Forums:

Can I transfer an apple cider vinegar (ACV) mother to other juices for vinegaring?

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 4 years ago

5
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I have more wild grape juice than I will ever use in a year and it's taking up room. I also have just finished my first batch of homemade apple cider vinegar. Now that I have a live vinegar mother I was wondering how easily I could transfer it to other liquids to turn them into vinegar as well. The grape juice I have is super dark wild and full of flavor. It's thick and pretty sweet. Will my ACV mother do the proper job in the grape juice or should I start over by making a mother specifically for the grape juice?

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Joylynn Hardesty

master pollinator

Posts: 3455

Location: Officially Zone 7b, according to personal obsevations I live in 7a, SW Tennessee

1324

I like...

posted 4 years ago

3
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

As an encouraging post...
I used commercial acv "dregs" or mother to start pear vinegar. It turned out well.

How Permies Works Dr. Redhawk's Epic Soil Series

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 4 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Thank you

I just finished moving the mother to the grape juice. We'll see how it goes I guess. The juice is so dark that even though the mother is floating, I still can't see it. If all goes well, this should be a rather intense vinegar. Now the waiting game begins again.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 4 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I woke up today to find that the grape juice has a solid film of new "mother" growth on top. I guess that means that things are going well.

IMG_6536.JPG

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 4 years ago

4
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

It turns out that this is working so far. I've got a good looking scoby working along tirelessly, transforming this super dark juice into vinegar. It still smells quite full of alcohol but it's moving along at just the same pace as my first apple cider vinegar. I decided to make a second batch with the last of the juice I had in the fridge. There are so many containers with living creatures in my kitchen. It's a good way to pass the winter.

I'm glad I tried this.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

William Bronson

gardener

Posts: 3543

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205

463

I like...

posted 4 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I was inspired by your first posts to try this with some too bitter orange juice.
Does it have to be converted to alcohol first?
I also have some old wine, thought I might try it with that as well!

Eating Bindweed
Eating Buckwheat Greens
Paul explains why I spend time here,better than I could myself.

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 4 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

William Bronson wrote: I was inspired by your first posts to try this with some too bitter orange juice.
Does it have to be converted to alcohol first?
I also have some old wine, thought I might try it with that as well!

I'm not sure about the orange juice, but I'd say that wine is a good first choice to try making vinegar. Go for it.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 4 years ago

3
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

My vinegar is still bubbling along and is just now starting to get that slightly acidic smell. It's still so dark that I can't see into it too well. I can see some stuff has settled to the bottom. It's probably little bits of pulp and skins bound together by the mother, which really looks a lot like a sea anemone at this point. It's pretty neat looking. I have a second smaller jar that is also doing well. Once there's enough room in the big jar, I'm going to combine the two jars. I just have to wait for enough water to evaporate first. So far... so good.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 3 years ago

6
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

It's done!

I filtered it and bottled it a few weeks ago and it's a super awesome! It's a delicious wild grape vinegar that I look forward to making again. It's very similar to a balsamic vinegar but with more of a tart wild grape taste. I suspect that if I let it continue to reduce down by evaporation, that it would be more intense. While that would be great, I really like this as it is. My family likes it straight-up on salads. A little goes a long way so even though I only have just over a quart or so, I expect it to last for a while.

I've taken the "mother" from it and used it to start a batch of dandelion vinegar in the spring which also looks and smells like it's going to be great. Why didn't anyone tell me that making vinegar was so fun?

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Craig Dobbson

steward

Posts: 2719

Location: Maine (zone 5)

577

I like...

posted 3 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I just signed up for a copy of an e-book from Oak Hill Homestead that's about making vinegar. It's a short read but it's got a bunch of good basic tips on getting started with the process of making vinegar. Here's a quote from the e book:

One of the most versatile liquids in history was probably discovered by accident when someone left wine to ferment too long. The sour taste was probably an unwelcome surprise to the procrastinating vintner, but his mistake was an important discovery to ancient civilizations.

I've had a good time making vinegar and this little e book would be a good place to start if you're thinking about starting to make your own. It's available for free if you sign up for the author's newsletter.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”
How Permies.com Works
Be Nice

Hey, sticks and stones baby. And maybe a wee mention of my stuff:

Rocket Mass Heater Plans - now free for a while

https://permies.com/goodies/7/rmhplans