Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Anybody know a recipe for a port?  (Read 2991 times)

Offline Wheat_Brewer

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 240
  • Bad Bunny Brewing
Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« on: August 03, 2010, 07:56:18 pm »
After some searching I've concluded that there doesn't seem to be any good recipe for how to make a port.  I've made my fair share of wines at home and thought I would bump up the challenge some.  Does anybody have a good recipe for a port?!
AHA Lifetime Member

Offline dbeechum

  • Global Moderator
  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • *****
  • Posts: 2913
  • Pasadena, CA
    • Experimental Brewing
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2010, 01:45:22 am »
Eh, the big challenge with port isn't recipe, it's process.

Basically, you need to carefully monitor your gravity during fermentation. Wait to hit a still sweet gravity in the range you want (say 1.030) and then blast the must with booze. High test everclear works well. If you want to be super traiditonaly it's brandy.
Drew Beechum - Maltosefalcons.com
- Vote in the AHA GC Election! - http://bit.ly/1aV9GVd  -
-----
Burbling:
Gnome is in the Details
*Experimental Brewing - The Book*
Tap:
Peanut Butter Jelly Time
Tupelo Mead
Farmhouse Brett Saison

Offline ndcube

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 612
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2010, 06:07:30 am »
It's a little pricy but you could go with the wine expert port kit from a LHBS.  Pricy but good!

Starts out with some pretty thick juice and when the gravity gets so low the directions have you add a pound of sugar.  Turns out about 18-19% according to apparent attenuation.  Not sure how accurate that is with an OG that high.

The trick is to use enough yeast and aerate well.

Offline nicneufeld

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1049
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2010, 07:59:05 am »
Fortifying and oak aging would seem pretty requisite.  Sounds hard to do depending how patient, or how picky, you are.  I bet one could get pretty close to one of those less expensive domestic ports that have things like "Great for Cooking!" derisively present on the label, but duplicating a good tawny or vintage port from Portugal is going to be tricky indeed.  The kit may be a good bet, then fortifying with a youngish brandy and using some sort of mild oak product for aging.

Offline ndcube

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 612
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2010, 09:35:57 am »
Just an FYI.  The kit comes with oak chips/dust that it has you add during primary fermentation.  None is used for aging per the instructions..

Offline The Professor

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 863
  • "In the next life, you're on your own"
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2010, 10:02:16 am »
As others point out, it is basically sweet wine with brandy added (which helps arrest the fermentation and aid preservaion; some cheaper ones also add sulphiting agents).  These are the main elements of port, but another important one is time.  Made right, the stuff will taste pretty good even when young, but will definitely get even better with some age.
AL
New Brunswick, NJ
[499.6, 101.2] Apparent Rennerian
Homebrewer since July 1971

Offline Wheat_Brewer

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 240
  • Bad Bunny Brewing
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2010, 10:04:56 pm »
Thanks!  I think I'll go with a more traditional brandy version with some oak chips for a little extra flavor...or if I mess up a bad flavor cover up!.  Thanks all. 
AHA Lifetime Member

Offline alikocho

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 567
  • Bristol, UK
    • A Storm Brewing
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2010, 02:16:59 pm »
There's a formula for fortifying wines, which revolves around the 'Pearson Square' as a means of calculating.  

<edit>

This seems to have most of the information you'd need

http://www.northernbrewer.com/documentation/MakingPortWine.pdf
« Last Edit: August 25, 2010, 05:00:58 am by alikocho »
Bristol Brewing Circle (BBC)
Bristol Craft Brewers

UK National Homebrew Competition - http://www.bristolhomebrewcompetition.org.uk/

Offline kylekohlmorgen

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1363
  • Saint Louis, MO
    • The South House Pilot Brewery
Re: Anybody know a recipe for a port?
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2010, 08:01:46 am »
Twitter/Instagram: @southhousebrew

Recipes, Brett/Bacteria Experiments: http://SouthHouseBeer.com/