Many wine kits start with 6 gallons and you end up with about 5.5 by the
time you bottle. I happen to have 5 gallon carboys. What happens if I
ferment at 5.5 gallons, then I have about the right amount for my carboy.

Thanks
Crhoff

Probably not too much will happen, but the balance may be just a little off.
The kits are perfectly tuned for 6 gallons, and are even designed to top up
with a quart of water in the end. Give it a try. It will still be
drinkable, and possibly could be really good. But if anything goes wrong,
you've essentially voided your kit warranty because you altered the intended
directions.

Van

"Crhoff" wrote in message
...
Many wine kits start with 6 gallons and you end up with about 5.5 by the
time you bottle. I happen to have 5 gallon carboys. What happens if I
ferment at 5.5 gallons, then I have about the right amount for my carboy.

Thanks
Crhoff

Yes, I agree with Van. I've done 6 six gallon kits so far, and sometimes
I've added up to 8 cups of water to "top off", and the wine is great.
vinometer still estimates 13%+ alcohol, so I'm not making watered down
wine, and the taste is still better than store bought.
That said, when I make recipes NOT from kits, I would use your
technique. The kits are very specific and if you decide to do your own
thing, you could end up with cloudy or worse.
I made Peach Mango wine and started with enough for a 3 gallon, 1 gallon
and 750ml. That way , as I rack, I can add "like wine".

DAve
p.s. Just bottled my cranberry wine. Took two cans "wine fruit base"
from a wine store that each made 3-5 gallons. I used two cans to make 6
gallons, and it's looking very promising. In 18 months, I'll know. :*)

Van DeWald wrote:
Probably not too much will happen, but the balance may be just a little off.
The kits are perfectly tuned for 6 gallons, and are even designed to top up
with a quart of water in the end. Give it a try. It will still be
drinkable, and possibly could be really good. But if anything goes wrong,
you've essentially voided your kit warranty because you altered the intended
directions.

Van

"Crhoff" wrote in message
...

Many wine kits start with 6 gallons and you end up with about 5.5 by the
time you bottle. I happen to have 5 gallon carboys. What happens if I
ferment at 5.5 gallons, then I have about the right amount for my carboy.

Thanks
Crhoff

Thanks for the info, guess I'm just going to have to get a 6 gallon carboy.
Really don't want to mess up a 6 gal kit. I didn't know the kits carry a
warranty.

"Van DeWald" wrote in message
news:dhqpf.8396$9G.8250@dukeread10...
Probably not too much will happen, but the balance may be just a little
off. The kits are perfectly tuned for 6 gallons, and are even designed to
top up with a quart of water in the end. Give it a try. It will still be
drinkable, and possibly could be really good. But if anything goes wrong,
you've essentially voided your kit warranty because you altered the
intended directions.

Van

"Crhoff" wrote in message
...
Many wine kits start with 6 gallons and you end up with about 5.5 by the
time you bottle. I happen to have 5 gallon carboys. What happens if I
ferment at 5.5 gallons, then I have about the right amount for my carboy.

Thanks
Crhoff

I've done about 7 six gallon kits and I've never really messed one up.
The first red that I made was a little "fizzy," I guess because I
didn't drive enough of the CO2 off. But it was drinkable and all I had
to do was decant it a little before serving. Other than that, only
great experiences.

Dave Ward
www.homebrew-exchange.com


Crhoff wrote:
Thanks for the info, guess I'm just going to have to get a 6 gallon carboy.
Really don't want to mess up a 6 gal kit. I didn't know the kits carry a
warranty.

"Van DeWald" wrote in message
news:dhqpf.8396$9G.8250@dukeread10...
Probably not too much will happen, but the balance may be just a little
off. The kits are perfectly tuned for 6 gallons, and are even designed to
top up with a quart of water in the end. Give it a try. It will still be
drinkable, and possibly could be really good. But if anything goes wrong,
you've essentially voided your kit warranty because you altered the
intended directions.

Van

"Crhoff" wrote in message
...
Many wine kits start with 6 gallons and you end up with about 5.5 by the
time you bottle. I happen to have 5 gallon carboys. What happens if I
ferment at 5.5 gallons, then I have about the right amount for my carboy.

Thanks
Crhoff