{"schema":{"type":"ModernMazerRecipe","version":"1.0"},"canonicalUrl":"https://modernmazer.com/recipes/sage-honey-mead","jsonUrl":"https://modernmazer.com/recipes/sage-honey-mead.json","slug":"sage-honey-mead","name":"Sage Honey Mead","summary":"A clean, herbal traditional mead built on California sage honey — a light-colored varietal with a subtle herbal character and slow crystallization rate. Sage honey produces a refined, slightly savory mead that pairs well with food. Targets 12% ABV with a dry finish. 5-gallon batch.","heroImage":null,"heroImageAlt":"A glass of pale golden sage mead beside fresh sage leaves and a honey jar","author":"Modern Mazer","publishedDate":"2026-09-13","updatedDate":"2026-09-13","testingStatus":"development","evidenceStatus":"editorial","difficulty":"beginner","style":"Traditional Mead","tags":["mead","traditional","sage","varietal-honey","california","herbal","five-gallon"],"targetBatchVolume":5,"targetBatchVolumeUnit":"gallons","grossBatchVolume":5.5,"grossBatchVolumeUnit":"gallons","expectedProductionLoss":0.09,"targetABV":12,"originalGravity":1.09,"finalGravity":1.002,"sweetnessLevel":"dry","carbonationLevel":"still","ingredients":[{"id":"honey","name":"California sage honey","quantity":13,"unit":"lbs","notes":"Light-colored, herbal varietal.","optional":false,"scalingBehavior":"linear"},{"id":"water","name":"Filtered water","quantity":4.5,"unit":"gallons","notes":null,"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 71B","brand":"Lalvin","quantity":1,"unit":"packets","notes":"Preserves varietal character."},"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.","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 1.090.","note":null},{"step":5,"title":"Pitch yeast and nutrients","description":"Pitch Lalvin 71B. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–70°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 4–6 weeks.","note":null},{"step":8,"title":"Rack to secondary","description":"Rack off lees.","note":null},{"step":9,"title":"Condition and clarify","description":"Condition for 3–6 months.","note":null},{"step":10,"title":"Package","description":"Bottle or keg.","note":null}],"fermentationTemperature":"65–70°F (18–21°C)","fermentationTimeline":"4–6 weeks","conditioningTimeline":"3–6 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","acacia-mead"],"relatedTutorials":[],"references":[{"title":"TOSNA 3.0 Nutrient Calculator","url":"https://www.meadmakr.com/tosna-calculator/","author":null,"year":null,"notes":null}]}