demijohns??

kiwirach · Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:36 pm

there are some demijohns listed on my local freecycle today, along with a thermometer.
what exactly do you make in them....just wine, or other things?. i'm toying with taking them, and holding onto them for a later date. is that a good idea, and what questions should i ask, to make sure they are useable....all it says is they havent been used for a while.

any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Post: # 108160Post **MKG** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:50 pm

They're simply one or two-gallon glass containers with a short neck and bung-size opening. They're made principally for wine fermentation and storage - but they'll double up for anything you can get into them. What people usually mean when they say they haven't been used for a while is "I didn't clean 'em out after the last batch of wine" so they'll probably need a good soaking. Apart from that, I'd take them.

tiggy · Post: # 108209Post **tiggy** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:35 pm

I just syphoned my elderflower wine out of its brewbin into a demijohn,I gave up wine making and gave the stuff away but then decided to start again so had to borrow a demijohn ! how mad is that. go ahead and make some wine or you could make cider from tetrapak apple juice, thats my next experiment when I get another demijohn. good luck

eccentric_emma · Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:45 pm

on a completely seperate demijohn usage note - we found an old one in a garage we were clearing out for family and kept it to put loads of change into. after two years it was full and turned out those things can hold about Â£600!

ocailleagh · Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:28 pm

I once found a pair of old demijohns at a car boot sale, one of which was brown glass and was originally an old Domestos bottle from the '20s or something. Unfortunately, after my divorce my demijohns were among the items I 'stored' at my parents' place til I found somewhere new of my own. Not having room for them in the house, my father put them in the boot of my sister's old car in his garden. Which he later sold without removing the demijohns!

kiwirach · Post: # 108234Post **kiwirach** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:16 am

thanks everyone for your thoughts....you've convinced me its a good idea to grab them....if they are still there....they were last night!.
Tiggy, making cider sounds more up my street!!

ETA, they are still there and i have sent the bloke an email!!.

hamster · Post: # 108247Post **hamster** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:59 am

eccentric_emma wrote:on a completely seperate demijohn usage note - we found an old one in a garage we were clearing out for family and kept it to put loads of change into. after two years it was full and turned out those things can hold about Â£600!

That must have been fun to carry to the bank.

AXJ · Post: # 108274Post **AXJ** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:54 am

You really have to try making your own wine, it is a great and most rewarding experience, you need a warm place like an airing cupboard to get it really working, the other things to remember, everything needs to be sterile, and also to keep it simple when you start, use tried and tested recipes, or even use a wine kit first time so you get the idea of how things go when they go right, then get more adventurous come harvest time.

Good luck, I used to love making wine... now a days it is like taking coals to Newcastle (can't compete on value for money with the local produce) and I have no airing cupboard.

Post: # 108311Post **MKG** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:21 pm

"... now a days it is like taking coals to Newcastle (can't compete on value for money with the local produce) and ... "

Gnashing teeth in sheer envy

mrsflibble · Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:27 pm

I'd liek to make wine but I've not the space or a traditional airing cupboard. For instance when I make bread I have to heat the oven for 5 mins then turn it off so I've got a nice warm place for my little yeasties to grow.
I'm going to stick to my liquors for a while I think. I'd still love a demijohn though just 'cos they look so cool.

AXJ · Post: # 108340Post **AXJ** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:21 pm

MKG wrote:"... now a days it is like taking coals to Newcastle (can't compete on value for money with the local produce) and ... "

Gnashing teeth in sheer envy

LoL

When I have to have a liver transplant or die you will have the last laugh, as I will be ....

tiggy · Post: # 108422Post **tiggy** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:07 pm

Kiwirach if you google turbo cider you will get recipes from various forums, I decided to try the simplist one I found as soon as I can find something to make it in.I have made various wines from juices but prefer something less alchaholic than wine for general back garden boozing.

AXJ · Post: # 108424Post **AXJ** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:17 pm

home made ginger beer is fun quick and easy, although you need champaign type bottles for saftey

Post: # 108438Post **MKG** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:36 pm

tiggy wrote:Kiwirach if you google turbo cider you will get recipes from various forums, I decided to try the simplist one I found as soon as I can find something to make it in.I have made various wines from juices but prefer something less alchaholic than wine for general back garden boozing.

Then make it weaker. Just because most wine recipes aim for 10 to 15% alcohol doesn't mean you have to. Try fermenting your favourite juice with just a pound of sugar added (that will give you a quick 5% alcohol drink - it will probably need to be sweetened). Or even a half-pound for a super-quick 2.5% (weak beer) drink. Winemaking rules are examples only - you are allowed to break them

The Riff-Raff Element · Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:55 am

MKG wrote:"... now a days it is like taking coals to Newcastle (can't compete on value for money with the local produce) and ... "

Gnashing teeth in sheer envy

Oh it's not all beer and skittles living in a wine growing region where quite passable stuff can be had in bulk for â‚¬1.5 per litre, you know. There is a limit to how much one can drink

In any case there is something REALLY self sufficient in making your own hooch, particularly if if can be done with stuff gathered for free.