Little Fife - Batch 2026-01

Hive

Little Fife produced one of the most distinctive mid‑season honeys of 2026. A slow, cold start to spring held the landscape in suspension, but once conditions shifted, this hive surged, growing into a massive, protective colony that dominated the July nectar flow.

Climate Notes

Spring arrived late in Bearberry this year. June was unusually wet and cold, delaying the dandelion bloom by nearly two weeks. When the flowers finally opened, they raced through their cycle, blooming and going to seed within a single week instead of the long, steady bloom window we normally see in early May.

Frost lingered deep into the season, with the final frost landing on July 6, shaping both nectar availability and colony behaviour. Immediately afterward, the clover exploded into bloom. Little Fife responded with intensity, storing over 60 lbs of nectar per week for the remainder of July.

This batch reflects a year defined by delayed bloom, compressed nectar windows, and a powerful mid‑summer surge.

Tasting Notes

Little Fife opens with a mild floral lift, a soft, mid‑season brightness that feels clean and delicate on the palate. As the honey warms, the flavour builds steadily, gathering sweetness and momentum before releasing a distinct fruity burst. The transition is playful and expressive: gentle at first, then suddenly vivid, shaped by the hive’s energetic push into the compressed July bloom.

The aroma is sweet and delicate, with a fresh‑grass note that speaks to the cool, late spring and rapid clover bloom.

A honey with a quiet beginning and a lively, fruit‑forward finale, unmistakably Little Fife.

This batch shares a kinship with Falkland Hive but Little Fife’s version is slightly more assertive, shaped by the hive’s size and protective temperament.

Hive Temperament

Little Fife was purchased in April as a package of bees from New Zealand and grew into a massive, commanding colony during the July flow. Protective, driven, and highly productive, they dominated their forage range and converted the short, intense nectar window into an exceptional mid‑season harvest.