Posted: 6/24/2024 8:06:21 AM EDT
[Last Edit: 1Andy2][Edited]
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Batch 1 is my homegrown Anna and Dorsett Goldens Attached File 20 lbs of apples made about 5.5 qts. Added 2 qts of HEB apple juice to fill out the 2 gallon container. SG was 1.048 Juiced and pitched pectic enzyme and campden tablets. Then after 24 hours transferred over to eliminate most solids. Pitched cider house select yeast. Attached File FG .998, added 55gr sugar 170gr xylitol. Batch 2, Cosmic Crisp! HEB had it on sale for 98cents a pound 30 pounds of cosmic crisp plus the last few stragglers off my trees. Attached File I let these "sweat" a couple of weeks until they just started to barely get soft. Attached File SG of the apples was 1.056 Added 2 qts HEB Apple juice and 1.4 qts of Cherry juice to fill out 3 gallon carboy. Overall SG 1.054 Pitched Safcider Ab1 |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale
| Why add anything to the apple "squeezings? When I was a kid(back inna day) we collected,washed,cut out the bad spots and ran em.thru the grinder/press. Added nothing and enjoyed the cider untill it turned to vinegar. (there was a short time it was hard cider). Just curious. |
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Originally Posted By LittleAugieMo: Why add anything to the apple "squeezings? When I was a kid(back inna day) we collected,washed,cut out the bad spots and ran em.thru the grinder/press. Added nothing and enjoyed the cider untill it turned to vinegar. (there was a short time it was hard cider). Just curious. Pectic enzyme makes alot of the pectin precipitate out. Leaves it alot clearer at the end. Campden tab at the start for 24 hours nukes any pre-existing bacteria. Not strictly necessary but I think it gives your chosen yeast strain a better chance starting from a clean slate. FYI, the cider was turning to vinegar because of air exposure after fermenting. Acetobacter (naturally occurring) turns ethanol and oxygen into vinegar. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale
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Originally Posted By raygixxer89: That is going to be good! Apples can frow in Texas? I had a apple tree but it died. Same with my pear trees, after my neighbor bought one and planted it, it developed a disease that killed all three of them.  Yes! Certain varieties do better than others. I have a long thread about my experimental orchard in the homestead forum. Look into Williams Pride. Supposed to be very disease resistant. I actually picked the Annas a little green because they were starting to develop scab spots. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale
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Originally Posted By 1Andy2: Yes! Certain varieties do better than others. I have a long thread about my experimental orchard in the homestead forum. Look into Williams Pride. Supposed to be very disease resistant. I actually picked the Annas a little green because they were starting to develop scab spots. Thanks, good to know. I'll look into getting some. |
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I have a small orchard on my property that we maintain. About ten old growth apple trees. Every fall we have family up and we harvest the trees and have a Mennonite farmer with a huge press make our cider. He's got a full set up, all hydraulic. We just bring milk jug containers and our zillion apples in boxes. Takes him an hour or two and we get between 50-75 gallons that we sell, keeping about ten for the family. Dang if it's not the best stuff ever. Nothing added and it so sweet. Love me some apple cider! |
Dont call it a comeback, Been here for years.
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Originally Posted By Redoubt99: I have a small orchard on my property that we maintain. About ten old growth apple trees. Every fall we have family up and we harvest the trees and have a Mennonite farmer with a huge press make our cider. He's got a full set up, all hydraulic. We just bring milk jug containers and our zillion apples in boxes. Takes him an hour or two and we get between 50-75 gallons that we sell, keeping about ten for the family. Dang if it's not the best stuff ever. Nothing added and it so sweet. Love me some apple cider! That's awesome. Man, you're getting alot of apples! And yeah, fresh pressed apple juice is night and day different to store bought, to me. Do you happen to know what variety apples they are? Would love to see some pictures if you don't mind. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale
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Well, one bottle exploded. Might have overprimed them a hair.... Tried one...it's good. Somewhat tart and sweet. Anna apple flavor coming through more than the golden. |
Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. - Adm James Stockdale