ABV calculation after backsweetening

I remember reading a thread that mentioned that the ABV is much harder to calculate when you backsweeten.

I was wondering if we start with a OG of 'x.xxx' and end with 'y.yyy' after it ferments dry and I backsweeten to 'z.zzz', to calculate ABV is it not fair to just use x.xxx and z.zzz with an online calculator?

I'll be making a cider with a start of around 1.062, ferment dry, then backsweeten to around 1.014 (or thats a tentative plan). Any insight is appreciated.

 

It depends if when you backsweeten, all the sugar gets fermented out or not. If you assumed it did, the calc is (x.xxx-y.yyy)*131.25= ABV after initial fermentation.
Lets say the carbonation takes it to 1.000, then you would do (z.zzz - 1.000)*131.25=carb ABV, then do carb ABV + ferm. ABV=total ABV.

 

So basically enter to the online calc x.xxx and y.yyy, write down ABV given. Then enter in the calc z.zzz and 1.000 and add that to the origional ABV

 

An SG of 1.062 fermented to dryness gives an ABV of ~8.1%.

Do not add the extra 0.014 to your ABV since this will not get fermented as these sugars are what are keeping your cider sweet.

If bottle conditioning your cider add around ~0.5% to the total ABV and subtract about 0.003-0.004 SG from the sweetness.

 

In response to CollegeCider - I understand what you are saying if I were to let it go dry after backsweetening, but that would be defeating my intent of adding sweetness back.

I am hoping to get somewhere between 5 and 6% ABV so I thought I would start around 1.062, ferment till 1.000, add juice concentrate to bring it back up to 1.014 let it carb up and then pasteurize though I am open to suggestions.

My final goal is to have it be around that 1.014 mark in the end so I guess I now have a few questions:

• How many points does carbonating bring it down?
• Would I want to add the standard 3/4 cup of table sugar so that the sweetness level stays the same after carbonating, or just continue adding a certain amount of concentrate?
• And to re-ask the ABV question, If I were to follow steps similar to what I mentioned, how would ABV be calculated most precisely? -It seems hard to figure out because we are changing the volume slightly and everything.

I understand that most of this stuff doesn't matter as long as it tastes good, but I find it fun to know the stats of my drinks

 

You wont be able to calculate abv precisely, unless after you have it carbed up and pasturized, you open a bottle, let it go flat and then take a SG reading. (carbonation would mess with hydrometer) and then do (OG-FG)*131.25 + (OGafter sweetening-FG after flat)*131.25. Otherwise do as LeBreton said and do (OG-SG)*131.25 +.5%, as I think I remember reading somewhere that it usually takes ~.004 to carb up.

 

I didn't realize that backsweetening doesn't really lower the ABV much.

My plan was to start with Mott's Apple Juice (Probably normal and not Natural one because I want a clear and light cider), and add whatever necessary to have an ABV of 5ish and a moderate level of sweetness. If anyone wants to chime in with suggestions here that would be appreciated, I am trying to figure out if I need to add any sugars at the starting point and around how much juice to backsweeten with.

I assume a lot of this would depend on the SG of Mott's normal apple juice so if anyone knows that number that would be helpful.

 

If you want an ABV of 5%, the SG difference between OG and FG would need to be .038. Mott's apple juice last I checked was 1.05-1.055, so you would probably not need to add any sugar to start or backsweeten, as you would be stopping fermentation at 1.012-1.017.

 

So you think it would be best to catch it when the SG is around 1.017 (not possible to cold crash right now for me), bottle it, wait for it to carb and then pasteurize? Perhaps I will need to learn how to use gelatin or something then if I wanted to clear it up before bottling.

 

Yeah, that should be fine, just check the carbonation periodically as it will carb faster then if you primed it to carb up. To me, it doesnt really matter if you bottle clear/cloudy as it clears in the bottle anyways. You just end up with more sediment in the bottom. Others may say differently, but thats my opinion. You will definitely want to bottle pasteurize though. Also, check the OG and adjust accordingly. Different bottles can have different SGs.

 

IMHO you will have a much better cider if you let ferment dry, age to clear, backsweeten to taste + .004, bottle and carbonate, pasteurize, let bottle condition for at least several months. I think their would be far fewer people disappointed in their ciders if they just slowed down and didn't rush the process. In the olden days before preserved store bought juice they put their fresh juice in the barrel in the fall and left it alone until spring.

 

I actually asked the question a while back, and the easiest and most reasonable explanation I heard was that as long as you don't let any more fermentation happen, it's just a ratio of volumes added. I ferment 4 gallons of juice, then backsweeten with 1 gallon of other stuff for flavor and sweetness, before throwing in the keg and fridge at 37 degrees, where I try to hold the temp. The alcohol content is then 4/5 what it was before I added it. Getting the gravity was possible, but too much work...

I normall start out with about 9%, then am down to 7ish after adding my stuff. Still a good amount.