Lounge: (Off Topic) - Wine Making

fish1219 · #1 09/05/2007, 05:50 AM

Hello,
Any STRS members also wine makers? I'll be ordering juice on Thursday 06Sep07. PM if your interested in purchasing juice. I can give you the names of the groups you can order from or you can hook onto my order.
If you do make wine please doc in this thread.

Piazzon12 · #2 09/05/2007, 06:15 AM

I've never made wine, just beer and hard cider. I'd like to get into it someday, but currently I'm just too busy.

03Mach · #3 09/05/2007, 09:42 AM

My brother in law (well soon to be) and I made some cab. 4 or 5 months ago it didn't taste so good 1 month out

. I haven't tired any since. I've heard it can take some time to get good. Have you made it many times Fish1219? If so, what kinds and is it as good as some of the better wines out there.

I've made beer as well, I find it much to much work to make beer though. What kinds have you made Piazzon?

fish1219 · #4 09/06/2007, 07:10 PM

I've been making wine since 2003. I focus on the rich reds (Cabs, Merlot, etc.).
In general
* The rich reds are easier but take longer (need to be aged)
* The whites you can drink earlier but not as forgiving as the reds.
This year i'm making 30 gals
* Cab (12 Gals)
* Pinot Noir (6 Gals)
* Siraz (6 Gals)
* Sav Blanch (White - 6 Gals)

Szwalla · #5 09/06/2007, 07:47 PM

Is it potent?

Dave VG · #6 09/25/2007, 09:04 AM

Adam where do you get your stuff for beer making? Do you buy local or online? How hard is it to brew. Is the hard cider easier?

Piazzon12 · #7 09/25/2007, 11:18 AM

Doc's Brewing supplies in Binghamton is a great source for beer, wine and cider supplies. Doc is a great guy, very friendly and knowledgable, and he can set you up with everything you need to get started. Brewing itself is really pretty easy... but I guess it takes experience and some luck to get the end product to be really good.

Beer: As far as beer goes, I got started with a Beer Machine Kit I got for my B-day. That said, I wouldn't suggest commercial kits. The best way is to use what is basicly a 5 gal bucket, or glass container, with an airlock mechanism. (lets gas out, but keeps bad bacterial from getting in.).
As far as beer mix, I don't have a ton of experience, but you can:
a. go with a commercial premix (beer machine or Mr. beer online)- you just mix w/ yeast & water, ferment, bottle. These may be good for a first attempt, but they have been hit or miss (whether it was the flavor I chose, or my lack of brewing skills)
b. you can also get all the individaul ingredients and mix your own recipes.
As for bottling, I bought a case of 1L grolsch style bottles, which have the reusable corking mechanisms. (I didnt want to bother with caps, and the capper). You can even use plastic bottles with screw on caps, but I though that was just cheesy.

Cider: It may be the easiest, or at least turns out the best for me. Pretty much the same general steps as beer, but there are a million ways to do it. Sweet/dry/carbonated/flat... you can even put a jug on the back porch and let it ferment from natural yeast.

I myself make a dry, champgne-style cider. I get fresh juice from the cider mill (pastuerized or raw), add a small amount of sulfite to kill wild yeast, add pure sugar, apple pectin, and some enzyme stuff along with champagne yeast. Let it ferment until the bubbling stops. Bottle, add small amount of sugar to charge(carbonate) while inside the bottle... and wait. Usually the whole process is done and ready to drink in about a month.

This is an overview, missing some details, but there are many methods and tons of info out there online. If you're serious, I really suggest you stop talk in and talk to Doc. He knows his stuff, and seems very reasonably priced.

Dave VG · #8 09/25/2007, 11:30 AM

Thanks adam for the info. I think i will be stopping at the docs.

03Mach · #9 09/25/2007, 09:06 PM

If anyone is looking into beer I have a an ale pale from the brew store with a airlock on the lid. If someone wants it, they can have it (maybe a frag donation?).

Also if you are looking for good bottles check out Black Bear Winery in Chenango Forks, they have 1l flip top bottles for a really good price. The only thing is, they still have stickers on them (they are the empties they used in their tasting room).

My only advice for beer making is use liquid yeast!! I can't stress that enough. If you like good beer, liquid yeast is the only way you will get an awesome beer. Dry yeast can work for a so-so beer, but liquid is where it's at.

Doc's is a pretty good place to start, but if you get into it big time, there are a few great online shops with some killer grains and hopps.

Check out:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/