Bottling Early vs. Bottling Late

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smyrnaquince

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If making a dry cider and the fermentation has stopped (FG<=1.000 and no bubbles), what would be the difference between letting the cider age in the carboy vs. bottling it and letting it age in the bottles?

On a related note, does cider benefit from sitting on the lees or do people rack it off as soon as the fermentation finishes?
 
Bottling early is safer, specially if you bottle condition/carbonate. If you leave it longer you will get less deposit in the bottles, though if you carbonate there will always be some deposit. If you are bottling still cider then a couple of rackings to get the cider clear is recommended.

Cider doesn't really benefit from time on lees, though a few months doesn't seem to hurt.
 
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