Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: Growster... on May 07, 2016, 10:37
-
Has anyone tried making this with an extra strong yeast?
We have a lot of blackcurrant bushes, and there comes a time when an alternative use for them becomes a plan...
I'd reckon an Alcotec yeast could take it up to about 20%, but any other ideas would be very welcome!
-
I just squish my blackcurrants, toss in the sugar and vodka and leave for a month in a dark place, which is where I have to go when I drink too much of it.
-
So how much sugar do you chuck in, Mrs Bee?
Can it ferment out properly?
Sounds lovely though!
-
450g blackcurrants
600ml gin or brandy or vodka
crush blackcurrants, top with the gin and leave in a dark place for 2 months,
Strain out the blackcurrants and add 175g of sugar to each pint of liquid.
Pour into a container and leave for 2days stirring occasionally.
Finally strain through muslin and store in a cool dark place for 6 months before using.
It is not as sweet as the commercial stuff.
I used some of mine to soak some sponge cakes which I layered with mascarpone whipped with a little sugar and more cassis, and a blackcurrant compote. I then spread more of the cream over the outside of the cake and rolled the side in grated chocolate. Made a little happy birthday plaque to go on the top for Mr Bee today. He loves blackcurrants.
We had a glass of cassis to go with it too.
-
Oooohhh Mrs Bee, that sounds yummy! xx I love blackcurrants too, but Brian doesn't.
-
Now that sounds just marvellous, Mrs Bee!
Way to go in my opinion!
-
Could I use frozen berries? Would I defrost hem first, I've all last years soft fruit in the freezer,with one thing & another I didn't do anything with it all,so gooseberries,black,white & red currents, only thing is I didn't top & tail them
-
Hem= them, no edit button anymore
-
We'd have to defrost them Snowdrops, and it would make a big hole in our freezer if we did too!
I've ordered a Super Atomic Powered Yeast online, so that I'll blitz the lot and get about 20% alcohol into the bargain!
-
Could I use frozen berries? Would I defrost them first, I've all last years soft fruit in the freezer,with one thing & another I didn't do anything with it all,so gooseberries,black,white & red currents, only thing is I didn't top & tail them
Yep, frozen berries are fine. I used frozen berries.
I shouldn't think not topping and tailing them would matter as you will be filtering them through a coffee filter or fine muslin.
I take it the currants are off the stalks, as I don't think I would put the stalks in.
-
Yes they're off the stalks. Growster, let me know how the yeast option goes,might try that another time
-
How long will it keep without the yeast?
-
Well in our house not long, because we drink it. ::)
But at least a year.
-
Yes they're off the stalks. Growster, let me know how the yeast option goes,might try that another time
I sure will!
We've got a 24 hr one and a 48 hr one, and I'm working out all the quants as we speak! The yeast packs are real beasts, they weigh a pound each!
I'll probably just chuck the whole lot of fruit together as I normally do, and get a result that way!
Life's to short to calculate a Cassis strength...
-
How did it go?
I'm looking at this year's crop ripening and thinking that there is going to be a lot there! Cassis is a staple round here .... and I usually use Mrs B's method.
-
How did it go?
I'm looking at this year's crop ripening and thinking that there is going to be a lot there! Cassis is a staple round here .... and I usually use Mrs B's method.
So so, Madcat - sorry should have remembered to tell everyone...
I've still got the sloe 'gin', which was another recipe I bunged together, but some of the other fruit wine wasn't that good, and hasn't lasted well...
-
OK - I'll stick with Mrs B's.
I'm going to need a small mortgage for the next supermarket run .... Gin, brandy and vodka ....
-
Well in our house not long, because we drink it. ::)
But at least a year.
We discovered a bottle in the garage dated 1985, made by my mother and moved here with a box of memory things when she died.
It was very dark and eminently drinkable 😀😀😀