WoW tastes a bit too alcoholly (not a word i know)

[redhotitfc]

Hi,

Just finished my first wow to the guide and it just tastes like it has too much alcohol. Not enough flavour. I have back sweetened to medium dry and it came out at 13% abv.

Any ideas?

 

[bobsbeer]

I don't usually make straight WOW any more and only do 25 lt brews. But I find that reducing the orange and adding apple juice helps. I also try to keep the SG to about 1.085 which gives an ABV of about 12%. Having said that an alcoholly taste can be a sign of oxidisation which can happen if you splash it during racking. But try different juices especially apple with white grape juice.

 

[Leeds Chimp]

I don't usually make straight WOW any more and only do 25 lt brews. But I find that reducing the orange and adding apple juice helps. I also try to keep the SG to about 1.085 which gives an ABV of about 12%. Having said that an alcoholly taste can be a sign of oxidisation which can happen if you splash it during racking. But try different juices especially apple with white grape juice.

so how do you de gas then instead of shaking it?? :drunk:

 

[bobsbeer]

If you fill the DJ to near the top and give a good shake the airspace gets filled with CO2. But don't overdo it. Some people shake the hell out of it. IMO not needed.

 

[ScottM]

I don't usually make straight WOW any more and only do 25 lt brews. But I find that reducing the orange and adding apple juice helps. I also try to keep the SG to about 1.085 which gives an ABV of about 12%. Having said that an alcoholly taste can be a sign of oxidisation which can happen if you splash it during racking. But try different juices especially apple with white grape juice.

so how do you de gas then instead of shaking it?? :drunk:

I don't think you need to worry too much when you are degassing, as the gas that is coming out is CO2 and will most likely fill your container... thus no O2 getting into the must. It's when racking, after the degassing, that care must be taken.

Having said that the straight up WOW is very tart IMO and DOES taste alcoholic. I think that's the flavour from the orange though, and as suggested changing out all/some of the orange for another fruit can make all the difference.

I made WOW a while back and I still have a couple of bottles left, I drink it but nowhere near the rate that I drink my other creations. I won't be doing it again but I'm over the moon at learning the technique so I wouldn't change that first batch for the world :)

 

[Leeds Chimp]

I don't usually make straight WOW any more and only do 25 lt brews. But I find that reducing the orange and adding apple juice helps. I also try to keep the SG to about 1.085 which gives an ABV of about 12%. Having said that an alcoholly taste can be a sign of oxidisation which can happen if you splash it during racking. But try different juices especially apple with white grape juice.

so how do you de gas then instead of shaking it?? :drunk:

I don't think you need to worry too much when you are degassing, as the gas that is coming out is CO2 and will most likely fill your container... thus no O2 getting into the must. It's when racking, after the degassing, that care must be taken.

Having said that the straight up WOW is very tart IMO and DOES taste alcoholic. I think that's the flavour from the orange though, and as suggested changing out all/some of the orange for another fruit can make all the difference.

I made WOW a while back and I still have a couple of bottles left, I drink it but nowhere near the rate that I drink my other creations. I won't be doing it again but I'm over the moon at learning the technique so I wouldn't change that first batch for the world :)

but in Moleys one it says to rack first then de gas.... confused i am now :whistle:

 

[ScottM]

but in Moleys one it says to rack first then de gas.... confused i am now :whistle:

He also racks through a filter after that though, and he also racks into bottles

 

[bobsbeer]

Yes rack before you degas. But stabilise after you rack and then degas then add finings. I use 2 part finings which clear in about 2 days.

 

[bobsbeer]

I don't usually bother with filtering, but that is the last stage if you do. The wine needs to be clear before you filter. I usually rack into another FV, stabilise, degs, add finings and when it's clear, bottle or rack again to another DJ for long term storage.

 

[ScottM]

I don't usually bother with filtering, but that is the last stage if you do. The wine needs to be clear before you filter. I usually rack into another FV, stabilise, degs, add finings and when it's clear, bottle or rack again to another DJ for long term storage.

Yup that's what I tend to do too. I've only ever filtered one wine, just to see the outcome. I don't think I'll bother again unless really wanting to make the most of something.

 

[tonyhibbett]

13% is rather alcoholic anyway but that flavour probably derives from an excessive amount of fermented added sugar, typically derived from sugar beet, rather than the fruit. I had this problem when I added crude white rum to fortify a weak wine. The unpleasant flavour persisted. My conclusion is that the higher the alcohol level, the longer it takes to become palateable. I never liked cheap scotch but when I tasted an old single malt whiskey, I knew I had been drinking rubbish!