3rd go..

[macaler]

I started my 3rd batch yesterday. Threw some caution to the wind as i really just " did it". My second batch was an example of me being over zealous and trying too much too quick and basically making a batch of crap tasting rocket fuel.

i sterilized as usual, mixed up my apple juice (store bought) along with some peptic enzyme and yeast nutrient,

Added a few secret ingredients that are all natural sugar, then pitched some Nottingham Ale yeast and dropped it on top.

24 hours... Fermentation is slow to start (aggressively)... But we'll see where it all goes

 

[ErickJ]

I'm on my second. My first was a brewers best cheery cider, it's actually pretty good. It was 50 bucks from the local brew shop. I'm now making my own. (6 gallons)

Now I'm making 6 gallons of newell's groundhog cider.
5.5 gallons worth of great value apple juice, and 3 tubes of apple juice concentrate. All from Wal-Mart. 1 package of red star champaign yeast. 3 tablespoons of yeast energizer and 3 teaspoons of yeast nutrient and some pectin enzyme. Ithe took 48 hours to start bubbling. I thought I may have killed my yeast. OG of 1.059.

I started my 3rd batch yesterday. Threw some caution to the wind as i really just " did it". My second batch was an example of me being over zealous and trying too much too quick and basically making a batch of crap tasting rocket fuel.

i sterilized as usual, mixed up my apple juice (store bought) along with some peptic enzyme and yeast nutrient,

Added a few secret ingredients that are all natural sugar, then pitched some Nottingham Ale yeast and dropped it on top.

24 hours... Fermentation is slow to start (aggressively)... But we'll see where it all goes

 

[ErickJ]

I started my 3rd batch yesterday. Threw some caution to the wind as i really just " did it". My second batch was an example of me being over zealous and trying too much too quick and basically making a batch of crap tasting rocket fuel.

i sterilized as usual, mixed up my apple juice (store bought) along with some peptic enzyme and yeast nutrient,

Added a few secret ingredients that are all natural sugar, then pitched some Nottingham Ale yeast and dropped it on top.

24 hours... Fermentation is slow to start (aggressively)... But we'll see where it all goes

What happened with your second batch?

 

[macaler]

What happened with your second batch?

I tried to be fancy and go for carbonation in the bottle. Misjudged and had some serious bottle bombs. Salvaged some but the taste was quiet sour.

 

[macaler]

Well... Threw it all in secondary tonight.. Just to get off the lees while I decide what to sweeten with. I did have a gallon I made seperate, I just threw in some cinnamon sticks in that as a test.

It came out to approx. 7.5%. Not a bad number.. it was sitting exactly at 1.000 SG from an OG of slightly above 1.055.

I will Pasturize as I prefer still cider, Just contemplating the flavour while the batch clears some in secondary.

 

[CKuhns]

Here is a very simple spice recipe i use that you might want to try.

2 Cinnamon sticks, 1 clove and 1 vanilla bean. (Soaked in just a very small amount of Vodka for a few hours just in case.)

Throw them in secondary and rack off them in 10 days.

Good luck let us know how it comes out.

 

[macaler]

Well.. Life happens and things fall by the way-side, including my cider.

TODAY, i made the decision.. do-or-die. Finish off my product.

My 1 gallon batch (experimental) with the cinnamon sticks, looked like it was beginning to be infected. Not too bad, but there to see. It had a lovely aroma from the cinnamon , but it was quite vinegary.

Racked this off, added just enough AC to sweeten it up and bottled. I will say, it tastes LOVELY! Smooth and not too sweet, no hint of tartness, It's rather clear, right out the bottling process. :rockin:

So, The lions share batch, 5 Gallons give or take. This is down to SG of 1.00. Dry and no flavour at all really. Relatively clear after its been sitting in Secondary for a few weeks.

I Back Sweetened this batch with 1 Cranberry Concentrate and 2.5 cans of AC. Just the right amount of sweetness. Would have liked to have 1 more can of Cranberry instead of apple, but oh, well.

Threw half batch in Fridge an hopefully this will "cold crash". My first time ever doing this so will see how it goes.

Other half I'll let sit in its bottles over night and will probably stove-top pasteurize within next 2 days. I'm not too keen on carbonation, but a little is fine with me.

I'm just amazed at this cinnamon batch!.. Its really REALLY good!