From the halls of Valhalla to the heart of New Braunfels, local entrepreneur Isaac Pruna is reviving the ancient Viking tradition of mead through Valkyrie’s Kiss Mead.

The background

Pruna’s interest in craft brewing was sparked after serving 10 years in the Army. He traveled around the world exploring different drinks. However, after realizing that the beer and wine market was failing, he decided to pursue a different path.

“My buddies were making mead at home, and I was just like, ‘What the hell is this?’’’ Pruna said. “I thought it was weird at first, but I became really into it and started brewing [mead] at home."

Pruna said after researching the art of mead, his next step was to introduce it to New Braunfels. For two years, Pruna crafted each beverage until launching the company in 2023. In June 2024, Valkyrie’s Kiss Mead opened a brick-and-mortar location.


Diving in deeper

Traditional mead is an alcoholic beverage made with honey, yeast and water, Pruna said.

The mead is fermented and aged in-house, then bottled and corked by hand. Pruna said the company produces nearly 6,000 gallons of mead, equating to approximately 27,000 bottles per year.

In efforts to remain local, ingredients are sourced from Youngblood Honey in Pearsall and Holdman Honey in Seguin.


The mead is fermented and aged in-house, then bottled and corked by hand. Mead's origins can be traced back over 20,000 years to the African continent. It was consumed by Vikings, Greeks and other cultures.

Valkyrie’s offers several flavors of mead, such as “Cherry Nice to Mead You.’’ Others include apple, strawberry, blueberry and blackberry. Pruna said he will expand offerings with new flavors like pineapple jalapeno and strawberry hibiscus in the future.

What’s in a name?

In Norse mythology, a valkyrie is a female warrior who guides a slain warrior from battlefields into Valhalla, which inspired Pruna based on his military background.


“I ultimately went with Valkyrie’s Kiss because I've lost friends, and I've lost some of my buddies [in the military] there too, so it’s a way of honoring them," he said.

Several local bars and restaurants carry Valkyrie’s Kiss, including the recently opened Cowboys and Cadillacs. The mead is also available at local farmers markets. Guests can make reservations for tastings Fridays and Sundays.