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#21 2024-01-04 Apple Strawberry Banana
#21 2025-01-04 Apple Strawberry Banana
~ Grandpa Frederich
~ primary 1.5gal jar (1gal recipe)
~ oo apple strawberry banana 100% juice concentrate x2 cans
~ sugar from juice 372g
~ sugar 4c
~ ab 2tsp ~ pe 1/2tsp ~ ye 1tsp
~ IG 15%
~ prepped 2025-01-04 - complete
~ yeast pitch 2025-01-05 ~ lavlin 71b
~ first fermentation 29 days - complete
~ rack 1 2025-02-02 - complete
~ second fermentation 261 days - in progress
~ next milestone Second Rack 2 overdue by -231 days
~ notes
~~~ 2024-11-20 bottleday, semi-sweet, less sugar or diff yeast
#20 2024-01-04 Grape
#20 2025-01-04 Grape
~ Buster Boyd
~ primary 1.5gal jar (1gal recipe)
~ oo grape 100% juice concentrate x2 cans
~ sugar from juice 432g
~ sugar 4c
~ ab 2tsp ~ pe 1/2tsp ~ ye 1tsp
~ IG 14%
~ prepped 2025-01-04 - complete
~ yeast pitch 2025-01-05 ~ lavlin 71b
~ first fermentation 29 days - complete
~ rack 1 2025-02-02 - complete
~ second fermentation 261 days - in progress
~ next milestone Second Rack 2 overdue by -231 days
~ notes
~~~ 2025-03-15 bottleday, very sweet, less sugar or diff yeast
Small Batch Summary
List of small batch fermentations and their current status. Click the title for details.
First Rack 1 / Second Fermentation#20 2025-01-04 Grape
~ yeast pitch 2025-01-05 ~ lavlin 71b
~ first fermentation 29 days - complete
~ rack 1 2025-02-02 - complete
~ second fermentation 261 days - in progress
~ next milestone Second Rack 2 overdue by -231 days
~~~ 2025-03-15 bottleday, very sweet, less sugar or diff yeast
#21 2025-01-04 Apple Strawberry Banana
~ yeast pitch 2025-01-05 ~ lavlin 71b
~ first fermentation 29 days - complete
~ rack 1 2025-02-02 - complete
~ second fermentation 261 days - in progress
~ next milestone Second Rack 2 overdue by -231 days
~~~ 2024-11-20 bottleday, semi-sweet, less sugar or diff yeast
Backsweeten/Bottling / Aging
#17 2024-12-13 Apple Raspberry
~ total days start to bottling 52
~ bottle date 2025-02-02
~ aged 6 months 2025-08-01 (2 months 19 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-10-30 (0 months 9 days)
~ aged 12 months 2026-01-28 (3 months 7 days)
~~~ 2024-12-20 well, made a wine instead
~~~ 2024-11-26 brilliant idea. Make a mead using juice concentrate and honey. sugar whammy.
#19 2024-12-13 Apple Cherry
~ total days start to bottling 45
~ bottle date 2025-01-26
~ aged 6 months 2025-07-25 (2 months 26 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-10-23 (0 months 2 days)
~ aged 12 months 2026-01-21 (3 months 0 days)
#18 2024-11-24 Wild Blueberry
~ total days start to bottling 64
~ bottle date 2025-01-26
~ aged 6 months 2025-07-25 (2 months 26 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-10-23 (0 months 2 days)
~ aged 12 months 2026-01-21 (3 months 0 days)
~~~ 2025-01-04 Still fermenting beautifully, leave in jar, no rack, wait
~~~ 2024-11-24 really wanted to make my first blueberry really good... today, mashed the wild blueberries, add to primary with water. Took gravity, 7%. Is this because I added the sugar to the fruit last night--bad mixing? Added more water than usual to account for 3lbs blueberry must and two weights. And added 1c sugar syrup bring gravity up to 10% or so... backstep backstep. Don't think I'll do that again, need an accurate gravity reading, sugar syrup + macerated fruit or
#16 2024-11-18 Apple Peach Mango
~ total days start to bottling 48
~ bottle date 2025-01-04
~ aged 6 months 2025-07-03 (3 months 17 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-10-01 (0 months 19 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-12-30 (2 months 9 days)
~~~ 2024-11-24 neglected this darling so far. robust fermentation to start, foam then foam disappears, blubbles then back to foam. haha.
#15 2024-11-16 Frozen Blackberries/Blended Berries
~ total days start to bottling 79
~ bottle date 2025-02-02
~ aged 6 months 2025-08-01 (2 months 19 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-10-30 (0 months 9 days)
~ aged 12 months 2026-01-28 (3 months 7 days)
~~~ 2024-11-23 had to rack to get this fruit tannin out... almost 1c sugar added, it's weak, will need to continue stepping this. ahh it's bubbling now... deep purple-red color, opaque.
~~~ 2024-11-21 tip... After a week lift out the straining bag with the pulp and allow to drain as much as possible, avoid squeezing the bag. that's 7 days from pitch. leaving it in too long adds to many tannins from berry skin.
#14 2024-11-08 White Grape
~ total days start to bottling 36
~ bottle date 2024-12-13
~ aged 6 months 2025-06-11 (4 months 9 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-09-09 (1 months 11 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-12-08 (1 months 17 days)
~~~ 2024-11-19 small bubbles, fermenting continues
~~~ 2024-11-18 add 1/2c sugar today
#13 2024-11-03 Apple Strawberry Banana
~ total days start to bottling 41
~ bottle date 2024-12-13
~ aged 6 months 2025-06-11 (4 months 9 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-09-09 (1 months 11 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-12-08 (1 months 17 days)
~~~ 2024-11-20 pretty dead now, add 1/4c sugar diluted
~~~ 2024-11-19 Calmed down, added diluted 1/4c sugar... go to sleep darling and in the months that come bring forth a delicious ice cold beverage.
#12 2024-10-26 Black Cherry
~ total days start to bottling 49
~ bottle date 2024-12-13
~ aged 6 months 2025-06-11 (4 months 9 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-09-09 (1 months 11 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-12-08 (1 months 17 days)
~~~ 2024-12-01 this one has been dead quiet for 10 days or so. taste reveal harshness. maybe i added too much sugar. Aging will help says everyone... we'll see.
~~~ 2024-11-20 after back stepping, this is still fermenting with a nice krausening line...
#11 2024-10-17 Apple
~ total days start to bottling 31
~ bottle date 2024-11-16
~ aged 6 months 2025-05-15 (5 months 5 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-08-13 (2 months 7 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-11-11 (0 months 21 days)
~~~ 2024-11-12 Step 12 Stabilize. Add 1 crushed Camden tablet
~~~ 2024-11-05 still bubbling, de-gassing
#10 2024-10-12 Apple Raspberry
~ total days start to bottling 23
~ bottle date 2024-11-03
~ aged 6 months 2025-05-02 (5 months 18 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-07-31 (2 months 20 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-10-29 (0 months 8 days)
~~~ 2024-11-03 bottled today, 2 750ml and one big bottle. fg was 0 but it was semi-sweet. watch this could be really good.
~~~ 2024-10-26 juice: 348g of sugar...settling beautifully.
#9 2024-10-07 Blackberry Fruit
~ total days start to bottling 28
~ bottle date 2024-11-03
~ aged 6 months 2025-05-02 (5 months 18 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-07-31 (2 months 20 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-10-29 (0 months 8 days)
~~~ 2024-11-03 bottled today, 4 750ml. very dry even after backsweetening on 10/23.
~~~ 2024-10-26 beautiful color showing through sun on jar today.
#8 2024-10-04 Grape
~ total days start to bottling 44
~ bottle date 2024-11-16
~ aged 6 months 2025-05-15 (5 months 5 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-08-13 (2 months 7 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-11-11 (0 months 21 days)
~~~ 2024-11-12 Step 12 Stabilize. Add 1 crushed Camden tablet
~~~ 2024-11-05 still bubbling, de-gassing
#7 2024-09-16 Blueberry Pomegranate
~ total days start to bottling 19
~ bottle date 2024-10-04
~ aged 6 months 2025-04-02 (6 months 18 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-07-01 (3 months 19 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-09-29 (0 months 21 days)
~~~ 2024-10-03 didn’t pitch enough yeast because turned out really sweet; realized was 2c short due to headspace in 1gal. so maybe sweet from shortage. damn, when did I rack this?
#6 2024-09-07 Pineapple
~ total days start to bottling 18
~ bottle date 2024-09-24
~ aged 6 months 2025-03-23 (6 months 28 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-06-21 (3 months 29 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-09-19 (1 months 1 days)
~~~ 2024-09-24 3 bottles, cool Saturday
~~~ 2024-09-23 Add 1/2c sugar
#5 2024-09-02 Cranberry Raspberry
~ total days start to bottling 19
~ bottle date 2024-09-20
~ aged 6 months 2025-03-19 (7 months 1 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-06-17 (4 months 3 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-09-15 (1 months 5 days)
#4 2024-07-30 Cranberry Grape (64oz)
~ total days start to bottling 33
~ bottle date 2024-08-31
~ aged 6 months 2025-02-27 (7 months 21 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-05-28 (4 months 23 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-08-26 (1 months 25 days)
#3 2024-07-30 Red Tart Cherry (64oz)
~ total days start to bottling 33
~ bottle date 2024-08-31
~ aged 6 months 2025-02-27 (7 months 21 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-05-28 (4 months 23 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-08-26 (1 months 25 days)
#2 2024-07-30 Red Tart Cherry/Apple (64oz)
~ total days start to bottling 33
~ bottle date 2024-08-31
~ aged 6 months 2025-02-27 (7 months 21 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-05-28 (4 months 23 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-08-26 (1 months 25 days)
#1 2024-07-30 Apple Mead (64oz)
~ total days start to bottling 33
~ bottle date 2024-08-31
~ aged 6 months 2025-02-27 (7 months 21 days)
~ aged 9 months 2025-05-28 (4 months 23 days)
~ aged 12 months 2025-08-26 (1 months 25 days)
~~~ 2024-11-27 this was part of first batch...
NOTFND
#19 2024-12-13 Apple Cherry
#19 2024-12-13 Apple Cherry
~ primary 1.5gal jar (1gal recipe)
~ oo apple cherry 100% juice concentrate x2 cans
~ sugar from juice 348g
~ sugar 4c
~ ab 2tsp ~ pe 1/2tsp ~ ye 1tsp
~ IG 15%-16%
~ yeast pitch 2024-12-14 ~ Lavlin 71b
~ first fermentation 10 days - complete
~ rack 1 2024-12-23 - complete
~ stabilize 1 camden 2025-01-18 - complete
~ stabilize 2 ps 2025-01-26 - complete
~ stabilizing - complete
~ backsweeten/bottle 2025-01-26 - complete
#17 2024-12-13 Apple Raspberry
#17 2024-12-13 Apple Raspberry
~ Irene Moore
~ primary 1.5gal jar (1gal recipe)
~ oo apple raspberry 100% juice concentrate x2 cans
~ sugar from juice 348g
~ sugar 4c
~ ab 2tsp ~ pe 1/2tsp ~ ye 1tsp
~ IG 15%-16%
~ yeast pitch 2024-12-14 ~ Lavlin 71b
~ first fermentation 10 days - complete
~ rack 1 2024-12-23 - complete
~ second fermentation 35 days - complete
~ rack 2 2025-01-26 - complete
~ stabilize 1 camden 2025-01-18 - complete
~ stabilize 2 ps 2025-02-02 - complete
~ stabilizing - complete
~ backsweeten/bottle 2025-02-02 - complete
~ notes
~~~ 2024-12-20 well, made a wine instead
~~~ 2024-11-26 brilliant idea. Make a mead using juice concentrate and honey. sugar whammy.
latest news
12/13
– start #17, #19
11/29
– rack 18 early rack but needed to get fruit out?
– rack 16
– rack 12
Next likely apple raspberry or maybe apple cherry?
11/26 what if I made a mead from apple raspberry juice concentrate and 2.5lbs of honey?
11/23-11/25 prepped #18 Wild Blueberry, pitch yeast 11/25
11/19 white grape is stalling for no reason…
11/18 more prepping and racking fun today
11/16 bottled #8 and #11. prepped all new fruit
11/11 The last three 1gal batches I’ve been experimenting with–differently. Added another 1/3c sugar to the black cherry and its fermenting again slowly, the apple is ready to be stabilized and then sweetened soon.
11/03-11/04
~ Start #13 (steps 0,1,2)
~ Bottle #8, #10
#18 2024-11-24 Wild Blueberries
#18 2024-11-24 Wild Blueberry
~ Blue Moon
~ primary 1.5gal jar (1gal recipe)
~ Wymans frozen Wild Blueberry 3lbs
~ sugar from juice 57g
~ sugar 4c on fruit, 1c during prep, will back step in secondary
~ ab 2tsp
~ pe 1/2tsp
~ ye 1tsp
~ tea 1/4c black tea
~ IG 10%
~ yeast pitch 2024-11-25 ~ lavlin EC-1118
~ first fermentation 5 days - complete
~ rack 1 2024-11-29 - complete
~ stabilize 1 camden 2025-01-18 - complete
~ stabilize 2 ps 2025-01-26 - complete
~ stabilizing - complete
~ backsweeten/bottle 2025-01-26 - complete
~ notes
~~~ 2025-01-04 Still fermenting beautifully, leave in jar, no rack, wait
~~~ 2024-11-24 really wanted to make my first blueberry really good... today, mashed the wild blueberries, add to primary with water. Took gravity, 7%. Is this because I added the sugar to the fruit last night--bad mixing? Added more water than usual to account for 3lbs blueberry must and two weights. And added 1c sugar syrup bring gravity up to 10% or so... backstep backstep.
Don't think I'll do that again, need an accurate gravity reading, sugar syrup + macerated fruit or
~~~ 2024-11-23 Weighed out 3lbs of wild blueberries tonight, begin prep for #18. Had an idea how to prep the berries and then saw a video from diy fermentation confirming my plan. All 3lbs into large bowl, pour in 4c of white sugar. Mix it up, seal and refrigerate over night.
~~~ 2024-11-20 will be first recipe to use both fruit and juice and 1c black tea for tannins. searching recipes and found this... uses blueberries AND blueberry juice...
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bjbXwUysMQ8
~~~ 2024-11-20 difficult to find this juice from OO
~~~ 2024-11-20 wow, so experience with fruit in muslin. assume wine will be better than just using concentrate but can't tell for 6-9 months. 3lbs frozen blueberries? Muslin bag with fruit or do i make a puree?
Pearls: Conditioning Fruit Wine
Fruit wine typically needs several months to a year of conditioning and clearing after fermentation is complete. During this time, yeast cells and solids settle out of the wine, producing a clearer final product.
The length of conditioning time depends on the type of wine. Red wines generally require 6 months to 2 years while whites typically need 3 to 6 months.
By racking the wine periodically during this conditioning phase, you accelerate the clarification process and improve the final quality of the wine.