iBrew wine kits

[toranlock]

Hey all, long time stalker, first time poster.

The Mrs is getting me an ibrew kit for fathers day and I was aiming for the wine variation. Question is, can I use another random refill kit with the equipment?

I know you can use the ibrew beer equipment with other beer refills but wondered was it ok to use the wine equipment for a wine refill.

Thanks
Dan

[Pinto]

Interesting concept

From what I've seen on the ibrew website, you should be able to use the wine and beer makers with pretty much any commercially available kit - the actual hardware in the kit is reusable time and again.

[toranlock]

Thanks for the response

The fact that it makes 15 bottles at a time means I will only be able to use those specific kits. Or can I split a 30 kit? I.e. can I use use a 30 kit but only use half the ingredients at a time? Would I have storage issues with the remaining kit? Keeping the remaining bits bacteria free would be a problem I think.

[Pinto]

You can buy smaller kits - not sure i'd want to use half of a kit unless I was making both halves at the same time in two kits once you've broken the seals on the ingredients they wouldn't take much to spoil.

Is there a particular reason you're looking at this kit ? Your LHBS will be able to make you up a winemaking kit that would do 30 bottle kits with ease for less than the ibrew

[toranlock]

Space

[Pinto]

Fair enough

There are a number of 6 bottle wine kits available on the market for about a tenner each (saving you about a fiver), so you could always double up - seems that ibrew have chosen a size that pushes you towards their refills

[toranlock]

I did think of that as an option, but the drinking time to brewing tome ratio would be too low. 15 or 40 bottles would last till the next brew was ready. I might have to clear my shed out (who needs tools and a lawnmower anyway?) And kick the process up a notch. Not quite a micro brewery, but at least beer and wine in decent quantities.

[darkonnis]

Decent quantities is where its at, otherwise your hobby becomes a chore or you run out of stuff to drink.
Have any of you tried the 6 bottle kits and are they any good? had a request for some and i know nothing about wine.

[toranlock]

No point in a 6 bottle one I don't think. I just finished my 30 bottler and WOW! perfect pinot grigio for £25. Looks lovely and tastes great. it said 7 days but more like 9 to get it clear enough without a filter to drink. gravity readings ended up giving me 12.3% ABC which is right on the money.

I will post some pics when I'm at the computer. not much to go on, but the 30 bottle kit was soo simple its scary. sanitise till the cows come home and you will get a lovely brew. I used the pinot grigio cellar7. It's a mid-range brand I think, but a great flavour. I'm not quite a wine buff to bother with the £80 kits (plus the Mrs would go barmy if I spent that on some grape juice)

so excited, that I'm getting another kit today... just got to decide what I'm gonna get.

Dan

by the way.....

this was my first ever brewing experience and it ended in success. luck and willing prevailed

[toranlock]

Also a six and a thirty both take 7-9days to make, so why opt for the smaller?

brew it....bottle it.....store it.................and drink it of course

[darkonnis]

Wasnt for me so wasnt my choice, in the end we opted for the 30 bottles and got the cellar 7 Shiraz. Should be alright, really is nothing to it even by kit standards. I think i'll leave it for a 10 days before i rack it off and then a few days in their before i bottle it.

[toranlock]

Kits are a bit idiot-proof i think, hence why I used one. Although im sure they can go wrong!

Good thing is the Cellar7 is around £25 so works out about £1 a bottle (i keep drinking the extras when racking/bottling)

[winka]

Me and the Mrs have to do the 30 bottle ones, as we go through about 15 bottles in a week between us so the 6 would barley last us a friday and sataurday night lol.

Bottled a 30 bottle Pinot last friday, and we have 14 bottles left, but it was a Bank holiday weekend so probably drank more than normal.

Hic..