Watermelon woes...

[T_Baggins]

So I made a rather large batch of watermelon entirely from the juice of the melon. October 10th will be one year in the bottle (which I have never been able to wait with others) and today I pulled a bottle from storage. I think i might be disappointed? There is a small brown "patch" clung to the inside of the bottle. I checked half a dozen other bottles and the same thing. It is not sediment. Also (as pictured) only one or two of these patches are in the bubble. They occur in seemingly random places in the bottle. At least I think they are brown spots, but looking thru green glass. I suspect mold maybe? Is it dangerous? Should I abandon this brew?

 

[eigua]

So I made a rather large batch of watermelon entirely from the juice of the melon. October 10th will be one year in the bottle (which I have never been able to wait with others) and today I pulled a bottle from storage. I think i might be disappointed? There is a small brown "patch" clung to the inside of the bottle. I checked half a dozen other bottles and the same thing. It is not sediment. Also (as pictured) only one or two of these patches are in the bubble. They occur in seemingly random places in the bottle. At least I think they are brown spots, but looking thru green glass. I suspect mold maybe? Is it dangerous? Should I abandon this brew?

I don't really have an answer, but when you say entirely from the melon juice, do you mean there's no added sugar? Did you measure the OG/FG to get an idea of alcohol content? I'm just wondering if there was enough sugar to raise the alcohol level high enough to prevent other stuff from growing.

 

[T_Baggins]

you would ask that...I really don't remember...

 

[RedlegEd]

I really don't think there are any dangerous pathogens that will grow in conditioned beer. If it's mold from an improperly cleaned and sanitized bottle, it might taste kind of funky (like moldy bread,) or worse, like Satan's anus, but it shouldn't kill you. Chill a few bottles and give it a shot. Worst that could happen is you dump a year's worth of waiting...best case, no off flavors and you drink a fine beer, sorry, wine.

 

[ong]

I think it's a wine... And no, I don't think anything will hurt you. It might taste lousy, but there's one way to find out...

 

[RedlegEd]

I think it's a wine... And no, I don't think anything will hurt you. It might taste lousy, but there's one way to find out...

Ooops, sorry, didn't catch the forum, but still, I agree with you. You can't win if you don't play!

 

[T_Baggins]

well I think the mystery may have just been solved. My GF just told me she flipped the box (containing the bottles) over because it had gotten wet. It is probably sediment that really clung to the bottles, having been undisturbed for at least 9 months. I took another look just now, at more of the bottles and the location of the brown stuff does seem to be in what is now the upper side of the bottles. Also, I slightly rolled a bottle back n forth a bit, in attempt dislodge some the suspect material. Small amounts came off, in slight cloud fashion, and did notice one small chunk migrate toward the center of the bottle and then begin to slowly fall downward with what appeared to be a tail/tendril, but on closer inspection was a tiny trail of gas bubbles which I believe would be expected. I've waited this long, I'll give it the last month! :rockin:

 

[lukebuz]

what? No ABV on the label? No label? No log sheet? oh man. wise winemakers would weccomend!

 

[T_Baggins]

I've tried keeping a log, the book always ends up getting lost or crumpled or the dog ate it.

 

[lukebuz]

I've tried keeping a log, the book always ends up getting lost or crumpled or the dog ate it.

You should try using those newfangled computational things. I think you may even own one!!

 

[T_Baggins]

You should try using those newfangled computational things. I think you may even own one!!

it has its own problems

 

[T_Baggins]

I don't really have an answer, but when you say entirely from the melon juice, do you mean there's no added sugar? Did you measure the OG/FG to get an idea of alcohol content? I'm just wondering if there was enough sugar to raise the alcohol level high enough to prevent other stuff from growing.

OK so I did post some recipe/methods in winemakingtalk forum...I did add sugar, OG was 1.104, I didn't record FG but I used EC 1118 so I'm sure I got .995-.998 ....also I added some blackberries (I forgot about that one!) and half a banana (for nutrient) I figger ABV should be around 14%