Garlic scapes - I'm going for it!

[BigDaveK]

Three days ago I started cutting garlic scapes. Usually I ferment them or eat them raw or cooked. Wonderful garlic flavor but not as strong as the bulb. Gee, what else can I do?

Yesterday I added the yeast. Today the sweet garlic-y flavor is really good. I like it! Could this be a "garlic" sipping wine? We'll see where this goes. Just a warm up for the actual garlic wine later in the year.

 

[ChuckD]

I’ll never have enough to make wine. Far to yummy in stir fry and eggs

 

[BigDaveK]

I’ll never have enough to make wine. Far to yummy in stir fry and eggs

I'm really surprised they aren't more widely used commercially. They are so good!!!

 

[FlamingoEmporium]

I didn’t even know what a scape was until about 4 yrs ago. I agree with ChuckD so good in cooking.

 

[joeswine]

Very interesting???

 

[BigDaveK]

Wow, this has been an interesting experiment.
I accidentally started at SG 1.095. It was a fast ferment and this morning it was 1.010 so I decided to transfer to secondary.

And now the accolades of surprisingly good flavor....

No. It's one of the most vile, disgusting, horrible things I've ever tasted. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself not to taste it.

But this is wine making and we need to be patient. We'll see where this goes.....

 

[FlamingoEmporium]

Wow, this has been an interesting experiment.
I accidentally started at SG 1.095. It was a fast ferment and this morning it was 1.010 so I decided to transfer to secondary.

And now the accolades of surprisingly good flavor....

No. It's one of the most vile, disgusting, horrible things I've ever tasted. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself not to taste it.

But this is wine making and we need to be patient. We'll see where this goes.....

Like coconut water wine…….

 

[BigDaveK]

Like coconut water wine…….

I think I established my bottom limit.
In the future I can always say, "At least it's not as bad as my garlic scape wine!"

 

[David Violante]

You never know until you try… I give you a lot of credit for doing so!

 

[VinesnBines]

I think I established my bottom limit.
In the future I can always say, "At least it's not as bad as my garlic scape wine!"

Don't give completely up; if you have room, finish it out and see what you get. I thought I was wasting time and space with a gallon of pawpaw. It had a metallic aftertaste. After two years in the bottle that has smoothed out. A few other experiments may or may not improve over time. It is all part of the fun!

 

[BigDaveK]

Don't give completely up; if you have room, finish it out and see what you get. I thought I was wasting time and space with a gallon of pawpaw. It had a metallic aftertaste. After two years in the bottle that has smoothed out. A few other experiments may or may not improve over time. It is all part of the fun!

Oh, I will definitely let this finish. I'm really curious - it may become something "usable"....or even more nauseating.

 

[winemaker81]

Oh, I will definitely let this finish. I'm really curious - it may become something "usable"....or even more nauseating.

Recipes for garlic wine state it's for cooking, not drinking. Scapes may be in that same arena. I'd bottle in splits, as you are unlikely to use much at a time.

 

[BigDaveK]

Recipes for garlic wine state it's for cooking, not drinking. Scapes may be in that same arena. I'd bottle in splits, as you are unlikely to use much at a time.

I was curious.
The flavor profile of the scapes is garlicky but not like garlic. I had no idea what to expect. I fermented in the house and it didn't stink! And it didn't smell "bad" before I tasted it, either.

 

[BigDaveK]

Racked the garlic scape wine this morning. It was a little overdue but I kept putting it off because I was afraid...

As a reminder, when I transferred to secondary I described it as "the most vile, horrible, disgusting thing I ever tasted."

Well....
It could be the posterchild for letting a wine age. The transformation is incredible!!! Slight garlic smell and taste. I actually like it! If it continues to evolve I may just back sweeten and keep it as a sipping wine. I. Am. Shocked.

 

[FlamingoEmporium]

Looks good. Great for dipping bread

 

[ChuckD]

What to serve with lasagna… or a good toasted baguette

 

[Raptor99]

I just learned what garlic scrapes are and why you want to cut them off. Catching up here... How and When To Cut Your Garlic Scapes

I guess I have a new wine recipe to try!

 

[BigDaveK]

I just learned what garlic scrapes are and why you want to cut them off. Catching up here... How and When To Cut Your Garlic Scapes

I guess I have a new wine recipe to try!

Going into secondary I knew I didn't even want to cook with it. Horrible! I'm glad I didn't dump it. Great learning experience because it taught me to never ever dump a young wine. You just don't know where it's going.

 

[BernardSmith]

BigDaveK, Sorry but while I love garlic, I can't see me making a wine from scapes BUT one thing you can make is a scape pesto. My basic recipe for basil pesto is to simply substitute the basil with the scapes (as long as they are fresh and soft)
3 C scapes
3 cloves of garlic
1/3 C of lightly toasted walnuts
1/3 C of Parmesan cheese
1t salt
1/4 C olive oil.

I chop the garlic, the nuts, the cheese and salt in a food processor until finely chopped
I add the scapes and as they begin to chop I pour in the oil.

Enjoy.

 

[VinesnBines]

Racked the garlic scape wine this morning. It was a little overdue but I kept putting it off because I was afraid...

As a reminder, when I transferred to secondary I described it as "the most vile, horrible, disgusting thing I ever tasted."

Well....
It could be the posterchild for letting a wine age. The transformation is incredible!!! Slight garlic smell and taste. I actually like it! If it continues to evolve I may just back sweeten and keep it as a sipping wine. I. Am. Shocked.

View attachment 91309

I'm surprised it improved that much in such a short time. Usually improvement is the ultimate test of patience. If you want to play with blending, try a little with a very neutral white grape wine.