Viva la Revolution! Hand in hand, carbohydrate and yeast came together in forbidden unity. The carbs didn't suspect the yeast's eerie intentions and accepted an invitation to dinner. By the time they discovered they were the main course, it was already to late. Feral yeasts turned cannibal consuming and reproducing at a rapid uncontrolled rate. Major mistake #1. I didn't introduce them. Being the large wine Petite Sirah is intended to be, I preferred a pre-fermentation cold soak to ensure full flavor and deep color. After 5 days in my garage, the fruit temperature began increasing despite the blanket of dry ice so I transported the fruit to a friend's temperature controlled tasting room. I punched down lightly twice a day and closely followed the Brix. 22.5 at harvest increased to 25 after sitting on the skins, which I was happy with. I wanted to innoculate the evening of the 18th. 8 days of pre-fermentation maceration. Using a standard floating hydrometer (sugar tester), I discovered a 5 degree drop in sugar. Feral yeasts, like wild dogs, run rampant and cannot be controlled without immediate attention. Of course, it was late evening, brew store closed, and I did not have designer yeast. Major mistake #2. I didn't have the supplies to control the situation. Hoping to slow the rascals down, I added dry ice to create a less then hospitable environment but by the morning the Brix had dropped to 10!!! A very gracious winemaker took pity on me and provided yeast RP15 which I immediately "pitched" (yeast addition) with an activator. Sometimes, with quick action, the winemaker's deputized yeasts will corral the outlaws and take back the town. The next morning I was at 3 Brix and by the end of the day was dry (no more sugar). I'm not sure who won the wild west but Bacchus was feeling merciful and granted justice and rehabilitation. No off odors and the wine had potential to develop into something beautiful. That's fantastic but at the time I was just glad it was wine. Lesson: Control your temperature if you intend to cold soak. Environments change and things happen very fast.
Spontaneous Saccharomyces Serendipity
In desperate times, drink a glass and whine.
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Stefanie Pruegel May 23, 2013 at 08:02 pm
I agree with My2Cents that news and opinion (blogs) should be separate sections. For me to post an…Read More actual news item, I can either start a blog which seems more appropriate for commentary, or post an announcement that will be buried in between lost cats, yard sales and other personal posts. The only way to get news into the news section is to have an editor pick it up, but with the onslaught of information and shortage of editors - many of them handling several Patch sites - chances are slim.
My2Cents May 23, 2013 at 08:32 am
I don't like the new layout either. The news seems to be mixed up with blogs. Also, in a news story,…Read More after the first paragraph of the story, there are links for other stories. Put those at the end or off to the side. I want to read the story, not get distracted by some other story. I also don't like the little "signs" down the right side. What are they supposed to be about? They seem to be a mix of blogs, announcements, maybe news? Who knows.... It's just a mess. I can't easily find stories I was following as easily as on the old Patch.
Smitty May 23, 2013 at 07:35 am
It's pretty clear that the least important content on the screens are the news stories and blogs.…Read More The ads overpower the screens with their size and bright colors. While I understand the importance of ad revenue, ads don't bring readers to Patch. Good content does and Patch can't survive without that. Ad revenue won't continue without adequate viewership. If this topic can't generate anymore comments than the few that are here, then I think a significant number of people have walked away from their keyboards.
Autumn Johnson (Editor) May 21, 2013 at 08:27 pm
i love the passion people show in Livermore! Thanks for posting. Luckily, it was not burnt out.…Read More http://livermore.patch.com/groups/breaking-news/p/worlds-longest-burning-light-bulb-out-but-only-overnight
John Marchand May 21, 2013 at 06:31 pm
The light bulb is back on. Ironically, it was a device that was installed to protect the bulb from…Read More power surges that failed. When the bulb was reconnected to unfiltered power, it came back on.
Californicated1 May 22, 2013 at 03:21 pm
About the only electric vehicle I would consider buying is one that did not require charging off of…Read More any other sources other than its own--meaning that it charges its own batteries, either thorough motion while it's on the road or through something like solar cells charging up the batteries and keeping them charged, even when the car is parked and it's sitting in a parking lot on a sunny day--until that happens, no electric vehicle is going to be practical outside of anything other than short trips or the commute. And as for how you got your vehicle, are there any other "carrots" out there that can be dangled in front of you so you can follow them, even into the oblivion known as electric vehicles that require charging from a source that is not part of your vehicle--because that sounds stupid and foolish to me. It sounds more like it is somebody's Pavlovian experiment to change our behavior if we buy the electric cars being marketed out there instead of waiting for the next generation of technology out there, the kind that won't require charging up the batteries or keeping them charged with plugging into an external electricity source. Before I would consider purchasing an electric vehicle, it should be self-charging so that a trans-continental driving trip could be sustained and made without worrying about running the batteries down and taking extra time to charge them up.
Sean McMenamin May 21, 2013 at 10:59 am
as well take advantage of it. What I'm talking about is a reasonable rate for charging that is…Read More within going rates, not the usurious rates charged by certain companies. I always love the hundred yard heroes who hide behind a false screen name
Sean McMenamin May 21, 2013 at 10:56 am
I'm not a greenie.....the only reason we leased one is, because of the tax loophole on the taxes we…Read More already pay, we have an essentially free car for a couple of years. Maybe you're just upset because you weren't smart enough to figure that out and take advantage of it. Just like everyone with their solar panels; if we're all forced to pay for it, you may
Annie May 19, 2013 at 01:18 pm
Seriously? AFGAHN food? Why can't we just get a Red Lobster or something?
Eric Plummer May 18, 2013 at 09:57 am
Rafael and his crew do great work, and not just lawn service. He replaced our sprinkler system and…Read More sodded two new lawns when we moved into our house. He and his crew have trimmed trees, planted flowers, and even built a new fence and gate. All at a fair price. I can't recommend his services enough.
chris fleckner May 15, 2013 at 08:50 am
Thank you D! We couldn't be happier to have a program like this in our community. We couldn't agree…Read More with you more that giving back is the whole purpose of the program; to make our community a stronger more musical one for our youth!
DRevier May 15, 2013 at 07:50 am
Kevin and Chris are good guys. They genuinely want to give back and care about introducing as many…Read More kids (young and old) as possible to the incredibly rewarding world of music. I am fortunate enough to have had somebody similar to these guys motivate me to get involved in music when I was a kid. 31 years later, I am still beatin’ on my drums every day. Great job Kev and Chris. Keep it up!