Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Who Are You?
1. Who Are You?
We're home brewing and wine making enthusiasts who wanted a faster, easier, cheaper way to make adult beverages at home. We've been making and selling EZ Caps® for over 20 years!
We're home brewing and wine making enthusiasts who wanted a faster, easier, cheaper way to make adult beverages at home. We've been making and selling EZ Caps® for over 20 years!
2. How can I increase the alcohol content of my EZ Caps beverage?
2. How can I increase the alcohol content of my EZ Caps beverage?
To enhance the alcohol content, add sugar to your fruit juice base. For instance, incorporating 1-2 cups of table sugar into 2 liters of apple juice can produce a cider with up to 16% alcohol by volume (ABV). Be aware that exceeding 16% ABV is challenging, as the alcohol becomes toxic to the yeast, halting fermentation.
To enhance the alcohol content, add sugar to your fruit juice base. For instance, incorporating 1-2 cups of table sugar into 2 liters of apple juice can produce a cider with up to 16% alcohol by volume (ABV). Be aware that exceeding 16% ABV is challenging, as the alcohol becomes toxic to the yeast, halting fermentation.
3. What should I do if my fermented beverage is too sour to drink?
3. What should I do if my fermented beverage is too sour to drink?
If your beverage has over-fermented and tastes too sour, you can balance the flavor by gradually adding sugar to taste. Ensure the beverage is refrigerated during this process to prevent further fermentation, and add sugar incrementally to avoid overflow or spilling.
If your beverage has over-fermented and tastes too sour, you can balance the flavor by gradually adding sugar to taste. Ensure the beverage is refrigerated during this process to prevent further fermentation, and add sugar incrementally to avoid overflow or spilling.
4. Can I reuse the yeast from a previous batch, and does it help with stuck fermentation?
4. Can I reuse the yeast from a previous batch, and does it help with stuck fermentation?
Yes, you can reuse yeast for multiple batches. After fermentation, carefully pour the beverage into another container without disturbing the sediment, then add new juice (and sugar if desired) to the bottle with the remaining yeast. This method leverages the existing active yeast cells, making it effective for restarting stuck fermentations or tackling challenging recipes. However, avoid reusing the same yeast more than 3-4 times to prevent potential off-flavors from developing.
Yes, you can reuse yeast for multiple batches. After fermentation, carefully pour the beverage into another container without disturbing the sediment, then add new juice (and sugar if desired) to the bottle with the remaining yeast. This method leverages the existing active yeast cells, making it effective for restarting stuck fermentations or tackling challenging recipes. However, avoid reusing the same yeast more than 3-4 times to prevent potential off-flavors from developing.
5. Is it possible to make a non-carbonated beverage with EZ Caps?
5. Is it possible to make a non-carbonated beverage with EZ Caps?
Absolutely. Follow the standard fermentation instructions, but after two days, slightly unscrew the EZ Cap to allow carbon dioxide to escape. This will result in a non-carbonated beverage while still achieving fermentation.
Absolutely. Follow the standard fermentation instructions, but after two days, slightly unscrew the EZ Cap to allow carbon dioxide to escape. This will result in a non-carbonated beverage while still achieving fermentation.
6. Can I create soda pop using EZ Caps?
6. Can I create soda pop using EZ Caps?
Yes, you can make soda pop by sweetening your beverage to your preference and fermenting it for just 1-2 days. This short fermentation period will carbonate the drink while keeping the alcohol content low (around 0.5%). Explore online recipes for soda pop or ginger ale that are compatible with EZ Caps.
Yes, you can make soda pop by sweetening your beverage to your preference and fermenting it for just 1-2 days. This short fermentation period will carbonate the drink while keeping the alcohol content low (around 0.5%). Explore online recipes for soda pop or ginger ale that are compatible with EZ Caps.
7. What type of water should I use when preparing juice from concentrate for fermentation?
7. What type of water should I use when preparing juice from concentrate for fermentation?
While tap water is sufficient, filtered water is recommended for better results. Ensure the water and juice mixture is lukewarm to promote fermentation—too hot can kill the yeast, and too cold will slow the process. The quality of your final beverage depends heavily on the quality of its primary ingredient: water.
While tap water is sufficient, filtered water is recommended for better results. Ensure the water and juice mixture is lukewarm to promote fermentation—too hot can kill the yeast, and too cold will slow the process. The quality of your final beverage depends heavily on the quality of its primary ingredient: water.
8. How do I know when fermentation is complete, and can I bottle the beverage for long-term storage?
8. How do I know when fermentation is complete, and can I bottle the beverage for long-term storage?
Fermentation is complete when no more bubbles rise to the surface at room temperature, indicating the yeast has either consumed all the sugar, reached an alcohol content of 16-18% (lethal to yeast), or been halted by other factors like temperature or additives. If bottling, ensure fermentation is fully complete to avoid pressure buildup, which can cause bottles to burst. For long-term storage, bottled EZ Caps beverages can last from one year in poor conditions to several decades in optimal conditions (cool, dark, stable environments).
Fermentation is complete when no more bubbles rise to the surface at room temperature, indicating the yeast has either consumed all the sugar, reached an alcohol content of 16-18% (lethal to yeast), or been halted by other factors like temperature or additives. If bottling, ensure fermentation is fully complete to avoid pressure buildup, which can cause bottles to burst. For long-term storage, bottled EZ Caps beverages can last from one year in poor conditions to several decades in optimal conditions (cool, dark, stable environments).
9. My EZ Cap appears to have a slit or crack, and it’s bulging during fermentation—is this normal?
9. My EZ Cap appears to have a slit or crack, and it’s bulging during fermentation—is this normal?
Yes, this is normal and intentional. The slit in the EZ Cap is a design feature that allows excess carbon dioxide to escape, maintaining safe pressure levels. The bulging indicates the cap is working correctly to regulate pressure during fermentation.
Yes, this is normal and intentional. The slit in the EZ Cap is a design feature that allows excess carbon dioxide to escape, maintaining safe pressure levels. The bulging indicates the cap is working correctly to regulate pressure during fermentation.
10. What should I do if my beverage isn’t fermenting after following the instructions?
10. What should I do if my beverage isn’t fermenting after following the instructions?
If you don’t see signs of fermentation (e.g., bubbles, yeast residue on the surface) after 24 hours, add more yeast, shake the bottle vigorously, and check for preservatives in your juice, which can inhibit fermentation. If there’s still no activity after another 24 hours, contact us with details about your ingredients for further assistance.
If you don’t see signs of fermentation (e.g., bubbles, yeast residue on the surface) after 24 hours, add more yeast, shake the bottle vigorously, and check for preservatives in your juice, which can inhibit fermentation. If there’s still no activity after another 24 hours, contact us with details about your ingredients for further assistance.
11. Can I replace the EZ Cap with a standard bottle cap after fermentation is complete?
11. Can I replace the EZ Cap with a standard bottle cap after fermentation is complete?
Yes, once fermentation is finished and the beverage is refrigerated, you can replace the EZ Cap with a standard bottle cap. This allows you to reuse the EZ Cap for your next batch. For best results, cool the beverage in the refrigerator first to avoid a sudden release of pressure, which can cause overflow.
Yes, once fermentation is finished and the beverage is refrigerated, you can replace the EZ Cap with a standard bottle cap. This allows you to reuse the EZ Cap for your next batch. For best results, cool the beverage in the refrigerator first to avoid a sudden release of pressure, which can cause overflow.
12. When making beer, how do you add carbonation without priming?
12. When making beer, how do you add carbonation without priming?
Unlike traditional brewing methods that require priming for carbonation, EZ Caps maintain carbonation throughout the brewing process. This eliminates the need for a secondary fermentation step, resulting in a naturally carbonated, cask-conditioned beer. This streamlined process also means your beer is ready to enjoy sooner.
Unlike traditional brewing methods that require priming for carbonation, EZ Caps maintain carbonation throughout the brewing process. This eliminates the need for a secondary fermentation step, resulting in a naturally carbonated, cask-conditioned beer. This streamlined process also means your beer is ready to enjoy sooner.
13. Why don’t I need to sterilize equipment like in traditional wine, beer, cider, or mead making?
13. Why don’t I need to sterilize equipment like in traditional wine, beer, cider, or mead making?
With EZ Caps, a regular wash followed by a thorough rinse with tap water is sufficient. The yeast in EZ Caps produces alcohol rapidly, which naturally inhibits the growth of unwanted bacteria or wild yeasts, creating an excellent environment for fermentation. This makes the process more accessible and less labor-intensive than traditional methods.
With EZ Caps, a regular wash followed by a thorough rinse with tap water is sufficient. The yeast in EZ Caps produces alcohol rapidly, which naturally inhibits the growth of unwanted bacteria or wild yeasts, creating an excellent environment for fermentation. This makes the process more accessible and less labor-intensive than traditional methods.
14. Where do I find more recipes?
14. Where do I find more recipes?
Recipes and instructions are included with your kit. There are also many recipes on our retired user forum.
Recipes and instructions are included with your kit. There are also many recipes on our retired user forum.
15. Is it safe to use EZ Caps with glass bottles?
15. Is it safe to use EZ Caps with glass bottles?
NEVER use glass bottles. EZ Caps are only to be used with plastic pop bottles. Most people use them with 2-liter bottles.
NEVER use glass bottles. EZ Caps are only to be used with plastic pop bottles. Most people use them with 2-liter bottles.
16. Do you sell direct to customers?
16. Do you sell direct to customers?
Purchase through eBay or Amazon via the links on our website, and we’ll ship directly to you. We’re considering resuming direct sales on our website in the future. We can create our own product listings on eBay so you'll find better deals there. You’ll enjoy the same shipping speeds on either eBay or Amazon.
Purchase through eBay or Amazon via the links on our website, and we’ll ship directly to you. We’re considering resuming direct sales on our website in the future. We can create our own product listings on eBay so you'll find better deals there. You’ll enjoy the same shipping speeds on either eBay or Amazon.
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