Looking to try Apfelwein

**Yunus** · 11-29-2008, 02:24 AM

Yeah I know its so easy to make, I've tried Twice! So either one of two things is happening. 1. I keep infecting or ruining my batches somehow. I let one sit for 3 months so I don't think its time. or 2. I don't like Apfelwein. But I have read so much about it I want to try it from someone who has a known good batch.

But I have a good Maple Wheat Ale on tap that I can bottle a couple of in trade for a couple good bottles of Apfelwein. If you can wait a few weeks I have a Stone IPA clone in the keg but its still to young and an Alaskan Amber clone in the keg that is way to young. Also a hefeweizen that was either infected or just needs to age but got some off flavors in it because I let the fermentation temperature fluctuate (love controller is only as good as the person operating it). So if your willing to part with a couple bottles of Apfelwein to let someone else taste its goodness I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Kauai_Kahuna · 11-29-2008, 02:42 AM

Where are located? Shipping cost is a factor to be considered for trades.
Sit for 3 months? - Mine is conditioning for 4 months, and I'm not even thinking of tasting it for at least another 4 months. I just moved the ageing keg into my keggerator to crash cool it for bottling. I'm hoping to start a second batch in the next couple of weeks. Got to fill that pipeline.

**Yunus** · 11-29-2008, 02:47 AM

located in Frederick, MD about 45 minutes from DC and Baltimore. Well if it does take that long then I guess I wanna try it to see if its worth the wait and the space in a carboy

**Yunus** · 12-10-2008, 01:36 AM

The stone clone turned out quite well. It may not be Stone quality but its a good IPA IMO. I'm now offering the Maple wheat ale which I have gotten quite a few good comments on, as well as some IPA, and some Dark lager, and some Alaskan Amber(havent tried yet but it smells very good, forcing carbing started today)

So thats 4 bottles of quite drinkable beer and I'm asking in exchange 2 bottles of quality apfelwein. I can double up on all but the maple wheat (it's running low) so thats 7 bottles for 2. Someones gotta take me up on this.

**conpewter** · 12-10-2008, 01:44 AM

I would but gave away all my bottles of apfelwein already, I have another batch going but just started it a couple days ago

/ Otherwise I'd definitely take you up on it.

pen25 · 12-10-2008, 02:14 AM

well try this.

take a 1 gallon bottle of apple juice.
sanitize the bottle.
open the bottle and pour half the bottle into a second sanitized container. add 1/2 lb of dextrose
shake vigerously
add as much as you can of the apple juice back in leaving about an inch head space
add the yeast
using a carboy cap that fits over the top add the airlock. ill post pics in a few
this is a pic of an exp batch of 50/50 mixed berry / apple juice mix

**bigjohnmilford** · 12-10-2008, 12:03 PM

From the source himself Ed say's it's at it's best @ 8 months.

farmbrewernw · 12-10-2008, 02:52 PM

I'm thinking it's kind of hard to screw up on making Apfelwein maybe you should just age it longer. Also not everyone likes the taste Apfelwein, it's good but I find myself drinking less and less of it over time, my last batch took me and my wife 6 months to drink after aging it for 6 months and that was with using it for brining a turkey and other various cooking. I have had a lot of people tell me it tastes sort of like a white wine and if your not a wine drinker you may not like Apfelwein. I'm finding that I like my alcohol lower and my attenuation low so I get more what I would consider Irish Hard Cider, so I use ale yeast and DME apposed to corn sugar and champagne yeast but then your not making Apfelwein.

Jonnio · 12-12-2008, 07:03 PM

Yunus - let me double check the date, but I have some force carb'd apfelwein I can put in bottles that I am pretty sure is about 8 months old. If you haven't found anyone to send some by late next week (the soonest I could even consider getting some mailed out) I can send a couple bottles out to you.

**IrregularPulse** · 12-12-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pen25

well try this.

take a 1 gallon bottle of apple juice.
sanitize the bottle.
open the bottle and pour half the bottle into a second sanitized container. add 1/2 lb of dextrose
shake vigerously
add as much as you can of the apple juice back in leaving about an inch head space
add the yeast
using a carboy cap that fits over the top add the airlock. ill post pics in a few
this is a pic of an exp batch of 50/50 mixed berry / apple juice mix

How'd you like this? I did a similar mixed berry exp. with probably 2/3 apple to mixed berry. Just transferred to a keg last night. Drinking the hydro sample it really tasted no different from the first reg batch I remember. I had also used a mix of corn sugar and brown sugar. Also used nottingham yeast....hmm lots of changes but no real flavor change yet. maybe it'll come out. I could definitely smell the berry in the AlePail when cleaning it. This will now be my permenant Apfelwein fermenter.