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Is a sugar addition needed?

Discussion in 'Cider Forum' started by aldricmeints, Sep 7, 2015.

 

  1. #1
    aldricmeints

    Member

    Posted Sep 7, 2015
    Hello all,
    As fall approaches I am going to try my first apple cider. I am going for something that would replicate some of the commercial offerings i.e. Angry Orchard, Strongbow. Really, something that I can serve at social gatherings and have non-craft drinkers enjoy.

    I live in the Florida Keys so fresh ingredients are hard to come by.
    Here is what I was able to find for cider/juice.
    I have 2 gallons of 100% natural unfiltered apple juice no additives and 3 gallons worth of concentrate with vitamin c added. Planning on using safale 04.
    I have read that I must also use corn sugar. Something like 2 lbs. True?
    Also, should I sweeten with truvia/splenda?

    Thanks for any guidance for this cider newb.
     
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  2. #2
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Sep 7, 2015
    I don't add sugar because it ferments out and it boosts the alcohol content. Doing that turns it more into a wine-like beverage (or wine if there is a pretty high natural sugar content) and while I love apple wine it's definitely more like a dry white wine than anything resembling cider.

    Once the cider is finished fermenting, you can stabilize and sweeten with sugar or apple juice concentrate or even honey if desired.

    In case you haven't seen this short write up: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=508303
     
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    bernardsmith likes this.
  3. #3
    aldricmeints

    Member

    Posted Sep 7, 2015
    I'm not so sure what kind of OG/FG I should be expecting but, what kind of abv might I expect with apple juice and concentrate only and sf04.
     
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  4. #4
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Sep 7, 2015
    I don't know. It depends on the SG of the juice you buy, and adding concentrate to boost that is the same as adding sugar, so it depends on how much concentrate you add.

    I don't buy juice from the store, so I really don't know what a likely SG would be. I press the apples and crabapples I want, and check the SG then. I never add sugar or concentrate to boost the ABV, as I don't like a "wine" like cider but like I said, I do love apple wine and make tons of it. It just doesn't taste like cider- it tastes like wine.
     
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  5. #5
    Maylar

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Sep 8, 2015
    S-04 will finish between 0.996 and 1.004 depending on a few variables, including temperature and nutrient content. Typical OG for store bought juice or juice from concentrate is 1.045 to 1.050.

    For the goals you've stated, I highly suggest not adding any sugar at all. If you start at 1.050 you'll end up with alcohol at about 6.5% which is higher than the commercial ciders. As Yooper said, the more alcohol you make the less your end product will taste like cider.
     
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    bernardsmith likes this.
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