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Help! I'm an idiot!

Never make wine when you are tired and not thinking well. I have a problem. I decided to make a Niagara, sweet and strong, today. I looked in my book of recipes from previous projects, tweaked things a bit and then got the shock of my life!!! I was boosting the ingredients used in a previous 6 gallon batch recipe and I am only making a 5 gallon batch, so I now have a PA of 21%!!!!!!!!! I did not notice the problem until after I added the yeast and put the hydrometer in. I used a D47 yeast, but as soon as I realized what had happened, I added in an EC1118 as it is supposed to be much higher in alcohol production. Does ANYBODY have ANY ideas??????? I've racked it to a carboy and put an airlock on it. This is sooo incredibly FUBAR that I think I should probably split the batch into two carboys and top each off to have a 10.5% PA..... I hate it when concrete proof of my stupidity is sitting on the shelf for a year.... Bob

Reply to
Bob
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Reply to
J Dixon

What is the problem? Just stop it short at about 17% or so. You will have sweet and strong just like you wanted.

Reply to
Michael E. Carey

I think your idea to split the batch and add (acidulated) water is your best bet, but why not just add water until you reach the desired PA and then transfer this volume to different sized containers so that each is full. 10.5% PA isn't necessary or desirable.

In addition to 6.5, 5 and 3 gallon carboys, I often use 1/2 and 1 gallon glass apple juice containers to keep everything topped-up. It means lots of different sized stoppers and an arsenal of air-locks, but it works.

Miker

Reply to
Miker

Boy, I sure hope so... It is fermenting along just fine, but I may dilute it and put it in my 6.5 gal. carboy as soon as it is empty. It gives me the willies. I haven't had anything with a PA of 21% since I dunno when....

21%!!!!!!!!!
Reply to
Bob

21%!!!!!!!!! I

I'm leaning towards using the 6.5 as soon as it is available. I hadn't thought about adding acid to the water; thanks for mentioning that.

I'm in a remote area and the local shops don't sell glass jugs of apple juice, only plastic ones. This episode has pointed out to me the need to buy another 6.5 gallon carboy. I have five of the 5 gallon, but only one

6.5..... Blobert<
Reply to
Bob

No worries, the Red Sox are a bunch of idiots and things worked out for them :-)

I think your mistake was in pitching the EC-1118. That may eat up most of that sugar and leave you with mostly just strong. If you had stayed with the D47 and taken the 14% ABV you may have ended up with a decent dessert wine if you balanced the sugar with sufficient acid. Although it would depend on how much flavor you get from the Niagra.

If this is from a concentrate, I would split the batch and add more diluted concentrate. If it's from grapes, maybe blend with a low alcohol wine like a Riesling?

Andy

Reply to
JEP

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