Banana Wine

[timcadieux]

Does anyone know 'approximately' of course, just how many bananas, 3.5lbs is ?

 

[LoneTreeFarms]

Does anyone know 'approximately' of course, just how many bananas, 3.5lbs is ?

depends on the size but typically 3-4 bananas per pound

 

[dougen]

heres mine that i started on 12/10/2012
then racked 12/20/2012
racked again on 3/20/2013

followed recipe to the tea.......

cant wait to try this when its done

 

[TedLarsen]

I am having a similar issue, I've been on the raisins for a month and no activity. I pitched some more champagne yeast that I made a starter with first and still no luck.

Mine, also, was stuck; and I'm sure it was from sulfite on the raisins (I just could not score golden raisins that had not been sulfited). I had taken steps to "de-sulfite" the raisins (rinsed them in hot water for 10 minutes; then poured boiling water over them and soaked them overnight). The fermentation was still stuck (hydrometer not budging). I made a quick starter to get it going again, but that did nothing.

Then I took the time to really make a starter right, and that really did the trick. With the raisins dancing on the rising CO2, it's a huge lava lamp right now (including a bunch of raisins hanging out at the neck, that I am pushing down once a day).

Prior to this, the wine had cleared to a gorgeous gold -- I'm certain it will do it again!

 

[Rocky71]

Starting mine tonight. From what I've read in this thread, in most cases, people do not see activity in the airlock from the addition of raisins but it does take place. The raisins lose color and so on. I'm making a full 5 gallon batch and planning on adding 2.5 pounds of raisins during active ferment and then 2.5 in secondary.

 

[damlamb]

Mine, also, was stuck; and I'm sure it was from sulfite on the raisins (I just could not score golden raisins that had not been sulfited). I had taken steps to "de-sulfite" the raisins (rinsed them in hot water for 10 minutes; then poured boiling water over them and soaked them overnight). The fermentation was still stuck (hydrometer not budging). I made a quick starter to get it going again, but that did nothing.

Then I took the time to really make a starter right, and that really did the trick. With the raisins dancing on the rising CO2, it's a huge lava lamp right now (including a bunch of raisins hanging out at the neck, that I am pushing down once a day).

Prior to this, the wine had cleared to a gorgeous gold -- I'm certain it will do it again!

I racked mine off the raisins the other day and it tastes dry so it must have been fermenting in there after all.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

Opened a bottle today (about 14 months old). Wow, it is far better than I had hoped. The heat from the alcohol is now a pleasant warmth. The banana flavor shines through. I also get a cinnamon/holiday flavor (maybe the golden raisins?).

I need to get some and start a new batch. I should have started it long ago.

 

[johnnync]

I froze a gallon bag of bananas, but didn't weigh them before I froze them. Is a gallon of frozen bananas enough for a gallon of wine? Thanks. Cut up, thought that would help.

 

[Yooper]

I froze a gallon bag of bananas, but didn't weigh them before I froze them. Is a gallon of frozen bananas enough for a gallon of wine? Thanks. Cut up, thought that would help.

I have no idea how much a gallon bag of bananas weigh.

 

[johnnync]

I have no idea how much a gallon bag of bananas weigh.

And of everyone, I thought you would know.

 

[johnnync]

Frozen is 4.13 lbs.

 

[WesleyS]

Frozen is 4.13 lbs.

The frozen bananas themselves are not going to weigh more or less than they did fresh. Any little bit of moisture built up and frozen on the outside of them won't affect the weight enough to be worried about it.

 

[johnnync]

The frozen bananas themselves are not going to weigh more or less than they did fresh. Any little bit of moisture built up and frozen on the outside of them won't affect the weight enough to be worried about it.

Thank you WesleyS.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

Took a bottle to SoCal homebrew Fest. It was well loved.

 

[loudgonzo]

After the being on the raisins for 4 months, it's time to rack, but when you rack it to another gallon jug, and leave the raisins behind, there will be more headspace than before in the new jug, is this ok or should it be topped off again and if so with what?

 

[johnnync]

After the being on the raisins for 4 months, it's time to rack, but when you rack it to another gallon jug, and leave the raisins behind, there will be more headspace than before in the new jug, is this ok or should it be topped off again and if so with what?

Yes top it off. Banana wine? J/k, from what I see in the original recipe I would say boiled and cooled water, or a smaller vessel.

 

[ten80]

you could also purge the secondary container with CO2 if you have it available.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

On the off chance that someone see this tonight: I just began a two gallon batch of Yooper's banana wine. It is cooling now. To my horror, I just realized I am out of wine yeast. I have 2 packets of Safale US-05, bread yeast and rice yeast balls.

Should I:
1. Leave it in the fermenter and pitch wine yeast tomorrow when the LHBS opens
2. Pitch an US-05 left it start the ferment then pitch the wine yeast tomorrow
3. Pitch the bread yeast
4. Pitch a couple yeast balls
5. Pitch the wort (not really an option).

Thanks!

 

[thejudge]

Just go to the LHBS today.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

Just go to the LHBS today.

I ended up putting the fermenter into my keezer, figured the cold would slow down any nasties from gaining a foothold. Was at LHBS when it opened. Wine yeast pitched.

 

[johnnync]

I ended up putting the fermenter into my keezer, figured the cold would slow down any nasties from gaining a foothold. Was at LHBS when it opened. Wine yeast pitched.

Did it take off?

 

[LabRatBrewer]

Did it take off?

Yep, it looks fine.

 

[johnnync]

Yep, it looks fine.

I have everything to make it. Just can't pull the trigger. Seems like a long time to wait, til I look and see some that's over two years old the I haven't bottled yet. Maybe two years isn't that long time

 

[Leadgolem]

I picked up 11lbs of bananas with the intention of making banana wine with them. Then I found this thread. Hmm, is it fate? Has LRB been reading my mind? I don't know, but I am now subbed.

 

[Helly]

I just bottled mine yesterday. The taste was nice. I'm going to let a few bottles age for a bit though. A really beautiful golden color.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Whipped this up tnite when we had a bunch of bananas go dark real fast.
I think it was around 10-11 bananas ended up with a lil under a gallon @ 27Brix (1.116)
If this ferments dry im looking at around 13% when i top back up.

One thing was the smell, absolutely fantastic like fresh banana cream pie no idea why since i was just simmering it in water but man i cant wait to taste this in a couple months.

Question. I have a screw top glass 1 gallon jug. Is 1 measured gallon directly to the top with no air or is it where it says "one gallon" around the bottle about 3inchs lower than the lip??

 

[Yooper]

Whipped this up tnite when we had a bunch of bananas go dark real fast.
I think it was around 10-11 bananas ended up with a lil under a gallon @ 27Brix (1.116)
If this ferments dry im looking at around 13% when i top back up.

One thing was the smell, absolutely fantastic like fresh banana cream pie no idea why since i was just simmering it in water but man i cant wait to taste this in a couple months.

Question. I have a screw top glass 1 gallon jug. Is 1 measured gallon directly to the top with no air or is it where it says "one gallon" around the bottle about 3inchs lower than the lip??

I think most of those jugs are 1 gallon to about 3 inches below the opening, but I don't know if all of them are.

 

[Revvy]

I just cracked a bottle of year old open. I made this for my famous banana bread, but to drink it is pretty nice too. I think it's still a bit hot though. But nice.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Brewed a batch up on 6/10 to the tee and hit 1.116 with around 10 or 11 bananas tied in a muslin bag, might have ended up wth a little less than a gallon but not by more than ~5-7oz.
At day 8 im down to .0987 and 16.5% ABV. After taking a sample, mind you im a sadist for good wine/beer, its AMAZING. Yes its hot and i couldnt have more than an oz or 2 but the flavors were just crazy creamy buttery smooth sugary caramel. I think because mine were FALL APART black and the sugars from the bananas were somewhat already fermenting as i threw them in the fridge? Maybe this the key to getting max flavor extraction but letting them go JUST before spoiling and mush to the touch. I couldn't believe i haven't made this before yet alone made MOAR of it!!
Thx YOOP!

 

[lillypad297]

I just went through the whole thread and want to try this recipe. Maybe I missed it but I don't remember seeing anything mentioned about Campden tablets or metabisulphites added. Did I just miss it?