I'm learning a lot as I go. (This being only my 2nd batch.) Both times I had a lot of grief keeping the siphon going the last 1/4 of the carboy. So, Friday I bought me a hand-drawn siphon pump for my next batch (whenever that is).
I did traditional corks on my first batch. But, looking back, we...
Thanks for those tips. I'll more precisely aim for that "finger's width" distance next batch. The local brew/vinter shop told me today to hold the corker for a 5-count at the bottom of the stroke (regardless of cork type) to force the air out without moving the cork.
Fortunately, the kit wine...
Well, I bottled the batch tonight. All things considered, it turned out ok. Notes from the samples:
Good color but seems a little cloudy (unfortunately shook it around a little moving carboy into bottling position.)
Faint to medium Cherry nose
Tastes a little softer, smoother and more fruit...
Well, I'm encouraged. Racked this batch tonight and before I did, took a tasting. Here's my thoughts:
Smells like wine but not as prominent
Clear when glass held up to light
Taste is a bit flat where fruit is concerned.
Here's a couple of iPhone pics. Seems to be fining nicely, too.
Gotta admit, i'm still worried if I have the right amount of sulfites etc going in this batch based on my faux pas.
UPDATE: Stopped by the local winemaking shop and talked to the experts. They felt like I hadn't hurt anything, which was a relief.
Hmmm. I'm a little concerned....
How fast do the sulfite & fining packs "sink" into the batch?
I went to add my 3rd, 4th and 5th additive packs this afternoon and misjudged how much space I had to do so in the top of the carboy. In other words I didnt' thief out hardly anywhere near enough...
Good, cause I've got probably 1.5" of sediment to stir back in.
What I dont' understand about this particular WE kit is that it recommends racking it only once - from the carboy into bottles. With the sediment I've seen in two batches of this kit now, I can't imagine bottling right away...
That's good. I looked at it this morning and there's a pretty healthy sediment layer in the bottom of the carboy.
This go round I will remember to stir that sediment vigorously back into suspension as the directions say to do.
I know that helps get rid of the Co2 but I'm wondering what...