We made up a batch of cider on the wife's antique grinder/press about 4 weeks ago. The original gravity was 1.066 and airlock activity began on the third day after pitching (totally dry pitch, no starter). Bubbling became vigorous, but no smell. After a week, the SG was 1.045. After 2 weeks, the bubbling pretty much stopped. We racked it into a secondary on the 15th after a few days of no discernable bubbling in the airlock, and after racking we measured the SG at 1.000. It tasted good, but a bit "bitey" so we decided to let it sit for a while to mellow and clarify.
It's sat for a little over a week since then, and still looks exactly the same. I haven't taken a SG reading or tasted it since racking to the secondary since we're trying to just let it settle and clear. My question is when does a cider normally clear? I figured it would clear once the yeast activity was done, and the yeast hadn't made any noise for a while now. Will it clarify it we let it sit long enough? Is it possible that certain ciders never clear? We're in no hurry to drink it, but we don't want to tie up a fermentor for another month if we don't have to and I'd like to have a nice clear cider to bottle. Is there a way to encourage the cider to clear?
It's sat for a little over a week since then, and still looks exactly the same. I haven't taken a SG reading or tasted it since racking to the secondary since we're trying to just let it settle and clear. My question is when does a cider normally clear? I figured it would clear once the yeast activity was done, and the yeast hadn't made any noise for a while now. Will it clarify it we let it sit long enough? Is it possible that certain ciders never clear? We're in no hurry to drink it, but we don't want to tie up a fermentor for another month if we don't have to and I'd like to have a nice clear cider to bottle. Is there a way to encourage the cider to clear?
