Topic: I just ordered Alcotec 48 premium high alcohol brewing yeast fora.
Meta started this discussion 8 years ago #71,562
I'm resuming closet wine production, but this time on 10 gallon (two 5 gallon buckets) scale. Previously I'd done it with baking yeast in gallon jugs. It worked and I got at least 10% ABV but I was unable to keep production up with consumption and also it didn't taste very good. I think if I can alternate the buckets and have 5 gallons of wine coming out of the closet (lol) every two weeks I can achieve self sufficiency. I usually average under two gallons a week consumption and I should be able to get a two week turnaround with this turbo yeast.
I've done the math and I can get my price per bottle of wine down to about $0.88 a liter (supposedly up to 20% ABV). Probably a dollar a liter when you factor in the cost of the yeast, airlock, and buckets (make sure to use food grade buckets - you can buy them at Home Depot/Lowes). This compares favorably with the cheapest store bought wine which is about $3 per BWE (bottle of wine equivalent).
I'll keep you updated as things start happening. The yeast should come in on Wednesday.
(Edited 1 minute later.)
TG2Dave joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 9 minutes later[^] [v] #859,708
What shall be your source of sugar, praytell?
Meta (OP) replied with this 8 years ago, 6 minutes later, 16 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #859,709
@previous (TG2Dave)
Torn between cheap apple juice and cheap grape juice. I might just do pure sugar water and add Kool Aid later. I'm more interested in the ethanol part.
Torn between cheap apple juice and cheap grape juice. I might just do pure sugar water and add Kool Aid later. I'm more interested in the ethanol part.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 44 seconds later, 16 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #859,711
Yeah, drink yourself to death. ?
Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 2 minutes later, 19 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #859,714
lol
TG2Dave replied with this 8 years ago, 5 minutes later, 25 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #859,717
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 55 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #859,739
The airlock bubbler is really important, fyi. It is the barrier that stops germs getting in and fucking your shit up so it's a good idea to not use water but to use alcohol like vodka or something so it's constantly an antibacterial block, and you should never let it dry out.
Svet !jzYkdX7lIw joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 21 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #859,745
Have you tried making beer?
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 41 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #859,750
> I can get my price per bottle of wine down to about $0.88 a liter (supposedly up to 20% ABV).
E85 is under $2/gal at the pump and that stuff is 170 proof. It only comes in one flavor, but it's a much cheaper alternative.
E85 is under $2/gal at the pump and that stuff is 170 proof. It only comes in one flavor, but it's a much cheaper alternative.
Anonymous H joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 4 hours later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #859,773
lol thats like 10 bottles a week
Meta (OP) replied with this 8 years ago, 44 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #859,782
Meta (OP) double-posted this 8 years ago, 1 day later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,615
The yeast came in. It looks and smells like baking yeast but it's got this white powder mixed in. I guess nutrients for the yeast?
Today after work I stopped by the Amazon locker to pick up the yeast and the airlock, then I went to Walmart to buy five gallons of apple juice and a bucket. I ended up getting the bucket for free ($2.96 value) because the cashier didn't scan it. I did have to pay for the lid ($1.26) though. You win some, you lose some. It's a 5 gallon white food grade bucket from Encore plastics. The apple juice is Great Value apple juice from concentrate. Concentrate product of USA and/or China.
It's set up in the closet now. Now we play the waiting game.
Today after work I stopped by the Amazon locker to pick up the yeast and the airlock, then I went to Walmart to buy five gallons of apple juice and a bucket. I ended up getting the bucket for free ($2.96 value) because the cashier didn't scan it. I did have to pay for the lid ($1.26) though. You win some, you lose some. It's a 5 gallon white food grade bucket from Encore plastics. The apple juice is Great Value apple juice from concentrate. Concentrate product of USA and/or China.
It's set up in the closet now. Now we play the waiting game.
Anonymous I joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 3 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,620
> wine
how quaint
how quaint
Meta (OP) replied with this 8 years ago, 8 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,628
Anonymous I replied with this 8 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,630
Anonymous J joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 4 seconds later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,631
Meta (OP) replied with this 8 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,636
Anonymous J replied with this 8 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,638
@previous (Meta)
Oh I thought you had it put together as one piece and he thought he had to scan just one barcode
Oh I thought you had it put together as one piece and he thought he had to scan just one barcode
Sheila LaBoof joined in and replied with this 8 years ago, 1 hour later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #860,734
so like, there's 48 yeasts in there
why not 2 more for an even 50
why not 2 more for an even 50
Meta (OP) replied with this 8 years ago, 2 days later, 4 days after the original post[^] [v] #861,608
Update: I tried some (a few glasses) today. The apple juice is now completely dry because all the sugar has been fermented into alcohol. If I had to guess I'd say it's about 10% ABV. This is definitely much faster than baking yeast. I added a few cups of sugar in a bid to hit 20% ABV in the next few days.
There's no off flavors it just tastes like... nothing really. Apple flavored, slightly fizzy, water with alcohol. I think this is why apple wine hasn't caught on despite apple juice being cheaper than grape juice. It just doesn't have much flavor. I think next time I'll just make straight up sugar water to ferment and throw a couple of kool-aid packets in afterwards. I did get a nice buzz from it. There's a certain satisfaction in getting drunk off something you made yourself.
If you go on homebrew forums they tell you turbo yeast is terrible and you'll get off flavors and a hangover from hell but honestly this isn't any worse than Franzia really. Maybe I just have a cast iron stomach or something.
There's no off flavors it just tastes like... nothing really. Apple flavored, slightly fizzy, water with alcohol. I think this is why apple wine hasn't caught on despite apple juice being cheaper than grape juice. It just doesn't have much flavor. I think next time I'll just make straight up sugar water to ferment and throw a couple of kool-aid packets in afterwards. I did get a nice buzz from it. There's a certain satisfaction in getting drunk off something you made yourself.
If you go on homebrew forums they tell you turbo yeast is terrible and you'll get off flavors and a hangover from hell but honestly this isn't any worse than Franzia really. Maybe I just have a cast iron stomach or something.