Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: fallen angel on February 09, 2016, 21:43
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I just went to the spare room to check on the glugging airing cupboard the first thing I noticed as I walked in the room was the smell of alcohol! That's good I thought! Then I checked the wine and I have wine in an airlock on one demijohn do I just steralise another one and replace it?
Many thanks
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Yes, I would, Angel. They're not easy to clean out, so I just try and get as much warm water through them as possible, and replace them!
It's worth keeping an eye on the wine, as in the early stages, frothing will cause this on some types! I just take the cork out and let it all subside for a few seconds.
It's not really a problem, as long as it doesn't start squirting through the airlock, and then starts contaminating everything - especially the washing...
(My record for is similar situation is a spray wine on the ceiling once)!
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Thanks growster. I was wondering about using cotton wool for a while until it calms down as I've seen that somewhere before but not sure it was on really frothy wine.
I need to rack off a red wine kit today anyway so will steralise some bits for the leaking one and hope it doesn't happen again but it's got to be a good sign right?
:D
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Make that wine in 2 airlocks it seems I may have overfilled my demijohns ha ha.
I also have bubbles oozing out the demijohn and sitting around the neck oops good job I sat them all in buckets hey!
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Either too full, too warm or you have tried a vigorous yeast. :D :D :D
Have noticed that some of the sort of specialist yeasts tend to foam a lot.
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I think it's because their too full I killed the first lot of yeast and it's just youngs nothing special :-) I also don't think it's too warm although I was supposed to take a temp reading in there and forgot lol
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You could take it to a cooler place for a time, Angel, it will help to calm things down!
Years ago, when we wanted a quick fermentation, we'd place the plastic container on blocks over a Rayburn, and that really did move swiftly!
(I see you are in East Sussex! do you know 'Bung Ho' in Hastings)?
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I think I may have to as there is once again wine in the airlocks and bubbles oozing out of the demijohns! Out of the 4 I have going the ribena and the apple and mango are erupting out the apple and elderflower (or was it elderberry will have to get my notes out) is bubbling away through the airlock at great guns but with no major bubbling/froth and the vimto (in the brown demijohn) when held up to light looks like it has a cm layer of bubbles but I am yet to see any travel through the airlock I am hoping that it is doing something but am tempted to transfer it into a clear demijohn now I have one would that be ok to do do you think or should I leave well enough alone?
I'm affraid I have never heard of 'Bung Ho' is it something I need to find out about :D
Many thanks.
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You could pour it slowly with a funnel in stages. It should all settle down within a few days.
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I only want to transfer the vimto one because it's in a brown demijohn and I can't see what it's doing and there is nothing through the airlock whenever I am in there looking lol I think I will give it a few more days and then decide :)
As for the Ribena and the Apple and Mango I will take them out of the airing cupboard tonight and see if cooling them off helps :D
I think I may venture to my shed tomorrow if it doesn't rain and get more demijohns out and start some of the other flavours I've got I think I may be addicted :lol:
Many thanks.
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Good idea, Angel! In the past, when I used demijohns (we use 5 gal containers), if the wine was too vigorous, I'd split the amount into two demijohns, but that depends, of course, if you have any spare!
As Grinling says, move it around a bit and it will quieten down soon!
Bung Ho is here: - https://www.yell.com/biz/bung-ho-st-leonards-on-sea-818900/
We used to go to her dad's old shop back in the seventies, and he really did have a huge following in the area. Sadly, it's not such a big business these days; I'm afraid we don't get down there now and you may need to check to see if she's even still open! Lovely family!
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I took them both out of the airing cupboard last night and had a quick look this morning and I have wine in the airlock of the Apple and Mango again BUT not in the Ribena woohoo I will have to change it later as have to go out soon. The Apple and Elderflower is bubbling away through the air lock really well but still not many bubbles on the surface and the vimto is still not doing much! I think I will give it a swirl and leave it a few days and if still nothing change it to a clear demijohn so I can see better what's going on. I think the lesson here is only use the brown demijohns to store red wine when waiting on bottles!
Thanks for the Bung Ho link I will look into it and try and get down there it's about 30 miles from me so will have to plan a trip :)
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I took them both out of the airing cupboard last night and had a quick look this morning and I have wine in the airlock of the Apple and Mango again BUT not in the Ribena woohoo I will have to change it later as have to go out soon. The Apple and Elderflower is bubbling away through the air lock really well but still not many bubbles on the surface and the vimto is still not doing much! I think I will give it a swirl and leave it a few days and if still nothing change it to a clear demijohn so I can see better what's going on. I think the lesson here is only use the brown demijohns to store red wine when waiting on bottles!
Thanks for the Bung Ho link I will look into it and try and get down there it's about 30 miles from me so will have to plan a trip :)
Angel, it's possibly/probably not really worth a long trip, as the store is very small now. Sorry to say, but there is much more online these days, and although we do like her there, there's not very much to see... I only mentioned them in case you really were local!
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Hi FA, if you are repeatedly getting wine in the air lock its because you are filling the demis too full, in the early stages you have to leave headroom and a 2/3 rds full demi is not unreasonable, a classic example is Wurzels orange wine (wow), which is THE most explosive wine I have ever made, its like watching a lava lamp as the must boils and rolls, there is youtube and tutorials on google to help you, cheers Dave
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Angel, it's possibly/probably not really worth a long trip, as the store is very small now. Sorry to say, but there is much more online these days, and although we do like her there, there's not very much to see... I only mentioned them in case you really were local!
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Oh what a shame :( if I am down there anyway at some point I will try and remember to pop in :)
Dave NE yes I know I thought at the time that it was silly to fill them as much as I did (even though I did leave room) but never mind too late now and it's settling down so no real harm :)
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Dare I say it but after multiple airlock changes I 'think' i've won the war :D
My question now is when I'm sure I've won can I/should I put them back in the airing cupboard?
Many thanks.
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Why not be like Mrs Doyle in 'Father Ted', and watch over each demijohn in case it blows through?
You could make up a bed close by, and listen out for the 'splunge' as the wine cascades through like a torrent, or you could just sit back and ask yourself, what am I doing, listening to a load of good wine, doing its stuff!
I'd seriously consider the latter option ;0)
Don't worry, it'l be OK!
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Ah go on go on go on go go on go on go on ...................
I will leave well alone and hope they stay warm enough thanks for all the help :)
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Ah go on go on go on go go on go on go on ...................
I will leave well alone and hope they stay warm enough thanks for all the help :)
"Sigh"..;0)
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at last there was no fruit flies around
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at last there was no fruit flies around
They sometimes turn up in an airlock, don't they!
Luckily, they can't swim....;0)