Going Bigger

[JohnT]

I have seen a lot of talk about the hunt (or desire) for new carboys.

This got me wondering why nobody talks about going bigger (perhaps to a 54 lit Demijohn). Wouldn't this be better than having so many carboys?

 

[Runningwolf]

For me that would not work. I have a lot of carboys but there are sooo many different juices and kits out there I want to try that I need the carboys. Plus I am starting to experiment more with blending. 30 bottles of one kind is enough for me at a time. I am close to a 1000 bottles now with lots of stuff aging and in primaries that I would not want that much of one kind.

 

[djrockinsteve]

5 gallons is a nice and convenient size for me. I enjoy doing a variety of juices and like Runningwolf I am blending and 5 gallons is just right said Goldilocks.

 

[Larryh86GT]

I find that even my one gallon plus batches are more than I can drink safely. And while I make mostly raspberry wine I like some variety also.

 

[cpfan]

I have seen a lot of talk about the hunt (or desire) for new carboys.

This got me wondering why nobody talks about going bigger (perhaps to a 54 lit Demijohn). Wouldn't this be better than having so many carboys?

Kits make 6 US gallons, thus I need 6 USG carboys.

Juice pails usually are 5 USG, so I would need 5 USG carboys.

Fruits come in a multitude of volumes. So just plan them to fit existing equipment.

Finally, I'm an old fogey. a full 6USG carboy is heavy enough. Lifting/Moving a 54L demijohn is not in my plans.

Steve

 

[JohnT]

A 54 liter demijohn is only about 72 bottles. For those wines that you have a lot of success with, wouldn't you want to make more?

I had not thought of kits. I see now that they are tailored to fit carboys.

If, however, you are making wine from fruit, wouldn't it make more sense to use a demijohn at the time of harvest? I have noticed that some folks out there have a portion of their freezer space dedicated to holding fruit for extended periods of time. I know that freezing fruit serves to help extract the juice, but why store it?

 

[closetwine]

Like it was said before lots of kinds... so little time. I have 7 (8 or 9???) different kinds going, but they are all small batches until I find one I like then I'll go bigger 5 or 6 gal.

 

[Minnesotamaker]

I have a mix of sizes: 1, 3, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 14, & 18 gallon. The 5 & 6's get used the most. The larger sizes are OK sometimes, but if you're picking small fruits like cherries, raspberries, or strawberries to make an 18 gallon batch, it would require more patience than I have. I usually make larger batches of things like apple and Skeeter Pee.

 

[Wade E]

Once my currants start to procucve much more I want to upgarde to a 100 liter VCT. Other then that I dont want any more then 6 gallons of any one wine myself.

 

[JohnT]

Once my currants start to procucve much more I want to upgarde to a 100 liter VCT. Other then that I dont want any more then 6 gallons of any one wine myself.

Why 100VC? Why not two 54 liter Demijohns? You get more volume at about 1/3 the cost.