Salutations!
I was hoping I could ask all you cider gurus out there for some technical advice. I started brewing 2 gallons of cider last week using store bought juice and a pound of corn sugar for some extra fermentatables.
It's been in a 5 gallon primary for a week, which I understood was fine since the CO2 produced by the yeast would displace any oxygen as the fermentation kicked up.
I went to my lhbs today with intent to buy a 2 gallon fermenter, but all they had were 3 gallon size. I know I don't want a gallon of headspace inside my secondary, so I'm thinking the solution is to simply turn my 2 gallon batch into a 3 gallon batch by adding more juice.
Herein lies the question: would it be better to add the additional gallon of apple juice (plus some additional corn sugar) to the 3 gallon secondary, and rack the 2 gallons in the primary on top of that, or would I be better off simply adding the extra gallon to the primary fermenter and waiting for the last gallon to ferment before racking to a secondary? I imagine the latter option would run the greater risk of oxygenation, but I could be wrong.
Also, since I have your attention, how long ought I have my cider in tr secondary anyhow? I've read it's mostly to clear it up and let gunk settle out of solution, but I worry that since I keep my carboys in the basement, that I will shake up the cider on the way up, thus rendering my secondary for nought.
Looking forward to your tips and tricks!
Cheers!
I was hoping I could ask all you cider gurus out there for some technical advice. I started brewing 2 gallons of cider last week using store bought juice and a pound of corn sugar for some extra fermentatables.
It's been in a 5 gallon primary for a week, which I understood was fine since the CO2 produced by the yeast would displace any oxygen as the fermentation kicked up.
I went to my lhbs today with intent to buy a 2 gallon fermenter, but all they had were 3 gallon size. I know I don't want a gallon of headspace inside my secondary, so I'm thinking the solution is to simply turn my 2 gallon batch into a 3 gallon batch by adding more juice.
Herein lies the question: would it be better to add the additional gallon of apple juice (plus some additional corn sugar) to the 3 gallon secondary, and rack the 2 gallons in the primary on top of that, or would I be better off simply adding the extra gallon to the primary fermenter and waiting for the last gallon to ferment before racking to a secondary? I imagine the latter option would run the greater risk of oxygenation, but I could be wrong.
Also, since I have your attention, how long ought I have my cider in tr secondary anyhow? I've read it's mostly to clear it up and let gunk settle out of solution, but I worry that since I keep my carboys in the basement, that I will shake up the cider on the way up, thus rendering my secondary for nought.
Looking forward to your tips and tricks!
Cheers!