Watermelon Wine

[Intheswamp]

A friendly bump here. I'm curious how this turns out being as I'm thinking doing a batch of this next summer.

I understand that watermelon is hard to ferment in that it has to ferment quickly to avoid going rank/bad. Once it starts fermenting the increasing alcohol level supposedly protects it from spoilage...but, you've gotta get it to that point. I'm a little concerned in the high temperatures that this one experienced, Blacksmith1. Hoping for the best!!!

 

[Blacksmith1]

Thanks. We are going to be moving soon, I'm hoping to set up temp control when we do.

 

[Intheswamp]

I've been trying to get a room ready at an old trailer/mobile home on the property. It's been sitting vacant for the last five or six years. Finally got the room cleaned out but the musty smell is still there though much less with a lot of cleaning and disinfecting. I'm using a small 5000btu A/C unit with an Inkbird controller. The recent heat wave that we had I could keep the room down at 67F. I might could've went cooler but didn't try it. I feel like the mid to low 60's would be about it.

But, after cleaning it up I'm beginning to get disheartened with the idea of using that room. That musty smell I just don't like, though it may get better the more I air the trailer out. But, it's several hundred feet from the house and I'd really like a spot closer. I'm thinking of building a small 8x8 shed to work in. The small A/C should really keep that cold, especially if I went into it and bypassed the thermostat and let the Inkbird handle things. I haven't completely decided on what to do, yet. Just kind of floundering around at the moment.<sigh>

 

[Blacksmith1]

You would get better results by passing the thermostat so that's a good plan. If you build the shed insulate it with a thick layer ( or two thin ones ) of polystyrene and make a giant igloo cooler out of it. Try to keep the humidity out as well. It will save $ on the power. My first step will be a small fridge I already have and a cheap controler off amazon.

 

[Intheswamp]

I wired a utility shed for a friend of mine a few weeks back. He proceeded to stuff in R19 fiberglass batts into the ceilings and wall. I'm not sure if he helped or hurt himself by using the overly thick insulation for the 2x4 studded walls and ceiling, but that's what he did. He then used luan for the interior walls. He's got a 5000btu a/c that he's using and it works great! I figure he probably will be spending $8-$10 a month during the hot season for electricity. I call his shed "The Thermos".

Yeah, if I do build the shed/room I'll definitely insulate it very well. For a well insulated 8x8 foot room a couple of old incandescent 100W light bulbs would probably heat it during the mild cold/freeze spells that we have.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The trailer is there not being used for anything but a big storage room right now. Just gotta get the air quality better. Keeping windows open when I can. Even ordered some incense yesterday to try....man, I haven't burned incense since the 1970's!!!!!

 

[Blacksmith1]

So One year and 2 days after pitching, I just realized this is still in the carboy. I'm going to have to make time to bottle this soon. Unfortunately it is across the state from me now. Good excuse for a road trip I guess.

 

[Seamonkey84]

Do update when you do! I already bottles mine months ago, it still had a little bit of that funk at the time. I’m going to have to pull a bottle out soon, prob when the Esther warms and I want to think of Summer.

 

[Blacksmith1]

mine still has a bit of haze. don't think it's getting any clearer. I hope the funk has dissipated by now.

 

[brianwattsturkeycalls]

So One year and 2 days after pitching, I just realized this is still in the carboy. I'm going to have to make time to bottle this soon. Unfortunately it is across the state from me now. Good excuse for a road trip I guess.

have you try it yet? iam fixing to make a 6 gallon batch with strawberry's.

 

[Blacksmith1]

not yet. I will of course sample some when I bottle it.

 

[Blacksmith1]

not sure if anyone still cares, but this is still in the carboy 2 years and one month after pitching.

 

[Blacksmith1]

Finally tried to bottle this. Sadly th funk that was in it when it started is still there. No one wants to drink it so it will be poured out. It's really bad.

 

[Miraculix]

Finally tried to bottle this. Sadly th funk that was in it when it started is still there. No one wants to drink it so it will be poured out. It's really bad.

That sucks... I also had to throw something away that was aging over a year once... Lessons learned!