benfarhner
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2012
- Messages
- 68
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- 5
After getting a few batches of homebrew under my belt, last fall my neighbors pressed apples, and I decided it was time to try some hard cider. I decided to go the easy/natural route, and pitched a regular dry yeast (Safale American) straight into 2 gallons of unprocessed unfiltered fresh-pressed juice, no sugar added. It's pretty darn sweet on its own (and delicious!) so I figured it wouldn't be an issue.
I racked it into secondary after a month, and racked it again after another month when I noticed it was still bubbling a bit (!) after relocating the carboy. It's cleared up nicely and smells fantastic.
My question, now, is how long do I have to wait for it taste good? It smells like a delicious hard cider, but it tastes like water and rubbing alcohol. I was expecting some harshness before it has time to mellow, but this just seems like a lack of flavor. Did my omission of sugar cause this? Did something else go wrong? Or do I just need to wait it out?
I'm planning on doing 5 gallons this fall, so I'm hoping to have a better idea of what I'm doing by then
I racked it into secondary after a month, and racked it again after another month when I noticed it was still bubbling a bit (!) after relocating the carboy. It's cleared up nicely and smells fantastic.
My question, now, is how long do I have to wait for it taste good? It smells like a delicious hard cider, but it tastes like water and rubbing alcohol. I was expecting some harshness before it has time to mellow, but this just seems like a lack of flavor. Did my omission of sugar cause this? Did something else go wrong? Or do I just need to wait it out?
I'm planning on doing 5 gallons this fall, so I'm hoping to have a better idea of what I'm doing by then