Search found 43 matches

by Crastney
Thu Nov 01, 2018 11:20 am
Forum: Cider Making
Topic: first attempt at cider, how much yeast per 5 gallon
Replies: 5
Views: 3541

Re: first attempt at cider, how much yeast per 5 gallon

as far as I know, beer is made with yeast in vast quantities (billions), and fermentation takes off quickly, and takes about 10 days in total. You can do this with cider, but usually a 5g sachet for on 5 gallon DJ is enough, and it takes a bit longer to start, is less vigorous, and can take weeks, i...
by Crastney
Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:42 am
Forum: Cider Making
Topic: First attempt at cider: a bit bland - any cure?
Replies: 14
Views: 5617

Re: First attempt at cider: a bit bland - any cure?

any mix of apples will make cider. it just depends on if you like the result or not. once made, the only thing you can do is add stuff like malic acid, or tanin (or a mug of strong tea), or add apple juice to the glass as you serve it, or if you can get another cider which is sufficiently wrong the ...
by Crastney
Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:40 pm
Forum: Cider Making
Topic: Apples for making cider
Replies: 11
Views: 4784

Re: Apples for making cider

a recent survey in London found that the most common type of tree is 'apple'. not what you'd expect, but there are loads of them in peoples gardens. There's plenty of unused fruit around if you look for it. I bet a few people at your work have an apple tree, and probably at least one doesn't use the...
by Crastney
Tue Sep 25, 2018 12:34 pm
Forum: Cider Making
Topic: Apples for making cider
Replies: 11
Views: 4784

Re: Apples for making cider

I've never bought apples in bulk online. I suspect it'll be difficult - most people looking for apples will ask local orchard owners first. most orchard owners will already have an outlet for their apples, or will sell locally. I suggest you find some way of searching locally for farmers who have ap...
by Crastney
Thu May 31, 2018 2:43 pm
Forum: Other Alcoholic Brews
Topic: potato wine
Replies: 15
Views: 8875

Re: potato wine

tomato wine has been done... it wasn't great by all accounts. passable, but not great. Bloke on the other forum (craft brewing forum) by the name of Moley. Met him a few times at The Home Brew Festivals. nice bloke.
by Crastney
Fri May 18, 2018 12:20 pm
Forum: Grain Brewing
Topic: Selling Beer Brewed in UK Residence Locally
Replies: 19
Views: 12428

Re: Selling Beer Brewed in UK Residence Locally

well I was going to post a reply, but you don't want speculation, so ... from what I've seen on here, the vast majority of people are home brewers, who don't sell their beer (obviously), and very occasionally we get someone like yourself who wants to go commercial, and asks for advice. the general a...
by Crastney
Thu May 03, 2018 1:11 pm
Forum: Yeast
Topic: Could A Bread Machine Make A Yeast Starter?
Replies: 8
Views: 3122

Re: Could A Bread Machine Make A Yeast Starter?

as others said, not a good idea. temperature rang too high, and also, on our bread maker, the paddle only goes round for the mixing, kneading phase, and there's extended periods of rest where the bread proves. You could take one apart, and alter the electronics, to control the spin, and temp, and it...
by Crastney
Thu May 03, 2018 1:06 pm
Forum: Beer Recipes
Topic: Rhubarb Ginger Beer
Replies: 6
Views: 2653

Re: Rhubarb Ginger Beer

would have made a nice cider if you'd used apple juice instead of water - however it might be alright. possibly it'll be on the thin/watery side. previously I've done rhubarb and ginger wine, and added currents/sultanas and a ripe banana to provide some body, and used white grape juice instead of so...
by Crastney
Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:48 pm
Forum: Beer Recipes
Topic: Rhubarb beer
Replies: 21
Views: 8962

Re: Rhubarb beer

yes there are fermentable sugars in rhubarb. I've just got a bag of frozen rhubarb out of my freezer to defrost, I'm going to give it a bit of a squish once defrosted, and put it into a DJ and rack a finished cider onto it for a few days (a week?) or so before bottling. I'd suggest something similar...
by Crastney
Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:36 pm
Forum: Winemaking
Topic: new to wine making
Replies: 5
Views: 4084

Re: new to wine making

as ever, generally speaking, the more you pay the better the ingredients you get, the nicer the finished wine will be. if the kit contains sugar, then it won't be as good as one which gets all the fermentables from grape juice/grape concentrate. and if the grape variety of the concentrate is mention...
by Crastney
Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:39 pm
Forum: Other Alcoholic Brews
Topic: what to make?
Replies: 4
Views: 4477

Re: what to make?

I'll update this thread when I get some free time to actually make something... (I also have 40 fruit flavour tea bags that I got a few years ago, from approved food - to make a fruit wine, which hasn't happened yet either... {approved food sells stuff that is nearing it's 'best before' date - stuff...
by Crastney
Fri Feb 09, 2018 1:41 pm
Forum: Other Alcoholic Brews
Topic: what to make?
Replies: 4
Views: 4477

what to make?

I've been given a couple of specific beer yeasts (in plastic tubes, sealed, liquid yeasts, possibly gone past use by date) - I don't recall exactly which, but they're both WhiteLabs. problem is that I don't make beer. I have lots of fruit in the freezer. Rhubarb, ginger, gooseberries, currants, etc....
by Crastney
Tue Feb 06, 2018 2:19 pm
Forum: Other Alcoholic Brews
Topic: Measuring ABV of Rice Wine
Replies: 2
Views: 3852

Re: Measuring ABV of Rice Wine

on another home brew forum (craft brewing) there's a bloke called Tony Hibbett, who does lots of wines, I recall him doing a sake/rice wine, and there was information about hydrometer readings, and vinometer readings, and I think the SG was low, as the carbohydrate conversion carried on whilst the f...
by Crastney
Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:52 pm
Forum: Cleaning, Sanitation and Sterilisation
Topic: How long do bottles stay clean?
Replies: 6
Views: 3190

Re: How long do bottles stay clean?

I would normally use those reusable plastic caps once cleaned, and then a rinse, and sterilise just before bottling.
once cleaned and capped they can be stored for ages - so clean as many as you have, then keep any you don't fill, ready for next time.
by Crastney
Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:39 pm
Forum: Winemaking
Topic: First time wine making
Replies: 6
Views: 4193

Re: First time wine making

you could blend the two together... I have elderberry cider which isn't terrible. elderberry wine on it's own is definitely going to be high tannin, and as others say, will mellow over a couple of years. if you've got time, and space, you could mix with a sweet wine, and fortify with brandy, and lea...