Well it has been over a month since I moved to Fayetteville and the majority of my time has been spent working, or working on my truck, or just relaxing with Ashley. I have been getting the itch as of late to get back into my brewing habits but, having not moved with a full set of brewing equipment, I won't be able to brew beer until my supplies return to a respectable level.
Yesterday I was cruisin around the town in my Yukon when I decided to stop at the local homebrew store called, 'The Homebrewery'. I mainly wanted to look around at the different things available in the store but then I remembered that Ashley and I had plans to make some Chardonnay this summer. Her uncle brews wine and has in the past brewed a favorite of hers, Peach Chardonnay. The homebrew store had the exact kit and after talking over the process of brewing wine from a kit I realized it would be a very quick and fun brewing experience.
This afternoon I was cruising around Craigslist on the the wild wild web and came across a local listing for homebrewing equipment. It is a basic starters kit (buckets, hydrometer, thermometer, bottling hosing, caps, capper, etc) that had never been opened. It also came with a California Common ingredients kit that had never been opened. I got it all for $65 from a pretty squirrely guy that I think was tweaking on some sort of drug (prescription or not). After searching around online I realized that I didn't really get that great of a deal (maybe saved $15...I think the Cali Common kit is old and past its prime so I don't factor the value of those ingredients into my calcs).
Anyways, Ash was excited to brew some wine so I bought a few gallons of water and got over to her place. With the heatwave sweeping the country my house's AC is having a hard time staying below 80F during the day and that is no place for a fermenting beer or wine to rest. Ashley's AC does better so until autumn hits my/our brewdays will be at her house.
Brewing wine from a kit is much easier than brewing beer (all grain or extract). No boiling necessary. To the bucket we added a gallon of water, stirred in a package of Bentonite (used to provide clarity, I believe), added the Chardonnay grape juice concentrate, and then topped off with more water to the 6 gallon mark. A quick temperature reading told us 75 F and a gravity reading told us 1.060. We were golden; sprinkled the yeast over top and added the lid with airlock.
We will let it primary ferment for 14 days before racking to a secondary, adding more clarifying agents, adding peach extract flavors, and letting it condition for another 14 days. Then all we do is bottle it and chill it and its ready to drink! If it turns out well we will be sure to send some out to anyone interested!
As mentioned, this wine has an OG of 1.060 and will likely have a FG below 1.000. This will make for an ABV around 10%. Should be a good thing to have around in late August as the heat continues.
Back to that Cali Common kit, I may try to brew it anyways just to see what happens with it. I have a feeling this 'new/unopened' kit I got on Craigslist is at least a year old, and I don't think the hops that came with the kit will provide a very good flavor and I will probably just be wasting my time. I will do a little more research before I decide.
I am really excited about my first official beer brewing day, but still have quite a bit of equipment to purchase before I can brew. That's all for now. This is my first blogpost (Ashley has had experience blogging through her store). I am undecided on how I will like this medium for my brewing updates, input is greatly appreciated.
Brew On!
Matt
Measuring Capacity of Buckets 6+ gallons, perfect.
Adding the grape juice concentrate.
Blending with a stir stick mounted to a pink drill!
Sprinkle that yeast player.
Finished.
