I have been making mead for myself but my wife has recently asked me to make her a cider (and I must confess I would like to try one myself). I have been looking around and it seems cider is pretty straight forward but want to check with you experts first.
1) Since I am not adding a gallon of honey or LME, I am guessing I start with a full 5 gallons of cider?
2) Should I use my same standard yeast vacation comfort package that I do for my mead? I use loose leaf green tea and lemons which the yeast seem to dig.
3) Is the stock cider really sweet enough to ferm enough alcohol by itself or do I need to add brown sugar or something? I have been using EC1118 on my meads and really like the yeast but I am getting abvs of 15% and above. I would only like to get 7-10% on this cider since its mostly for my wife (She is slightly allergic to alcohol and so is an uber lightweight). Maybe the less sugar in straight cider would target me right at this lower range?
4) is the ferm process similar? 2 week primary, 8 week secondary, prime and bottle?
Depending on the answers here is what I am thinking:
5 gallons local old fashioned cold pressed cider from the local heritage farm (its freakin awesome)
2 lemons
Chinese loose leaf green tea
2 packets EC1118 yeasties
Thanks!
E
1) Since I am not adding a gallon of honey or LME, I am guessing I start with a full 5 gallons of cider?
2) Should I use my same standard yeast vacation comfort package that I do for my mead? I use loose leaf green tea and lemons which the yeast seem to dig.
3) Is the stock cider really sweet enough to ferm enough alcohol by itself or do I need to add brown sugar or something? I have been using EC1118 on my meads and really like the yeast but I am getting abvs of 15% and above. I would only like to get 7-10% on this cider since its mostly for my wife (She is slightly allergic to alcohol and so is an uber lightweight). Maybe the less sugar in straight cider would target me right at this lower range?
4) is the ferm process similar? 2 week primary, 8 week secondary, prime and bottle?
Depending on the answers here is what I am thinking:
5 gallons local old fashioned cold pressed cider from the local heritage farm (its freakin awesome)
2 lemons
Chinese loose leaf green tea
2 packets EC1118 yeasties
Thanks!
E