Black Current

[Wade E]

Looks good.

 

[hannabarn]

That looks good before you added the super kleer. You will be amazed at how fast the SK works. As wade said leave it for a couple of weeks and let it settle. It's going to be a good one Moose!!

 

[grapeman]

Oh you are going to like that one! I can taste it from here

 

[moose]

Waiting for my hour to be up so I can add the 2nd part( chitosan ). Trying to catch up on all the posts that I haven't read. It sure smells good. Put the brew belt on as the temp was down to 68*.

 

[Wade E]

I have never waited the hour and have never had any trouble what so ever. This is something that they have changed with their instructions and I have ignored it with no problems at all, I am in no means saying for you to do this though.

 

[moose]

It has really cleared well since I added the SuperKleer. Been 24 hrs only. I'll post a picture tomorrow evening. Next time, I'll probably skip the hour also. I still have 1 can left, what to do, what to do? Been following the post on back sweetening also to go with this. Going to let this sit for a couple of weeks at 70-80*. Will also pick up another 5 gal. carboy to save time so I don't have to rack as many times.

 

[Waldo]

Are you going to oak yours Moose? It is my personal, most humble opinion that an American Oak, Medium toast really does well with the Black Currant

 

[moose]

Yes sir Waldo I was going to put oak in it. I bought 3 different kinds from George and that happens to be 1 of them. Hannabarn suggested that I leave it in for approximately 1 month. Have never done this before so it's a new learning experience. On the package, it is suggested that you use 1 stick for 3 gal( I purchased spirals and 2 to a pack ), use them both then for 5 Gal?

 

[moose]

The SuperKleer has been working for approx. 44 hrs. Has settled out very well.

 

[Waldo]

I would use both spirals moose but would recommend you begin tasting after 2-3 weeks.

 

[moose]

Thanks Waldo, I will let it clear for 2 weeks and then rack to another carboy. I will add the oak when I put it down in the basement to let it age. Probably for a couple of months. Looking forward to start tasting it. When you backsweeten, for example if you have a SG of .996, you would add sugar solution to bring it up to 1.000? I'm going to have to experiment a bit.

 

[Wade E]

You bring the SG up to where you like the taste and thats a personel preference thing.

 

[moose]

It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since I added the SuperKleer. The recipe calls for 2 1/2 tsp. of potassium sorbate to stabilize. Do I add k-meta or campden tablets at this time again or wait( just added 5 crushed tablet on 4-21)? I want to try to backsweeten a little, add my American Oak Medium Toast spirals and put it down in the basement for 3 months.

 

[Wade E]

You have enough S02 in there that you do not need any at this moment. I would add another 1/4 tsp after 3 months bulk aging though. K-meta is the same thing as Campden tablets.

 

[moose]

Thanks Wade. I'm looking forward to the oak and backsweetening part. We will both taste it tomorrow to make sure that's what we want to do. I still have 1 can of the fruit base on the shelf.

 

[moose]

Racked the wine this evening. Made up a sugar solution to backsweeten with. Added the sorbate also. When I started, the SG was at 0.992 and I ended up at 1.002. My wife liked the taste, so stopped there. Put in the 2 oak spirals and tied them with dental floss so I can get them out easy. I will start taste testing in 2 weeks and plan to age it for 3 months. Here is a picture of what turned out. Is the carboy topped up enough for the time being and should I try to find a smaller bottle for the topping up wine?

 

[Wade E]

I would fill the carboy up to 2" below the bung and either find a 187 ml. bottle for the rest or just drink it.

 

[moose]

Sounds like a good plan, top the carboy off and drink the rest of it.

 

[Waldo]

Looking mighty fine there moose.

you are going to love it oaked !!

 

[moose]

Thanks Waldo. I am looking forward to a couple of weeks to start tasting it and find out how the oak changes the taste. I had half a glass tonite after I filled the carboy and thought it was very good.