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Fermenting Elderberry, not sure what is happening.

 
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jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Sat Dec 18, 04 2:24 pm    Post subject: Fermenting Elderberry, not sure what is happening. Reply with quote
    

Two months ago, I added some high alcohol yeast to some Eldeberry to try and deal with a stuck ferment, it got back to life and has been struggling onwards though slowing and slowing, until a that is a couple of days ago.

I am now getting a bubble every 10 seconds

Is this a malolactic fermentation?

jema

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 04 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just to bump this again, I think this would be a good point to rack, only I don''t have a big enough fermenter I suppose I could rack to a bucket and back again.

Any other opinions? This is rather more than 5 gallons at stake

jema

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 04 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Malolactic fermentation does give off CO2. Taste it; if it's less acid on the palatte but with a light sparkle, then it might well have gone malolactic. That said, how much malic acid is there in elderberries to start with?

I'd be tempted to leave it be until such a time as it stops and clears. Check the specific gravity by all means, and keep close eye on it, and if you're -really- concerned then lob in some alcohol (Polish spirit is good, or vodka), sorbate and sulfite. That ought to stop it.

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 04 11:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

SG is 1032 which is only a 6 point drop on 2 months ago

Taste is very good though, on the sweet side as you would expect, but with a rather port like taste. With a bit less sweetness I think I could drink it as is

I will be leaving it well alone.

jema

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 04 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jema wrote:
SG is 1032 which is only a 6 point drop on 2 months ago

Taste is very good though, on the sweet side as you would expect, but with a rather port like taste. With a bit less sweetness I think I could drink it as is

I will be leaving it well alone.


Knowing your penchant for record keeping ( ) that ought to tell you what alcohol content you now have. If it is now up to a decent alcohol level, then most likely it -will- be slow. Malolactic tends to be a cumbersome, quite slow process I find, so either way I'd be tempted to leave it alone as you plan to. Just watch out to make sure it's not doing anything funny, and nuke it with sulfite and extra alcohol if it does.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 04 11:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Record keeping only works if the records are right. The SG's I have recorded from this batch do not make sense I suspect some undisolved suger at some stage.

jema

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