Recent content by brianmp

You can sweeten with Splenda or another similar product, or you can stabilize with campden tablets and sweeten with real sugar (i.e. cane sugar, etc). Not sure about the Lipton's but it would probably work. I don't see why it wouldn't.

Drunken Sailor - Irish Rovers

What is the purpose of adding the campden tablet before adding the yeast? My initial thought was that it wouldn't allow the added yeast to ferment at all, and I was confused. My guess would be that it would keep the natual yeasts from fermenting anything, but I'm really not sure.

That cream soda idea sounds interesting - I'll have to try that. I read somewhere on HBT recently that the way the Germans do it is to add Sprite or 7UP to the Apfelwein to sweeten it up and add some carbonation. Haven't tried it yet as I'm aging mine, but definitely on the to-do list.

b.f.bunny - you should practice sanitization when cleaning out the container you are fermenting this in. If you need help with this, check out this link: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/what-sanitisers-cleaners-used-43688/ for ways to sanitize. It really helped me out. Also, make sure you...

Alright, thanks. Another one of my "noob" questions answered!

Thanks for the tips, Yooper. So if I'm just taking samples out of the container for hydrometer testing, there will be no risk of oxidation?

Thanks Yooper - I was hoping you would see this question! Now that we're on the subject - how long and what amount of exposure to oxygen will ruin a brew and cause oxidation? The reason I ask this is because when taking a sample for a hydrometer test, you're exposing the brew to oxygen and...

Goo - I'm in the same boat as you as a fellow noob, and thanks for the reply. I didn't think of that - I just checked it and the bag hasn't 'inflated' yet at all so I think I'll try putting in down lower on the jar and seeing what happens in the next few days. I think fermentation has stopped...

Just let it sit, don't worry about it, and it should be fine.

I have a simple question about bottling - I just bottled a hard apple cider on the 25th and didn't have enough wine bottles, so I used an old glass peanut butter jar with a metal screw-on lid. As I carried it to my basement, it started to leak a little so I put a plastic bag over it with a...

I have a simple question about bottling - I just bottled a hard apple cider on the 25th and didn't have enough wine bottles, so I used an old glass peanut butter jar with a metal screw-on lid. As I carried it to my basement, it started to leak a little so I put a plastic bag over it with a...

Hey thanks Pogo - I think I'll give that a try.

Hey - thanks a lot for the tips. Mine was surprisingly clear after less than 3 weeks but I waited the extra week and a half to make sure and nothing changed. I didn't use a hydrometer or proper airlocks with this batch because they weren't available and this was my first batch ever, but I have...

Sweet (pun intended)! Thanks a lot Yooper! I think it's too late for this first batch because I don't have a LHBS nearby and won't get to one until a week into January. I probably won't be able to do it with this next batch of wine either but I guess I'll have a dry wine - oh well. I will...