Recent content by HopsyTurvy

thanks, i'll look up on that old blurb. I wish i had been able to get an OG. There has to be some method out there for finding out how much alcohol is in a substance. I can't be the only person that has run into this dilemma... hopefully

Haha, while that would be quite an enjoyable method I was hoping for something slightly more accurate. Im worried im just outta luck.

Ya... I don't have the ability to obtain another sample of the base pear juice. It came from pears I juiced myself and the pears came from a couple pear trees in my back yard. I used all the pears on the trees the first time around... so obtaining another sample of base juice ins't really...

Ok so... I know in order to calculate your ABV you need your OG and your final gravity and the temp at which you are taking the SG measurements. I have some pear cider fermenting and the SG is down to 1.02, it's slowed , but im hoping it comes down just a lil more. However, I was unable to...

This is good advice, using non-fermentables to top off gets you the volume you need to minimize oxygen contact as much as possible, gives you an opportunity to blend in some other flavors if you're feeling adventurous, and allows you to avoid restarting your fermentation.

My understanding is that if you leave to much space in the head of your carboy after racking off your primary fermenter then the oxygen that is in that space can cause oxidation and subsequently off flavors in your cider. Because of the fact that you want to avoid oxygen I think is the reason...

You are gonna have the most unique cider ever. I hope it is only good and doesn't turn out mind-blowingly awesome cuz you'll have a hell of a time trying to replicate it, haha.

I ended up using campden tablets. If you put the yeast you intend on using in at the same time as the ground up campden tablets you would kill your yeast and be left with a bucket of pear juice sitting in your closet becoming nothing more then pear juice for months. I went ahead and used the ale...

I have considered going the campden tablet route. I think this is what I will probably end up doing. I'm just a bit torn on using campden cuz I was reading in the biggest sticky on the cider forum that he experienced a taste change with campden tablets vs without. Is there any other way to rid...

I also have have a bunch of pears (maybe 30-40 lbs) this year that I picked exactly a week ago. They have been sitting at room temp since to soften, however, they are still quite hard and I think I might let them sit for a bit longer. By the way, our best guess is that they are comice pears...