{"schema":{"type":"ModernMazerRecipe","version":"1.0"},"canonicalUrl":"https://modernmazer.com/recipes/clover-honey-mead","jsonUrl":"https://modernmazer.com/recipes/clover-honey-mead.json","slug":"clover-honey-mead","name":"Clover Honey Mead","summary":"A clean, approachable traditional mead built on mild clover honey. Clover honey is the most widely available varietal and produces a neutral, lightly sweet mead that showcases pure fermentation character. Targets 11% ABV with a dry finish. Ideal for beginners. 5-gallon batch.","heroImage":null,"heroImageAlt":"A glass of pale golden clover mead beside a jar of clover honey and white clover flowers","author":"Modern Mazer","publishedDate":"2026-09-13","updatedDate":"2026-09-13","testingStatus":"development","evidenceStatus":"editorial","difficulty":"beginner","style":"Traditional Mead","tags":["mead","traditional","clover","varietal-honey","beginner","dry","five-gallon"],"targetBatchVolume":5,"targetBatchVolumeUnit":"gallons","grossBatchVolume":5.5,"grossBatchVolumeUnit":"gallons","expectedProductionLoss":0.09,"targetABV":11,"originalGravity":1.082,"finalGravity":1,"sweetnessLevel":"dry","carbonationLevel":"still","ingredients":[{"id":"honey","name":"Clover honey","quantity":12,"unit":"lbs","notes":"Mild, widely available varietal.","optional":false,"scalingBehavior":"linear"},{"id":"water","name":"Filtered water","quantity":4.5,"unit":"gallons","notes":"Chlorine-free.","optional":false,"scalingBehavior":"linear"},{"id":"fermaid-o","name":"Fermaid-O","quantity":10,"unit":"g","notes":null,"optional":false,"scalingBehavior":"manual"},{"id":"fermaid-k","name":"Fermaid-K","quantity":5,"unit":"g","notes":null,"optional":false,"scalingBehavior":"manual"}],"yeast":{"name":"Lalvin EC-1118","brand":"Lalvin","quantity":1,"unit":"packets","notes":"Reliable, neutral profile. Good for beginner batches."},"nutrientSchedule":[{"timing":"Day 0 (pitch)","nutrient":"Fermaid-O","quantity":2.5,"unit":"g","notes":null,"scalingBehavior":"manual"},{"timing":"24 hours","nutrient":"Fermaid-O","quantity":2.5,"unit":"g","notes":null,"scalingBehavior":"manual"},{"timing":"48 hours","nutrient":"Fermaid-O","quantity":2.5,"unit":"g","notes":null,"scalingBehavior":"manual"},{"timing":"1/3 sugar break","nutrient":"Fermaid-O","quantity":2.5,"unit":"g","notes":null,"scalingBehavior":"manual"},{"timing":"Day 0 (pitch)","nutrient":"Fermaid-K","quantity":5,"unit":"g","notes":null,"scalingBehavior":"manual"}],"equipment":["6-gallon fermentation vessel","Airlock and stopper","Hydrometer","Thermometer","Sanitizer","Auto-siphon and tubing","Bottles or keg"],"process":[{"step":1,"title":"Sanitize all equipment","description":"Prepare no-rinse sanitizer. Sanitize all vessels and tools.","note":null},{"step":2,"title":"Dissolve honey","description":"Warm 1 gallon of water to 100°F. Dissolve honey. Cool before adding to fermenter.","note":null},{"step":3,"title":"Build must","description":"Add honey solution to fermenter. Top up with filtered water to 5.5 gallons.","note":null},{"step":4,"title":"Take OG reading","description":"Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.082.","note":null},{"step":5,"title":"Pitch yeast and nutrients","description":"Pitch EC-1118. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–72°F.","note":null},{"step":6,"title":"Staggered nutrient additions","description":"Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.","note":null},{"step":7,"title":"Monitor fermentation","description":"Check gravity every few days. Fermentation typically completes in 3–5 weeks.","note":null},{"step":8,"title":"Rack to secondary","description":"Rack off lees. Minimize oxygen exposure.","note":null},{"step":9,"title":"Condition and clarify","description":"Condition for 2–4 months.","note":null},{"step":10,"title":"Package","description":"Bottle or keg.","note":null}],"fermentationTemperature":"65–72°F (18–22°C)","fermentationTimeline":"3–5 weeks","conditioningTimeline":"2–4 months","packagingInstructions":"Ensure fermentation is fully complete before packaging.","safetyNotes":["Never bottle a mead that has not fully finished fermenting.","Sanitize all equipment that contacts the must or finished mead."],"scalingNotes":"Honey and water scale linearly. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly — recalculate using TOSNA for any batch size change.","version":"1.0.0","changeHistory":[{"version":"1.0.0","date":"2026-09-13","summary":"Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 2.","changedBy":"Modern Mazer"}],"relatedRecipes":["traditional-mead-v1","traditional-wildflower-mead"],"relatedTutorials":[],"references":[{"title":"TOSNA 3.0 Nutrient Calculator","url":"https://www.meadmakr.com/tosna-calculator/","author":null,"year":null,"notes":null}]}