Denard Brewing

Jiahu is an ancient Chinese beverage dating between 7000-5500 BC. Technically, Jiahu is an excavation site where pottery was found with traces of the ancient brew. Dogfish Head made a beer version of it as have others. Here, I'm trying to create a higher ABV mead version more fit for Chinese royalty. 

I'm making my life a bit easier by using Rice solids and DME. Let's get the balance right before we embark on sake making and whole grain. 

Jiahu BOMM - 1 gallon
1. Heat 0.5 gallon water to boiling. 
2. Remove from heat and add the following:
-0.5 lb Golden DME
-1 lb Rice solids
3. Boil and mix until all Rice solids are dissolved. Remove from heat, then add:
-2 oz Hawthorn Berries
-Peel of 1/2 orange, pith included (Need the bitter pith to balance the sweetness)
-1.5 lbs OB Honey
-0.5 lb Red Grapes, crushed
4. Allow all to steep with stirring for 10 minutes. 
5. Allow to cool to room temperature. 
6. Strain out spices into a 1 gallon carboy. 
7. Add 0.4 tsp Fermaid K, 0.8 tsp Fermaid O, & 0.25 tsp K2CO3. 
-Add Fermaid O again at 1.099 and 1.059. 
8. Add 1 oz Multicolored Raisins for tannins. 
9. Add one activated pack of Wyeast 1388. 

Specs
SG - 1.130
FG - 1.010
15.7% ABV

Inspiring Source: Ancient Brews Rediscovered and Re-created, Patrick E. McGovern, 2017.