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If a hydrometer is cracked or defective it usually sinks, giving you a false reading that indicates fermentation is further along than it really is. Give it time.

If you are near a country club, check with them as a source of bottles. Being private clubs they usually do what they want. Plus they use a LOT of wine. I just ask my club to put all wine bottles in a large garbage bag for the day. Saturday is good for 4 cases. Don't forget to give the...

OKAY Joe asked how the "cheap" kits doing. The italic typing is the follow up to the previous post. I added 1 Heaping Tbs of cocoa powder to a merlot kit with 12 oz of dried cherries. This one is clearing and I added my Oak sticks. I do not use the chitosan to clear so it takes a while. Very...

I'm pretty sure mine had some kind of secondary reaction going on. It wasn't holding on to CO2 when I bottled it. It tastes fine once the fizz is gone. I'll use those for topping off.

I will oak the reds with home toasted oak during clearing. I did add a TBS tannin to the Chianti, forgot to list it. I will try some grapefruit or pumello zest to the white. I'm really surprised at how good they smell. To bad I can't upload a scent.

I added 1 Heaping Tbs of cocoa powder to a merlot kit with 12 oz of dried cherries. I added 2 Tbs coffee beans to a sangiovese kit with 2 lb frozen blackberries I added 32 oz raspberry preserves to a chianti kit I added 16 oz dried mixed berries (cranberry, blueberry and cherry) to a...

Joe has anyone tried adding cocoa powder, like adding tannin powder, for that chocolate note?

I have not made a kit in a while. I bought 6 Fontana kits. I'll use Zante currants, Frozen black berries, dried cherries, and whatever else comes to mind to add flavor textures. We'll see how it goes

I use my oak sticks when I cook ribs on the gas grill, I wrap them in foil so they dom't ignite.

Zin, I had similar issues with my spring 2017 juices. I fermented to "dry" Cleared in carboys for 3 months with no settling agents. SG was @ .992. Bottled and racked in the cellar. Opened a bottle after a month and YEAAKKK! I put my thumb on the top of the bottle, shook it, then spent 2...

I toast my own oak, Straight into the carboy. Not chips but 8in x 3/8 in x 3/4 in sticks.

Recipe twist on SP - All Dollar Tree ingredients: 4 - Jumex 32 oz Strawberry/Banana drink 3 - Frutessa 17.6 oz Strawberry preserves (only citric acid as preservative) 8 - lb sugar inverted (had a little left) 2 - Reconstituted lemon juice 32 oz 2 - TBS Nutrient (one at start, one at SG 1.03 or...

I use e-1118 nearly every time, not slurry. Recipe twist on SP - All Dollar Tree ingredients: 4 - Jumex 32 oz Strawberry/Banana drink 3 - Frutessa 17.6 oz Strawberry preserves (only citric acid as preservative) 8 - lb sugar inverted (had a little left) 2 - Reconstituted lemon juice 32 oz 2 -...

I never use the energizer, only the nutrient (food grade Urea) I have never had a problem

Way at the other end of I-75 Maumee, west of Toledo

Joe, I've used liquid smoke to cook with before. I don't see it giving notes of caramel, chocolate, or vanilla, but rather bacon. I've recycled my own sticks by splitting them then doubling up. It seemed to work. Even though they sank to the bottom, the wine does not totally penetrate the...

I am getting white oak that has been kiln dried, or in dry storage for a year. in 2015, I used some that was fresh cut from a tree trunk that had been down for a year. It was really aromatic and made the best wine I have ever made. The smell of the fresh cut white oak is very pleasant and...

Sour grapes, That was me. I used the dead Ash to build with. BUT, I have been toasting my own oak for a couple of seasons now. Fresh oak truly makes a difference. I liken it to coffee roasting, old beans have lost a lot of flavor. I have started to prep for a small business selling oak. I...

Looks really great. I used the goat feed mesh as well. You gain rows & columns of storage because it is 1/4" dia. vs 5/8" thick. In my case I gained 84 bottles of storage by using the goat wire. Some of your corks look a little out there. Time for a floor corker?

My version of a Super Tuscan this fall, 30 gal Cab Sav, + 18 gal Sangiovese, + 80lb Merlot grapes. Adding home toasted oak this week The other 30 gal of Cab Sav is un-blended with 80lb of Cab Sav grapes.