Figs

[crow]

now these are the steps I've taken to ferment this wash , the best method I've come up with so far EDIT :angry-banghead: far canal ok it posted in reverse order , I'm not redoing it so scroll down and work your way up

[crow]

Okay some more pictures of how things have been progressing

[crow]

Okay going to try racking this latest wash/wine tonight hoping it makes it clearer tomorrow to re rack or draw off depending on how well it clears . I'll post how it goes :handgestures-thumbupleft:EDIT well racked off 50% , clear as wheat beer going to let it settle a bit and see if I can get another quarter before having to strain it . This wash is by far the most Superior and I would not be ashamed to serve it up as home made wine and can only put this down to the yeast used . There may well be other yeast suitable But this is the one I can recommend , very happy so far

[crow]

I got some around 3/4 of the wash out before the sediment stirred up so thats about 1/2 the wash better than any other effort . the last quarter is straining though fly wire now and if its settled in the morning I'll re rack . I'm sure its more than 50 ltrs so it will need to be stripped in two runs anyway and I sure as hell won't be over filling it again after the last exciting adventures of how to blow ya self of the face of the earth. ;-) EDIT Ok weird result I have about 1/3 of the normal amount of sediment , I'm going to guess the yeast helped break down the solids :? does that sound right ? , same amount of figs used . The only other variable might be riper figs I suppose but not that much riper . Like to know the answer because the sediment is the worst thing with this stuff , anything to reduce it is a step in the right direction I'd say

[R-sole]

Source yourself some pectinaze enzyme if you want to get the most of the fruit and break it down as much as possible.
Plus, as you've found, use the ripest fruit possible. Best flavour/most sugar.

[crow]

yes I see i didn't include it in my latest method but that was an oversight I put around a tea spoon in as i have with all of them . I could put more in as per instruction but was told this might increase the production of methanol so I'm wary of going overboard with it . the pectin methanol thing is something I know very little about apart from a HD link someone sent me

[crow]

This is what the wine should look like , its lighter than beer maybe like a mosel in colour and the flavor is well dry very dry . Hmmm dryer than yesterday :think: better run this tomorrow I think EDIT :twisted: BD747 test run :twisted:

[crow]

Ok just put down the last fig wash for the season , they've been in the fridge for awhile so they're pretty mushy . I've racked the second to last wash ready to run tomorrow with any luck . The biggest hass with figs I've found is the incredible amount of sediment , anyway I've tried many ways to clear and strain this stuff . The first 2/3 rds comes off looking like a beer but the last 3rd is where the fun begins , anyway the best fastest way I've found is to place a think towel over a bucket and pour the wash 2 ltrs at a time through it . As you get further in to the thinker sediment and lees wring the towel out to seperate the wine from the mark , flick the mark out of the towel and repeat . It doesn't take that long , is alot easier , faster and cleaner than fly wire and letting it drip through a doona cover took days with the result being no better

[BackyardBrewer]

Hi rez photos man! I want process photos! I have an enormous fig tree and I want instructional photos from your experience.

[crow]

Yeah I've only got those ones from 8 posts back , they'er in reverse order but they show most of the steps . If this turns out a decent spirit after the spirit run I will post a concise start to finish method at the very start of this thread or in a new thread so named . I think I've only mentioned it in PM's but the low wines are showing every sign of becoming a really interesting and enjoyable brandy . It has a definite brandy flavor you get with most fruits complemented with a light fig flavor , a similar fig flavor you'd get in fig jam . But there are some slight unpleasant after tastes that hopefully are removed in the spirit run

[crow]

Ok the very last batch is clearing so as soon as it clears I'll be stripping it In 2 runs as I have maybe 70 odd ltrs to do . Then the spirit fun as so as time permits :dance: , been a lot of work over a long time I sure hope its worth it

[Sam.]

Will be good to hear the end result crow

[crow]

Racked the wash today , as always 1/2 came off clear as beer and the rest had to be strained through a towel . I have found nothing seems to clear the strained stuff fully . I have a 20 ltr bucket of this stuff some from the last run some from the run before and I've frozen it let it sit for weeks added gelatine and the top inch or 2 is lightly clearer than when I started so fucked if I know . Anyway it comes out the still the same just have to watch for puking that's all . Admittedly I've not tried the commercial clearing agents as I wanted to keep the method as cost effective as possible

[crow]

Ok ppl I'm getting close to doing my spirit run on this stuff , just wondering what ppls thought are on how to run this eg: 747 , my camp burner with HP reg maybe . I heard to slow will tend to smear fractions but am a bit worried the 747 will pull to much shit through , Opinions welcome

[Kimbo]

Hi Crow,
you are better off doing your spirit runs slower, if your worried about smearing it will be worse if you do it too quick.
Just keep an eye on it and make the necessary cuts :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Rumdrinker]

If you do run the 747 be even more careful you don't have any solids go through & cause a blockage in your outlet. With the amount of heat it throws out things could turn to shit real quick.

[crow]

If you do run the 747 be even more careful you don't have any solids go through & cause a blockage in your outlet. With the amount of heat it throws out things could turn to shit real quick.

Ha read pg 6 of this thread , Dude there won't be any solids :handgestures-thumbupleft: I try not to fall for the same traps twice especially when they scare the shit outa me ;-)

[Rumdrinker]

Ha read pg 6 of this thread , Dude there won't be any solids :handgestures-thumbupleft: I try not to fall for the same traps twice especially when they scare the shit outa me ;-)[/quote]

Yeah mate, I read that post & shivered at the thought of what could have been.
Play safe

[Frank]

'slow and steady wins the race' ;-)

[crow]

:dance: just did a 45 ltr strip in 1 1/2 hrs down to 15% no puking or any horse shit like that , oh yeah :D . Now I have just 30 odd ltrs of murky crap from the last few washes to run and its the spirit run . If I can get the boiler to cool down quick enough I'll run it today still , might not be as much fun as it has fines suspended in it and I can see myself having to power down with it . Man this shit better be worth it