First Post - First Cider

jacob1484 · 12-15-2009, 02:34 PM

well, first time brewing anything actually.

My first try is using a 2gal food grade plastic bucket and airlock from midwest supplies. I bought a hydrometer too, but I'm a dunce and didn't think to buy a cylinder to test in so I didn't bother taking an OG reading.

I went with approx. 1.5 gallons musselmans 100% apple cider
1 pound brown sugar
white labs sweet mead/cider yeast

I only used slightly less than half the tube of yeast since I was making under 2 gallons. I assume it will keep fine in the frig after its been opened?

hopefully it turns out ok. I'm not really sure how long it will take so I suppose I'll just be waiting for bubbles to stop and check it then.

Looks like there are a ton of knowledgeable guys (and gals?) on here. Glad I found this place.

**JonK331** · 12-15-2009, 06:36 PM

I would most defineately pitch the rest of the yeast. One pound of brown sugar added to 1.5 gallons of juice will give you a high original gravity, which requires more yeast. if i dared take a stab at guessing your og I would say it's around 1.080. Are you going to bottle it? What temp are you fermenting at?

DaveAllen · 12-15-2009, 06:39 PM

Regarding your hydrometer, I just use the tube it came in as a test vessel, no need for a graduated cylinder. I just make sure that I sterilize it like everything else.

jacob1484 · 12-15-2009, 06:59 PM

@JonK331 - Thanks, I'll take the rest of the yeast out of the frig when I get home tonight for a couple hours and pitch it as well. I hadn't actually intended to put that much sugar in but half a bottle of wine and butter fingers resulted in a bit more coming out of the bag haha. I am planning on racking it off into a couple 1Gal jugs and putting it in the frig. I'm fermenting between 68 - 75 F.

@DaveAllen - I thought about that but the tube mine came in has removable caps on both ends and wouldn't hold water. thanks tho.

DaveAllen · 12-15-2009, 07:10 PM

Jacob, mine has removable caps, too. They hold fluid long enough to float a hydrometer.

Lunarpancake · 12-15-2009, 07:23 PM

yeah use the tube it came in. Tape up one end if you need to. Way cheaper than buying a cylinder......also, no need to steralize the container or the hydrometer if you drink the stuff after!

jacob1484 · 12-15-2009, 07:58 PM

hmm, I do have some 100% silicon caulk... safe for fish tanks, should be ok for sealing up a tube too... I'll give it a shot when I get home.

jacob1484 · 12-16-2009, 03:12 AM

So, I took a reading about 20 hours after pitching the first half of the yeast and it was sitting around 1.070 corrected for temp (approximate - subject to jack n coke style rounding errors

).
There were a few tiny bubbles in the must but it didnt look super active.
I pitched the rest of the yeast and hope to have something more substantial happening by tomorrow evening. I'm not sure what kind of activity to expect with this particular yeast (or any yeast really, aside from what I've read on the interwebs); has anyone used it before?
Am I going the right direction here?

I've already ordered some red star montrachet and lalvin ec-1118 champagne to try for the next attempt. tips?

sorry for the ton of noob questions and uncertainty