Unfermentation
In September, I started the elderberry wine. My first tentative steps in what I thought would become a nagging habit. I’m still waiting to proceed to the second siphoning stage. I know it has a name but I have a headache and can’t think that well……
Garry by the way has gotten into Skype for overseas calls and once a week he forces us to sit in front of the web cam to talk to his cousin Lyndsey-a brewer, who in turn makes his family stand behind him while we all talk. I showed him the fermentation bottle. In an attempt to guide me in the right direction he asked, “Did it stop fermenting yet?”
I actual do not recall it fermenting at all. It looks like it rises while we are not looking since there is a ring around the bottle about two inches higher than the “wine” but it doesn’t do anything in obvious ways. There is a rather wimpy foam on top that looks like yeast but it hasn’t changed a bit in a month. Other than that, not a thing has happened. The scary thing is that the foam doesn’t move! If I turn the bottle it just goes back to where it was before and carries on doing whatever it’s purpose in life is. I don’t think it should move alot but it should at least bubble, no?
Then I was checking in on Blagger. Low and behold, they are making wine for Christmas. They mention that their airlock is ” burbling to itself”. Say what? My airlock is just collecting dust, quietly of course.
I’m thinking that its time to call it a day. One good thing is that it was a simple process. However it was a waste of good elderberries. I’m a bit miffed.
I usually buy pre-fermented, pre flavored berries at the local market in cooled glass bottles.
I haven’t cooked in so long, I probably couldn’t make stuff rotten on purpose.
Hi Jdude
I have never seen those berries in my markets. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places. Do they have a brand name?
On the other hand, people are cooking for you right? I’m sure not at the level that you no doubt have reached (or the quality you would prefer). How long before you can cook again?
omgosh i got a new book in the mail last week and in reading i had to think of you and your elderberry at the farm – i have never seen so much to do with all parts of the plant than i do in this book, even as a face ‘wash’ to keep wrinkles away !
maybe it’s too soon to throw it away until you find out for sure it isn’t any good ? – is there anyone who might know by looking at – up around the farm or otherwise ? actually, knowing you, you probably have already scoured your brain for just a ’someone’ lolol – wow: to throw it away as a wash is nearly a heartbreaker !
Hi Kiki
I actually don’t know anybody who is familiar with wine making but there is a forum that I forgot about. Sandor Katz at Wild Fermentation has some info.
Wrinkles? Exactly what is the formula? Share please:)
Someone with pigs would likely take it happily, if you know anyone like that.
Hi Soapbox
Nope. I can imagine drunken pigs running through the streets of Chicago though:)
Its just the liquid right now. The berries were tossed out awhile ago.
i don’t think there was a formula per se – as i recall it was in a section where the author discusses the history of the plant being called the womans plant – i’ll look for the passage and check to see what is exactly said
i was reading a different book last night in preparing myself for the making of garlic syrup and saw something that made me think of your wine but it was about vinegar, i think…………..could you possibly use your mix as vinegar ? there must be some use for it ……………i hope there is and i hope you find it
“I have never seen those berries in my markets. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places. Do they have a brand name?”
I just buy whatever looks like wine
(I don’t think the joke attempt came through the first post)
Jdude
I was driving along somewhere this morning when I finally got the joke and cracked up! It came through the post but not my humor channels until today (LOL!)