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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 ...
What Medium to Full Bodied Wine Kits With Skins Do Better(Post)At a certain point in your winemaking journey, the question stops being whether you can make good wine and starts being what kind of wine you want to make. Not better in a technical sense, but differ ...
The Benefits of Natural Flavoring Extracts in Beer and Winemaking(Post)Have you ever considered the transformative power of all-natural flavoring extracts? Let's take a leaf from the book of commercial breweries and wineries. They've been using a secret ingredient to cr ...
Petite Sirah: The Quiet Man with Quite the Punch(Post)Every family has the politician and the stoic. Wine is no different. More well-known varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir tend to hog the conversation. But like the old saying goes, some ...
Which Oak Works Best for Your Wine? Everything You Need to Know(Post)The art of winemaking is a delicate dance between science and creativity, and the use of oak is no exception. As a home winemaker, you have the power to shape your wine's character, and understa ...
NASA's Stellar Intervention: Saving the Cabernet Sauvignon Harvest(Post)In a celestial twist of fate, NASA has swooped in to save the day for home winemakers, particularly those with a penchant for Cabernet Sauvignon. The space agency, known for its interstellar explorat ...
Yeast Spotlight: Red Star Premier Classique Wine Yeast(Post)The Red Star Premier Classique Wine Yeast, formerly known as Montrachet, is a proud creation of the esteemed Lesaffre Yeast Corporation. This yeast strain traces its roots back to the heart of France ...
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 ...
Too Many Carboys Around? Invest in a Filtering System. (Post)As you make more wine and wait for gravity to clear it, carboys are probably encroaching on your living space. The faster you get your wine in the bottle, the sooner you can drink it. The Buon Vino ...
The Finer Wine Kits Novello Series: A New Era of Lower ABV Wine Kits(Post)Wine kits are evolving, and the Finer Wine Kits' Novello Series is a testament to this evolution. This unique wine kit is not just another low ABV wine kit; it's a revolution in the world of hom ...
The Super Transfer Pump: Transferring your Beer and Wine Was Never So Easy(Post)What if you no longer had to move full carboys, position them on tables for gravity siphoning or lift them off the floor when they are full? Better yet, what if you could do this without the need for ...
Extended Maceration: A Deep Dive into the Art of Longer Skin Exposure(Post)If you are making wine from fresh grapes or kits that come with skins, you might have the common concern that most winemakers have about too much exposure to the skins and seeds. You fear your w ...
Tired of Scrubbing Tough Bottle Stains? (Post)Preparing your bottles is not on the list of fun tasks for the wine and beer maker. You do it because you must, but it’s not exactly as gratifying as punching down your must cap or watching your wort ...
Love Pinot Noir But Struggle Making It?(Post)There's a reason Pinot Noir is known as the heartbreak grape. This finicky grape is notoriously difficult to grow and even more difficult to produce into a high-quality wine. But when done right, Pin ...
Time Is Money: The Value of Variable Stainless-Steel Tanks(Post)You make wine for a lot of reasons. It's fun, rewarding, and economical. As you calculate and contemplate your savings, it's important to count your time the same way you count money. Enter the varia ...
Wine Does Really Amazing things in Your Brain! (Post)What would you think if a Yale scientist said that tasting wine engages your brain more than math or listing to music?Professor Gordon Shepherd from Yale School of Medicine is saying just that! He ha ...
Unleashing the Magic of Yeast Starters(Post)Imagine yeast starters as the fairy godmothers of the fermentation world, sprinkling their magic dust to transform ordinary homebrews and wines into extraordinary elixirs. In this enchanting gui ...
Can I Use Sulfites to Sanitize Beer Equipment?(Post)In previous discussions, we've delved into the potential downsides of using sulfites during the beer-making process. However, upon further examination, we've discovered that using sulfites as a sanit ...
Removing Chlorine and Chloramine from Tap Water for Beer Making(Post)If you are a homebrewer, you are likely using tap water. If you have had results with plastic, medicinal or band aid off flavors and aromas, chlorine and chloramine are the causes. While brewers can ...
Merlot vs. Syrah: Where the Sidewalk Ends or For Whom the Bell Tolls?(Post)If you've ever found yourself scratching your head on a wine kit page, wondering if you should try making a Merlot or a Syrah, you're in the right place. You may have thought to yourself, they are bo ...
The Glass Fortress: Fermenting Your Beer in Carboys(Post)If you are still using plastic fermenters and carboys for making beer, let’s talk about the sanctity of glass and why you might want to upgrade. In the realm of homebrewing, the quest for the perfect ...
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 ...
You, Mead, and a Journey Through Time(Post)If you like to make wine and beer but you want to give something complete different a try, you might want to venture into the world of mead! If you've got a taste for the extraordinary, a thirst for ...
Low Alcohol, High Character: Why Finer Wine Kits’ Novello Series Is Changing Winemaking Forever(Post)Wine kits are evolving, and Finer Wine Kits’ Novello Series is leading the revolution. This isn’t just another low-ABV option—it’s a renaissance of winemaking pleasure. Design ...
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 ...
Don't Use Specialized Cleaners? It Might Explain the Off Flavors in Your Beer and Wine(Post)You’ve got all the best ingredients to make your wine and beer, but there's one thing you might be overlooking - the cleaners specifically designed for your beer and winemaking equipment.
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 ...
5 Brewing Techniques Best Learned by Using Beer Kits(Post)If you have been brewing for a while, you already understand the basics. You know how to boil, ferment, and package a solid beer. But what separates a good brewer from a truly versatile one is not re ...
The Genetic Link Between Hops and Cannabis and Their Use in Beer Making(Post)Hops (Humulus lupulus) and cannabis (Cannabis sativa) may seem like very different plants, but they share a surprising genetic connection. Both belong to the same botanical family, Cannabaceae, and t ...
Stuck Fermentation or Infected Wine? Fortification Turns a Setback Into Art(Post)You open your fermenter and something feels wrong. The airlock has gone quiet too soon. Your gravity has stalled at 1.028 and refuses to move. Or worse, a thin pellicle has formed across the surface.
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 ...
Rapid Wort Cooling: Why Speed Matters in Homebrewing(Post)The time right after the boil is one of the most critical moments in brewing, and it's often either overlooked or undervalued. Cooling your wort quickly isn’t just about making things easier; i ...
Think Commercial Brewers and Vintners Don’t Use Flavorings? Think Again.(Post)If you believe professional brewers and winemakers rely only on raw ingredients and tradition, you have bought into a marketing story, not reality. The truth is far less romantic and far more interes ...
Like Drier and Crisper Beers? Glucoamylase Enzyme Might Be your New BFF(Post)Have you ever wondered how to unlock the fullest potential of the sugars in your malted barley? Glucoamylase enzyme may be the secret ingredient your home brewing process has been missing if you like ...
How All-Grain Brewing Lets You Control Sugar and Beer Body(Post)A Hands-On Guide to Sugar Control Through Three All-Grain Beer Kits Most brewers start by focusing on what goes into their beer. Ingredients matter, but as you gain experience, you begin to realize t ...
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 ...
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.
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 ...