Home of the BrewNosers

Not sure if this is everywhere or just Sydney but Sobeys has these kits on for $25. I think they're the same with different packaging. Reviews on Amazon seem reasonable. Anyone use them? It's a 5.2 lt concentrate but come with chitosan, kieselsol, and Lalvin yeast (ec-1118, but whatever). Everything is fresh dated.

Anyone tried these? Distributed by ABCCORK.

Saw these same ones in Truro this weekend...there was also a beer kit available too.

Great price, I just paid $47 for mine at a wine shop here in Peterborough.

Please explain what's wrong with EC1118?

RossBee wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:24 pm

Please explain what's wrong with EC1118?

Nothing's wrong with it. It's just not a dedicated red wine strain: "It was isolated in Champagne...EC-1118 an excellent strain to be used in a wide range of applications (such as sparkling wines, fruit wines and ciders)." Lalvin has better strains for the varietals in the kits on offer. I think this was just chosen for ease of use.

I actually wrote Lalvin and they responded really quickly and pleasantly (I think their tech people were happy to get an enthusiastic email). Got two responses:

"EC-1118 is a fairly neutral flavored fermenter, very robust and easy to use. It works for many different styles, but you are correct that there may be other strains better suited to each varietal for the more sophisticated winemaker. The kit maker likely used EC-1118 for all kits for the sake of simplicity."

"You are the lovely 10% of people who make people like me love their jobs! Yes indeed the EC1118 is a great yeast, good all-rounder (temp range is an example) and is used because she can do such a good job nearly all the time. In the big picture, she will make a lovely wine…. But yes, as a matter of fact, we do have some fantastic strains which can do so much more for you who appreciate it."