Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: Casey76 on June 25, 2012, 14:05

Title: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: Casey76 on June 25, 2012, 14:05

I know it probably depends on the recipe.  But If I start a batch in July, will it be suitable for drinking in December?

I just thought that home made wince would make nice presents to my alcholoically inclined family!

(yes I'm hoping to brew my own wine, and I don't drink the stuff myself!)

Title: Re: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: Lardman on June 25, 2012, 15:23

You can drink it any time you feel like it after the fermentation stops... BUT as a rule the longer you leave it the better it will become. There's all sorts of science and chemistry behind why.

If you're planning on your own from fruit - I'd start a few from preprocessed juice or kits so you get the hang of it first.  Im drinking the POG I started in May - carton to glass in 5-6 weeks.

Quote from: Casey76 on June 25, 2012, 14:05

.. home made wince ..

You've tried my spiced apple wine then  :lol:

Title: Re: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: Casey76 on June 25, 2012, 16:00

Quote from: Lardman on June 25, 2012, 15:23

Quote from: Casey76 on June 25, 2012, 14:05

.. home made wince ..

Haha!  freudian slip... I can't stand the stuff myself, as I said


(still giggling at that)

Title: Re: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 25, 2012, 16:56

Mine never lasts long I'm afraid, but apparently, generally speaking, red wine should be left to mature for longer than white or rose.  Something to do with the tannin?

I'm not keen on red wine, but I used to have a big elderberry tree in our last back garden, and it was lovely mulled during the winter months.  (the wine, not the tree!!  :lol: :lol:)

Title: Re: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: bearhugger1972 on June 26, 2012, 08:18

Quote from: GrannieAnnie on June 25, 2012, 16:56

but I used to have a big elderberry tree in our last back garden, and it was lovely mulled during the winter months.

I have a few bottles of elderberry wine maturing to give as Christmas presents and was wondering do you add the spices or just warm up the wine for it to be 'mulled'?

Title: Re: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 26, 2012, 13:06

I just used to add the spices when I needed it, but if you want to give as presents, you could add the spices, or as a little extra, buy the spices like nutmeg and cinnamon sticks, wrap in little squares of muslin and tie the bundle to the bottle!

When I very first made elderberry I gave a bottle to my aunt.  Over the next few years totally forgot about it like you do, but 5 years later we went to visit her and she said would you like a drink.  While she was sorting out her drinks cupboard, she brought out the bottle of elderberry, not touched.

When we tried it, it was beautiful!  Tasted like a lovely mature port!   :D

Title: Re: OK... how long from start (fruit/fruit juce) to being able to drink it?
Post by: New shoot on June 26, 2012, 16:10

Quote from: GrannieAnnie on June 26, 2012, 13:06

When I very first made elderberry I gave a bottle to my aunt.  Over the next few years totally forgot about it like you do, but 5 years later we went to visit her and she said would you like a drink.  While she was sorting out her drinks cupboard, she brought out the bottle of elderberry, not touched.

When we tried it, it was beautiful!  Tasted like a lovely mature port!   :D

My mum did something similar once.  She started a recipe for blackberry wine where you just layered berries and sugar and fermented them as was with no extra water and just the wild yeast off the berries.  She got to the stage where it settled down and she stuck it in a jar then in a cupboard, then as it was out of sight, promptly forgot it  ::)

About 3 years later she unearthed it and filtered out the gunk with trepidation.  It was like a liqueur and she got rave reviews from anyone who tried it  :lol: