Increasing ABV in 30 bottle wine kits

[stephen1546]

Hi

Ive tried a few Cellar 7 and Solomon Grundy 30 bottle wine kits, they taste decent enough but i struggle to reach the 12% and the wines comes out at around 10.5%

Should i make less than 30 bottles , hopefully resulting in a higher ABV? or add more sugar or perhaps try different yeast?.

Any feedback appreciated.

Cheers

Stevie

 

[Chippy_Tea]

How are you reaching the figure of 10.5% as most kit wine is around 12%

 

[stephen1546]

My OG is coming out at 1.080 and finishing at 1000, cant seem to get it to go any lower.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Have you calibrated your hydrometer?

 

[stephen1546]

Have you calibrated your hydrometer?

Aye, comes out a 1000 in water

 

[Chippy_Tea]

.1000 is a bit high most I have made have got below .995 and they have got down to .990 are you using a heat source?

 

[stephen1546]

.1000 is a bit high most I have made have got below .995 and they have got down to .990 are you using a heat source?

I have my fermenters in a small music room, I do place the brews on the floor where there is hot water pipes directly under them. Usually brew at around 24 degrees. Do you think that is a little on the warm side?.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

No, how are you deciding its finished fermenting?

 

[stephen1546]

No, how are you deciding its finished fermenting?

I make sure the FG does not move over a couple of days. Wine is usually in fermenter for 7 days

 

[110ben]

I make Solomon Grundy platinum all the time and always comes out at around 995 or lower. I think if I were you I would invest in a second hydrometer as after chippy_tea's questions and your answers that would likely be the cause unless the temperature in the fermentation room fluctuates. I use a brew fridge and set temp to 24 and leave for 7 days as well. Good luck sorting the conundrum

 

[stephen1546]

I make Solomon Grundy platinum all the time and always comes out at around 995 or lower. I think if I were you I would invest in a second hydrometer as after chippy_tea's questions and your answers that would likely be the cause unless the temperature in the fermentation room fluctuates. I use a brew fridge and set temp to 24 and leave for 7 days as well. Good luck sorting the conundrum

To add to the mystery i have beers fermenting in the same room and they are fine with ABV

 

[tonyhibbett]

Originally the Cellar 7 kits were designed for 21 litres. People complained that this gave nowhere near 30 bottles so the instructions were changed to 23 litres, which of course lowered the abv. The solution is to brew to the original 21 litres.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I make sure the FG does not move over a couple of days. Wine is usually in fermenter for 7 days

I have a heat pad for winter and have made many different kits i have never had a wine finish to .995 or below in 7 days i am wondering if they are fermenting so slowly by the end you are thinking they are finished when they would go a little further given time.

 

[stephen1546]

I have a heat pad for winter and have made many different kits i have never had a wine finish to .995 or below in 7 days i am wondering if they are fermenting so slowly by the end you are thinking they are finished when they would go a little further given time.

Will perhaps leave the next kit a few more days to see if there is any more movement in fermentation
Cheers
Stevie

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Keep us posted. :thumba: