I really would like to brew something wih nettles as for some reason when i have been stung with them i like the smell they give even though i hate the pain!
I have just spotted some nettles, any suggestions?
nettle wine?
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avtovaz
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Gordonmull
Re: nettle wine?
I've read more bad than good about it. Still, for the price of an demijohn being taken up for a few months....what harm can there be? Apparantly the river cottage recipe is truely awful and the numpty bottles stuff while it's still on the go if I remember correctly. I read all this a good few months ago so memory is shaky.
If you want to fill your DJs with something worthwhile however the elder flowers are coming out soon and by all accounts that's a spectacular wine.
The oak leaves are still young, again, a classic and sold by Cairn o' Mhor commercially for a wee try before you brew. Got 2 gals of that on the go just now. CoM's stuff is quite nice. Heaven alone knows what mine will turn out like!
Try this link for what to scavenge, among other things, at what time of the year. Think there's one for nettle on there too.
http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Home_brewing/
If you want to fill your DJs with something worthwhile however the elder flowers are coming out soon and by all accounts that's a spectacular wine.
The oak leaves are still young, again, a classic and sold by Cairn o' Mhor commercially for a wee try before you brew. Got 2 gals of that on the go just now. CoM's stuff is quite nice. Heaven alone knows what mine will turn out like!
Try this link for what to scavenge, among other things, at what time of the year. Think there's one for nettle on there too.
http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Home_brewing/
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Manx Guy
Re: nettle wine?
Yes I tried the river cottage recipe but didnt follow his 'bottling advice' I let it feremnt out to 1005 (!) and then bottled with a little priming sugar...Gordonmull wrote:I've read more bad than good about it. Still, for the price of an demijohn being taken up for a few months....what harm can there be? Apparantly the river cottage recipe is truely awful and the numpty bottles stuff while it's still on the go if I remember correctly. I read all this a good few months ago so memory is shaky.
If you want to fill your DJs with something worthwhile however the elder flowers are coming out soon and by all accounts that's a spectacular wine.
The oak leaves are still young, again, a classic and sold by Cairn o' Mhor commercially for a wee try before you brew. Got 2 gals of that on the go just now. CoM's stuff is quite nice. Heaven alone knows what mine will turn out like!
Try this link for what to scavenge, among other things, at what time of the year. Think there's one for nettle on there too.
http://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Home_brewing/
It is pretty rough and quite dry with few if any qualities that would make you repeat it...
I still have 2 750 ml bottles which I suspect may get drunk 'as a dare' at a BBQ in the coming months...
I've not done that many 'country wines' apart from Banana and Rhubarb...
The Banana when made with cheapo red grape juice from Tesco turned out pretty good (well like a cheap Cali blended Rose) and a similar recipe but using a kilo of frozen (Picked young washed chopped & then frozen for a few weeks- a method advised on a link I found on this forum) Rhubarb also turned out well, but it took a while to mature in bottles
Good luck & let us know what recipe you go for...
Guy
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avtovaz
Re: nettle wine?
thankyou very much that is the advice im after exactly, i wont make it then!
Elderflower, i think ill have a go at this, i thought i found some bushes on the indisturial estate by my mates garage but i think i t was something else, the leaves looked like fern, not rounded.
Ill have another look in a few weeks then!
For now then, ill get some more TC on the go, just done some with aldi apple juice, cant remember how much honey i pt in it [ aybe 300g] , but not loads, and also put 2 tea spoons of treacle in it too. Just thought id wing it with the treacle, see if it makes much of a taste difference, its a little darker than the ones i ve made before.
Going to try that in a min, then ut some finings in it tonight and try it again tomorrow.
Elderflower, i think ill have a go at this, i thought i found some bushes on the indisturial estate by my mates garage but i think i t was something else, the leaves looked like fern, not rounded.
Ill have another look in a few weeks then!
For now then, ill get some more TC on the go, just done some with aldi apple juice, cant remember how much honey i pt in it [ aybe 300g] , but not loads, and also put 2 tea spoons of treacle in it too. Just thought id wing it with the treacle, see if it makes much of a taste difference, its a little darker than the ones i ve made before.
Going to try that in a min, then ut some finings in it tonight and try it again tomorrow.
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oldbloke
- Under the Table
- Posts: 1375
- Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:29 am
- Location: Todmorden, Wet Yorks
Re: nettle wine?
Just started a nettle wine, using CJJB's recipe. 1/2gallon nettle tops, zest of two lemons, grated ginger, simmer 45 mins, strain onto 2.5to3lbs sugar (dry-sweet), juice of the lemons, nutrient. I added a campden.
Pitch yeast when cooled (or give time for the campden to dissipate). Smelt great when simmering.
Overfilled the demi - on its 3rd airlock and needs changing again, I take a bit out each change... Foams like crazy.
No idea yet what it'll taste like, though. Will try to remember to call back in a couple of months...
Pitch yeast when cooled (or give time for the campden to dissipate). Smelt great when simmering.
Overfilled the demi - on its 3rd airlock and needs changing again, I take a bit out each change... Foams like crazy.
No idea yet what it'll taste like, though. Will try to remember to call back in a couple of months...
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Gordonmull
Re: nettle wine?
Might be rowan or ash. If you're unsure post a piccie or just do an image search for elder tree. They're fairly easily identified, especially when the blooms come out.
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oldbloke
- Under the Table
- Posts: 1375
- Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:29 am
- Location: Todmorden, Wet Yorks
Re: nettle wine?
Rather nice white, in the end. Will definitely make some more next yearoldbloke wrote:Just started a nettle wine, using CJJB's recipe. 1/2gallon nettle tops, zest of two lemons, grated ginger, simmer 45 mins, strain onto 2.5to3lbs sugar (dry-sweet), juice of the lemons, nutrient. I added a campden.
Pitch yeast when cooled (or give time for the campden to dissipate). Smelt great when simmering.
Overfilled the demi - on its 3rd airlock and needs changing again, I take a bit out each change... Foams like crazy.
No idea yet what it'll taste like, though. Will try to remember to call back in a couple of months...