Re starting home brewing

[burnie]

I haven't made any wine or cider for ages, so I intend to do something about it, all the gear will have to be sterilised first then wine making begins, I guess with so much cheap booze about I have just got out of the habit of making my own. Carrot Whisky is one I've not tried before and it looks like there will be a good crop of Blackberries this year too.

[Shortie]

Ooohh, I'd be interested to hear the mixes etc. Mr Shortie and I very rarely drink so it's not something I'd take time to do, but am interested to hear how it works and favours etc

[Nicos]

Remember the famous Rhubarb Schnapps????

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...apps#post32508

[burnie]

Bramble wine
4lbs of berries(ripe0
A bag(kilo) of sugar
1 lemon
1 camden tablet
1 tea spoon pectin enzyme
1 gallon of water
yeast
yeast nutrient
wash berries, crush them and place in a fermenting vessel(I have a bucket with a lid and a hole for an air lock) cover with 6 pints of boiling water. When cool and the camden tablet(crushed), pectin enzyme and leave for 24 hours(you could use a large bowl covered with a tea towel.
Boil 2 pints of water and dissolve the sugar in it, cool to blood heat(no I don't know either) add to the blackberries along with yeast, nutrient and the lemon, cover and let it ferment for 3 days, stirring daily.
Strain the liquid into a demi john and fit an air lock and ferment out. Finally siphon the clear liquid into dark bottles and keep for around 6 months before drinking.

[Shortie]

Haha, how could I forget the rhubarb schnapps - I don't remember if I made any - I remeber I experimented with some flavouring of vodka.

OOohh Bramble wine sounds lovely... can you actually taste the fruit in the end result though?

[ameno]

Haha, how could I forget the rhubarb schnapps - I don't remember if I made any - I remeber I experimented with some flavouring of vodka.

OOohh Bramble wine sounds lovely... can you actually taste the fruit in the end result though?

I made bramble wine two years ago. You can definitely smell the blackberries, but I'm not so sure you can taste them. I think the general "wine" flavour overpowers them.
It's the same story with the elderflower wine (proper wine, not "champagne") I made. It smells of elderflowers, but you can't really taste them.

[burnie]

I used to make an excellent rhubarb wine, but it sets off the arthritis, so it's off the menu now.

[Shortie]

I made bramble wine two years ago. You can definitely smell the blackberries, but I'm not so sure you can taste them. I think the general "wine" flavour overpowers them.
It's the same story with the elderflower wine (proper wine, not "champagne") I made. It smells of elderflowers, but you can't really taste them.

Aaahhh, that's a shame. I'm sure it's still lovely wine, but I'd want to taste the fruit as well as smell it

[Snoop Puss]

The brambles are flowering like mad here. With all the water still about the place, I'm expecting a bumper crop of juicy berries. Most year's they're dry and pippy, but would like to make the most of them this year. But, what I like more than anything else about blackberries is blackberry liqueur (crème de mûre in French). But the recipes I've seen online don't look like what I was expecting: essentially, crush blackberries and add wine and vodka or gin. Does that sound right?

[burnie]

I've never made alcho pops, but I believe some sugar is also often added to taste Snoop. I understand from my brother that Sloe gin is basically sloes just pickled in Gin, so I guess the same might work with other fruits.

[Snoop Puss]

^Thanks, burnie. Not much to be lost just giving it a try, I guess.

[burnie]

I am reminded by the current glut of tomatoes that I read a recipe for " a pleasant Rose type" wine from said fruit, so I made some. Now CJJ Berry also said you can make wine out of any fruit "except God forbid tomatoes", Berry was right, you could put it on your chips but you couldn't drink it, I also put Lettuce wine in the same category.................................yuk.

[ameno]

I am reminded by the current glut of tomatoes that I read a recipe for " a pleasant Rose type" wine from said fruit, so I made some. Now CJJ Berry also said you can make wine out of any fruit "except God forbid tomatoes", Berry was right, you could put it on your chips but you couldn't drink it, I also put Lettuce wine in the same category.................................yuk.

You could trying letting your tomato wine turn to vinegar. Tomato wine vinegar might be quite nice.

[ohbeary]

If you are going to make (God forbid) Tomato wine you will need a very sweet variety like San Marzano or Sugar Plum, do check the acidity and tannin levels or it will be bland.
An over the shoulder comment from Swmbo, just because you can ferment it does not mean that you should! (good luck anyway xxx).
Er and don't forget the vinosity at least 250ml grape concentrate per gallon.

[Nicos]

OH has just dug from of the cellar some tubs of home brew.
( well not literally ‘ dug out’ , but found at the back of some shelving)
Do you think even though we’ve had them for about 6 years they will be ok????