DangerDave's Dragon Blood Wine

[gotbags-10]

What's the most mixed berries anyone has used on a 6 gallon batch? How many pounds is too much?

 

[calvin]

I don't know if you could use too much???? Many double it

 

[jumby]

I have a batch fermenting now with about 10 lbs. of strawberries, raspberries, black berries and blue berries.

 

[gotbags-10]

Only reason I ask is that Restaurant Depot by me has a sweet deal in 5 lb bags of mixed fruit right now. I was thinking I would do 3 bags

 

[bkisel]

Only reason I ask is that Restaurant Depot by me has a sweet deal in 5 lb bags of mixed fruit right now. I was thinking I would do 3 bags

Have you done a 6 pound DB? Personally, because the 6 pound recipe is liked by so many, I'd go with 10 pounds before I tried 15.

 

[willie]

Only reason I ask is that Restaurant Depot by me has a sweet deal in 5 lb bags of mixed fruit right now. I was thinking I would do 3 bags

Yep I agree with, Bill. The recipe made with 9-10 lbs. of fruit seems the best to us. The 6 lb. recipe is good also if you want your wine a little lighter in color and flavor.
The Tropical recipe I made and bottled with added 2 cans of 100% Welches frozen White grape juice has been a big hit with friends and family.

Will

 

[barryjo]

In the future, I would suggest you put the fruit in a straining bag or knee-high nylons. I find this makes it much easier to remove the fruit. If you are using a large quantity of fruit, use 2 bags.

 

[gotbags-10]

This will be my second batch. The first one I followed the original recipe with 6 lbs of fruit and 96oz of lemon. It's too tart and not fruity enough for me at least. So I will deff go down to a 48 oz bottle and I guess I will just go with 10 lbs of fruit. However my first batch just turned a year old and it's gotten much better but don't want to wait that long again.

 

[jumby]

Anybody bulk age dragon blood? If so how long? I bottle mine according to Dave's recipe and they always seem to be gone within a few months.

 

[bkisel]

Just this morning I finished bottling my fifth DB batch. That's five batches just since, I believe, around February of this year. One negative I noticed is that with doing all this DB I've allowed my stock of bottled kit wines to dwindle below a comfortable level. So, probably won't be starting another DB batch until maybe spring time 2015. I'll still follow this thread and post when I feel I've something positive to contribute.

 

[beano]

Hey Ya'll,
I just started a 6 gal. Dragon Blood batch using a quadberry blend from Harris-Teeter. They call it cherry blend even though it is the last ingredient on the package. It has blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries and dark cherries. First time I've seen this. Following Dave's original except for the lemon concentrate. Just used 32 oz. instead of 48 oz. Hope this tastes as good as it smells. Using Red Star Champagne Yeast.

Beano Joe

 

[bkisel]

Hey Ya'll,
I just started a 6 gal. Dragon Blood batch using a quadberry blend from Harris-Teeter. They call it cherry blend even though it is the last ingredient on the package. It has blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries and dark cherries. First time I've seen this. Following Dave's original except for the lemon concentrate. Just used 32 oz. instead of 48 oz. Hope this tastes as good as it smells. Using Red Star Champagne Yeast.

Beano Joe

Don't know what difference the yeast will make but I suspect you'll have a winning DB variation when all is said and done.

 

[ou8amaus]

Hey Ya'll,
I just started a 6 gal. Dragon Blood batch using a quadberry blend from Harris-Teeter. They call it cherry blend even though it is the last ingredient on the package. It has blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries and dark cherries. First time I've seen this. Following Dave's original except for the lemon concentrate. Just used 32 oz. instead of 48 oz. Hope this tastes as good as it smells. Using Red Star Champagne Yeast.

Beano Joe

That combination of berries sounds great!

 

[HeadWatersWine]

Has anyone made an fpack to add after fermenting? Also, I was gone one day and when I came back the SG was .994 took out mash bag. Tasted this baby is hot. I racked and stopped fermentation with kmeta and ksorbate. When experimenting today with back sweetening I like it about 1.020. Will that be too sweet in the bottle? Thanks ahead of time for any responses. Oh yeah this is a 1/2 mix of tripple and 1/2 blueberry with my own lemon lime twist.

 

[wineforfun]

headwater,
Couple of things.
Never had to add an fpac as mine always has plenty of flavor. I do use 1.5-2lbs. fruit per gallon though.
Also, just to clarify, if your SG was .994, fermentation was already done, you just treated your wine with kmeta and sorbate.
Lastly, what was your starting SG? I believe the "hot" you may be tasting is a mix of alcohol and it needing sweetening.

As far as the 1.020, if that is too your liking, then go for it. Too sweet for me, but would be to my wife's liking. Remember too, after 1-2mos. in the bottle, the fruit flavor really comes forward.

 

[HeadWatersWine]

wineforfun, thanks for the response. My starting was 1.070, looks like I could have used more fruit to start.

 

[wineforfun]

Yeah, I use more fruit than recommended and usually push the SG to 1.090-1.095.
I think we all have done the original recipe, as written, and then made tweaks from there.

 

[beano]

Don't know what difference the yeast will make but I suspect you'll have a winning DB variation when all is said and done.

Well, it sure is happy today. Getting close to the top of the bucket, within an inch. I'll have to watch this one.

 

[maurtis]

Hey Ya'll,
I just started a 6 gal. Dragon Blood batch using a quadberry blend from Harris-Teeter. They call it cherry blend even though it is the last ingredient on the package. It has blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries and dark cherries. First time I've seen this. Following Dave's original except for the lemon concentrate. Just used 32 oz. instead of 48 oz. Hope this tastes as good as it smells. Using Red Star Champagne Yeast.

Beano Joe

As soon as I saw "Harris Teeter" I got homesick. I was born in New Bern and spent my teens and early 20s in Raleigh (Go Wolfpack!). I would love to move back, but work and marriage conspire to keep me in Texas.

"I'm going to Carolina in my mind..."

Looking forward to your DB tasting notes, sounds like it will turn out great!

 

[geek]

I have about 8 gallons ready for super kleer.
Will one package be fine for this batch?
The package is 2-in-1. Kieselsol and Chotosan.