Recent content by Steve in KC

to err on the side of safety, either juice them in a steam juicer or cook them down into juice before using in your wine. Beware the green goo! I just made 5 1/2 pints of elderberry syrup for pancakes/waffles/ice cream.. KILLER STUFF! I'm on a wine making hiatus right now until next fall then I...

Sale pending

It's a little under retail, so that's why I said OBO. I'd be happy to negotiate. I'm selling because I just don't have the drive/desire to do it anymore. I recently moved to the country and when I have 'hobby time' I'd rather be outside hunting or scouting than in the cellar. If anyone's...

I apologize in advance if there is a classifieds section and I missed it. http://kansascity.craigslist.org/hsh/981095758.html I'm looking to sell this as a complete lot for $550 obo. I'm located in Lathrop, MO (about 30 min N or KCMO). Sorry, but I can't ship. WAY too much glass in...

It's your wine, but personally, I'd ferment the strawberry separately and blend to taste when both wines are done. You might be surprised and come to find that you like stawberry wine all by itself and wouldn't know if you toss them in with the apple. Yes, two more gallons of cider to bump...

Before we go crazy...how long are you bulk/bottle aging your apple wine before you are drinking it? If you're getting in there before 1 year, I'd really, really caution you to stay out of it for at least 1 year after bottling. The taste does change for the better during that time. What I...

Waldo, yes, absolutely you can make apple wine, and some VERY fine wine indeed from cider, fresh pressed/pastuerized only is the best. I don't really see the problem. You want apple wine, but you don't like the tartness of it, because it reminds you of a granny smith? Where are you getting...

Wade... When I measured my starting SG, I forgot that there cannot be ANY non-juice material in the hydrometer jar. d'oh! So I have to estimate my original SG to be somewhere around 1.090 Final SG was .996 where my hydrometer bottoms out. That should give me right around 12%abv. When I...

**NOTE: these pictures were taken on day 4** Day 21... Secondary has been done for about a week now. It was foaming SO MUCH that I transferred all 4.5 gallons into a 6 gallon carboy to finish secondary. It had a solid 3" foam top, which began to fall when secondary was completed. I racked...

My wife saw an idea at our local wine boutique that she loved, so we did the same. She found a two tear wall hanging basket at old time pottery (small 1/2 basket on top, larger 1/2 basket on bottom). When we finish a bottle, we throw the cork up in there. We're almost full. :D

I've made the WE Port...it really wasn't all that OR the bag of chips. It was "ok". next time around, I'll either make one from scratch, try a mosti mondale high end port kit, or.........just buy some port!

ahhhh. very perceptive grasshopper! I wonder how many people caught that. Yes, I'm using jack keller's concord recipe for 6lbs/gallon. At crush, I had just a bit over 2.5 gallons of must. With the additional 2.5 gallons of water and 10lbs of sugar, I'm hoping to eek out right at 4 gallons...

So I started a new job about a month ago and in my bio, I had to list 'hobbies'. So I put winemaking. One of the ladies who works in the facilities/operational group stopped by my office on Tuesday and offered to give me some concords which were growing in her yard. Not having really ever paid...

Thanks Wade. I had a couple from Arkansas drive all the way up here and pick with me on Saturday. We had a blast, that is, until the rain arrived. We got in a little over an hour's worth of picking and filled both the coolers they brought with them. We're estimating we picked right at...

I live about 38 miles north of Kansas City, MO and there are at least 3 patches I've found that have probably a combined 60-75 lbs of elderberries hanging, ready-ripe and ready for picking! If you would be interested in picking them, just reply to this post, send me a PM or an email. two...