Starting my first batch for "08

[swillologist]

I bottled the cherry wine Thursday and labeled it this evening. I didn't do anything fancy on the label. I just need to know what it is down the road.

WhenI was getting more rhubarb out, I found the high bush cranberries. I got then in the primary waiting on some yeast right now. I will pitch it tomorrow evening.

The rhubarb wasn't thawed out yet so it will be Monday before I can get it going.

Edited by: swillologist

 

[Waldo]

How was that Sour Cherry swill?
Do you not crush/process the Cranberries prior to fermentation?

 

[Joanie]

I don't know about Swill's but the sour cherry I made a year and a half ago is excellent! I will surely make more!

 

[swillologist]

Waldo,the cherry had some bottle shock. With time I think it will be pretty good. I may have goofed there waldo. I don't know if you have ever been around high bush cranberries. The smell like wet socks. I didn't want to get ran out of the house by the wife. I was hoping that when I strained them off I could squeeze then out good. But I haven't pitched the yeast yet and if you think I should crust them I can still do it.

 

[Wade E]

I would at least break the membrane to let the pectic enzyme get in there and do its thing.

 

[swillologist]

ok I'll do that. You wouldn't believe what my hands will smell like after I do that.

 

[swillologist]

Here is what it looks like now.

Mother won't let me in the living room though.

 

[rgecaprock]

Beautiful Cherries, Lovely Rhubarb.
Ramona

 

[NorthernWinos]

So...How is the High Bush Cranberry wine coming along????? Does it still smell funky????

 

[swillologist]

No the yeast has taken over now. It smells a lot better right now. I don't know how to check the acid. I hope it's not to high.

 

[chevyguy65]

Nice job SWILL !!
What cherries did you use? We use Montmorency and the resultsare excellent. One batch was left straight and the other we sweetened up a bit !


The rhubarb was a strangeone for us. smelled "off"up tobottling and after about 6-7 months in the bottle its very nice!
Mrs Chevy wants to try a rhubarb/stawberry this summer!


let us know the progress....

 

[PolishWineP]

No the yeast has taken over now. It smells a lot better right now. I don't know how to check the acid. I hope it's not to high.

Can you get some test strips? George has acid test kits...

 

[swillologist]

The Cherries we used store bought frozensour cherries. It didn't say what verity they were.


The highbush cranberry really looks strange right now. I racked it to glass last Thursday. There is something in there floating around. I have no idea what it is.

I hope it settles out.

 

[Wade E]

It will settle out. Its funny how it works like a lava lamp!

 

[NorthernWinos]

Swill.....That stuff looks really wierd.....High Bush Cranberry Diamonds????

 

[swillologist]

You can say that again NW. This stuff is weirdall the way through. From the starting smell to the thing floating around in it. I hope you have a good crop of them this year so you can give this a try. I'm wondering what they would smell like if you steamed them. Edited by: swillologist

 

[grapeman]

Dang swill, that stuff looks nasty. It would make me wonder waht was in the stuff to create something like that. Elderberries have their green goo. Apparently highbush cranberries have their pink snot!

 

[swillologist]

LOL Yep! This is interesting. I hope someone else get to try them. To make sure I didn't mess something up.