Help! Cider never fermented

[Matt L]

Hi gang. I started a batch of cider about a month and a half ago. Fresh expensive stuff with a pound of corn sugar and Safale cider yeast. Fermentation never started, no activity, no change in gravity. Turns out I can’t read I guess because there is potassium sorbate preservative in the juice. I mixed up another pound of dextrose and more yeast after it got good and active and re pitched it. Been three weeks, no activity. Is it possible to do something else to save this batch before I give up and throw it away? Help!

 

[Maylar]

Bummer. You will have to make up a massive starter and pitch again. You need a high enough cell count to overcome the sorbate. Good luck.

 

[Transamguy77]

Yes that ^^^ I’d get like 2 or 3 packs of dry yeast and pitch them all at the same time, I’ve read about getting it to ferment with preserves but it’s not easy.

 

[Kees]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/overcoming-potassium-sorbate-in-zeiglers-apple-cider.38783/

 

[JimRausch]

Better yet, find a gallon of untreated cider, pitch yeast AND nutrients into that, and let her rip. Add that whole gallon of active fermenting cider to the mess you have and hope for the best. I have successfully overcome sorbated cider by doing this, but have never had to try after 6 weeks. Another thought- if you can't find any fresh unsorbated cider, try 1 lb of DME in 1 G water, and get that fermenting. Add that and you have made Graf.