The advantages of home brewing when you fancy a cheap tipple

[Deleted User]

If making beer from kits, spend the extra few quid, for the 3kg "All Malt" kits.

They produce a far better, fuller flavour, beer than the Malt and Sugar kits.

January20

geordie_ben wrote: »

HELP!!!

I've just put my mixture from my fermenting bucket into my demijohn

There was a layer of 'scum' on top the liquid in the fermenting bucket.. should I have put this in the demijohn as well?

If not, should the demijohn be bubbling straight away?

Which wine is that for? When I made the last batch of strawberry, there was no scum in the fermenting bucket but as soon as I put it in the demi-john with yeast etc, it started to bubble straight away, every very rapidly and formed a thick scum on top. A few days later the scum had completely disappeared! Still bubbling lots and I put it down to the warmer temperatures.

Sorry, I realise that I haven't answered your question! Is your wine not bubbling then?

geordie_ben

January20 wrote: »

Which wine is that for? When I made the last batch of strawberry, there was no scum in the fermenting bucket but as soon as I put it in the demi-john with yeast etc, it started to bubble straight away, every very rapidly and formed a thick scum on top. A few days later the scum had completely disappeared! Still bubbling lots and I put it down to the warmer temperatures.

Sorry, I realise that I haven't answered your question! Is your wine not bubbling then?

Its was one of M2Js recipes

There was scum left over in the fermenting bucket after I syphoned the liquid into my demijohn, I put the sugar and yeast into the fermenting bucket. But now the demi john is bubbling away as well... I've still got the left overs in the fermenting bucket. Might whack it into another demijohn and see what happens

January20

geordie_ben wrote: »

Its was one of M2Js recipes

There was scum left over in the fermenting bucket after I syphoned the liquid into my demijohn, I put the sugar and yeast into the fermenting bucket. But now the demi john is bubbling away as well... I've still got the left overs in the fermenting bucket. Might whack it into another demijohn and see what happens

This is what I would do but it doesn't mean it's right: since it's bubbling away in the demi-john I would leave it to carry and - just like you - I would bung the leftover stuff into another d-j just to see what happens - I like experiments! Best way to learn I think

January20

Is anything happening in the land of homebrewing?

I bottled my Wild Cherry Tea Wine yesterday (made from tea leaves) and my dd's Cherry wine (made from a kit). Strawberry wine will have to be racked in a couple of weeks.

I'm now pondering what to make next. I might take a small break from wine and make a flavoured vodka. Dd's boyfriend suggested lime flavoured. I've already done lemon and also plum so don't really want to revisit those.

geordie_ben

January20 wrote: »

Is anything happening in the land of homebrewing?

I bottled my Wild Cherry Tea Wine yesterday (made from tea leaves) and my dd's Cherry wine (made from a kit). Strawberry wine will have to be racked in a couple of weeks.

I'm now pondering what to make next. I might take a small break from wine and make a flavoured vodka. Dd's boyfriend suggested lime flavoured. I've already done lemon and also plum so don't really want to revisit those.

I think my strawberries and blackberry wine is ready to bottle now as its stopped bubbling.. any tricks of the trade?

I'm gonna do cider next as I want a quick drink

determined_new_ms

January20 wrote: »

Is anything happening in the land of homebrewing?

I bottled my Wild Cherry Tea Wine yesterday (made from tea leaves) and my dd's Cherry wine (made from a kit). Strawberry wine will have to be racked in a couple of weeks.

I'm now pondering what to make next. I might take a small break from wine and make a flavoured vodka. Dd's boyfriend suggested lime flavoured. I've already done lemon and also plum so don't really want to revisit those.

We bought all the equipment to make wine but have now decided to buy a house. Have had an offer accepted and are waiting for contracts to be exchanged. So have decided to wait until we move as don't like the idea of lugging demijohns of brewing wine around!

If the sale goes through we have a little shed so that will probably become our brewery

In the mean time we have made some blackberry liqueur - ala superscrimpers recipe - looks good although will need to strain again as there is some sediment in it. Tastes good, but will leave for a little longer. 1/2 a bottle of voda made 2 x 75cl bottles.

We have also made some hm coffee liqueur as when on holiday oh discovered he loves white russians and tia maria is v expensive!

Am waiting to find some reduced raspberries to make some liqueer as well :T

geordie_ben

determined_new_ms wrote: »

We bought all the equipment to make wine but have now decided to buy a house. Have had an offer accepted and are waiting for contracts to be exchanged. So have decided to wait until we move as don't like the idea of lugging demijohns of brewing wine around!

If the sale goes through we have a little shed so that will probably become our brewery

In the mean time we have made some blackberry liqueur - ala superscrimpers recipe - looks good although will need to strain again as there is some sediment in it. Tastes good, but will leave for a little longer. 1/2 a bottle of voda made 2 x 75cl bottles.

We have also made some hm coffee liqueur as when on holiday oh discovered he loves white russians and tia maria is v expensive!

Am waiting to find some reduced raspberries to make some liqueer as well :T

Fancy sharing some recipes?

determined_new_ms

geordie_ben wrote: »

Fancy sharing some recipes?

Lady Lesley's Blackberry Liqueur
What you'll need (makes 2 bottles)
2 packs fresh blackberries (300g), 450g sugar, pint of water, half bottle of cheap vodka (500ml)
+ Potato masher (or similar), sieve, bottles for decanting
How to do it
STEP 1: Sterilise your bottle by washing it in hot water or on the hot cycle in a dishwasher. Dry by placing it a preheated oven at 160C/325F/Gas 3 for 10 - 15 mins, then leave to cool.
STEP 2: Microwave the blackberries until they begin to breakdown and you can see some of the juice
STEP 3: Add the sugar, and mash together
STEP 4: Place the bowl back into the microwave and bring to the boil, this will also sterilise the mixture
STEP 5: Strain the mixture using a sieve and let it cool
STEP 6: Once cooled, it should resemble a thin syrup, add the water and vodka and stir
STEP 7: Decant into your bottle

coffee liqueur:

Make strong pot of coffee (we have fresh coffee but you can use instant) oh tells me he needed 2 mugs of strong coffee

vanilla extract - 1/2 tbsp

1 & 1/4 mug of sugar

2 mugs of vodka

brew coffeee, put into saucepan, put in vanilla & sugar, bring to boil, simmer so sugar melts and then let it cool, then add vodka.

voila! to make white russians

1 part liqueur, 1 part vodka, ice and 2 parts milk mmmmm

we're still experimenting to get the perfect mix!

grannytwice

HELP, made apple and white grape wine from supermarket juice cartons this is the 2nd time i have made it, last time it was fine, but this time it sooo sweet, not very nice, is there anything i can do to rectify it or is it just pour away and start again?
any advice would be most appreciated as i am a complete novice but will keep practising.:)