Brandy yield from grapes

[hawkwing]

As the title says when using wine grapes what kind of yield do you get of good liquor? Say you have 6 gallons of wine. Say 13% that would be about 3 quarts of alcohol. Would only 30% be decent for drinking or more? That might get 3 bottles at 40%?

[Salt Must Flow]

Depends on your SG and how thoroughly it fermented out. You can calculate in order to estimate the total potential yield you could get, but then you still have to do cuts. You could guestimate yield after cuts, but in real life ... you're going to get what you get after all is said and done.

When I decide to try a small batch of something new, I decide just how big of a batch I want to ferment based on the size of boiler/boilers I have and how much liquid is required to cover the element. I think the smallest batch I've ever fermented was 10 gal at 8%-10% ABV. After a stripping run with my 5500W keg boiler, I ended up doing the spirit run in a 4 gal 120V little boiler I made for small batches like this. After cuts, I think I got a bit over 1/2 gal at 150 proof.

If you are using a hot plate or gas stove then you can do as small of a batch as you want.

[hawkwing]

Looks like it is probably not worth it unless you have grapes in your backyard.

[Salt Must Flow]

I suppose it depends on how much grapes you have access to. Brandy requires a a good deal of fruit.

[tombombadil]

Looks like it is probably not worth it unless you have grapes in your backyard.

Ya.... brandy is expensive if you're paying retail prices for fruit.

[hawkwing]

I have to import them. I’d probably have to make at least a $50 per bottle or more to make it worth while. Maybe grappa instead.

[NZChris]

Given your numbers, I would expect 5 quarts. If you follow poor advice, it could be a lot less.

Whoops, edited to say I miscalculated, my yield would be half of that, so 5 pints. About 2/3s of my initial ethanol ends up in my heart cut.