So I think I have a bit of a mess going. I decided to make 2 gallons from juice we pressed and canned last fall and ended up getting input from too many sources. I'm after an apple cider that tastes like apple cider. I don't really care about alcohol content other than enough to preserve itself. On 2-14 I got input from the local brew company to put in 2 pounds of sugar in each of the gallons. That didn't feel right so I put about 2 cups in each dissolved in water and air cooled. Dumped in a half pack or red star champagne yeast in each jug along with a couple air locks. After 4 days of bubbling my friend asked if I had tasted it yet. No, I thought it was supposed to sit a few weeks...
So I tasted it and it was pure alcohol, quite harsh, he said that it went too long and I should have stopped the ferment with potassium metabisulphite. So I went and got some and put it in each jug, the next day I racked it off into new jugs. and it still bubbled slowly.
Monday the 27th I pulled my first sample to use for the hydrometer I bought and it read (if I read correctly) 1.020, I drank the sample which had mellowed a bit, drinkable but still not enjoyable. So now it is March 3rd and I am wondering if I should sample the other jug to see where it is and when I should think about bottling.
Also, I wasn't wanting to back sweeten this time but think I will need to now. Also would like to try to carbonate a couple bottles. Then if I have researched correctly I really should just leave it alone for a few months. Any feed back would be appreciated
So I tasted it and it was pure alcohol, quite harsh, he said that it went too long and I should have stopped the ferment with potassium metabisulphite. So I went and got some and put it in each jug, the next day I racked it off into new jugs. and it still bubbled slowly.
Monday the 27th I pulled my first sample to use for the hydrometer I bought and it read (if I read correctly) 1.020, I drank the sample which had mellowed a bit, drinkable but still not enjoyable. So now it is March 3rd and I am wondering if I should sample the other jug to see where it is and when I should think about bottling.
Also, I wasn't wanting to back sweeten this time but think I will need to now. Also would like to try to carbonate a couple bottles. Then if I have researched correctly I really should just leave it alone for a few months. Any feed back would be appreciated