Skeeter Pee Recipe - How to Make This Zesty Lemon Wine at Home

Making Delicious Skeeter Pee at Home

Skeeter pee is a fun lemon wine recipe that results in a sweet, tangy, and refreshing beverage. With just a few simple ingredients, it's easy to make skeeter pee at home.

This guide will cover everything you need to know to brew up the perfect batch of skeeter pee. We'll discuss the basic recipe, required equipment, step-by-step instructions, and tips for customizing this citrusy drink.

What is Skeeter Pee?

Skeeter pee is a type of lemon wine made by fermenting lemon juice with sugar, water, and yeast. It was invented by home winemaker Al Schopp in the 1990s.

Despite its unusual name, skeeter pee is not actually made with mosquitoes! The "skeeter" refers to mosquito, hinting that this light, fruity drink is perfect for sipping on warm evenings outside when mosquitoes are active.

The lemon-lime flavors give it a zesty, tart taste that's very refreshing. Skeeter pee tends to have an ABV (alcohol by volume) around 7-10%.

Skeeter Pee Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients needed to make a one gallon batch of skeeter pee:

• 1 bottle (48 oz) 100% lemon juice - reconstituted is fine
• 12 cups white granulated sugar
• Water to make 1 gallon total volume
• 5-8 tsp. yeast nutrient
• 3 tsp. yeast energizer
• 1 packet wine yeast (like Cote des Blancs or Montrachet)

Optional ingredients you can add for flavor include:

• Limes
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Mangos
• Strawberries

Skeeter Pee Equipment

You'll need some basic homebrewing equipment to make skeeter pee, including:

• Large pot - at least 6 quarts
• Fermentation bucket with lid and airlock
• Long spoon for stirring
• Hydrometer and test jar
• Wine bottles, corks, and corker
• Cheesecloth
• Funnel

If you want to carbonate your skeeter pee, you'll also need:

• Bottling bucket
• Siphon setup
• Priming sugar

How to Make Skeeter Pee Step-by-Step

Follow these steps for making a standard one gallon batch of skeeter pee:

Step 1: Sanitize Equipment

Before brewing, thoroughly clean and sanitize your fermenting bucket, spoon, test jar, and any other equipment that will touch the skeeter pee. This prevents unwanted bacteria or wild yeast from contaminating your brew.

Step 2: Boil Sugar Water

Bring about 2 gallons of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the 12 cups of white sugar and stir to dissolve completely. Let this simple sugar syrup cool to room temperature.

Step 3: Add Lemon Juice and Nutrients

Pour the cooled sugar water into your sanitized fermenter. Add the full bottle of lemon juice and the recommended amounts of yeast energizer and yeast nutrient. Top up with water to make 1 gallon total volume.

Step 4: Check Specific Gravity

Use your hydrometer to take an initial specific gravity reading. The target starting gravity is around 1.070 to 1.080 for a standard skeeter pee.

Step 5: Pitch the Yeast

Sprinkle the wine yeast packet into the skeeter pee. Attach the lid and airlock. Allow the yeast to start fermenting at room temperature.

Step 6: Ferment

Ferment the skeeter pee for 2-4 weeks until the specific gravity drops to around 1.000 or lower, indicating the fermentation is complete. You may see bubbling activity in the airlock within 24 hours.

Step 7: Rack and Degas

Once fermented, siphon the skeeter pee into a sanitized secondary vessel, leaving sediment behind. Let it sit for another 1-2 weeks to allow any remaining yeast and CO2 to settle out.

Step 8: Backsweeten if Desired

Taste the skeeter pee. If desired, add more sugar syrup to sweeten it to your preferred level of sweetness.

Step 9: Bottle

Siphon into sanitized bottles, leaving any sediment behind. Cork or cap the bottles. Allow them to condition for 1-2 weeks before chilling and enjoying.

Skeeter Pee Tips and Tricks

Here are some helpful tips for getting the most out of your skeeter pee brew:

Try a "Slurry"

For a faster start to fermentation, make a yeast slurry by mixing the dry wine yeast with a bit of must. Let stand 15 minutes before adding to the whole batch.

Consider Nutrient Additions

The lemon juice lacks natural nutrients, so be sure to add enough yeast energizer and nutrient to avoid potential issues.

Don't Stress Over pH

No need to adjust the pH - the yeast will lower it naturally. Starting in the 5-7 range is fine.

Control Fermentation Temps

Try to keep the skeeter pee around 70F while the yeast is actively fermenting for best results.

Prevent Blown Corks

Use champagne bottles and corks when bottle conditioning sparkling skeeter pee. The stronger bottles help prevent blown corks from high CO2.

Consider Fruit Juice

For a flavor twist, replace up to 20% of the lemon juice with other fruit juices like lime, mango, pineapple, or orange.

Backsweeten to Taste

The amount of backsweetening sugar needed will depend on your acid tolerance and sweet tooth.

Give it Time

Be patient - skeeter pee gets smoother and develops more complexity with some aging time after bottling.

Flavor Variations

One of the great things about skeeter pee is all the different ways you can customize the flavors:

Lemon-Lime Skeeter Pee

For a more limey, citrus flavor, replace a quarter to a half of the lemon juice with lime juice.

Pineapple Skeeter Pee

Substitute up to 20% of the lemon juice with pineapple juice for a tropical twist.

Orange Skeeter Pee

Swap about 16 oz of the lemon juice with orange juice and add some zest for a Tangy orange skeeter pee.

Mango Skeeter Pee

Mango enhances the tropical fruit flavors. Puree fresh or frozen mangos to add.

Strawberry Skeeter Pee

For a pink, fruity skeeter pee, replace up to 20% of lemon juice with an equal amount of strawberry puree.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.