Recent content by Spencerthebuilder

Yes, but i thought I read it was actually the acidic vapor that created the inhospitipal environment. ie. burning the sulfer wick for oak barrels, or the nasty kmeta vapors.

Hmm. "Apply to the surface"... Indicates surface washing, as in an open air scenario. Is there a difference if used in a non open air scenario as the inside of a bottle or carboy where the vapors can concentrate?

Spirals are cheap enough, but often using what is on hand is the choice. If you have, and can run a chop saw.. cut them into cubes or slices to expose fresh wood. The square inches of fresh surface might be 2/3 of the original. Roasting would also sanitize...

Very fortunate to have a good supplier in Providence. Im not set up to process several boxes of grape. 1 box of Merlot took 2 hours to strip, then crush with a Kitchenaid mixmaster and dough hook. Slow, but very effective. Made a nice must slurry. No cutting of the seeds. 1/3 Floated on...

Calling it EM, but it's really just missing the first racking by a week due to scheduling or other non hobby commitments. As I can taste the difference, i now do better.

Different varieties so no side by side is possible. So far most batches have been good. A slight oxidation taste in some as I suspect I've a tendency to leave it under the towl too long as I try EM. FWK is more predictable, but half the fun is in the making, experimenting and learning. The...

Fall harvest is soon arriving on the east coast. I've done a FWK Super Tuscan with skins and found it an excellent product. I'm fortunate to have a good juice pail and fruit supplier locally. I'm told the pails are acid balanced, and are still chilled when I get them. This is my usual...

I keep a tank of Nitrogen for HVAC work, but many here say inerts quickly dissipate unless in a tightly sealed container. Lots of chance to lose a batch.

I've a question if you don't mind balaton. The cap on the Speidel looks to be about 7 or 8". Great to get a hand or arm into the container. But I always fill the glass carboys up into the neck to minimize headspace. At 7", this is 10x the surface area or funtional headspace. Not a problem...

Picking up 2 pails of Chilean juice at my local supplier tomorrow. Planning on adding a lug of CabSav between the buckets. Destemming by hand. Has anyone tried using a Kitchen Aid or comparable higher end countertop mixer to do the crushing? Easy clean up and i don't have a crusher. FWK...

Quick question.. Doing 4 gallons of preservative free cider. Fermenting nicely with some QA 23. Does cider benefit from extended aging? I'd like to degas and bottle for Thanksgiving gifts

My sympathies Crush, that outcome simply blows. Looking at the picture, IMO it was just a matter of time. In simplest terms, the base was far too narrow. Then the wheels eliminated any aid from friction. think of riding a unicycle on ice... For stability, the inturned wheels must be...

Very nice crates. As an alternative for the drying, may i suggest drilling holes half way up the sides of the Baltic. Insert 2 removable dowls across the box to support the inverted Carboy. Drill just high enough so the spout is not touching the bottom. Just an idea..

Interesting. I've never noticed that screw tops are thinner. So the consensus is never, or at least use caution corking/uncorking a screw top. I've aquired several cases of screw tops and had just assumed I would cork them. Thanks! The group saved me several broken bottles and maybe an...

Fermcalc is great