Recent content by Hoxviii

In reading all the comments so far, I'm thinking this is the answer; treat it like white wine and just use the juice. I'm willing to try whole fruit once more, using strainer bag, pectic enzyme, and adding bentonite to just try to knock the heaviest down.

I'm using strainer bags - the stuff in the bags was the consistency of applesauce and carried a LOT of liquid away; it was enough to block the mesh of the bag. That's what's sitting in the fridge right now, separating out. The liquid that transferred to secondary is high solids, has a...

Well, this might tail in with the other pear post - but let's see. I've made 1.5 pear wines so far. First was from a puree that led to a poor final yield, about 3 quarts from 1.5 gallons. The solids were just too much, and the 3 quarts included moving all of the lees into the fridge so they...

for the amount of solids coming out, I'm racking to stay ahead of it. First rack was in to secondary, second rack was when the solids filled over 1/2 the container. I took the clear liquid, plus the less dense wine off the top of the soilds - what was left was goop. Now I have a bit more...

Update on this stuff - good flavor, but WAY heavy on the solids. 1 gallon is going to yield about 3 quarts after two settling periods, and I'm still racking off of heavy solids. Thinking i'll be clearing in a few days, but there's a bunch of solids still in the bottom.

Keep us updated on the progress; I have a batch that went in on 3/16 that is barely creeping down. started at 12% potential, it took a week to get down to 5% potential, and another week and a half to get down to 3% - very slow going which isn't what I expected from what the guy at the LHBS...

nope, everything is hydrometer based and the hydrometer has produced good and consistent results for the last 30 years (me & my dad before). I'm not kidding when I say the Sg only dropped .01 in 5 days, despite having to top the airlock off during the first 3 days. My next door neighbor is big...

All right, so since Vintner's advertises their 1 gallon concentrate as a "just add water", i figure this is the best section for it. Short version: EC-1118 has only dropped my Sg .01 (1.09 to 1.08) in a week despite a vigorous fermentation, and now it isn't pushing anything through the...

We're in secondary! went into primary at 1.082 and had a had fermentation through this morning. I got home from work and it had slowed down, but was still active. Took a sample and I'm down to 1.005, so in to secondary it went. Secondary is bubbling away, about 3 bubbles a second right now...

This gets a resounding "maybe" and a hearty "it depends". In plastic, whatever makes the hole is the right tool. Honestly, a spade bit or a big twist bit would have been just as appropriate. Hole saws and step bits both have a place in your toolbox, but for tinkering around a lot with...

You touched on this, but for this to work you need to know and trust your pH meter and know that when it indicates 8.2 it actually is 8.2. Using the pH meter and using 8.2 as a fixed end point means you have to use distilled water, correct that water to 8.2, de-air your must sample, and even...

For those that might not have a hole saw set laying around or maybe has a bung of a slightly different size, take a look at a step drill. They're cheap and what I'd consider a necessity for any home fermenting endeavor if you're the thinkering type - nothing is better for putting a hole in a...

I'll vouch for this one. She knows what she's doing on the science/chemistry/biology side of things and how they apply to winemaking, now she just needs to up her experience level in the actually making wine part of winemaking. She's a great teacher and loves sharing her knowledge and...

This is the stuff. Depending on the solids I may strain through a piece of muslin or cheesecloth - thanks for the idea. It's fermenting along right now, already bubbling an popping :)

well, now you tell me! :D honestly, I only lose wine at bottling, so you really think a full half gallon is needed? I'll siphon until I'm pulling solids, so my rack-to-rack yield is pretty constant, but my clarification time is high. but yes, it's pretty heavy on the solids and is thick. I...