ot - hard cider

[gregod]

this is my first time making hard cider. Does any body have any tips?

 

[Henry Colf]

Don't add Kenya Trees they make it taste funny...........

 

[TimmyNY]

there are as many ways to make it as there are people who make it. LOL

I know some to put raisins in or brown sugar. some even add a bit of burbon. My dad use to just put an airlock on the barrel and let it go. It tasted a bit rough but by the 2nd or 3rd glass it didnt matter anymore :spin2: :spin2: :spin2:

Tim

 

[gregod]

after picking up a wine making kit, I started it last week with 6 gallons of cider, 7lbs of honey, a package of yeast and some addatives.

after sitting for a week with the airlock bubbling away, here it is

now into the carboy, and just wait

 

[gregod]

I left the kenya trees out, thanks for the tip Henry

 

[captain7359]

What did you use for sanitizer? anything that sits for long periods clarifying will be more susceptible to any foreign bacteria so make sure you keep everything clean and sanitized when you are transferring/testing.

We'll be doing ours in a few weeks. Are you going to bottle it or just rejug it?

 

[Srixon]

Where did you get the Yeast and other chems?

 

[gregod]

for the equipment I used a sanitizer that I picked up from the brewing store. It's LD Carlson easy clean no rinse cleanser.

I put campden tablets in the cider and let it sit for 24hrs before adding the yeast.

I plan on transfering it into 1/2 gallon jugs when it's ready. I'm not really sure when that is supposed to be.

 

[gregod]

I picked everything except the cider and honey at Niagara Traditions Home Brew in Tonawanda

 

[Srixon]

cool....little far for me but then again I should of look at your location....lol

 

[captain7359]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15729063#post15729063 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Srixon
Where did you get the Yeast and other chems?

Don, Beers of the world and Sunset hydroponics have supplies along with this guy that you can arrange pickup with in Henrietta.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/The-Bruhaus-Brewing-And-Wine-Supply__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Northerbrewer.com has tons of stuff and reasonable shipping as well.

 

[JBrown]

sanitize,sanitize,sanitize, I cannot stress that enough

 

[Twinpanther]

Mayers Cider mill has everything here in Webster as well. Shortly they will have some unpasturized cider for sale to those making Hard Cider as well as unpasteurized grape juice for the winemakers as well.

I made some a couple years ago and used Champaign yeast thinking I wanted my first batch to have a "kick". Well, it does, lol. We use it as a mixer now, hehe.

 

[JBrown]

you did use unpasteurized cider correct?

 

[gregod]

I used cider that was UV pasturized, I was told that it was illegal to sell unpasturized cider. Now that I know there are a few places to pick up unpasturized cider I may try a new batch in a few weeks.

If you use unpasturized cider do you still put in campden tablets?

 

[Piazzon12]

three batches going now... although I never used honey..check out the cider forum at homebrewtalk.com

 

[gregod]

the guy at the homebrew store said that we could use brown sugar or honey or a mixture. I figured I will start with straight honey and change it up a little next time and see what I like. He also said that you get different tastes depending on what type of honey you use, wildflower, clover etc

 

[Piazzon12]

7 pounds of honey is going to make for some potent cider... did you take the original gravity? did you use a wine/champagne yeast? I dont think normal beer yeasts will be able to handle that alcohol content towards the middle/end of fermentation

 

[gregod]

I used champagne yeast. I forgot to take the original sg so I'm probably going to have to determine the alchol content by how fast it gets me drunk.

 

[GMaquarium]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15729139#post15729139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by captain7359
Don, Beers of the world and Sunset hydroponics have supplies along with this guy that you can arrange pickup with in Henrietta.

+1 on beers of the world. Was just there a few days ago, they had all brewing supplies. My father makes pretty good wine, I will have to get him to make me a batch of cider.