Recent content by HillbillyTom

Good ideas...and Thanks Robie and Buck. I have a batch of Peach in my primary going on 4 days now. I mixed six gallons for the initial batch. Once ready for the secondary (a 5-gal carboy) I had intended to first rack a half gallon growler full, then fill the carboy. I was figuring this half...

Also learning here...so let's say the SG has stopped dropping and there is a good one inch or so of sediment in my 3-gal raspberry batch. If I rack it into the second 3-gal carboy for aging, what do I use to top off to compensate for the sediment I left in the first carboy?

Liked you on FaceBook. This pump could really feed my growing addiction to this great hobby! Thanks

When I was making my first batch of raspberry wine, I had some issues squeezing all of the juice out of the straining bag. The "pores" of the bag were clogging with fine particles and I would have to squish the contents all around, rather than the simple wringing action I had expected. I thought...

So a quick update. After four days of lively fermentation in my primary, my first batch seems to be coming along nicely. The SG is now down to 1.030 (from the initial 1.100) and it is actully developing a decent aroma. Thanks again for all the advice on my first try and looking forward to the...

That sucks! I bought the stinking C-Brite at a winemaking supply house. What a bummer and a waste of money! Thanks again for the posts and help!

Thanks for the great info. I have ordered a supply of C-Brite...is that comparable and suitable for keeping in the spray bottle?

I'm sanitizing with kmeta and have a batch of raspberry going at the moment. My issue is sanitizing the stirrer each day when I punch down the cap. It seems like a lot to mix a new batch of sanitizer every day for the spoon, thief, hydrometer, etc. Can't I just keep the solution in a spare...

Split fruit wine batches? Can you explain this further? I have a 3-gal batch of raspberry going and wasn't aware I would have to do anything but rack into my glass carboy once the primary is over.

Thanks Luc. As a beginner I thought a recipe would be the way to go. Now that I have muddled through the first try (and with advice from folks like you and the ones above) I know the recipe can only be a guide. Live and Learn! Thanks again!

mmadmikes1...Thanks! I don't mind the higher alcohol just wanted to be sure I hadn't ruined 10 pounds of berries. And thanks for the advice! I'm going to let it rock on and next time use your tip on adding the sugar. Love the learning curve!!!

Back to my 3-gallon Raspberry batch...I mixed the recipe to the letter. However, my initial SG was 1.100 and not the 1.080 that I had expected. Maybe the fruit had more sugar and I could have added less. But the recipe called for dissolving the sugar in hot water and then pouring over my bag of...

Thanks! Thanks so much for the info! Once the cap had formed it gave the appearance that things had slowed down a bit. I stirred it up and in a few minutes it sounded like a bucket of rice krispies again. Looking into the side of the primary now it's a flurry of activity. Thanks again for the...

I have a three-gallon batch of raspberry that I pitched the yeast on this morning. Eight hours later and it is working up a storm. My recipe said to stir daily but everything else I have read does not say to stir the "cap" back in. Any advice?