I'd like to make some cider

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I'd like to make some cider

Posted: 2/1/2017 11:19:34 PM EDT

Can I do this with essentially a bucket, airlock, yeast, and some apple juice?

Posted: 2/2/2017 7:05:04 PM EDT

[#1]

Simple answer, yes.

However, if you watch one or two videos on youtube, you'll be better advised. Search "making hard cider."

Posted: 2/10/2017 6:06:57 PM EDT

[#2]

5 gals of tree top apple juice 100% (sometimes Motts if the store is out of tree top)
10 LBS table sugar (wal mart brand cheap stuff)
1 packet Lalvin EC-1118 yeast
1 tablespoon yeast nutrient (wyeast beer nutrient blend)

No rocket science here, just dump everything in the carboy and let the champagne yeast do it's thing.Primary till all bubbling of the air lock stops then wait a week.After the week is up rack to 2ndary (optional)
I used "super-kleer K.C."{kieselsol-chitosan} in 2ndary (optional) to clear the cider and the stuff is amazing.Cold crash in the freezer for an hour and bottle.

Do not attempt to drive,operate heavy machinery,or anything requiring coordination or basic motor skills after drinking this.

Cheers.

Posted: 3/8/2017 1:44:37 AM EDT

[#3]

Alright, here's what I did.

5 gals of Tree Top Honeycrisp Cider
4 lbs of brown sugar
10 oz of molasses
Mangrove Jack M02 Cider yeast

Initial gravity was 1.085, which was on 2/23 and today the SG is 1.005, if I'm reading it correctly. Damn bubbles kept lifting it out of the fermenter.

I'm going to let it go till the fermentation stops, and then let it sit for the yeast to drop out. That yeast is supposed to live up till about 10-11% alcohol, and it's right there currently, but fermentation is showing no signs of slowing down.

I don't think this is going to need to mellow, and I believe that yeast might be responsible for that.

ETA: Goddamn, 10 lbs of sugar? What's your SG? 1.2?

Posted: 3/19/2017 5:13:25 PM EDT

[#4]

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Quoted:

ETA: Goddamn, 10 lbs of sugar? What's your SG? 1.2?

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IDK what the sugar content of his juice was. But 10lbs of sugar in 5 gallons of water has a SG of 1.092 and should yield 14.1% abv.

Posted: 3/19/2017 5:16:07 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
IDK what the sugar content of his juice was. But 10lbs of sugar in 5 gallons of water has a SG of 1.092 and should yield 14.1% abv.

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Quoted:

Quoted:

ETA: Goddamn, 10 lbs of sugar? What's your SG? 1.2?

IDK what the sugar content of his juice was. But 10lbs of sugar in 5 gallons of water has a SG of 1.092 and should yield 14.1% abv.

My juice was 1.052.

Posted: 3/23/2017 1:54:42 PM EDT

[#6]

I'm no pro in making ciders, but I'd recommend a dry wine yeast or another yeast recommended for ciders.

I used Nottingham yeast once (better for beers), thinking it would impart a sweeter flavor, but instead got a bread flavored cider. Not so good.

Posted: 3/23/2017 10:47:25 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'm no pro in making ciders, but I'd recommend a dry wine yeast or another yeast recommended for ciders.

I used Nottingham yeast once (better for beers), thinking it would impart a sweeter flavor, but instead got a bread flavored cider. Not so good.

View Quote

That Mangrove Jack cider yeast I used is impressive.

Posted: 3/24/2017 11:01:05 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
That Mangrove Jack cider yeast I used is impressive.

View Quote

That was my only foray into ciders, as it didn't work out well. Maybe I will try it again with a better yeast, like the one you mention.

Cider is the only thing I've failed at so far. I've made some great beers and wines over the years but now I focus on meads mainly. I've really been enjoying the "low maintenance brewing" that meads offer. Just set it and forget it, basically.

Posted: 3/24/2017 11:12:13 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
That was my only foray into ciders, as it didn't work out well. Maybe I will try it again with a better yeast, like the one you mention.

Cider is the only thing I've failed at so far. I've made some great beers and wines over the years but now I focus on meads mainly. I've really been enjoying the "low maintenance brewing" that meads offer. Just set it and forget it, basically.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
That Mangrove Jack cider yeast I used is impressive.

That was my only foray into ciders, as it didn't work out well. Maybe I will try it again with a better yeast, like the one you mention.

Cider is the only thing I've failed at so far. I've made some great beers and wines over the years but now I focus on meads mainly. I've really been enjoying the "low maintenance brewing" that meads offer. Just set it and forget it, basically.

Cider is the same way, except it's ready faster.

Champagne yeasts burn through the wort really fast and destroy a lot of the flavor profiles. At least that's what my research indicates. I'm not sure why the ale yeast gave such a bready taste, though.

Posted: 4/18/2017 5:17:40 PM EDT

[#10]

I've got a two gallon batch with Lalvin KI-V1116 fermenting now. I think I'll need to age this like a wine before it's palatable.

Also have a 1 gallon batch using Fermentis SC-22, for comparison purposes.

Posted: 4/21/2017 1:33:33 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'm no pro in making ciders, but I'd recommend a dry wine yeast or another yeast recommended for ciders.

I used Nottingham yeast once (better for beers), thinking it would impart a sweeter flavor, but instead got a bread flavored cider. Not so good.

View Quote

I did that my first time
WAY to dry

I use Wyeast 1056 american ale now.
Makes a good cider

Posted: 4/22/2017 5:32:42 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
I did that my first time
WAY to dry

I use Wyeast 1056 american ale now.
Makes a good cider

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I'm no pro in making ciders, but I'd recommend a dry wine yeast or another yeast recommended for ciders.

I used Nottingham yeast once (better for beers), thinking it would impart a sweeter flavor, but instead got a bread flavored cider. Not so good.

I did that my first time
WAY to dry

I use Wyeast 1056 american ale now.
Makes a good cider

I'll be trying that this year. I'm not impressed with Nottingham or Safale S-04.

Posted: 4/22/2017 9:57:53 AM EDT

[#13]

The longer this stuff sits, the better it gets.

I racked the second batch off the yeast when primary fermentation stopped and it's just gotten better and better.

I'm getting a process dialed in, I hope.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I'd like to make some cider

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