Hello all!
I started my first batch of cider 7 weeks ago. Had it in primary for 2 weeks, and in secondary for 5. I've just moved it from there into a couple of gallon jugs, because I don't think I got enough of the yeast out when I moved it to secondary (first time using an auto-siphon...). It tastes significantly less yeasty now, so I think that was a good move. However, it is really alcoholic tasting, with only a slight hint of apple. I used 100% pure organic Gravenstein juice, White Labs WLP775 English Cider Yeast and honey (as per my homebrew supply place's recipe, but I substituted corn syrup with honey). It fermented fantastically, and all seemed to go as it should. It not particularly carbonated, but I can see bubbles.
My question is, what should I do next? Bottle it and (try to!) leave it alone? Back sweeten and bottle? I don't want the alcohol content (or taste, at least) to increase any more, but I definitely want some carbonation and, mostly, I want it to taste more like cider and less like vodka! I was shooting for a pretty dry to medium-dry cider....I'm English but live in Texas, and it's getting expensive to buy either imported English ciders, or the tastier boutique (ie: not too sweet) US ciders that I prefer.
I've spent considerable time searching and reading posts here before I joined, but I apologise if I am asking questions that have already been covered!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Sally
I started my first batch of cider 7 weeks ago. Had it in primary for 2 weeks, and in secondary for 5. I've just moved it from there into a couple of gallon jugs, because I don't think I got enough of the yeast out when I moved it to secondary (first time using an auto-siphon...). It tastes significantly less yeasty now, so I think that was a good move. However, it is really alcoholic tasting, with only a slight hint of apple. I used 100% pure organic Gravenstein juice, White Labs WLP775 English Cider Yeast and honey (as per my homebrew supply place's recipe, but I substituted corn syrup with honey). It fermented fantastically, and all seemed to go as it should. It not particularly carbonated, but I can see bubbles.
My question is, what should I do next? Bottle it and (try to!) leave it alone? Back sweeten and bottle? I don't want the alcohol content (or taste, at least) to increase any more, but I definitely want some carbonation and, mostly, I want it to taste more like cider and less like vodka! I was shooting for a pretty dry to medium-dry cider....I'm English but live in Texas, and it's getting expensive to buy either imported English ciders, or the tastier boutique (ie: not too sweet) US ciders that I prefer.
I've spent considerable time searching and reading posts here before I joined, but I apologise if I am asking questions that have already been covered!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Sally