Firehawk69

Recipes 

Greetings my friends and brew enthusiasts!

I have an itch to get some cider brewing and I wanted to make one that was a deep rich dark red, kind of make a vampire type drink. I was thinking blood orange to make an adult version of the Tru Blood soda made popular by the HBO show True Blood. What I need to know for sure is how much blood orange pulp to use in the batch. Please help!

Thanks!

outstretched

Recipes 

Ever thought of using food grade dye? I think that would predictably hold the color a lot better than using blood orange. You can still use blood orange if you'd like but I'd suggest dye for a colored cider.

Pickled_Pepper

Recipes 

Red dye would certainly be the most economical method, but I personally wouldn't want food coloring in my cider. (that's just me) How about cherry or cranberry concentrates?

dinnerstick

Recipes 

orange in cider? bleh, doesn't sound very appealing... cherry, cranberry, raspberry, black currant, blackberry, kitten blood, etc., sure but orange? not for me

Firehawk69

Recipes 

I never thought about using food grade dyes. I will definitely keep that in mind. As far as using other fruits, Blackberry might have just jumped to the top of the list, instead of blood orange. I tried a cranberry cider before and it didnt really get any red in color at all. Thanks for the advice!

UpstateMike

Recipes 

From experience, Blackberry is going to generate a purple-red color. But it tastes awesome!

Cider With Blackberries

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"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." ~ 1 Timothy 5:23

Currently Fermenting:
Nothing

Bottle Conditioning:
Citron Cider
Blackberry Cider
The Five Eight Five

In Bottles / Drinking:
Cranberry Cider

kaconga

Recipes 

Blood orange tastes much more like raspberry than a Valencia or navel though. It's a truly unique flavor.

galttfwo

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There is a coloring made from beets that is very blood red . I think Shmaltz brewing used it for their Halloween Freaktoberfest beer.

dinnerstick

Recipes 

i know what you mean, i absolutely love blood oranges! top four favorite fruit, but i still don't see them working in cider, something about orange juice fermenting out to taste like prison hooch, anyways if you prove me wrong post results!

i like the beets idea, a little goes a long way

Firehawk69

Recipes 

I will definitely keep the beets idea in mind and soon I will find out if the blood oranges are more than just a crazy dream cider for me. Thanks again for all the advice and brew on!