Valuable Lesson

nursejohn · May 2, 2009

I have only been at this for about 5 months and last night I learned a very valuable lesson. I have only made 2 kits thus far and have 3rd one in carboy now and have had no problems with them. But being new and excited about my newfound hobby, I found a recipe on the internet for Hillbilly Wine and thought that I would give it a try. The recipe says that it is ready to drink after 1 month. Being new at this, I bottled it and thankfully storedthe bottlesin a large plastic container along with my other wine supples. Last night, my wife and I heard a loud "pop" and I found out that the cork from one of the two bottles had popped out. While cleaning up my mess, (once again, thankfully it was in the container and not on my wife's carpet), the other cork popped out also. I tasted the wine and it had had a fizzy taste like beer. Don't know exactly what happened, but wanted to let someone know to be aware when bottling hillbilly wine

Wade E · May 2, 2009

Did you check with a hydrometer to see that the sg was stable for a few days and then add both k-meta and sorbate to prevent re-fermentation?

gaudet · May 2, 2009

Hill Billies don't know what SG is nor do they know wtf K-meta or sorbate is

nursejohn · May 2, 2009

No I did not check SG or add K-meta. I know better now though! I simply went by the recipe and have since learned the importance of checking the SG stability. I guess it started to re-ferment. I learned a lesson that I'll never forget.

Waldo · May 3, 2009

nursejohn said:
I have only been at this for about 5 months and last night I learned a very valuable lesson. I have only made 2 kits thus far and have 3rd one in carboy now and have had no problems with them. But being new and excited about my newfound hobby, I found a recipe on the internet for Hillbilly Wine and thought that I would give it a try. The recipe says that it is ready to drink after 1 month. Being new at this, I bottled it and thankfully storedthe bottlesin a large plastic container along with my other wine supples. Last night, my wife and I heard a loud "pop" and I found out that the cork from one of the two bottles had popped out. While cleaning up my mess, (once again, thankfully it was in the container and not on my wife's carpet), the other cork popped out also. I tasted the wine and it had had a fizzy taste like beer. Don't know exactly what happened, but wanted to let someone know to be aware when bottling hillbilly wine

OK nursejohn...gotta give you some "edumacation" ( Hillbilly for education) here. The key elementthat you missed here is that the recipe said " In one month it will be ready to drink" not be ready to be bottled. You were supposed have drank it all !!!!

Tom · May 3, 2009

OK nursejohn...gotta give you some "edumacation" ( Hillbilly for education) here. The key elementthat you missed here is that the recipe said " In one month it will be ready to drink" not be ready to be bottled. You were supposed have drank it all !!!!

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Good one Waldo !