I'd appreciate some advice

[barnaby]

Okay, so, this is my first time making wine. I'm trying to ferment peep marshmallows for this wine, and, it seems to be working.

I had some water at a low boil, and drowned the little guys in it, then, once it became a solution, I poured it in a large mason jar to cool to a room temperature. It cooled, I added the yeast, and everything was fine for a few days. Then, the tin cap on the mason jar popped outward. I opened it a little to lessen the pressure, then sealed it again. But, then, it started happening more often. About five times a day. So, I've left it very slightly ajar to control the pressure buildup, but I'm worried that it will affect the wine. Should I leave it as-is, or should I do something else?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Okay, so, this is my first time making wine. I'm trying to ferment peep marshmallows for this wine, and, it seems to be working.

I had some water at a low boil, and drowned the little guys in it, then, once it became a solution, I poured it in a large mason jar to cool to a room temperature. It cooled, I added the yeast, and everything was fine for a few days. Then, the tin cap on the mason jar popped outward. I opened it a little to lessen the pressure, then sealed it again. But, then, it started happening more often. About five times a day. So, I've left it very slightly ajar to control the pressure buildup, but I'm worried that it will affect the wine. Should I leave it as-is, or should I do something else?

The by product of yeast consuming sugar is ETOH and CO2 if the gas doesn’t escape though an airlock or some other permeable way the fermentation vessel will likely break somehow when the pressure exceeds it’s strength. So leave the cap so the gas can escape and critters (fruit flys) won’t get in.

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

Okay, so, this is my first time making wine. I'm trying to ferment peep marshmallows for this wine, and, it seems to be working.

I had some water at a low boil, and drowned the little guys in it, then, once it became a solution, I poured it in a large mason jar to cool to a room temperature. It cooled, I added the yeast, and everything was fine for a few days. Then, the tin cap on the mason jar popped outward. I opened it a little to lessen the pressure, then sealed it again. But, then, it started happening more often. About five times a day. So, I've left it very slightly ajar to control the pressure buildup, but I'm worried that it will affect the wine. Should I leave it as-is, or should I do something else?

A loosely attached screw cap is fine, it lets the CO2 gas out so your fermenter doesn't explode, while also keeping bugs out, and not letting a ton of "fresh air" back into the fermenter. But once fermentation has finished (do you have a hydrometer?), you'll want to either tighten the cap, or transfer to bottles for any extended aging you want to do.

Also, if you don't come back and tell us what the Marshmellow Peep wine tastes like, you're a bad person!

 

[barnaby]

A loosely attached screw cap is fine, it lets the CO2 gas out so your fermenter doesn't explode, while also keeping bugs out, and not letting a ton of "fresh air" back into the fermenter. But once fermentation has finished (do you have a hydrometer?), you'll want to either tighten the cap, or transfer to bottles for any extended aging you want to do.

Also, if you don't come back and tell us what the Marshmellow Peep wine tastes like, you're a bad person!

Thank you for the explanation and advice! I don't have a hydrometer, but if this becomes a regular thing, I'll probably get one. I'm planning to leave it be for about 4–5 weeks before messing with it again.

I'll do my best to remember!

 

[Snuffy]

Easter wine. I like it. What color peeps?

 

[barnaby]

Easter wine. I like it. What color peeps?

The yellow ones. It looks like Mountain Dew or an energy drink. The leftover peeps stare in horror at what I've done to their brothers.

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

Thank you for the explanation and advice! I don't have a hydrometer, but if this becomes a regular thing, I'll probably get one. I'm planning to leave it be for about 4–5 weeks before messing with it again.

The other (possibly better) option, for what I presume are quite small batches: get a refractometer and then familiarize yourself with this calculator, as long as you recorded the starting brix value, it'll get you a pretty accurate final gravity. You'll only waste a drop or two, as opposed to about 5 ounces needed for a hydrometer test tube.