My Try at Strawberry

[RegionRat]

The local fruit monger got me 5 cases of strawberries at a good price. Free that is, I helped him repair the fence on his property.

This is also my first attempt using a fruit steam juicer. I will have to tell you I am very impressed with the juicer. I yielded just under 5 gal of juice.






I jacked up the sg to the 1.095ish range and put in some campton tabs. Tomorrow I will check T/A, give it a little nutrient and pitch the yeast.

I have champagne yeast I was gonna use, what do you think? Also what about a shot of tannin? Raisins?

RR

 

[DoodleBug]

That steam juicer looks great.
I had never seen one.
I look forward to strawberry season!
I have a while to wait here in the North East!

 

[RegionRat]

That steam juicer looks great.
I had never seen one.
I look forward to strawberry season!
I have a while to wait here in the North East!

When I was young my grandmother used one to make preserves. I had forgotten they existed until I started making wine and reading this forum. I have to say I will be using it ALOT.

RR

 

[saramc]

I have friends who use one to put up quart after quart of grape juice, for drinking unfermented. They use it for winemaking too. I like using mine, even though it has not seen alot of use...but the juice quality is just great so far.

 

[Turock]

Montrachet culture does a really great job on strawberry. Don't add tannin--or raisins.

 

[jswordy]

If you are thinking raisins to boost body, use ripe bananas instead.

 

[J-Gee]

How many pounds of berries did the 5 cases equate to?

 

[RegionRat]

Here is what I ended up doing:

5 cases strawberries (60#)
Steamed to 5 gal juice.
Sugar added to 22.5 brix, 1.95sg
5 campton tabs.
T/A 6.8
2.75# raisins, 2.5# chopped dates
Nutrient, bentonite, tannin added
Red Star Cote des Blancs yeast

I checked it this morning and it is just starting to get going!!! So excited!!!

I have friends who use one to put up quart after quart of grape juice, for drinking unfermented. They use it for winemaking too. I like using mine, even though it has not seen alot of use...but the juice quality is just great so far.

It worked so good I can see me using it all the time for juice and jelly making.

Montrachet culture does a really great job on strawberry. Don't add tannin--or raisins.

I do have Montrachet on hand. I chose Red Star Cote des Blancs yeast though for no particular reason. Hope it will be okay.

If you are thinking raisins to boost body, use ripe bananas instead.

I went with one of Jack Keller's recipes (#3) and used raisins and dates.

How many pounds of berries did the 5 cases equate to?

There were 6 - 2# containers in one flat. Roughly 12# per flat for a total of 60# of berries


RR

 

[J-Gee]

That's a good yield for 60 lbs. I've got to get a steam juicer.I've just been putting it off.

 

[pwrose]

make sure you put something under the primary to catch the bubbling over. strawberry loves to go ballistic.

 

[J-Gee]

What yeast id you use,PW?

 

[pwrose]

red star - Pasteur red
or
lalvin - bourgovin rc 212
I have used both and still do use both, this years 375 lb batch will be made with the rc 212

 

[RegionRat]

make sure you put something under the primary to catch the bubbling over. strawberry loves to go ballistic.

Thanks for the heads-up. I will do so

RR

 

[J-Gee]

Does the Rc212 maybe give it a better,more fuller nose?

 

[pwrose]

In my opinion if I gave you a bottle of strawberry made from each of those two yeast the only way you could tell which is which is by pure luck. I can not tell the difference in them at all.

Hey RR if you haven't seen my post for this years strawberry follow along with it as well.
http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/f45/strawberry-time-once-again-38176/
I am leaving to go to Everett WA for a week and when I get back I will be looking a primary big enough to process this years in.
I got about 12 gallons from almost 200 lbs of berries last year so I am expecting or should I say planning for 24 gallons of juice this year.
A larger primary is in order.

 

[RegionRat]

In my opinion if I gave you a bottle of strawberry made from each of those two yeast the only way you could tell which is which is by pure luck. I can not tell the difference in them at all.

Hey RR if you haven't seen my post for this years strawberry follow along with it as well.
http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/f45/strawberry-time-once-again-38176/
I am leaving to go to Everett WA for a week and when I get back I will be looking a primary big enough to process this years in.
I got about 12 gallons from almost 200 lbs of berries last year so I am expecting or should I say planning for 24 gallons of juice this year.
A larger primary is in order.

I have been following your post. It is what inspired me to start a batch of my own.

RR

 

[Deezil]

I am leaving to go to Everett WA for a week and when I get back I will be looking a primary big enough to process this years in.

You'll be in my area huh? Sounds like you need a Brute trash can

 

[pwrose]

yeah, and oh yeah that sounds like a good primary.

 

[RegionRat]

Racked today. Took a sip, coming along nicely. I put in 3 Madagascar Vanilla beans I slit lengthways.

RR

 

[J-Gee]

Did you have much lees at the racking?