Today, I shall mostly be... Showing 1,701-1,750 of 4,720

[Isabella]

My Dad made blackcurrant 'wine' one year. It was actually more like a liqueur than wine, very syrupy and delicious. I must have been about 17 and the others, younger. We all tried it even my Mum, who didn't really like alcoholic drinks. The stuff had a real kick to it, the ABV must have been pretty high so we had a hilarious few hours when we were all slightly squiffy. Dad diluted it after that... :o)

[Lez]

My friend used to experiment with various fruit wines. One year for her birthday we all went out for an Italian meal. It was BYO so Sheila brought her delicious damson wine. The lovely Italian waiters hadn't encountered pie-eyed librarians before and the whole thing soon disintegrated nto the realms of sitcom.

[suzysunshine7]

Serial wrote: "Yes you're not meant to bottle until it's finished fermenting.

Mine's all in demijohns still. Haven't bottled yet. Here's hoping it I get it right and it has finished, otherwise it's exploding bottle time"

Dad says never ever trust an Airlock over using a Hydrometer. He couldn't remember how to explain why though, so I Googled it and found this, which you probably already know all about - but was all news to me as I never went anywhere near my Dad's Home Brew as a child because I was terrified of the possibility of any exploding Bottles and couldn't stand the smell of the Brewing process either ...

"It is critical that the beer is fully fermented before you bottle it. If it is not fully fermented then you will have problems with the beer being over-gassed, and bottles possibly exploding.

So, how do you tell if the beer is ready to bottle? Use your hydrometer.

Do not rely on the airlock. If your fermenter has a leak then the airlock will stop bubbling before fermentation has finished. Do not rely on just counting the days as per what it says on the tin or what somebody tells you they do. The speed of fermentation can vary with temperature, amount and health of your yeast, and how much there is to ferment.

When the airlock stops bubbling, or close to it, and when the foam has disappeared from the surface of the beer then take a hydrometer reading and record it. Wait two days and take another reading. If the two readings are the same then fermentation has finished. If the second reading is lower, ie a smaller number, then wait another two days and take another reading.

Once you have two consecutive readings the same, separated by two days, then you can be fairly sure the beer has finished fermenting. At this point relax: there is no hurry to bottle the beer. Leave the bottling until the weekend when you have enough time. The extra couple of days will benefit the beer by giving it a chance to clear and condition up. However, don’t leave it until the weekend after.

When the yeast are actively fermenting the wort will be very hazy or milky. When the yeast finish fermenting they drop to the bottom of the fermenter. Leave the beer until it is fairly clear before you bottle it. This will help reduce the amount of yeast in the bottle.

There is one last problem that can happen if you rely on the airlock as a fermentation indicator. If you have a very good seal then although fermentation has finished you can still get a very slow bubbling in the airlock as the beer and the gas in the headspace expand as the day warms up.

This has fooled many people into thinking that the beer is still fermenting so they have left it for weeks and weeks and the beer has spoiled. What they didn’t see was the beer contracting in the cool of the night and sucking air back in."

[Sera69]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "Serial wrote: "Yes you're not meant to bottle until it's finished fermenting.

Mine's all in demijohns still. Haven't bottled yet. Here's hoping it I get it right and it has finished, otherwise it'..."

I have only a consumer's interest in beer (and free samples) but that was quite interesting! Today i learnt... :)

[Craig White]

i had a shot of home brewing - followed how to do a pilsner to the letter - it tasted like pish - end of experiment!
....until.....about 18 months later i found 3 of the abandoned, sealed bottles and thought....i wonder........it was absolutely delicious, really, and it was only after about 3/4 of the bottle that everything turned green, no joke, i started tripping on ancient homebrew.........and only 2 full bottles left. mrs tech thought it prudent to pour them doon the shunker, and it was probably the right decision - didn't want to end up on a 'permo'!

[suzysunshine7]

Tech XXIII wrote: "it was absolutely delicious, really, and it was only after about 3/4 of the bottle that everything turned green, no joke, i started tripping on ancient homebrew........."

Yes, I would most certainly be on the side of mrs tech on that ... if the House, the Wife, the Kids, and the little hairy woofer all suddenly begin looking like they are all turning any shade of green then it's definitely time to stop drinking and start pouring it away!

Any other colour might still possibly be open to debate? - but green? - no! ;o>

[suzysunshine7]

Sera69 wrote: "I have only a consumer's interest in beer (and free samples) but that was quite interesting! Today i learnt... :) "

I absolutely love the Internet ... I never learnt anything as much in all of my years in School like I've come to learn off using Google Searches just over the last few years ;o>

I wish I could go back in time and tell my Teachers that I won't be attending any more boring Lessons sat jam-packed into hot stuffy Classrooms with 30+ other kids ... because, in the future, there would be the Internet and a whole wide World and lifetime's worth of info all freely available at just the mere touch of a Keypad or a slight side swipe!!! ;o>

I could have then spent my childhood having SO much more fun every day in playing out in the Fields at the back of our House, climbing Trees, and riding around on my Bike! ;o>

Would they ever have believed me? - or believed Google to even be possible though? ...

[suzysunshine7]

Oooh there's a thought?!! ... my Dad used to do most of his food and drink 'experiments' in our Coat Cupboard! I'm remembering how much I hated the smell - but am now wondering as to what on Earth our Primary School Teachers must of thought of two little Kids turning up in the mornings with their Coats smelling like they had been up drinking all night and partying at a Lock-In?!! ;oO

It's one of the huge downsides to living anywhere near the centre of Stockport in this Borough ... if you don't like the overwhelmingly sickly smell of Hops then you definitely aren't going to like having Robinsons Brewery nearby. Luckily we live almost 4 miles out and only have to tolerate it if we ever go into Stockport to do any Shopping.

The fantastic plus side though, and a truly massive one in every sense of the word, is getting to see the absolutely gorgeous Shire Horses all beautifully dressed up and pulling the Carts around in the Market Place. They can pull up to 3 - 4 times their own Bodyweight and when fully grown weigh just over a tonne! ;o>

[Serial]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "Oooh there's a thought?!! ... my Dad used to do most of his food and drink 'experiments' in our Coat Cupboard! I'm remembering how much I hated the smell - but am now wondering as to what on Earth ..."

Do they still have Shire Horses?

Working Horses are rare now.

My neighbour sold a Horse recently. He told me to a female roof thatcher, rare enough in itself, and in the winter she uses horses to drag firewood out of forests where machinery isn't allowed to be used. Apparently she wanted to see the Horse was good pulling a cart, so my neighbour took the horse out with the trap for a little trip with her. Bit like test driving a car....
I thought all that was great in this day and age.

[suzysunshine7]

Serial wrote: "Do they still have Shire Horses?"

Yes, they always have. You can walk up the Road to the Brewery and get to lean over the Gate to the Courtyard and see them in their Stables ... and, if there is someone around, they will usually unlock the Security Gates and let you walk right up to the Stable Doors to admire them close up and even feed them some Mints ... Bobek loves anyone who remembers to bring him a couple of packets of his favourite Polo Mints ;o>

They are more for show than for purely work purposes now - but you can still see them in action around Stockport fairly regularly and they always do any special deliveries. Because of how the centre of Stockport is, on so many incredibly steep and different cobbled levels, they were always pretty much the only way of getting to deliver Barrels to most of the Pubs until a few more side Roads were created and the main Roads were widened and improved upon.

We have a lot of Thatched Cottages in the many Villages around here but I've not seen any Horse and Carts being used to help with carrying supplies. However we do still have a Rag & Bone Man who comes around on his Cart at least once a year ;o>

[TheFoe]

I made quite a nice red wine from a kit, a few years ago. On the other hand I made an undrinkable batch of ale which was binned very quickly. I'd like to brew a beer with hints of honeydew melon, I would call it Morning Dew. The picture would be a colourful one of the sun just coming up, a tree at the front, and somwehere a honeydew melon with a bit of dew on it :-)

[suzysunshine7]

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh?!!

I can't stand Beer - but even I'm falling for the sound of that one! ;o>

[Gordon]

Tech XXIII wrote: "i had a shot of home brewing - followed how to do a pilsner to the letter - it tasted like pish - end of experiment!
....

But you'd discovered Carling's secret recipe?

[Craig White]

parp!

[Derek]

Strimming before starting to open up the swimming pool.

[Isabella]

Our daughter's PhD thesis was on fermentation...

[Craig White]

watching "damn you china" boy get in a car to go to school.

give thanks to the gods of musical theatre!

[suzysunshine7]

Isabella wrote: "Our daughter's PhD thesis was on fermentation..."

X X x x

[suzysunshine7]

Tech XXIII wrote: "watching "damn you china" boy get in a car to go to school.

give thanks to the gods of musical theatre!"

Now, now, tech ... one day you and mrs tech will be dining out for free on having all of those "I knew him when ..." stories to share ;o>

[Brass Neck]

TheFoe wrote: "I made quite a nice red wine from a kit, a few years ago. On the other hand I made an undrinkable batch of ale which was binned very quickly. I'd like to brew a beer with hints of honeydew melon, I..."

Missus Neck brought home a solitary bottle of beer from Lidl; Peanut Butter IPA. It was ostensibly for our son, who lived on PB sarnies as a kid despite our efforts to widen his palate, who's visiting but I was too intrigued and had to give it a go. Most beers declaring a flavour (honey, banana bread, etc) offer plausible hints but this was like liquidised peanut butter, utterly vile ....... still persevered to the end though hoping fruitlessly that it would improve - us Yorkies don't waste beer (note the absence of the word good preceding beer).

[suzysunshine7]

Mmmmmmmm ... Peanut Butter ;o>

[Collette]

Now that my 'hot tub' is en route back to China, along with my Paypal postage claim being sent in, I plan to have a nice hot cuppa, brush some bears, then relax for the rest of the day.

[Helen The Melon]

Catching up with some comments, bear with me...

Lez wrote: "My friend used to experiment with various fruit wines. One year for her birthday we all went out for an Italian meal. It was BYO so Sheila brought her delicious damson wine..."

My mum & I used to make sloe gin & damson gin. One year we experimented with a new liqueur recipe someone gave us - oranges scored & studded with coffee beans & left to do their thing with sugar and vodka. It was absolutely disgusting but the gins were delicious, except for one year when someone leant us some v large old sweet jars. They failed to mention that they had previously used them to pickle onions in. Even though they were thoroughly cleaned the gin took on a revolting pickled onion flavour & had to be poured away. Pickled onion gin is probably part of the thriving hipster gin revival now, isn't it?

TheFoe wrote: "...I'd like to brew a beer with hints of honeydew melon..."

Nooooo! We will not be tainted by any other flavour. Adding us to beer... Hmmph, you should be ashamed of yourself for such unclean thoughts.

Isabella wrote: "Our daughter's PhD thesis was on fermentation..."

My thesis was to do with phytoremediation (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyto...) of soil contaminated with zinc & lead. Yes, that's right Tech, you'll be delighted to know that heavy metal is well know to be hazardous (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic...) to the environment & human health and must try to be removed wherever possible. But you already knew that didn't you? ;-)

[Serial]

Brass Neck wrote: "TheFoe wrote: "I made quite a nice red wine from a kit, a few years ago. On the other hand I made an undrinkable batch of ale which was binned very quickly. I'd like to brew a beer with hints of ho..."

Yuck, liquid Peanut Butter!

[Serial]

Helping a friend move house today. Did 2 trailer/jeep loads.

2nd one was just plants, literally like an entire garden centres worth of planters and pots. And feckin planted up fake wooden wheelbarrows...christ it was endless.

[Brass Neck]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "Mmmmmmmm ... Peanut Butter ;o>"

OK Homer!

[Craig White]

.....or elvis?

[suzysunshine7]

... "Uh-huh! - thank you very much!"

;o>

[Brass Neck]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "... "Uh-huh! - thank you very much!"

;o>"

suzy has left the building...... (way better than expiring on the crapper?)

[Craig White]

'i'm trying to crap
push with all my might,
because i'm ****ing backed up, baby

we can't go on together,
with pernicious binds,
we can't void our bowels
with a stick one finds

so if an old friend i know
pops out to say hello,
will i feel the splash on my behind..........................

[Collette]

Boak!! Just after everyone's had dinner as well. 😆

[Brass Neck]

Collette wrote: "Boak!! Just after everyone's had dinner as well. 😆"

Cumberland sausage?

Apropos of poop, I read in the Guardian's letters that the Roman poet Ovid wrote, "Politicians are not born, they are excreted." Brilliant.

[Serial]

Collette wrote: "Boak!! Just after everyone's had dinner as well. 😆"

I imagine a Munchie Box is fairly the same on entry or exit.

[Serial]

Have you seen the new movie Constipation yet?
Of course not, it's not out yet

[Brass Neck]

Serial wrote: "Collette wrote: "Boak!! Just after everyone's had dinner as well. 😆"

I imagine a Munchie Box is fairly the same on entry or exit."

I'd have thought it marginally less dump-like on exit?

[Serial]

Brass Neck wrote: "Serial wrote: "Collette wrote: "Boak!! Just after everyone's had dinner as well. 😆"

I imagine a Munchie Box is fairly the same on entry or exit."

I'd have thought it marginally less dump-like on ..."

You're likely right, it may have even picked up some additional form and nutrients on route.

[TheFoe]

Brass Neck wrote: "TheFoe wrote: "I made quite a nice red wine from a kit, a few years ago. On the other hand I made an undrinkable batch of ale which was binned very quickly. I'd like to brew a beer with hints of ho..."

I bought the same peanut beer recently, 'Nut Job'. It was really nasty, it did taste of peanut but the unroasted type, and it was really fizzy. One of the worst beers I've ever tasted.

[Collette]

Serial and Brassy...don't knock it til you've tried it. The Munchy Box I get is a work of art. Wallies! 🙄

Would have liked a longer lie but I had this horrid dream that my spare bedroom was haunted. The cold spots were bad enough, but something moving my beautiful bears about... Grrr! And sympathetic D buggered off to his mate's leaving me there. 😠👻

Today I shall be doing quickie housework and watching some New Tricks with D.

[Serial]

Grumpy this morning, as the gas bottle ran out, so no tea until I'd gone and bought a Gas bottle at 8am.

I must get an electric kettle.

That's rural life, no piped gas here.

And I must find the code for the car radio, it's blank and needing the code since i changed the battery. I forgot what it was like to drive in silence.

[Collette]

You could always talk to yourself if the silence got too much.

[Serial]

Collette wrote: "You could always talk to yourself if the silence got too much."

Well I do like a bit of intelligent chat, C.

[Lez]

Where does D. learn his new tricks, Collette?

[Collette]

You really don't want to know, Lez. 😉

[suzysunshine7]

... he got them out of a Magic Box he bought off eBay ;o>

Collette just waiting to see if she needs to ask for another Refund off PayPal! - LOL!!!

[Serial]

Collette wrote: "You really don't want to know, Lez. 😉"

Nice to know you have that understairs cellar well stocked with Teach Yourself book titles, C

[Collette]

Up your bum, Tim. 🙄

[suzysunshine7]

You'd better start reading this very very fast, Serial!!! ;o>

[Brass Neck]

TheFoe wrote: "Brass Neck wrote: "TheFoe wrote: "I made quite a nice red wine from a kit, a few years ago. On the other hand I made an undrinkable batch of ale which was binned very quickly. I'd like to brew a be..."

Nut Job, that's the one. Vile stuff.

[Brass Neck]

Collette wrote: "Serial and Brassy...don't knock it til you've tried it. The Munchy Box I get is a work of art. Wallies! 🙄

Would have liked a longer lie but I had this horrid dream that my spare bedroom was haunte..."

"Today I shall be doing quickie housework and watching some New Tricks with D" - did you miss a comma after quickie?

[Collette]

Such a dirty mind. I'm sending your @rse to the naughty step, and you're not getting a loan of my folding foam seat pad. ☹️