Hi,
A few weeks ago I got some UV pastuerized cider from the local orchard. Then I stopped over the local brew store and got some other chemicals like pectic enzyme, acid blend powder, tanin powder, red star champagne yeast, and so forth. I also got a recipe from the store but I forgot to buy a hydrometer.
I put the cider in my carbouy and added the campden tablets. 2 days later I added some of the other ingredients including the yeast but did not add sugar (the recipe said the sugar was optional unless SG was under 1.06). Since I forgot to buy a hydrometer and figured that the cider was pretty darn sweet, I said, what the heck, let it ferment.
After 5 days (recipe recommended SG around 1.020) I racked it into a secondary fermenter (bucket) per the recipe. Well now its day 9 (day 4 in second fermenter) and no bubbles are appearing in the airlock. I've made beer (from a tested recipe) before and it usually continues to make bubbles.
The question is: Did I just waste 5 gallons of nice apple cider? should I be worried about no bubbles? Should I add sugar? What should I do? Let it continue as is? I want the finished product to be at least 6% ABV.
Please help if you can!
I'd appreciate any response or feel free to call me, 412-401-1477.
I'm going to buy a hydrometer tomorrow morning to see where my SG is at.
Much thanks,
-KP
A few weeks ago I got some UV pastuerized cider from the local orchard. Then I stopped over the local brew store and got some other chemicals like pectic enzyme, acid blend powder, tanin powder, red star champagne yeast, and so forth. I also got a recipe from the store but I forgot to buy a hydrometer.
I put the cider in my carbouy and added the campden tablets. 2 days later I added some of the other ingredients including the yeast but did not add sugar (the recipe said the sugar was optional unless SG was under 1.06). Since I forgot to buy a hydrometer and figured that the cider was pretty darn sweet, I said, what the heck, let it ferment.
After 5 days (recipe recommended SG around 1.020) I racked it into a secondary fermenter (bucket) per the recipe. Well now its day 9 (day 4 in second fermenter) and no bubbles are appearing in the airlock. I've made beer (from a tested recipe) before and it usually continues to make bubbles.
The question is: Did I just waste 5 gallons of nice apple cider? should I be worried about no bubbles? Should I add sugar? What should I do? Let it continue as is? I want the finished product to be at least 6% ABV.
Please help if you can!
I'd appreciate any response or feel free to call me, 412-401-1477.
I'm going to buy a hydrometer tomorrow morning to see where my SG is at.
Much thanks,
-KP