Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi All, any ideas what is out there that can be brewed for low cost. I am not interested in 'add to vodka' recipes etc. Looking for something to add yeast and sugar to, which is around at the moment. Maybe crab apples. rose hips, sloes should still be there, mushrooms, no. What about large tins of fruit?? I have a few demijohns left, so any ideas.

Tinned peaches and overripe bananas are always cheap in Tesco's and worthy of a try methinks?

Probaly need a heat belt round demijohns this time of year though, do you not think?

Might even dig out the old winemaking gear again and give it a go myself!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Why not try Ginger and raisin, blew my socks off last year.

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Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

Thanks people! I am sure it would surprise Tesco but the nearest is about 25 miles away, Mind you I am sure they will stick one next door soon. Have not seen ripe bananas in my local supermarkets but I will look now. Snadger, I will mostly be brewing in doors so the belt will not be required. I have seen large tins of fruit in some of our local asian shops which could be worth a try. Raisins were quite cheap at asda, brewed with the ginger which I have just bought to make a curry, Could make a really nice winter warmer, like it. Thanks

Brewer isn't Parsnip wine supposed to be nice? Just thinking it's a winter veg and all that...

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

Made gallons of the stuff once...yes it's nice and it's potent ,hic!!!!!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I've been watching out for Seville oranges, aren't they supposed to be in season soon?

These two would make a lovely winter warmer together, I will try it and let you know. I have brewed with sugar beet in my poorer days, I will check out the availability of this as well. Maybe sugar beet and orange, nice. thanks

Hi Breweragain, you want to look round the charity shops or library for one of the old country wine recipe books. I remember my mum used to make tea wine which ended up tasting like sherry and can be made at any time of the year.

You can also use any fruit juice (not squash - pure juice) - used to make lovely wine from the rosehip syrup the baby clinics used to give away, but you can't get it now

Thats cos all the Mothers made wine from it! Lol

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

If only it were true that you could make wine from old tea. Trouble is you need raisins, sugar and yeast otherwise it's going nowhere. This was the first brew I tasted, brewed by my brother. I have lots of brew books from charity shops which were very cheap and all contain some unique tips or information, very good idea. Think I will try the sugar beet angle first. Cheers

I'll second that. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find that an interest in growing fruit and veg correlates positively with an awareness of the treasures to be found in charity shops, but for those among us who aren't yet enlightened - check them out!

Have to agree that charity shops and second hand book shops are great, wonderful fun to rummage around in, even if you dont find anything worth buying that day!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 13th July 2008

I went to my local farm shop to find out the price of parsnips,75p a kilo. About 2 kilos to the gallon with half a crushed piece of ginger,say 30p. Add sugar and yeast and you should get a gallon of 12%+ wine for £2.30 which sounds good to me.

Hurrah! I made rose hip syrup this year - how do I turn it into wine?!

Hi, This recipe is with thanks to B. Turner. 12oz syrup, 1/2 pint white grape juice concentrate ( or 1lb chopped raisins) 2 1/4 lb sugar, 1/2 teaspoon tannin ( or half a cup of strong tea) Wine Yeast. Citric acid (or a small squeeze of orange or lemon juice ) I nutient tablet ( most wine yeast comes with nutrients, so may not be required) Make up to one gallon with cold water. Add yeast when all at room temperature. Leave to ferment, rack every three months. Bottle and drink!!

The above is a 70's recipe with my comments in brackets. The grape juice or raisins are to add body but there are other ways such as mixing the finished wine with apple, pear, pea pod or other subtle tasting wines. You could also double the syrup and make a nice rose.

thanks - I will try this.....two questions..

'rack every three months'..........I assume i should know what this means, but I dont

when do I stop racking...... bottle and drink

thanksxx

Hi! sorry about the jargon but racking is drawing off the wine from one vessel to another without taking the lees (more jargon) dead yeast cells and sediment along with the wine. If the wine is left on the sediment than it can get a mousey flavour, not that I have ever sucked a mouse, sort of an off/musty smell and taste. You can drink it when it has stopped bubbling ( it does need an airlock to stop it absorbing airbourne bad bacteria) and is nice and clear. It will benefit from being left longer however. Any more questions just post

that sounds possible!!

I shall give it a go and report back with (probably too many) questions!

The main things that put people off home brewing are putting in effort and money/produce and being rewarded with a wine that is either off/musty or sour. Keep everything clean and rack often and you can make some extra-special wines, beers and ciders. The whole brewing thing is no different to growing really. It is made up of shared knowledge, discussion and particularly important, trying them out. Enjoy

A mag I have says they come into season in January. Also has a nice simple to follow recipe for marmalade in it. Just as well really, I tried to make it last year and it was horrible

Kirsty

Do you mean the marmalade was horrible. If so you could make a wine with it, dissolve in hot water add yeast when cool. Ferment ,rack, bottle and drink.

Can you do this with any jams Brewer? How much do you need for a gallon of wine?

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Dwell simply ~ love richly