What determines the alcohol level?

I have heard that certain kinds of yeast do it. Also the amount and kind of sugar...

Anyone know the answer?

And why do ciders never seem to be over 5-6%

tristan1220 said:

I have heard that certain kinds of yeast do it. Also the amount and kind of sugar...

Anyone know the answer?

And why do ciders never seem to be over 5-6%

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The alcohol is determined by the amount of fermentables in the beginning.

If there are a lot of fermentables, then the alcohol will be higher. If there are less fermentables, then the alcohol % will be lower.

It's simple math.

Which would you suggest? More yeast or....

tristan1220 said:

Which would you suggest? More yeast or....

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No.

The amount of alcohol depends on the amount of fermentables. You can add 10000000 packages of yeast, or 1 yeast cell. It doesn't matter.

What matters is the amount of the fermentables, the sugars that will ferment.

More yeast won't do anything for you provided you are starting with the appropriate amount. You need more fermentable sugars.

That's what I thought. Thank you.

Also depends on mash temps

RUNningonbrew said:

Also depends on mash temps

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You don't have mash temps with cider!

Does temp matter at all with cider?

I downloaded an alcohol calculator app, but I don't understand how to use. It's asks for Gravity and Temp.

tristan1220 said:

Does temp matter at all with cider?

I downloaded an alcohol calculator app, but I don't understand how to use. It's asks for Gravity and Temp.

Click to expand...

Fermentation temperature matters- but between 60 and 75 degrees is good enough.

You don't need an alcohol calculator. It's simple math.

Take an original gravity with the hydrometer, before adding yeast. Take it again when fermentation ends. Then multiply times 131 for the ABV percentage.

So, if the OG is 1.050, and the FG is .990, that's 7.85% ABV.

So dump in alot of sugar ??????

From my understanding, that is the simplest fermentable.

I've found that too much sugar strips the apple flavor from a cider, I personally don't want to go above 7% in a cider, and 5.5 - 6 is perfect! For my taste anyhow