Freeing Up Carboys

[Wiz]

I needed some carboys to start some more batches and after 3 months bulk aging bottled some blackberry and pineapple. The blackberry was really good and will have a problem with further aging without drinking. The pineapple is a different story. It tasted like high octane jet fuel. Will this mellow down and how long do you think it will take?

 

[Wade E]

What was the starting sg of the pineapple? Most fruit wines need aging to mellow though but higher abv fruit wines like to hide the flavor to much.

 

[Wiz]

ABV is 13.5. Is that too high for it to smooth out?

 

[Wade E]

It will take a little longer like 8 months or so. I try to keep fruit wines like this to around 11.5.

 

[Tom]

I agree w/ Wade. In the future do not add sugar blindly. Rather make sure ALL fruit wines do not exceed 1.085 starting gravity.

 

[Wiz]

Thanks guys. This was my second batch and added sugar to 1090 which fermented out to .990. Our sugar down here is not refined to the degree that it is in the U.S. and have found that I need to add less than what has been called for. I now shoot for 1075 to get a lower ABV except for blackberry that doesn't ferment down as low as other fruits.

 

[Wade E]

Ahhh, you get the uncut stuff!!!!! We get the stuff that has been stomped on just like the cocaine! hehehe

 

[Dirtydog420]

I have a pineapple I start just over a year ago, been bottled for 3 months.. ABV about the same, 13-14%, and its getting much better with age.. Was thinking I didn't like pineapple wine but now I want to make more the a slightly lower ABV..

Give it time and youll be happy...

 

[Sirs]

Thats not always true Wade I've got alot of wines 18% and they still have alot of flavor. I think the reason alot of people that have high abv have flavor loss is from haveing a weaker flavor to start with, either that or by using additives to clear to quick and lose flavor that way but thats just my opinion

What was the starting sg of the pineapple? Most fruit wines need aging to mellow though but higher abv fruit wines like to hide the flavor to much.