A bright, refreshing session mead built on clover honey with fresh lime juice and zest. Crisp and citrusy with a clean finish. Targets 5% ABV with a semi-dry finish. 5-gallon batch.
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Batch size
5 gallons
Target ABV
5%
Fermentation
2–3 weeks
Conditioning
4–6 weeks
Responsible use: These recipes produce alcoholic beverages. Ferment and consume responsibly. Verify all quantities, equipment, and safety procedures before beginning. Consult local regulations regarding home fermentation.
Add in secondary.
Zest of 4 limes. Add in secondary in a muslin bag.
Yeast
Lalvin Lalvin 71B — 1 packets
| Timing | Nutrient | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 (pitch) | Fermaid-O | 1.5 g | |
| 24 hours | Fermaid-O | 1.5 g | |
| 48 hours | Fermaid-O | 1.5 g | |
| 1/3 sugar break | Fermaid-O | 1.5 g |
Prepare no-rinse sanitizer. Sanitize all vessels and tools.
Dissolve honey in 1 gallon of warm water. Cool. Add to fermenter with remaining water to 5.5 gallons.
Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.038.
Pitch Lalvin 71B. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–70°F.
Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.
Check gravity every few days. Session mead typically completes in 2–3 weeks.
Rack. Add lime juice and zest (in muslin bag). Allow 3–5 days of contact. Taste daily.
Remove zest bag. Condition for 4–6 weeks.
Carbonate to approximately 2.5 volumes CO2. Package into pressure-rated bottles.
Ensure fermentation is fully complete before carbonating. Use vessels rated for carbonation pressure.
Honey and water scale linearly. Lime juice and zest do NOT scale linearly — adjust to taste. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly.
Enter your desired finished batch size to scale ingredient quantities. Press Enter or tap away to apply.
Target ABV
5%
Original gravity
1.038
Final gravity
1.002
Sweetness
dry
Finished volume
5 gallons
Gross starting volume
5.5 gallons
Expected loss
0.5 gallons(9%)
| Ingredient | Quantity | Unit | Scaling notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover honey | 4 | lbs | |
| Filtered water | 4.5 | gallons | |
| Fresh lime juice | 8 | oz | ⚠ review |
| Lime zest | 4 | each | ⚠ review |
| Fermaid-O | 6 | g | ⚠ review |
⚠ Ingredients requiring review
Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 7 supplement.
A crisp, refreshing session mead at 3.5% ABV with a bright ginger and lime character. Fresh ginger and lime zest are cold-steeped and fermented with wildflower honey for a clean, effervescent low-alcohol beverage. Derived from the Morning Tonic botanical platform and adapted for a 5-gallon home batch format.
A vibrant, tart session mead at 3.5% ABV with deep crimson color from dried hibiscus flowers and a bright lime finish. Hibiscus contributes natural acidity and a striking ruby hue. Lightly carbonated for a refreshing, low-alcohol beverage. This is an editorial development recipe in a 5-gallon batch format.
A bright, tart session mead built on wildflower honey with tart cherries and fresh lime juice. Targets 6% ABV with a semi-sweet finish. 5-gallon batch.