Used Camden's, Got Contamination

ski36t · 01-29-2007, 01:53 AM

My first batch of cider, to my disappointment, has turned out a flop. So I am here now trying to figure out what went wrong.

I squeezed my own apples and used camden's tablets. I crushed 5 tablets and put them in a little more than 5 gallons of cider. I waited overnight (about 12 hours), stirred and then added my yeast. Even after the primary fermentation, I could tell it was bad but I did a secondary because it was my first time and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. This is my first contamination with anything I have done.

Should I have waited longer for the tablets to do their thing?

Also, I was trying to find a cheaper way to make this cider. I saw someone else in another post say that his whole batch cost him about 15 bucks. The only apple cider that I can find that has no preservatives and no added sugar is at the famer's market and costs over $10 a gallon. Any ideas of a brand or something place else to look would be much appreciated.

**Pumbaa** · 01-29-2007, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski36t

My first batch of cider, to my disappointment, has turned out a flop. So I am here now trying to figure out what went wrong.

I squeezed my own apples and used camden's tablets. I crushed 5 tablets and put them in a little more than 5 gallons of cider. I waited overnight (about 12 hours), stirred and then added my yeast. Even after the primary fermentation, I could tell it was bad but I did a secondary because it was my first time and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. This is my first contamination with anything I have done.

Should I have waited longer for the tablets to do their thing?

Also, I was trying to find a cheaper way to make this cider. I saw someone else in another post say that his whole batch cost him about 15 bucks. The only apple cider that I can find that has no preservatives and no added sugar is at the famer's market and costs over $10 a gallon. Any ideas of a brand or something place else to look would be much appreciated.

What made ya think it was contaminated? I hope it wasnt the smell because mine can smell like rotten ass sometimes before it's done.

As for doing a batch of cider for $15 you have to keep an eye out on sales for the juice/cider. A lot of times I get my cider juice on 10 for 10 sales, 10 half gallon jugs for $10

Caplan · 01-29-2007, 08:17 AM

ski36t - As Pumbaa said cider can be a little 'strange smelling' when fermenting. Give us more clues as to why you think it's contaminated, It may not be.

Apple juice/cider prices seem to have gone through the roof in the UK this year.

This time last year I was buying cheap apple juice at £7.35 for 5.5 US Gal. This year it's £12.40 for exactly the same brand.

I managed to buy a better quality juice for my last cider at £16.60 for 5.5 US Gal.

zoebisch01 · 01-29-2007, 12:37 PM

Crazy. You know, my cider smelled of sulphur and not all that nice when I fermented it using an Ale yeast. I have a local press, $10 minimum up to 10 gallons. I had about 2 bu of my own apples, but had to buy some 'seconds' from a farm to get me enough. He charges I think it is around $.80 /gal over 10 gal or something like that. Either way that is fairly cheap. Two suggestions if you want the real inexpensive route. Number one, try to find a press that will press your apples for a fee. Two, if you don't have apples growing, drive around rural areas in harvest season. There are usually tons of abandoned trees or even folks who just have them growing but don't care about the fruit. In fact you may be doing them a favor by 'cleaning up' all those apples which eventually become windfall anyway. Sure, they are not 'cider' apples but I found regular eating types can make a nice cider. A quick knock on the door for permission and most folks will give you a cheerful "ok".

ski36t · 01-29-2007, 01:24 PM

I am pretty sure it has turned to vinegar. It is hard to describe the smell, but it smells very yeasty and has a sharpness that kind of makes your head spin if you get too big a wiff of it. The taste is repugnant, you want to spit it out immediately. Every once and a while I would get a glipse (with my nose) of something that smelled sweet and applely, but then I would go smell everything and get that awlful smell again.

I bottled 24 bottles just in case something miraculous happens and dumped the rest down the sink. I did a secondary and tertiary round that lasted about 3 weeks total and during that time I don't think anything improved..

**Hopfan** · 01-29-2007, 01:52 PM

Where are you located? If you have an orchard or, even better, an amish farm nearby, you can pick up fresh cider cheap. I made mine with 5 gallons of cider, $2.00/gallon.

fatboy570 · 02-05-2007, 11:30 PM

$2.00 a gallon is a good price. I pay 4 bucks here in southwest MO at my local orchard

**Hopfan** · 02-05-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatboy570

$2.00 a gallon is a good price. I pay 4 bucks here in southwest MO at my local orchard

You can't beat the prices at the local Amish farms when supply is high.

britishbloke · 02-06-2007, 12:56 PM

For organic cider from the farm,

5 buck per gallon, minimum here in Madison Wisconsin........

Makes for some killer cider though... So much more tastier!

Mikey · 02-06-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski36t

I am pretty sure it has turned to vinegar. It is hard to describe the smell, but it smells very yeasty and has a sharpness that kind of makes your head spin if you get too big a wiff of it. The taste is repugnant, you want to spit it out immediately. Every once and a while I would get a glipse (with my nose) of something that smelled sweet and applely, but then I would go smell everything and get that awlful smell again.

Sounds like typical young cider to me. I wouldn't touchg any cider under 6 months old for those reasons.