Skeeter Pee

[Ernest T Bass]

On 9/11 I started 6 gallons of skeeter pee using EC1118 yeast with a SpGr of 1.075. Transferred to carboy on 9/29 at a SpGr of 1.012. Slowly worked down to SpGr of 1.004 by 10/6 and has not moved since. SpGr indicates that there is still some sugar left. Is it safe to add k-meta and sorbate, let that set a day or two, then add sparkolloid and when clear to bottle it. I have had quite a bit of experience with bottle bombs when I first started making wine, but haven't had one explode in the last couple of years and I don't want to go thru that again, very messy as well as dangerous. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Semper Fi

 

[FTC Wines]

I had a SP stop at .998, I followed instructions & stabilized, cleared etc. I had no problems. Good luck! Roy. Ps I also have had bottle bombs- NO FUN!

 

[Ernest T Bass]

Thanks Roy, I think I'll give it a couple more days and if it doesn't change go with it and see what happens.
Semper Fi

 

[Arne]

Is it clear? If so, degass, stabalize a bottle, sweeten it and set it on the shelf for a couple of weeks or so. if it doesn't take off again, do the rest of the batch. Mite try stirring the big batch and warm it up a little. S.P. likes it warm and it can stick a bit if it isn't warm enough, especially at the end of the ferment. Arne.

 

[Ernest T Bass]

Thanks Arne, I remember reading somewhere on this site, not to add nutrient after half way thru fermentation. I just read on another post that if stuck to add nutrient. I added a little nutrient, stirred it real good and am keeping it a about 85* and the SpGr had dropped to 1.003, may add a little more nudtrient today if it hasn't dropped any more.
Thanks
Semper Fi

 

[codeman]

Well I started a batch of Skeeter 2.5 days ago. It's fermenting but VERY VERY slowly. I added a second package of EC1118 (this time I let it sit in sugar water for an hour) Temp is around 72* so I put a heating pad on it just now. When I take the lid off it smells like CO2 and lemonade, there's positive pressure. The lid is snapped down and I've only seen a few bubbles from this. SG was 1.65 or so when I started.
Is this a very slow fermenter?

 

[cmason1957]

Well I started a batch of Skeeter 2.5 days ago. It's fermenting but VERY VERY slowly. I added a second package of EC1118 (this time I let it sit in sugar water for an hour) Temp is around 72* so I put a heating pad on it just now. When I take the lid off it smells like CO2 and lemonade, there's positive pressure. The lid is snapped down and I've only seen a few bubbles from this. SG was 1.65 or so when I started.
Is this a very slow fermenter?

I have always had the best luck with my ferments by not snapping a lid on them. Leave them open to the air. Skeeter pee, in particular likes to be stirred once, twice, or even three times a day. Just renege to sanitize that spoon. Or do what I do and just leave it in the must.

 

[codeman]

Well I started a batch of Skeeter 2.5 days ago. It's fermenting but VERY VERY slowly. I added a second package of EC1118 (this time I let it sit in sugar water for an hour) Temp is around 72* so I put a heating pad on it just now. When I take the lid off it smells like CO2 and lemonade, there's positive pressure. The lid is snapped down and I've only seen a few bubbles from this. SG was 1.65 or so when I started.
Is this a very slow fermenter?

So it's now the 26th and I've been stirring the Pee every day and adding nutrient (a little) almost every day, the heating pad has kept it at a steady 80* and I'm only down to 1.020!