Search results

Hey folks, I brought home my cider in gallon jugs last year, but had to settle for UV-treated juice as a result. For this year, I've found a local cider mill that's willing to just fill my carboy directly from their press (straight juice, no treatment). Going this route though, I'm not sure...

Came out to slightly under 1.000. I couldn't tell exactly for sure because my wine thief went all the way in and was stopped by the neck of the carboy, but hadn't hit the bottom yet. I made the mistake of dropping in my hydrometer BEFORE filling the thief, so I couldn't get as much as I needed...

I just finished a batch using S-04, and the smell was only really bad for 2, maybe 3 days (had it in the basement where SWMBO has her sewing room, and she almost made me move it back out to the garage). Both before and after that short period, no smell at all (unless you stuck your nose right...

I just finished bottling my first Cider (and am currently drinking a glass of it)! Got just shy of 2 1/2 cases out of my ~5.5 gallons (I actually got exactly the 58 bottles I calculated... Go figure). Turned out pretty good! I dumped in 2 lbs. of light brown sugar before pitching S04...

Okie Dokie, I'll leave 'er alone until I'm ready to bottle in a couple months. Thanks again! -Bill

So there's no need to get it off the lees when fermentation is "complete?" I thought leaving it there was supposed to introduce some "off" flavors...? Thanks! -Bill

My first cider is happily bubbling away in my 6 Gal. glass carboy at the moment, and I'm scheming on what my next steps will be once it dies down. My kit also included a 6.5-7 Gal. Bottling Bucket (with gasketed lid and hole for air lock, etc.). So, my question is: when the primary is...

OK, guess I'm not in trouble yet then... I opened it up and took a few hydrometer readings. SG is actually a tad HIGHER than the 1.060 I measured just before pitching 3 days ago. All I can figure is that the sugar wasn't quite stirred in completely? Anyway, I re-sanitized the airlock when...

Hey guys, Well, I'm coming up on 72 hours (about 2 hours to go), and it still hasn't "taken off" - just a ring of tiny bubbles about 4-5" in diameter in the center of the surface. I'll take a hydrometer reading tonight to make sure it's not just a "tame" fermentation, but we assume for a...

Thanks a lot guys! I'll try to be patient.... BTW, just East of Rochester in Penfield. Thanks again! -Bill

Hey guys (and gals), This is an extremely silly question for most of you I know, but I just pitched my first batch of cider last night, and I'm wondering what it's SUPPOSED to look like once the yeasties take off? I saw the "post your infection" thread - is there anything similar that shows...

D'oh! Too late now. Guess I'll do that next time (I did actually get a bottle of yeast nutrient, but didn't wind up using it after reading all the posts where people just toss it in). Yeast is in, air lock is on. Guess I get to wait and see what happens now, huh? Actually, if something IS...

WOW, very informative post -thank you! One more cleaning question: I have everything sanitized now (got some star san) and am about to start filling the Carboy. But there's still quite a lot of bubbles from the star san in there. What's the general procedure? Do I go ahead and fill...

K, got another question: My kit came with a 6-gal. glass carboy. Do I need to use (almost) 6 gal. of cider/sugar/etc. to keep the level up near the top and minimize air inside? Or could I ferment, say, 1 gallon in the 6-gallon container without getting vinegar at the end? Guess I'm...

Thanks for the reply Lord Hedgie, Great idea on the sugar - I'll definitely go that route. After looking through the other cider threads, I think I will give the ale yeast a shot... You'd recommend just dumping in the whole packet of yeast at once though? I thought I read somewhere you...

Hey folks! Great site here! I've been browsing around, and have a few questions: Given the fantastic cider we have here in WNY this time of year to start with, I've been wanting to try my hand at hard cider for quite some time now. Finally got some gear today, and will be picking up some...