Vintner turned brewer

[cjokrap]

Hello all! My name is Charlie, and I live in the St. Louis area. I have been making wine for a few years now, but I recently came to the realization that I make wine, and then give it all away. I don't drink enough wine to keep making it 6 gallons at a time. However, I do drink quite a bit of beer, and I decided to convert my wine making skills into beer making skills. A buddy of mine told me about this site, so I thought I would register and see how this goes.

Forgive me if I ask some newbish questions as I attempt to break wine habits, and start beer habits.


Charlie

 

[greendragonbrew]

Welcome Charlie. I recently came over from the wine-making side myself. This is one of the best resources you can find to answer your brewing questions.

Also, if you have not already, I would suggest http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060531053/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/0937381888/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 as good first reads.

As for equipment, you probably already have everything you need as long as you have a big pot to boil wort. The 6 gallon carboys you probably already have give you a great head start. If you get into all grain, you will need a few more things, but there are great suggestions on here on moving to all grain no matter what your budget.

Welcome, best of luck, and happy brewing.

Matt

 

[helibrewer]

Welcome. I still make wine but one has to do something between pressing and bottling

 

[birdroad]

I've been thinking about wine-making for a bit now.

How would you compare the two?

My biggest issue is impatience with allowing something to condition/age for a year before you can crack it open! LOL

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah,me too. I made wine for many years up to about age thirty. Flash forward to Christmas 2010,& the wife & I decided since we like beer more nowadays,to look at some home brewing videos & see what it's like now. I got tired of having to wait a year for my wines to be ready to drink. Now it averages about 2 months from brew kettle to glass. Not to mention,the variety of flavors,aromas,& colors brewed into beers now that's been lacking in this country since prohibition.
I think you'll be happier with brewing beer. I def am.

 

[cjokrap]

I've been thinking about wine-making for a bit now.

How would you compare the two?

My biggest issue is impatience with allowing something to condition/age for a year before you can crack it open! LOL

It is actually quite similar. You can buy juice kits similar to getting extract that are ready ti drink right after bottling. It is quite a bit of fun, we (SWMBO and myself) just don't drunk it fast enough to keep making it.

 

[birdroad]

You can buy juice kits similar to getting extract that are ready ti drink right after bottling.

REALLY? This is definitely something I have to look into. Any good links to get me started?

 

[Yooper]

REALLY? This is definitely something I have to look into. Any good links to get me started?

The "cheaper" ($60-75) Winexpert kits are pretty good, and make 6 gallons (30 bottles) of wine. There are ultra premium kits that cost $150+ that make outstanding wine, but the cheap kits are good for what they are- uncomplex, cheap ($2-3/bottle), and definitely drinkable!

I was a winemaker a long time before I started making wine kits and then brewing beer. I still make quite a bit of wine, but I love beer so I'm brewing more often that I ever thought I would!

 

[cjokrap]

Yooper is right. The $60-$75 kits are a great way to get started. The juice comes concentrated, just add water. If you get into the more expensive ones, you might see added ingredients like oak chips that give the wine more of an "aged in oak" flavor. I made one that was based on the bordeaux grapes, and the flavor was fantastic. It was good right away, but has just gotten better with time.

Since you make beer, you already have all of the equipment aside from the bottles and a corker.

When I would order online, I usually used Grape and Granary, but most local homebrew shops will carry the kits as well.

 

[birdroad]

Awesome. I'm going to look into these juice kits. I've always wanted to do wine but thought I would have to wait years before drinking, which I have no patience for! Lol

Thanks guys!

 

[cjokrap]

bird, since you will be making 30 bottles of wine, it is kind of fun to write down what you think when you drink that first bottle, and then compare notes as the wine ages. That way you can see if the wine gets better with age or not. Usually for me, just as I finish the last bottle, it is perfect.

 

[birdroad]

Yeah I'll remember to do that. I can see how that would be interesting. I imagine there would be a huge difference lol