Not quite wine but....

[swaps]

Hi all,
There is not a forum dedicated to this so though I would post here. Im doing 25 litres or sugar wash with the alcotec 48 hour yeast. I will be letting it run the week with the 8kg sugar to hopefully get the 20% alcohol. I will want to flavour this, Vodka , brandy, coconut rum, whiskey, dark rum. Was looking to do 5 litres or each flavour. Been looking on ebay and the link I found either flavoured 1 bottle or 3 and worked out with postage around £1.90 a bottle to flavour. Is there anyone who does flavours that will do 5 litres ? or chan you use the ASDA home brand essence flavours for baking ? These seem to be a lot cheaper. Any advise is welcome.

Thanks Alan

 

[BigYin]

Will that yeast go up to 20% ?? You might end up with a 14% sweet 'wash'.... :hmm:

As to flavours, no idea I'm afraid - probably best thing to do is experiment yourself with small amounts of the bakery stuff... worth a go!

 

[swaps]

Hi,
Yes its turbo yeast it can easily to to 20% ABV. Put the wash on this morning and its bubbing like hell. Got a fish tank heater keeping it at a steady 20C. Should take 5 days to a week to brew out. Thisnk I will try the ASDA flavourings in small amounts and see how it goes and will buy one of the commercial flavourings to see the difference.. Have though that maybe for vodka flavour I could add 1 litre of cheap vodka to 4 litres of the wash. Thats will give me 5 and will increase the alcohol too. I have not see a straight vodka flavour, they all seem to be vodka with lemon and stuff like that.

Alan

 

[Molineux]

I know my LHBS sells the essences in 1L bottles that you can simply fill with your wash.

Your main concern should be the taste of the wash though.. I have used Alcotec 48 and it wasn't particularly pleasant. I could drink it over ice in the beginning but it actually got worse with age. Apparently charcoal

Read this : http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=25020&start=0

 

[swaps]

Hi,
Thanks for the info, I have done everything I can to sort out the off flavours. There is liquid carbon in with the fermentation (as recommended) and if I find any problems at the finish I will run it through carbon to filter it again but from bits I have seen on the internet it should be ok with just the liquid carbon. Have never tied it but I read the alcohol water produced is not very tasty hence the need for flavourings. Does your home brow shop have a web page ? I have only seem the flavourings in small bottles, enough for around 3 75cl bottles nd its not cheap. Litre bottle may work out cheaper. Not doen any home brewing for years so this is my first dip back in to it. will try a lager kit once this has finished.

Thanks Alan

 

[mm707]

You need to run it at least three times through a length of plastic waste pipe with activted carbon in it.

As for flavourings I get mine from simplynatural.org.uk quite cheap and free delivery over £14

The ouzo / aniseed ones can flavour a litre no problem, some are a bit rough so it's trial and error :)

 

[swaps]

Cheers,
Thats where I got my turbo yeast from, I pay there now and again. I did not see the essences. I will got some and give it a go.

Alan

You need to run it at least three times through a length of plastic waste pipe with activted carbon in it.

As for flavourings I get mine from simplynatural.org.uk quite cheap and free delivery over £14

The ouzo / aniseed ones can flavour a litre no problem, some are a bit rough so it's trial and error :)

 

[Gayle]

I made a weaker alcowater, maybe about 12% before I diluted it, and even with a couple of packets of kool-aid and tons of sweetener it's still a rough drink! Although I didn't use turbo yeast it took over two weeks to ferment. You could also try adding fruit and sugar (once fermentation has been stopped) to some of the bottles to make a "liqueur" kinda thing, I've gathered a bucket full of sloes last night to make sloe gin, and you can also use raspberries, blackberries or whatever you can find. Diet soda stream concentrates can be used as well.

25litres will give you room for experimentation, so play around with the flavourings, make a note of them and make another batch for the ones that work really well!

 

[swaps]

Thanks,
Yes I will be trying Lots of flavours by the glass and if its good will go on to larger batches. I have though of high alcohol alcopops , maybe vimto and ribena. If there are still off flavours when done I will get some more carbon to filter it through but im hoping the liquid carbon has done it job. Had a look today (day6) and there still seems to be quite a bit of activity. I dont think this is going to finish in 7 days never mind the 5 its supposed to.


Alan

I made a weaker alcowater, maybe about 12% before I diluted it, and even with a couple of packets of kool-aid and tons of sweetener it's still a rough drink! Although I didn't use turbo yeast it took over two weeks to ferment. You could also try adding fruit and sugar (once fermentation has been stopped) to some of the bottles to make a "liqueur" kinda thing, I've gathered a bucket full of sloes last night to make sloe gin, and you can also use raspberries, blackberries or whatever you can find. Diet soda stream concentrates can be used as well.

25litres will give you room for experimentation, so play around with the flavourings, make a note of them and make another batch for the ones that work really well!

 

[mm707]

It does tend to finish all of a sudden :)

Please let us know how the liquid carbon worked, I've not used it myself

 

[swaps]

Hi,
Yes, will do. Just checked it now and its still going but has slowed a lot. I would guess another day or 2 should do it. will leave it a couple of days after that to be sure its all fermented out and then a couple of days to clear with the turbo clear A and B. Hopefully next weekend I can give it a try and see how its turned out. I will keep you informed.

Alan

It does tend to finish all of a sudden :)

Please let us know how the liquid carbon worked, I've not used it myself

 

[swaps]

Hi all,
Fermentation fully stopped now for 2 days. I have added the turbo klar A and wqill add the B in a couple of hours. I will leave this until Sat and them rack into demijohns. I will give it a taste test as it is and then try adding a few flavours ( to small amounts) to see what happens. Hopefully the liquid carbon has done its job. I will let you know how I get on.

Alan