Recent content by teamacacia

Around the first week of December I bottled up a 1 gallon batch of cider which has been in my garage fridge since. At the time of bottling, the cider had spent a good 4 weeks in primary followed by 6-8 weeks in secondary. I had no orginal extra yeast to pitch to help bottle carb, but I added 3/8...

My first batch (ever) went straight from primary to bottles and I felt it was a little harsh despite aging in bottles for weeks up to over 6 months for the last bottle. My second batch went to a secondary for over a month prior to bottling and I drank a cold partial bottle the day after bottling...

I started with the Brooklyn brew cider kit that my wife bought for me last Christmas. It has basically everything you need to get going other than the bottles to bottle your cider. I have purchased a few more carboys and plan to pick up an auto-siphon if I don't get them for Christmas this year.

When would it be a good time to consider moving from 1 to 5 gal batches? I'm still trying to find a recipe that suits me so I'm not in a rush to jump up in size that soon. One of my concerns is that I feel like I am going to start collecting a lot of 1 gal carboys in the near future. I only have...

Shot a quick video of my newest batch which was started last night with Lalvin QA23 yeast. Hoping for a good turnout. I used Campden tablet the night before and then add yeast nutrient just prior to pitching the yeast. The blow off tube is getting its money's worth right now. Plan to airlock...

Sorry for thread high jack, but I love The Saint. Any recommendation on where to pick up similar yeast???

Thanks for starting this thread ej. I recently picked up a Lalvin yeast from my LHBS and the packet recommended rehydrating prior to use. My previous batches of cider used a champagne yeast and I just pitched in and shook the bottle vigorously for 30-45 seconds and then let it do it's thing. If...

Thanks Harbor. I response to your above points, I haven't boiled my cider before pitching any yeast (maybe someone else mentioned it, I'll go back and look). All I have done is warm the cider in the window sill to get up to room temp, poured into carboy, pitched yeast, capped/shook, and air...

Unfortunately, my work schedule isn't that conducive to such a hands on approach. I have certainly read other's opinions about keeping the temp low. For now, I keep mine in an upstairs guest bedroom closet that stays about 68-70 degrees most of the time. I'll keep the advice handy should I...

Thanks Cyclman, I'm more into a drier cider than too sweet for sure. Strongbow was my go-to before they changed the formula and made it sweet. Now, it's Crispin The Saint and Stella Cidré for the most part.

Brian, I have used the same juice each time -- Big B's from the local organic store. I think the culprit may have been me using standard dish soap to clean everything prior to sanitizing. I recently picked up BPW wash and starsan sanitizer for the next batch. I'm trying to salvage the last batch...

Thanks everyone. I racked the last batch over to a new glass jar and I am going to let it sit for a few weeks before starting a new batch in my other jug. We will see how it turns out. I think the culprit may have been using regular dish soap to clean my original glass jug. I didn't know that...

Thanks Crash, for the advice. I am currently using a powdered sanitizer that came with the kit but will try to pick up star san this week. As a doc who works in the OR, I am pretty conscious about keeping stuff clean but will be sure to double check my work. I will have to get a second carboy to...

Allow myself to introduce.....myself I'm a new guy to the forums from Oklahoma. My wife bought me a cider "brew kit" online for Christmas last year after my favorite commercial cider changed recipes and went from dry to terribly sweet. I have attempted three batches so far, all with poor...

Googled looking for help with making cider at home