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Can You Fix a Wine That Fermented Too Hot?(Post)
Every winemaker eventually has a fermentation that gets away from them. Maybe the room warmed up during the day. Maybe the yeast took off faster than expected. Maybe the fermenter was larger than usu ...
Crystal Malt: Adding a Splash of Color and a Dash of Sweetness(Post)If you're looking to add a little pizzazz to your pint, let's talk about the magic of crystal malt. It's like the fairy dust of the beer world, adding color, flavor, and a certain je ne sais quoi to ...
The Value of Individual Powdered Acids to Adjust Wine Acidity(Post)Let's dive into the fascinating role individual powdered acids can play in your winemaking process. Acidity is the structural foundation in your favorite bottle of wine, providing balance, enhancing ...
The Hydrometer: Your Wine and Beer’s Fragile Fortune Teller(Post)Greetings, you passionate purveyors of pints and pinots! Today, let’s take a dip into the realm of hydrometers, those delicate glass marvels that assist us in concocting our perfect brews and wines.
Avoiding Sulfites in Wine? You Likely Ate Two Bottles Worth by Lunch(Post)Most people consume more sulfites before dinner than they will ever get from drinking wine. If you are avoiding sulfites in wine, it is worth taking a closer look at where sulfites actually appear in ...
Will Malolactic Fermentation Improve my Wine?(Post)Today, we're delving into the intriguing process of malolactic fermentation (MLF.) It can be a key player in the winemaking process, but there are instances where it should be avoided. Since it is ha ...
Sulfites in Beer: A Flavor Fiasco You'll Want to Avoid(Post)Ah, sulfites! Those little chemical wonders that have been saving wines from spoilage for ages. But what happens when these tiny preservative powerhouses make their way into your beer? Well, my frien ...
Wonderful Wine Geekery: Using Math to Fortify your Wine(Post)Ever wanted to fortify your wine but got intimidated by how to do it? If so, today is your lucky day. We are going to geek out with some math! Sounds thrilling right? Well, not to be sarcastic but, i ...
Hops Spotlight: The Golden Touch of UK Kent Goldings Hop Pellets(Post)UK Kent Goldings Hop Pellets are the granddaddy of English hops, the golden child of the brewing world. They've been around since 1790, which means they've seen more beer than a fraternity house duri ...
Why You Shouldn’t Stir After Adding Yeast to Your Wort or Must(Post)When making beer or wine, one of the most important moments is adding yeast to the wort or must. Many homebrewers and winemakers, eager to get things moving, cannot resist reaching for stirring spoon ...
If You're Not Using Yeast Energizer?(Post)People like to say that little things mean a lot, because sometimes they really do. When you are preparing a batch of wort or must, small details can matter most for your yeast to transform them int ...
The Magic of the Oak Barrel: a Genie in a Bottle or a Witches Cauldron?(Post)If you are haunted by the seductive siren of barrel aging, you are not alone. They are sexy and romantic so what’s not to like? Well, if you do not want to be under their spell like the great Ulysses ...
Is Australian Shiraz just Syrah? No and Yes.(Post)It is a common notion that Shiraz and Syrah are just different names for the same grape, but it might not be that simple. There is debate about whether the distinction is warranted, and there are nay ...
The Gravity of Patience: A Winemaker's Guide to Outliving the Clearing Process(Post)If you are a winemaker who works from fresh fruit and you do not like using fining agents to clear your wine, you may have seen a carboy that looks like a lava lamp - darker and clear at the top, lig ...
The Art of Blackberry Wine: A Symphony of Science and Senses(Post)Hello, you budding Bacchus! Let's talk about crafting the perfect blackberry wine. It's a bit like conducting a symphony, where every note (or in this case, every berry) matters.Before we get into th ...
Home Brewing and Winemaking: Do What You Love and Save Big(Post)When budgets get tight, it is normal to wonder if you are being self-indulgent. You worry if your hobbies need to take a back seat to dropping money on stuff for your kids or whatever expenses might ...
Scorch the Sour: The Essential Guide to Burning Your Brewing Equipment(Post)Today, we're going to delve into a topic that's as vital as it is often neglected: burning your brewing equipment after crafting a sour beer. You might be wondering, "Why in the world would I need to ...
The Best Adjunct Grains for Beer Head Retention(Post)When you pour a beer and see a thick, creamy head form at the top of the glass, you are looking at more than just foam. That head plays an important role in the overall drinking experience. It carrie ...
The Essential Guide to Using Dark Malts in Home Brewing(Post)You're here because you've got a burning desire to know more about the grains that make your favorite stout and porter beers.The grains you choose for your beer are like the foundation of a house. Fo ...
How Do You Know When Your Wine Has the Right Amount of Oak?(Post)As a home winemaker, you're always striving for the perfect balance of flavors. One of the most crucial elements in this quest is the oak flavor. But how do you know when your wine has absorbed just ...
Does your Wine Need an Airlock During Primary Fermentation?(Post)If you’ve ever started a batch and found the airlock filled with wine the next day, you know how much of a mess it can cause. The use of airlocks during primary fermentation for wine is a ...
Struggling with Fruit Wines from Fresh Fruit?(Post)If you are making fruit wines from fresh fruit, hats off to you! They are more difficult than wines made from grapes with a much larger margin of error. Grapes are the closest thing to being rea ...
Red Wine Headaches: Not Sulfites but Quercetin?(Post)Last year, The Guardian, New York Times, and New York Post were all yammering about a study that might finally explain why that bottle of red you love so much sometimes leaves you clutching your temp ...
Why You Should Be Using Potassium Sorbate in Your Wine(Post)Ever have a cork blow out of a bottle or wine that was carbonated? If you have, you were not happy about it and either scenario can and should be avoided. The solution is an inexpensive and simple fi ...
Bacteria in Hoses: the Importance of Cleaning and Regular Replacement(Post)You face the ongoing and invisible battle against bacteria that can grow in your clear hoses. In this article, we will explore the various types of bacteria that can infiltrate your hoses, techniques ...
The Hidden Dangers of Recipes in Winemaking: A Comprehensive Guide(Post)So, you've got your fruit, your yeast, your carboy, and a recipe you found online that promises to deliver the perfect bottle of homemade vino. But before you start crushing those grapes (or apples, ...
Oxygenating Your Wort Before Fermentation: Techniques for a Healthy Start(Post)Alright, brewers—let's talk oxygenation. Sure, you know yeast needs oxygen to thrive, but here’s the thing: oxygenating your wort at the right time is key to setting your beer up for succ ...
The Lees You Know: The Art and Science of Managing Sediment in Winemaking(Post)Today, we're diving deep into the bottom of your carboy where the lees lie. If you're scratching your head wondering, "What on earth are lees?" or if you're a seasoned winemaker looking to refine you ...
Brewing with Flaked Maize: It's Not as Corny as You Think(Post)Let’s embark on a journey into the magical world of Flaked Maize. You might be wondering, "What the heck is Flaked Maize, and why should I care?" Well, strap in, because we're about to take a deep di ...
The Unvarnished Truth About Pellicle Infections in Beer and Wine(Post)If you're a homebrewer or a winemaker, you've probably heard of the dreaded pellicle infection. It's the stuff of nightmares, right? Well, let's cut through the hype and get down to the nitty-gritty.
How to Select Your Wine Kit(Post)When you are choosing a wine kit, it is easy to focus on what appears to signal quality. Higher ABV, fuller body, more structure. These details seem important, but they are often misunderstood. The m ...
What is the Difference Between Liquid and Dry Malt Extracts?(Post)Liquid and dry malt extracts are both concentrated versions of wort. They're a condensed form of all the stuff in grains you need to make beer. They save you time and streamline your boil because you ...
Is My Wine's Acidity too High? Potassium Bicarbonate Is an Easy Fix for Sour Wine(Post)Your wine is fermented and you are excited to sample it. As you take your first sip, your face spontaneously contorts, your mouth tightens and your hopes drop. It's sour. You often read about th ...
What Are the Advantages of Wine Bases?(Post)Vintner's Best: A Practical Approach to Homemade Wine.Vintner's Best Wine Bases are a practical and cost-effective solution to your home winemaking aspirations. The wines they produce are very respec ...
Do All Beer Grains Have the Same Amount of Fermentable Sugar?(Post)Sugars in grains make your favorite brews possible, but they're also a source of great variability and potential confusion. So, let's dive into the sweet world of sugars in grains and understand how ...
Irish Moss: The Secret Ingredient for a Crystal-Clear Brew(Post)If you're a beer enthusiast, you've probably heard of Irish Moss. If not, don't worry, you're about to get schooled on this magical ingredient that can take your homebrew from cloudy to clear faster ...
Sulfites: Fact Vs. Fiction Part 1(Post)The use of sulfites is one of the hottest debates in winemaking. It is such an important topic, it will be addressed in two separate blog posts. Part two will be in your next newsletter. First let’s ...
The Glass Carboy: A Beer and Winemaker's Best Friend That Has Trust Issues(Post)If you've found your way here, you're probably looking for some inside scoop on the enigmatic glass carboy, that bulbous, necked vessel that's as integral to the home beer and winemaking process as f ...
Sweetening the Deal: Mastering the Art of Sugar Measurement and Liquification for Home Winemaking(Post)In a perfect world, additional sugar is not necessary and, if you are working from high quality grapes, you won't need to add it. But if you are working with lower quality grapes or other fruits, upp ...
The Realities of Aging Wine: Is Older Always Better?(Post)Comparisons to fine wine abound when it comes to aging gracefully, but is the analogy justified? Do all wines age well? Does aging potential come from the wine, the storage or both? In this article, ...
The Art of Infusion: Natural Flavorings and Their Transformative Powers in Brews and Vintages(Post)Natural flavorings are the equivalent of the spice rack of the brewing and winemaking world. They are derived from plant sources, like fruits, herbs, spices, and even certain types of wood. They are ...
Struggling with Malty and High Gravity Beers? It Might Be Your Water.(Post)You take great care to assemble the right ingredients for your beers, but have you ever considered your water profile? Today, we're diving into the world of ACCUmash SRM >26, Malty, 1.075-1.0 ...
The Magic of Brown Sugar and How You Can Make It(Post)Today, we're diving into the sweet, sticky world of brown sugar and how it can transform your homemade beer and wine into something truly special. If you’ve ever wondered why your brew doesn’t have t ...
Ascorbic Acid: The Unsung Hero of Wine Preservation(Post)Are you ready to elevate your winemaking game? Let's talk about a little secret weapon that you’ve probably never investigated and can make a big difference in preserving your wine: ascorbic acid. Yo ...
No One Can Taste It for You(Post)I usually try to keep myself out of these articles. Not because I do not have opinions, but because your beer and winemaking aspirations should be the center of the conversation, not me. But every so ...
How to Rescue a Wine That Tastes Flat(Post)Every winemaker eventually faces this moment. You take a sample from the carboy, raise the glass, take a careful sip, and something is missing. The wine is not spoiled. It is not obviously flawed. It ...
Your Fermenter Is Not a Countertop(Post)Most wine and beer makers understand the importance of sanitizing. They know that wild yeast, bacteria, mold, and other contaminants can ruin a batch. Because of that, sanitation gets talked about co ...
The Cold Break Explained: Clearer Beer Starts Before Fermentation(Post)Beer makers should take wort chilling seriously. It is easy to think of chilling as a practical step that simply gets the wort cool enough for yeast, but that misses what is really happening. Chillin ...
How Much Oxygen Does Your Wort Really Need?(Post)There is a moment in every brewer’s life when the hobby stops being “boil sugary grain tea and hope for the best” and becomes something sharper, stranger, and more satisfying. Maybe ...
How to Select Yeast for Beer and Winemaking(Post)Yeasts are not the same. There are many choices and there is a good reason for it: each has its own special style. Yeast makes beer and wine, not us, so it is important to get the right one for the j ...
Store Info(Page)About Us Label Peelers started as a humble Ohio brick-and-mortar beer and winemaking supply store run by a sixth-generation winemaker. He believed that with enough passion (and maybe a lit ...