Flavorings

[Wade E]

Has anybody used the fruit flavorings that George sells as Id like to have some of these around to give back a little flavor to a few batches that even though I upped the amount of fruit on, came out a little week in the end. Particularly the raspberry and plum but if youve tried any of them Id like the feedback. Thanks!

 

[jobe05]

I have tried them Wade........, well.... Not "them" I have tried the Blackberry and one other, forgot if it was the raspberry or blueberry but I didn't care for the taste of them. I am somewhat sensitive to artificial flavorings and the taste to me is like ...... plastic. Thats the best that I can describe it. It's not just an off taste to me, it's a mouth feel that just isn't right, or very pleasant to me.

Now I have no idea how this would be in an aged wine. Maybe it gets blended better over time, I don't know.

 

[Wade E]

I ordered the raspberry a few days ago and will give it a try for the good of the forum!

 

[lockdude]

Im not sure what kind george sells,but I have used the L.D. carlsons blackberry,rasberry,and cherry.They have a somewhat artificial taste in wines if you use very much.The rasberry,and cherry were used in 6 gallon batches of ale.It was good in the beer.
lockdude

 

[grapeman]

I also have used a number of LD Carlson's flavorings and they are certainly artificial. They have Kool-Aid like flavors. Used a few once on some flavored spare fermented alcohol left over from making brandies. It was drinkable-barely. I ended up dumping them out.

 

[jobe05]

Wade, I apologize for answering without fully understanding your question, I HAVE NEVER USED ANY FROM GEORGE!!!!!! I needed to clarify that. I still have a bottle of the Blackberry downstairs, when I work up the ambition I will go down and check to see what brand it is. I got them from a local brew shop, not from George, so I apologize for that misunderstanding.

Got off my butt and went down and checked, it a bottle from LD Carlson.

Edited by: jobe05

 

[Wade E]

Thanks everyone, it seems that everyone has the same feelings, Ill try what I bought on a glass and see if a little will give it enough flavor without spoiling the flavor, if so Ill do what I normally do and just reduce the juice on a stove. Its just that sometimes its hard to find the juice of that flavor like plum. I dont want that store bought juice with that extra something in it that helps you go #2, seems to be the only plum juice around.

 

[scotty]

I ruined a raspberry wine by adding a 2 oz bottle of some supermarket brand of extract ((59-60ml)) to 6 gallonsof wine. I will in the future start with ((15m))l to 6 gallons and use my graduated cylinder to test on very small amounts of wine.


We rescued the raspberry by turning it into an aperitif which folks seem to like. I get annoyed every time i look at a bottle of the stuff.

 

[NorthernWinos]

I used some blueberry on a batch once....It took a year for the flavor to subside....


Have used some apple in some Sparkling Apple wine...learned that just a very small amount is plenty...


When I first tried it I would take 8oz of wine and take a syringe with 1 or 2mil of flavoringandtried that...it was too much...then tried 8oz wine and used 1/2 mil and thought that was okay....


I kept track and my records showed...


1/2mil [cc] /8oz wine =
2mil [cc] /qt of wine =
8mil [cc] /gal of wine=
40 mil [cc] /5 gal of wine


40 mil = 1.35oz or 2.71 TBLS.


[I think these figures are correct...I am not a Scientist]


I think that was what I used with some wine conditioner too...don't like wine too sweet.


Those additives are pretty potent and it all depends on your personal tastes too.

 

[Wade E]

Great info Nw and appreciate it. Gives me something to go by as Ive never used it.