Just for documentation purposes (because I'm messy and lose my records):
Cider started: 6/5/09 (12:30 am of 6/4/09)
Contents:
1 gal Kedem AJ (inexpensive, hopefully not "cheap)
SA-04 (Safale)
After pitching, I added approx 1 c of Craisins (brand name), and irritated the bottle (aggitated, irritated, what's the diff?).
Kedem usually OGs (SGs?) at 1.048 - 1.050
I did not measure OG after adding the craisins, and there is sugar on them and in them, and I would only get an approx starting gravity anyway.
I took my hydrometer home and forgot to bring it back the next week, so did not disturb the fermentation. It's still going, and I'm itching to do something, but I'll be patient until I remember to bring the hydrometer back.
The color is pretty, a light pinkish over a deeper apple color. Smell (from the air lock vent) is light floral. The craisins are massed at the neck (for attack). The night I started it, I was woken up at about 4am when air lock clogged and kicked a plastic lid off. Put it in the tub and let it sit over the w/e. It definitely over-flowed, fillng water reservoir in the air lock w/ pink AJ and teeny craisin bits. Very active. Cleaned air lock, refilled and haven't had another over-flow.
Craisins have a bleached-out look. While writing this, I couldn't stand it and found a clean straw put push down into the massed craisins (and steef some young cider out). The craisins are not tightly packed and receded peacefully. Took < a straw's worth of fluid into shot glass. Out side of the carboy, it looks very pale (unfortunately, I didn't think about it being a tinted glass). Smells like a light, inexpensive rose, and tastes similarly. It's not dry, but not sweet either. If I remember to measure the gravity next week, I might put it up and let it start aging...
Over all, I'm pleased at this point, but really want to do several more... the local Giant was carrying Black Currant juice, which has an interesting taste, and of course, Whole Foods has every kind of juice I can think of... cherry, sour cherry, black cherry, blueberry, cranberry (regular, reconsituted, and concentrated), grape, pomegranite... and more. I think they also have beet juice.
It would be worth investing in a time machine just to speed up the cider aging process...