Fermentations Frequently Asked Questions

Your First Time at Fermentations

If you've never made your own beer or wine before, but have always wanted to, this page is for you. At Fermentations our community of beer and wine makers includes expert brewmasters, "regulars", those who like to experiment with their own recipes, as well as first timers like you! Here are some answers to questions first timers usually ask:

How much work is involved in making beer and wine?

Brewing a batch of beer takes only about 10 minutes! Once you have pitched your yeast into the fermenting container our staff does the rest. Call us at 416-778-9000 to reserve a brewing time, and we'll have everything ready and waiting for you. Making a batch of your own high quality beer is really quite simple. And of course, we are always there to help you every step of the way, and answer questions that you may have. At Fermentations we can even help you customize a beer recipe to suit your taste. Your beer will be ready for bottling in two weeks. In the meantime, the Fermentations team keeps a close eye on your wort, making sure it ferments properly.

Making your own high quality wine is easy at Fermentations you can even make your own wine from real grapes without any mess! All you have to do is choose the fresh juice for the type of wine you want to make. We'll help you put the juice into a fermenting container, and that's it. Your wine will be ready for bottling in about eight weeks, and in the meantime we'll keep a close eye on your wine, making sure it ferments properly. At Fermentations we use only fresh juice or real grapes never sugary concentrates to make our wine, because that's the way Mother Nature intended wine to be made! top

What kind of wine and beer can I make?

At Fermentations you can make just about any kind of beer or wine imaginable. Whatever your taste, we can help you create a special blend that's just right for you. Beer is customisable, and yes, wine is just as customizable as beer!

We offer more than 100 different wines. Will that be an oak-fermented chardonnay for early enjoyment? A big fat cabernet sauvignon for long term aging? Which part of France would you like your grapes to come from?

Choices? In life, you can never have too many!

We also offer over 35 different styles of beer, from light, thirst-quenching lagers, to English pale ales and bitters, to Czech style pilsners, rich stouts, and more! Something special you are looking for? Just ask! top

What about bottling? How does that work?

For beer, you come back to Fermentations after two weeks and bottle your beer. When you call ahead for a reservation we'll have your beer ready and waiting in a carbonation container, ready to be bottled. You can bring your own bottles, or buy them from us the first time. (We sell 1/2 litre and 1 litre plastic, reusable bottles with screw-on plastic, reusable caps.) You'll have to rinse the bottles with an iodine solution (which we provide) so they're sterilized, then you're ready to go. Bottling takes about one hour per batch.

Bottling your wine is a similar process. You bring your own wine bottles, or we can provide them. They'll need to be rinsed and sterilized. Then we'll show you how to use the corker (of course you don't want screw-on caps for your wine!). If you like, we can even make custom labels for your wine bottles. top

How long before I can drink my beer or wine?

Your beer is ready to be consumed as soon as it's in your bottles though we ask that you wait til you get home! Beer does not need to be aged, although our customers tell us the taste of their beer improves over the first week or so.

Wine, as you probably know, gets better as it ages, so the longer you wait to consume it, the better it will be, however, some of our wines are specially blended to be potable after only a few weeks. The type of wine you can make on any given day is subject to what juices are in season and available, so drop by the store and talk to Charles — he'll answer all your questions. top

How much does it cost?

Our prices depend on the type of beer or wine you're making. A 23 litre batch of beer is approximately $65.00. Wines range from $140 to $175 per batch, depending on the type of wine. See our wine and beer pages for more information. top

What kind of beer and wine can I make?

Check out our beer and wine pages for details, or visit the store and peruse our recipe books. All you need to do is tell Charles what kind of beer you like to drink, and he'll help you make your own batch. Wine is just as customizable, because we shop the world for fresh juices and real grapes to make your wine. Ask Charles for more information. top

How many bottles does a batch of beer and wine make?

Each batch of beer produces 23 litres, the equivalent of three cases from the Beer Store. The number of bottles, of course, depends on how big your bottles are. A batch of wine results in 26 bottles. top

How/where should I store my bottles?

Your beer should be kept in a cool, dark place. A fridge is best. Wine should be stored on its side, also in a cool, dark place such as a wine cellar.

Don't forget to give your empty bottles a quick rinse, then put them aside and bring them back on your next visit to Fermentations. top

What else can I make at Fermentations

As if making the best wine and beer in Toronto wasn't already good enough, at Fermentations you can also make apple cider and wine coolers. Coolers are available in many different flavors. Some of the popular ones are Hard Lemon, Tropical, Pink Grapefruit, and Raspberry. Got another favorite? Just ask!

A batch of apple cider or wine cooler produces 23 litres. You have to bottle it yourself, just like beer and wine, but the good news is you can drink it right away. No aging required! So go ahead and fire up that barbecue! top