Killer Bees Honey
Killer Bees Honey
5
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About
We are committed to biodiversity & protecting our ecosystem through sustainable bee stewardship & honey harvesting for the purest honey available. Sean, the beekeeper, has been raising bees since he was 12 yrs old. With Denise, the Queen Bee (aka wife) we now have 80-90 hives on a mountain top in Western NC. We live with a few million bees and the rest of the wildlife who call our sanctuary home...or hive. Sean is a certified NC Bee Keeper, a mentor and lecturer. Sean is one of a handful of Americans certified with the Italian Register of Experts and UC Davis in the Sensory Analysis of Honey, indeed a "honey sommelier".
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Why book with Killer Bees Honey
- Certified Bee Keeper and honey producer
- Certificate from Italian Registry of Honey Sensory Experts. Certificate from UC Davis. Certified North Carolina Bee Keeper
- English
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
136 reviews
Excellent
136
Very good
0
Average
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Poor
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Terrible
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Mike B
1 contribution
May 2022
Outstanding presentation of bee keeping done the right way. You will remember this tour the rest of your life. Sean and Denise invite you into their home to taste the product of their labor and give you the opportunity to do some hands-on work with their bees. Wish I could give them a 10. We took home some honey and plan to order more in the future. Regards.
Written May 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chocolatier2006
15 contributions
Jun 2020
We visited Shaun and Denise at their breathtakingly beautiful mountaintop home deep in the Pisgah
National Forest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They treated us to the most marvelous four hours of learning about and appreciating the work of bees. We took their Bee Farm and Honey Tasting Culinary tour. Shaun and Denise are so knowledgeable about all aspects of the bee's lives. We were treated to beautiful porch views of the mountains while we listened to the introduction of our exciting tour. We donned authentic bee suits, visited the hives, actually lifted one of the frames from the hive to get a close up and personal view of the workers doing their job. We were lucky enough to experience Shaun taking a swarm from a tree branch and relocating it to a new hive. After an excellent tasting of several of their honeys paired with luscious bites to enhance the honey, we made our way over to the processing center. There we learned how all the work of the bees makes it to those jars of yummy honey . Denise and Shaun are certainly experts when it comes to teaching, entertaining, kindness, and so much more. We loved every minute we got to spend at their farm with them and their thousands of sweet buddies!!
National Forest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They treated us to the most marvelous four hours of learning about and appreciating the work of bees. We took their Bee Farm and Honey Tasting Culinary tour. Shaun and Denise are so knowledgeable about all aspects of the bee's lives. We were treated to beautiful porch views of the mountains while we listened to the introduction of our exciting tour. We donned authentic bee suits, visited the hives, actually lifted one of the frames from the hive to get a close up and personal view of the workers doing their job. We were lucky enough to experience Shaun taking a swarm from a tree branch and relocating it to a new hive. After an excellent tasting of several of their honeys paired with luscious bites to enhance the honey, we made our way over to the processing center. There we learned how all the work of the bees makes it to those jars of yummy honey . Denise and Shaun are certainly experts when it comes to teaching, entertaining, kindness, and so much more. We loved every minute we got to spend at their farm with them and their thousands of sweet buddies!!
Written July 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Awwww....thanks! and you DID get a special treat! We had a lot of late swarms this season. the one we "rehoused" when you were here is doing great! I guess sometimes they do like an audience. :)
Written July 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Margo & Gene
2 contributions
May 2020 • Couples
What a remarkable tour! Killer Bees Honey is a mountain top aviary with a breath taking view. It is surrounded by 512,000 farm-free acres of the Pisgah National Forest which allows the bees to gather nectar from a variety of pristine floral sources. After learning about the Queen and duties of all the hive members, we
Were suited up and able to inspect a hive with beekeeper, Shawn, and intern, Madison.
The honey sampling and tasting was wonderful and we were thrilled to be able to take home our own souvenir bottle of Killer Bees Honey!
In this time of social distancing and limited interaction with others, this is an activity that meets all the guidelines and is educational and fun to boot. Highly recommend their tour!
Were suited up and able to inspect a hive with beekeeper, Shawn, and intern, Madison.
The honey sampling and tasting was wonderful and we were thrilled to be able to take home our own souvenir bottle of Killer Bees Honey!
In this time of social distancing and limited interaction with others, this is an activity that meets all the guidelines and is educational and fun to boot. Highly recommend their tour!
Written May 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
killerbeeshoney
Thanks Margo & Gene! you all were a lot of fun!
so glad we were able to get into the hives in between the rain drops! btw.... APIARY. commonly confused with "aviary" which is of course birds... something that we also have a lot of up here! gorgeous.
-denise (aka the beekeepers wife)
Written May 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Glenn B
10 contributions
Jun 2020
ATTENTION!!! Only do this if you want to have a wonderful time, learn so much about honey bees, the environment, honey, and more, enjoy tastings and pairings, and have a relaxing great time.
Really. Denise and Sean are personable, engaging hosts who are happy to share their incredible honey and mountain-top views.
We can't wait for their next batch of honey to be available.
Great expectations will be surpassed. Thank you Denise, Sean, Madison, and the many bees who didn't mind the minor intrusions to their workday.
Most Highly recommended!!!
Really. Denise and Sean are personable, engaging hosts who are happy to share their incredible honey and mountain-top views.
We can't wait for their next batch of honey to be available.
Great expectations will be surpassed. Thank you Denise, Sean, Madison, and the many bees who didn't mind the minor intrusions to their workday.
Most Highly recommended!!!
Written June 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
awww! thanks so much, you're making us all blush. including all the thousands of hive girls. We can't wait for our next batch of honey too! we'll keep you posted!
Written June 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ClarksRUs
Fort Lauderdale, FL127 contributions
Aug 2020
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the Killer Bees tour from start to finish. We highly recommend it to couples, families and anyone interested in a fun, learning and food-tasting adventure. It's awesomely unique! The location is literally on top of a mountain near beautiful Lake Toxaway and has incredible views. The owners are immensely knowledgeable about all things BEES and 100% committed to producing environmentally-pure honey. OMG! Sourwood, Wildflower, Clover are 3 flavors produced that we sampled and each was delicious and completely different tasting. Sean and Madison led us through a really fascinating overview of the bee world and how they function together as a super-organism with a complex array of changing but specific roles centered around the survival of the Queen Bee and the colony. Their super-intern, Madison, helped teach us about the parts of the hive and then we donned full bee suits and actually went in search of queen bees and they had to use smokers to blow plumes of pine-scent smelling smoke on the hives to keep them under control. You actually help do all of this and learn along the way just how important bees are to human existence as the planets key pollinators. We not only sampled all the exquisite honey but also enjoyed food pairings. It's a fun, delicious and special outing to put on your things to do list when in Western North Carolina.
Written August 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
You were clearly taking notes! A+
So glad we could contribute to a wonderful (college finals) weekend for you and your daughter.
I'm still sure the honey had something to do with her great performance on her finals!
Written August 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nicholas Bunucci
Douglasville, GA1 contribution
Jul 2020
I am not usually the type of person who tends to leave reviews, but after spending a wonderful day over at the Killer Bees Farm, I can confidently say that this tour is every bit as fun as it looks. I and my family drove for a bit over three hours to participate in this program, so I think it is safe to say that our expectations were pretty high, and I am happy to report that it was everything we had hoped for. That being said, this is an experience that will best be enjoyed by those who genuinely want to learn and are willing to open themselves up to the world around them. This is not a passive movie, this is a real-life interactive adventure so be prepared to get out into the field and ask some questions! And for any of you skeptics out there who are worried about the living conditions of the bees, I am here to bring you peace. There is a very good chance these bees are living in better conditions than you are! The couple that owns this business have taken every possible step to ensure that these wonderful creatures live in their own miniature paradise. In summary, this tour was amazing, and I am grateful that I was able to participate.
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
what a wonderful endorsement! and yes.... the bees do have a pretty spectacular location. So why do they keep swarming!!!! :)
I am so glad your long drive was worth it. "passive" guests are okay, but engaged ones are the best!
Thanks for being part of "the best"!
Written August 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maziray
Chelmsford, MA84 contributions
Aug 2019
This is the BEST tour I have ever taken and you should seriously consider buzzing on over to Killer Bees Honey farm for the tour!
Welcome and Education. When we arrived at the Killer Bees Honey farm, we were greeted by the owners and welcomed into their home. While relaxing on their screened in porch, they introduced themselves and then explained the complexities of the bee community and hive. We then learned about the structure of the box hives and the importance of so many layers.
Visiting the Bees. The next exciting part of the tour was stepping into our beekeeper outfits for the hive inspections. It is a short walk to the active hives, and seeing the bees busy inside the hive was so interesting, we even found the queen! It was amazing that the honey bees are more interested in the hive than in what we were doing.
Sampling the Honey. After visiting the hives, we returned to the house for an amazing honey tasting – 4 small glasses with honey in each, a plate of cheeses, fruits, veggies, scone – all with honey pairings. For example, they served a scone with the whipped wildflower honey spread across the top – it was delicious! As we were enjoying the treats, the owners provided information about the honey and the testing that they have done every year. Their honey has also been tested to be 100% pure from all pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics and herbicides. They also have their honey traced by Texas A&M University to identify the varieties of the source, such as sourwood, chestnut, wildflower, and so on.
Time to Bottle the Honey. After the sampling, we waddled over to the processing area. Here they described how they harvest the honey from honeycomb to bottle. We then filled our own bottle with honey and applied the label.
The Goods. The last stop on the tour was the store where they have a variety of honey products for sale, as well as tee shirts and decals.
What really impressed me about the owners and their honey farm is that they are eco friendly and work hard to keep their bees healthy using natural products. So buzzingly refreshing!
Overall, we had a FABULOUS time at Killer Bees Honey! I would definitely visit the farm again to hear more about the bees and to just say “Hi” to the bee keepers.
Welcome and Education. When we arrived at the Killer Bees Honey farm, we were greeted by the owners and welcomed into their home. While relaxing on their screened in porch, they introduced themselves and then explained the complexities of the bee community and hive. We then learned about the structure of the box hives and the importance of so many layers.
Visiting the Bees. The next exciting part of the tour was stepping into our beekeeper outfits for the hive inspections. It is a short walk to the active hives, and seeing the bees busy inside the hive was so interesting, we even found the queen! It was amazing that the honey bees are more interested in the hive than in what we were doing.
Sampling the Honey. After visiting the hives, we returned to the house for an amazing honey tasting – 4 small glasses with honey in each, a plate of cheeses, fruits, veggies, scone – all with honey pairings. For example, they served a scone with the whipped wildflower honey spread across the top – it was delicious! As we were enjoying the treats, the owners provided information about the honey and the testing that they have done every year. Their honey has also been tested to be 100% pure from all pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics and herbicides. They also have their honey traced by Texas A&M University to identify the varieties of the source, such as sourwood, chestnut, wildflower, and so on.
Time to Bottle the Honey. After the sampling, we waddled over to the processing area. Here they described how they harvest the honey from honeycomb to bottle. We then filled our own bottle with honey and applied the label.
The Goods. The last stop on the tour was the store where they have a variety of honey products for sale, as well as tee shirts and decals.
What really impressed me about the owners and their honey farm is that they are eco friendly and work hard to keep their bees healthy using natural products. So buzzingly refreshing!
Overall, we had a FABULOUS time at Killer Bees Honey! I would definitely visit the farm again to hear more about the bees and to just say “Hi” to the bee keepers.
Written August 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you so much for taking the time for such a comprehensive and kind review. We take pride in our hive girls and they, in turn, never disappoint. - The Beekeeper.
Written August 30, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SFLA954_TRAVELER
Fort Lauderdale, FL33 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We found this on TripAdvisor as something different to do while visiting the NC mountains. My family has an admiration for the "bee", so we looked forward to the up close and educational experience. Denise and Sean are absolutely incredible. We felt very welcomed, and walked away with more knowledge and passion for the bees than we could have ever imagined. Being able to learn about the different types of bees in the colony , and then going to look inside a working hive and identifying them, especially the QUEEN bee !!! After the tour, we had a honey pairing and tasting. Denise had different honey types that the bees produce, along with fruits, cheeses, and other food. She is a true honey sommelier. The pairings were to die for and were absolutely delicious.
Thank you for your hospitality, knowledge, and passion that you bestowed upon my family and I.
Thank you for your hospitality, knowledge, and passion that you bestowed upon my family and I.
Written July 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
You're welcome! We love sharing our experiences and the life IN the hive with others.
Written July 28, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
04sunshine
Melbourne, FL64 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
A🍯of an adventure, this 1/2 day activity must be put on your priority list if you are visiting anywhere near Asheville, N.C. There is a hidden treasure high atop a mountain on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest. Killer Bees are hard at work here! My 14yr old grandson and I felt privileged to meet the ladies up close and personal, hundreds of them buzzing around and busy doing their thing, making honey! This is an experience like no other! Have no fear though, safety comes first! You suit up and are escorted out to the hives after a lite-lecture on the bees and their place in our ecosystem and their roll as pollinators. We were amazed at the complexity of the society of the hive and it’s residents. You will learn about pollination and how the bees gather the nectar, return to the hive and make the honey. You will feel the thrill of holding a tray of busy bees alive with buzzing chatter and master moves they flawlessly carry out to take care of the queen. If you can manage to take your eyes off the bees for a moment and look up you will realize you are high on a ridge that overlooks all of Appalachia. Even though we were high in the clouds and it it was overcast and drizzling the day we were there, it did clear enough to be able to see a magnificent view of the mountains in front of us.
Sean and Denise are wonderful hosts not only sharing their knowledge but their home with us. After seeing the hives they invited us to sit at their diningroom table that Denise had set impeccably with multiple clear goblets, linen napkins and a square white china plate that held multiple delicacies with honey overtones. Champagne was offered to cleanse our palates between tastings. There were also 4 honey selections in cordial glasses for tasting. Our personal favorite was the whipped honey. It is very hard to get but they graciously shared some of theirs from their personal supply.
Sean kept us entertained with many stories. He is a fount of information. We left there with our heads full of newly learned knowledge and an experience that we will never forget!
I wish they offered personal retreats to their mountaintop home. We didn’t want to leave. We both felt privileged to share this piece of heaven on earth if only for a few hours.
🍯Thank you Sean and Denise 🍯 KILLER BEE KEEPERS!
Sean and Denise are wonderful hosts not only sharing their knowledge but their home with us. After seeing the hives they invited us to sit at their diningroom table that Denise had set impeccably with multiple clear goblets, linen napkins and a square white china plate that held multiple delicacies with honey overtones. Champagne was offered to cleanse our palates between tastings. There were also 4 honey selections in cordial glasses for tasting. Our personal favorite was the whipped honey. It is very hard to get but they graciously shared some of theirs from their personal supply.
Sean kept us entertained with many stories. He is a fount of information. We left there with our heads full of newly learned knowledge and an experience that we will never forget!
I wish they offered personal retreats to their mountaintop home. We didn’t want to leave. We both felt privileged to share this piece of heaven on earth if only for a few hours.
🍯Thank you Sean and Denise 🍯 KILLER BEE KEEPERS!
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jre1120
Greenville, NC7 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Can’t say enough good things about this. Very unique introduction to sustainable ethical bee farming! Great pure honey tasting with food pairings. Well worth the money and time if you’re in Brevard or Lake Toxaway area.
Written May 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you! It's all about the bees. - The Beekeeper
Written May 27, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience