Recent content by Aqualung

The chalk idea intrigues me. What portion of crab apples would you suggest?

Last year I made some red fruit wines, elderberry, bramble and cherry. They are surprisingly good except everyone tells me they are too fruity. Is it just that they are comparing them to shop bought wine which can be devoid of fruity flavours?

I made a cider last year which had a really good flavour. Unfortunately it was way too acidic, it was drinkable, just about. It is coming up to cider time again and I need to make it more palatable. Does anyone have any ideas. I used a mixture of crab apples and desert apples.

I have a bottle of blackcurrant and gooseberry wine from 1996 in the garage. Unfortunately it has been stood upright for most of the past 20 or so years. Cork looks intact and it looks clear enough. Should I try it??

Thanks for the tips. I think I will bottle one gallon and see how it goes. I looked through the wine at a bright light and I think it is pretty much clear. Tonyhibbet: Before I made the Elderberry I made Bramble. I re-used the Bramble and Elderberry mush to make a batch as you suggest. It is...

Hi all. I made four gallons of Elderberry wine in October from frozen berries. The DJ's have been sat on the garage floor for two months now to clear. The problem I have is the wine is so dark I can't tell if it is clear enough to bottle yet. I usually find my red wines are clear after a couple...

Just had a look now and it is off like a goodun. :) It must have been the campden tablets. At least it kept the juice fresh. Thanks for the tips and the push. I was about to give up.

Thanks for the replies guys.

On and off for the past 30 years I have only brewed wine. Because 30 years ago I tried brewing a beer kit and it was really awful. I convinced myself that I could not brew beer. Three months ago the Missus said my wine is OK, but it is too strong sometimes, and could I brew a beer. Well the...

I have just brewed a copper ale from Wilco. It seems a bit sweet and I wonder if I should have left it a few more days than on the instructions.

I did my first beer about two months ago with a B&M kit. I was really impressed as were those I tested it on. I think B&M are stopping selling brew stuff because everything seems to be reduced. I have just tried a 40 pint kit from Wilco and although it is nice, it is not quite as good as the...

I have just put it to bed and I think it might be working. I wont know for sure until tomorow.

OK I have just stopped it at 65 degrees and let it cool from there

Thanks, I am heating it again now, I will bring it up to between 80 and 90 degrees and keep it there for a while. Do you think I need to add pectic enzyme. I dont want jam?

I have tried to get a starter going in a bottle with some of the original juice, yeast and a little sugar. Previously I used water sugar and yeast. It is just sat there doing nothing, so it must be campden tablets still working. Is there a way of removing the campden tablets effect. It would...