I started making cider this year and so far I've had fun and ended up with some very drinkable results. I love rustic style home brew, and I'm not into trying finicky recipes that have everything down to a fine science( yet anyways). I just want to start with some basic recipes. The two I'm really interested in trying are a pomagranite mead and a basic mead with vanilla.
For the pomagranite, am I better to use juice initially, or should I add maybe whole seeds? Can you add juice after primary fermentation or will that just restart fermentation and have the same end results as adding at the beginning?
For the vanilla, should I add a vanilla bean right at the beginning, or after primary fermentation?
Do I need yeast nutrients? Will adding raisins do the same thing?
Finally, is it ok to just use. EC 1118, or do I need something specific? Can you use an ale yeast? I assume you would end with very different results?
Thanks!
For the pomagranite, am I better to use juice initially, or should I add maybe whole seeds? Can you add juice after primary fermentation or will that just restart fermentation and have the same end results as adding at the beginning?
For the vanilla, should I add a vanilla bean right at the beginning, or after primary fermentation?
Do I need yeast nutrients? Will adding raisins do the same thing?
Finally, is it ok to just use. EC 1118, or do I need something specific? Can you use an ale yeast? I assume you would end with very different results?
Thanks!