RGLEICH

Recipes 

About 40 years ago a family member was making wine in a 5 gallon glass jar and she put a balloon on the top. Over the time the balloon would expand and she said when the balloon deflated the wine was done.

Have you ever heard of this technique. I don't think she poked a whole in the balloon.

Thanks

Stauffbier

Recipes 

I've used the balloon method. I did poke a couple pin holes in mine. It's basically just a poor-mans airlock...

__________________
Bier war sein letztes wort dann trugen ihn die Englein fort...

MarkKF

Recipes 

My father did this but he had to burp the balloon.

RGLEICH

Recipes 

Thanks you all.

Honda88

Recipes 

yea but there isnt any point in using this method now because air locks and bungs are pretty cheap....

FuzzeWuzze

Recipes 

Not really, except its also cheap...you can get like a bag of balloons for a dollar. Im doing it on my mead, but its just in a plastic gallon water jug, and there is no easy way to get a airlock on it...tried stabbing a hole through the lid but failed lol...balloons will fit nearly any opening...

Of course you have to poke a hole in it, or else its just going to inflate and pop off.

amandabab

Recipes 

This how I feel too.
an airlock is $1, a bung is $1, a 4L Carlo Rossi jug is $10 and it comes with free wine.

$12 total. Invest in some equipment.

Honda88

Recipes 

when i first thought about homebrewing I looked into the balloon method, then i realized how much easier it is too just bite the bullet and invest in some equipment, you can get by without it but why make things hard when people make equipment for you. I used to cork bottles with a pair of pliers and then I got a floor corker, it cost me some cash but its alot cheaper then going to the emergency room with broken glass in your arms.