Supermarket Juices

I've made a gallon of apple and cranberry wine using supermarket juices. I made sure that they didn't have any preservatives (sodium metabisulphate was in the juice, but I ignored that). Then I brought it to the boil, simmered for a couple of minutes and went from there. I've just done the first racking, it's ok so far, nothing to shout about.

...as in orange juice, apple juice, cranberry etc?

How did you decide on the amount of juice to use?

I just used the standard fruit juice cartons for drinking, the ones you find in the chiller cabinet. Took an SG measurement when cooled and added sugar to build it up with an aim of hitting 13.5% abv.

Sweet, thanks for the information.

I am still very new to this and have just done kits so far (and started a mead). I have no press for extracting the juices so thought this could be a middle-ground.

I wonder if my electric juicer could do the job (the juice it produces is pretty thick)?

This is what I do a =LOT=. Look out for any preservatives, usually metabisulfites; might take a year for fermentation to begin!!! LOL!!! And since a lot of juices are colored or flavored with unknown stuff, get a label of ingredients that you know =exactly= what all the items are, and are totally natural. Also, many juices have ascorbic or other acids added, be sure to check your acidity just like you would with anything else. Otherwise, apple, both purple and white concord grape, cherry, strawberry, etc are all good. Adding Sue Bee clover honey for fermentable sugars adds an indescibably delicious taste of honey to boot.... ONE note: when using concord grapes, use only 50% grape juice, 50% water. I had one guy try a white concord I used 100% juice with, and he said it "kicked ass" but it was also "death by grape", meaning very strong..... and he was right, not that =I= cared! LOL!! Bob<

LOL

sue bee?

Orange wine even when made by pros is not worth your time. I picked some up on a trip to FLA a few years back. Apple is a 100% sure thing!!! I am also going to try using Cherry Juicy-Juice in 48oz cans tomorrow. Should know something by February.....

Bad idea, trust me. If you must go w/o a fruit press, blenderize your fruit with equal amounts of water and add sugar to get good PA, ferment with good head space, several inches or so, let it all go still, rack off the lees into a smaller carboy and let it settle with a good preservative. I've done this with blueberries and the results are indescribable.

IMO the most overlooked supplementary ingredient for an otherworldly drinking experience. Their clover honey is so delicious it is surreal. Mead is heavenly. I'd imagine faeries and elves drink it, maybe mermaids too; I'll ask my gf, she's a mermaid.... @8=<

Hehe,

is it a US brand? I haven't seen it over here in England.

You're gf is a mermaid? You have been drinking too much. Then my gf is a witch, half irish, half gypsy, all druid weirdness... I need to drink ;)

It's much too fine for you lot!!! Harrod's only sells Arabian honey, right?

"alien" wrote

I live on an island, and she is something else..... 140cm, 40kg, blonde hair 70cm long, blue eyes, and as we say in America, she is built like a two-story brick outhouse! Picture a very petite version of Dolly Parton.... Professional ballerina, and friend of the stars; she has pictures of her at parties with the likes of Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Cyd Charisse, Cesar Romero, Donald O' Connor etc ad infinitum.....

Then my gf is a

I guess we're both on the right ng......

I would recommend using the frozen Welch's 100% white grape juice blends... White-grape raspberry, white-grape peach.

Just reconsititute them according ot the package instructions. 1 can concentrate, 3 cans water. For one gallon batch, I would recommend 2-3 cans concentrate, add enough water for just over 1 gallon, add enough sugar to make about 10-12 potential alcohol (2-2.5 lbs sugar?), acid blend, yeast, etc....

And ferment away!

here's the recipe......

Best wishes. Rick Vanderwal Fremont, MI

Forgive me, but being an analyst I naturally see the logical conclusions of disparate facts.

So, given that:

a) You girlfriend is a mermaid and therefore half fish, half maiden. b) She has blue eyes and (given that she is not a potato), she must have a head. c) She is a ballerina implies she has legs.

Put these altogether I am seeing a fishy body with legs a head and fins?

No wonder you need to make so much wine!