Supermarket Juice Wine How To guide and Recipes.

[VillageBrew]

Just set off Orange & Sultana WOW. I couldn't find WGJ locally so got impatient and steeped some sultanas, and went for 2 litres of Lidl OJ. Hit around 1.110 OG, then realised I hadn't added all the sugar I had planned on (still had about 250g left). Figure I'll let it ferment out and then feed the rest...

:party:

 

[cheapbrew]

Isn't granulated sugar fermentable? I would have thought that would start a secondary fermentation in the bottle.

I thought the question was for a wow, but maybe it was about cider just in the wrong thread.

 

[Pirate_Pete]

I thought the question was for a wow, but maybe it was about cider just in the wrong thread.

I had to go back and check, but yes he's asking about cider in the WOW thread.

So for a cider it sugar would start a secondary fermentation.
However in a WOW where the yeast have been killed off before bottling ( I presume) sugar would be fine.

 

[Maynard]

Morning,
Joined today after reading this thread for days. Put my WOW in on the 31st and it is blooping at apx 35 bloops a minute (not sure that means anything?) I must say a massive thanks to Chippy Tea and all other contributers to this thread for the recipes and advice. My attempt contains:
Apx 15L in total.

3L Morrisons apple,raspberry and cranberry juice
5 bag PG tips very strong tea
6 bag brew of fruity tea (Blueberry & Cranberry)
950g Sugar dissolved in 2L spring water
3 tsp Nutrient
2 tsp Pectolase
1.5 tsp Wilko wine yeast
Topped off with spring water

Smells lovely and seems to be going well. Hope to have it drinkable for Valentines day?
I don't have a Hydro thingy as have no idea how to use it. I will judge to alcohol content by my ability to walk after having a few! Very scientific method that.

A quick question the scummy stuff floating on top (Krausen) is that going to sink to the bottom when its done? or do i siphon through it?

Thank you

Ben

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks for the comment about the thread, when I posted it I never dreamed it would get 1,444 replies and nearly 108,000 views, thanks to all that have and continue to contribute.

To answer your question, some juises throw up a lot of sediment which sinks and floats others just sink, if you are careful you can avoid sucking up too much when the level gets down to the sediment trap, rather lose a little wine than get lots of sediment in the second DJ, as you will top this up its not a problem as you still get your full gallon.

 

[Maynard]

Thanks for the comment about the thread, when I posted it I never dreamed it would get 1,444 replies and nearly 108,000 views, thanks to all that have and continue to contribute.

To answer your question, some juices throw up a lot of sediment which sinks and floats others just sink, if you are careful you can avoid sucking up too much when the level gets down to the sediment trap, rather lose a little wine than get lots of sediment in the second DJ, as you will top this up its not a problem as you still get your full gallon.

Thanks dude, Hopefully it will sink but if not i will be careful when transferring to secondary to clear. You did well on this thread mate.:thumb:

 

[Maynard]

Can anyone of you more experienced WOWers let me know if it is normal for a brew to slow down in 4 days? My brew was blooping at apx 25 a min yesterday morning now it is going at about 9 a minute?? There is plenty of activity in the bottle still. My house is always very warm as my wife is part reptile and is cold blooded.

 

[Cqr]

How warm is warm, if it's to warm it will speed up things

 

[Maynard]

How warm is warm, if it's to warm it will speed up things

At a guess id say about 20 degrees c.

 

[Cqr]

20 is ok
I would just let it go for a wile yet 👍👍
I have 2 on the go that came out the air lock, mad mad activity for about 4 days
Now slowed right down to a gentle plop plop

 

[Maynard]

Ok mate ill leave it to do its thing. It is gently popping away.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

If you don't have a hydrometer wait until you only see one bubble every minute or longer then you can call it done, if you have a hydrometer you can finish it at .995 or below.

 

[Maynard]

I don't have a hydrometer so I will use the pop method. So when down to 1 pop a minute I then rack to another container add Camden and sorbate then finings'?

 

[NCFCcrazy]

I don't have a hydrometer so I will use the pop method. So when down to 1 pop a minute I then rack to another container add Camden and sorbate then finings'?

My mead was started on 27th November and it's still going, slow and steady but I can see bubbles rising so it's not done.

I would go and get a hydrometer, they aren't expensive. Some wines just go slower than others, maybe taste it and if it's too sweet, leave it.

 

[Maynard]

Taste it?? I'll try that. I will pick up a hydrometer when I'm next near a Wilkinson, my nearest store is 45 mins drive away.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Having a hydrometer is good as you can work out what the ABV will be when its finished, my one bubble per minute combined with the quantity of sugar in the DJ when it starts works for me. (i am lazy)

 

[Gorty]

Can anyone of you more experienced WOWers let me know if it is normal for a brew to slow down in 4 days? My brew was blooping at apx 25 a min yesterday morning now it is going at about 9 a minute?? There is plenty of activity in the bottle still. My house is always very warm as my wife is part reptile and is cold blooded.

Hi Maynard, opinions vary about temperature 20 degrees is fine for fermentation some advocate higher some slightly lower. The fermentation will slow down after a few days, what you're seeing is quite normal, it will slow even further as it goes on. As for hope it will be ready by Valentines day, it might be a bit early, I like to stand mine for about a week after the fermentation has finished, sorry but you really do need a hydrometer in this game they aren't expensive £3-4 I think Wilkos do them or your local HBS. Also you will need finings as well other wise the clearing process can take weeks or longer, KwikClear is pretty good again from your LHBS. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Maynard]

I'm working near a Wilkinson tomorrow so I will drop in and grab a hydrometer and some finings. I think I'm going to rack into a second vessel tonight and have a cheeky slurp😉 hopefully it wont be as dry as the nuns chuff that I've read about on here. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Maynard]

I'm working near a Wilkinson tomorrow so I will drop in and grab a hydrometer and some finings. I think I'm going to rack into a second vessel tonight and have a cheeky slurp😉 hopefully it wont be as dry as the nuns chuff that I've read about on here. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

If you are using demijohns get a trial jar for the hydrometer its a PITA if you don't, they sell them at Wilko.