑focused meadery built on Norse tradition and the science of fermentation. These days my work centers on being the outward‑facing side of MeadKrieger: I pour in the tasting room, represent us at festivals and events, handle a lot of our sales and relationships, and help make sure our story and our values come through clearly to guests and partners.

I am especially proud that our space feels genuinely welcoming to a wide mix of people. On any given night we might have someone trying mead for the first time, a hardcore enthusiast talking tasting notes, and neighbors just unwinding after work, all sharing the room and having a good time together.

What does success mean to you?
For me, success is when the work I do actually brings people together and adds something good to their lives. If guests feel welcomed, learn something new, and choose to come back with friends, that feels like success in a very real, practical way.

On the business side, success is also about building something sustainable for our team and our community, not just chasing quick wins. If we can keep making high‑quality mead, pay our people, support local partners, and still hold onto our values of hospitality, inclusivity, and craft, then I would say we are doing it right.

Pricing:

• Tasting flights in the meadery typically start around $9–$12, depending on the flight style.
• Most 750 ml bottles of our mead range from about $18–$27, with special releases a bit higher.
• We also offer 375 ml half bottles starting around $9.50–$14, which are great for gifts or trying something new.

Contact Info:

• Website: : https://www.meadkrieger.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meadkrieger
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeadKrieger

Image Credits
Sean Gavlick