Started a Hard Limeade last night. As this is my 2nd attempt, only made a 1 1/2 gallon batch this time. Thanks to Yooper for the hard lemonade recipe this is based on:
1. Thaw limeade cans in pot with hot tap water.
2. Boil 2 pints water and slowly pour in 3 cups of sugar. Stir until dissolved. Take off heat.
3. Empty thawed limeade into clean primary. Rinse cans with bottled water and pour into primary. Keep adding water to 1 gallon mark. Stir.
4. Add water/dissolved sugar mix. Stir. Add water to 1 1/2 gallon mark. Stir, stir, stir... Check temperature.
5. Take hydrometer reading. (my SG was 1.072)
6. Add nutrient, stir. Add energizer, stir, stir, stir.
7. Add yeast. I just pitched right on top. (I didn't have a problem getting it going last time.) Covered over with lightweight dish towel.
This morning: Bubbling away happily!
NOTES:
The last batch I made tasted more like lime wine - just not good! I carbed it with corn sugar and while it took awhile, darn it carbed well! The last batch also had extra light DME and I back flavored with several packets of True Lime. This recipe is a lot more basic so I figured I'd start here and tweak... I only made this small batch because I ended up dumping the other one (6 gallons!) even after individually sweetening bottles,adding flavorings, etc. - it was just gross!
So my current plan:
Let ferment in primary until "head drops" and then rack to 1 gallon jug with airlock. Let sit until FG reached (going for 1.000 or under). Rack 1/2 to primary:
One batch: Backsweeten with about 1/4-1/2 can of limeade. Add sugar, if needed. Bottle to beer bottles and cap. After 2 weeks, check for carbonation.
Other batch: Stabilize with k-meta and pot sorb. Backsweeten with limeade and raspberry beer flavoring - 1/4-1/2 can limeade and maybe 1 TBSP rasp flavoring (will flavor to taste). Bottle in 1/2 gallon jug and refrigerate.
My husband and his cousin go through a lot of Mike's Hard Limeade (lovingly called "Greenies") during the summer up the lake. Your input, suggestions, etc would be greatly appreciated. I'll let you know how the batches turn out...
Came out pretty good! After looking over above directions, I don't know what possessed me to also add carb drops to bottles, too!!?? Anyway, carb tabs were not needed and 6 bottles were gushers - but, they tasted good!!
Other half with raspberry was delish! First you taste lime and then after taste is an unexpected raspberry. Next batch will be 5 gallons and 1/2 with raspberry, all carbonated!
What temp are you fermenting this hard lemonade at, and do you need the potasium sorbate?
As we discussed in a PM, around 70 degrees - no less than 68 degrees. The potassium sorbate was used in conjuction with the potassium meta to stabilize for a non-carbonated version. (I did 6 bottles carbed and the rest "still".) If you want to carb your batch, don't use it!
I fermented some lemonade with only a bit of yeast nutrient, and I just tossed the dry yeast in. It was a slower ferment than normal, but it went fine.
Could you instead use 2 pounds of DME and 1 pound of corn sugar to get a more malty flavor?
I tried with malt and I personally did not care for the flavor...so much so that I dumped the batch! Try making a one gallon batch and you be the judge!
So I used the original, recipe and directions and it tastes terrible.
I did two batches 5 gallons each in igloo water containers.
Batch one
5 gallons water
10 cans frozen minute maid concentrate
2 lbs sugar
1 packet champagne yeast
Batch two
5 gallons water
enough powder lemonade for the 5 gallons
2 lbs sugar
1 packet champagne yeast
I activated the yeast according to the directions on the packets and then added them directly to the lemonade, didnt have a problem starting they started to bubble and foam within the day. I let them both completely ferment out (took about 3 weeks) had to stir and add nutrient a couple times. I covered them with just some towels. In the end they both taste pretty bad, the powder concentrate is actually the better tasting one(actually had somewhat of a lemon taste to it) the other didnt even resemble lemonade. I have no idea what went wrong, any suggestions would be welcom.
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