First Apfelwein Brew; Bubbling Away

[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_HqQxaoh2uU&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_HqQxaoh2uU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]THERE IT IS GUYS!

I was a little worried about my first brew for a bit there, but I woke up today to see it bubbling away after just twelve hours. This video was taken 24 hours after pitching and mixing in the yeast, and though it's not perfect, I like that it's doing something.

Sorry about the music in the vid, the mic on my webcam broke and I was too lazy to grab my other camera, so I just tossed in a song to keep it from being a silent video.

Congratulations!
I recommend that you abandon the hobby now - before it consumes your life.

Brad

Oh trust me... months before even starting this brew I was well consumed.

I guess it's only natural that if I love drinking the stuff, I'd love making it as well...

[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/De4e4lucDBA&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/De4e4lucDBA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

Is this a good amount of bubbling for day two?

DEAR GOD

So that's the rhino fart smell you've all been talking about...

I'm about a week into my brew, and the bubbling has gone down dramatically. I used Lavix EC-1118 yeast if that makes any difference. What's the normal bubbling rate after a week?

Yup. Relax, Don't Worry, Start Another Batch of Apfelwein (RDWSABA)

Ed's totally right, start another batch now. I made the mistake of waiting until my first batch was done before starting a second. Now I'm going to have an agonizing apfelwein-less month. Really, now that I think about it, I should be making another five gallons right now.

Holy crap, I forgot about my second batch, that week really snuck up on me with work and all. I have a 6-gallon Deer Park bottle I'm gonna attach a blowoff tube to so that I can do my second batch with a little cinnamon in it.

ack, error post

I just took a gravity reading exactly two weeks into brewing. It's not bubbling anymore, but it's still cloudy, so I think I'll give it another week or two.

My original gravity was 1.07, and two weeks later it's at .994. Now, if I'm doing my math correctly, I should be at around 10% AC, right?

Grrrr, I really can't wait 'till I can drink a finished aged pint of the stuff.

I just tried a tiny sip of the gravity tube, and even though I know it's not done (I was excited), it wasn't that bad. A little dry, but still a bit sweet/bitter, no lingering aftertaste, and it went down smooth.

Thanks, you guys!




Also, do I NEED to put it into a secondary fermenter, or should I just leave it in the primary as is until it's good and clear?

Is there a definite difference in taste?

No need for a secondary, just leave it. The finished product should be as clear as the juice you used.

No more taste tests Let that stuff sit for two to three more weeks.

Don't make the mistake I made..... start another batch right now.

I'm just waiting to get some cash tomorrow and head out to the store to do my second brew. I'm gonna play around a bit with the taste on this one, but nothing too extreme. I may end up starting it in about two days, so it shouldn't be too far behind the first one.

And all my friends are expecting a small taste testing party for the stuff, since I've been talking non-stop about brewing, so I get the impression that this stuff is gonna go FAST.

I guess I should charge a small fee per liter of the stuff just so I can pick up some Deer Park 6-7 gallon jugs?

Just started my second brew in a spare Deer Park bottle, as I sip on a glass of my finished first. I'll be starting another five gallons in a few days in my original carboy, then have ten around the corner.