I started my first batch of cider yesterday having no previous experience. I purchased a book "Real CiderMaking on a small scale" and followed the advice there. Of course now I've started I find there's nobody to ask about why nothing's happening and am nervous!
First off, I've used all my budget on a small press and some fermenting buckets so I have no budget to buy any more equipment and I have no hydrometer!!
Here's what I've done so far :-
- Sterilised all equipment
- Mashed and pressed 3 gallons of juice from apples
- Added a sachet of cider yeast that says it can accomodate up to 5 gallons
- Put on lid and airlock
I didn't add anything else, my book advised against campden tablets or pectolase although I do have these to hand since I picked them up in a homebrew shop. And my book suggests that sugar be added at a later stage.
I did this about 30 hours ago, bucket is in the kitchen with only the tiniest bubbles in the airlock.
I know it's too soon to be anxious but since I live in a small town if I need any special additives (other than my Camden and Pectolase) then I will have to order them online and won't get them for 2-3 days.
So - should I purchase any further additives in case I need to intervene to kickstart the fermentation?
Can the juice go bad if it fails to ferment quickly?
I haven't dared take the lid off the bucket to look at the froth on top as I'm not sure what effect letting more air in might have?
First off, I've used all my budget on a small press and some fermenting buckets so I have no budget to buy any more equipment and I have no hydrometer!!
Here's what I've done so far :-
- Sterilised all equipment
- Mashed and pressed 3 gallons of juice from apples
- Added a sachet of cider yeast that says it can accomodate up to 5 gallons
- Put on lid and airlock
I didn't add anything else, my book advised against campden tablets or pectolase although I do have these to hand since I picked them up in a homebrew shop. And my book suggests that sugar be added at a later stage.
I did this about 30 hours ago, bucket is in the kitchen with only the tiniest bubbles in the airlock.
I know it's too soon to be anxious but since I live in a small town if I need any special additives (other than my Camden and Pectolase) then I will have to order them online and won't get them for 2-3 days.
So - should I purchase any further additives in case I need to intervene to kickstart the fermentation?
Can the juice go bad if it fails to ferment quickly?
I haven't dared take the lid off the bucket to look at the froth on top as I'm not sure what effect letting more air in might have?