Apfelwein, what's the draw?

[DRoyLenz]

Hey All,

So, having read through a lot of these threads, and looking at a lot of the projects people are working on, it seems the most common brew people have going on is Apfelwein. Why?

In the little research I've done on it, it isn't a beer (also not a wine as the name implies). Is it brewed much the same way as beer? When I was in Germany, I had Apfelwein a few times, and it was good, but it didn't seem like a beer-drinkers kind of drink, ya know?

I'm basically just asking, what is the draw to Apfelwein, and why is it so common amongst HBs?

 

[IrregularPulse]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f25/man-i-love-apfelwein-14860/

It is a big general crowd pleaser, Nice high alcohol content, EASY to make. Takes about 15 minutes start to finish to get it into the fermenter.
It's good to have on hand

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Mostly because it's so simple to make. I keep some around because my wife likes to drink it once in a while, but I probably only make a batch a year.

 

[Revvy]

It's a tasty, and very simple recipe to make....Oh and it can pack a mean punch.


I've given carbed bottles of it as gifts an people love it, some call it "Apple Champagne."

 

[marubozo]

It's just so darn simple to make. It takes all of about 10 minutes.

I won't be able to taste mine until about Thanksgiving, but if it's as tasty as everyone says it will make some good stocking stuffers.

 

[Louielizard]

+1 on the ease to make!

Plus the only wine spritzer, mix with 1/4 sprite and 3/4 apfelwein that will knock your di&@ in the dirt!

 

[Hikeon3]

Come on, it's alcoholic cider. People love it. Super easy to make it. What's NOT the draw?

 

[Whiskey]

+2 on shockingly easy to make.

The recipe listed above (EdWorts) has quite a bit more alcohol then what you remember from Germany. Like mentioned above it makes a good "differant" gift for folks and the carbed version is very popular.

 

[Arkador]

Takes me 15min to make a batch that i leave alone until it is time to put it in a keg, and with an extra honey addition, it climbs over the 10%ABV mark....

 

[Homercidal]

Why is it not a wine??

 

[Whiskey]

It is a wine. But it is also Cider, or Hard Cider, depending on where you bring it up.

 

[beerkrump]

It's a panty dropper!*

What else do you need to know?

(*Except you, Yoop. )

 

[Runyanka]

It's a panty dropper!*

What else do you need to know?

(*Except you, Yoop. )

True that!!!
Didn't tell SWMBO the abv% in it, so whe was drinking it like she would a woodchucks hard cider. Pretty soon, WHAM, she was hammered!

 

[carl spakler]

It's like Bartles & Jaymes winecoolers with an extra kick of booze?

 

[beerkrump]

It's like Bartles & Jaymes winecoolers with an extra kick of booze?

Them is fightin' words!

 

[DRoyLenz]

Why is it not a wine??

After doing a bit more research, I suppose it is technically wine. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

It's a panty dropper!*

What else do you need to know?

I need to know nothing else, I'm sold!

I think, based on what you guys have told me, I'll probably be brewing myself up a batch sometime soon. Do you bottle it in typical amber beer bottles, perhaps wine bottles? Do you have the same photochemical issues you have with bottling beer in green bottles? Thanks all!

 

[beerkrump]

Just treat it like a beer and it well serve you well. Read EdWort's recipe and thread to get the lowdown.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Just treat it like a beer and it well serve you well. Read EdWort's recipe and thread to get the lowdown.

There is no reason to bottle in amber bottles, Clear and green are fine. There are no hops in this. Light is not the enemy like in beer.

I personally prefer kegging it though

Yeah, just do a quick 516 page read of his thread

 

[EvilTOJ]

Just treat it like a beer and it will make you start vomiting all over the place and crying like a little girl.

There, that's fixed. Do NOT treat it like a beer! It usually ends up in the 10% ABV range or more, and the unwary drink it out of beer glasses. You don't drink wine out of beer glasses, and you shouldn't do the same with this.

 

[beerkrump]

There, that's fixed. Do NOT treat it like a beer! It usually ends up in the 10% ABV range or more, and the unwary drink it out of beer glasses. You don't drink wine out of beer glasses, and you shouldn't do the same with this.

I was referring to bottling and kegging, not consuming.

 

[Shaun_ATX]

I bottle mine in clear bottles, the SWMBO likes to pull out a couple of bottles for company and likes the look of the clear bottles.

I carb half of mine in champagne bottles and leave the other still in regular wine bottles, and I actually prefer it still.

 

[Revvy]

There, that's fixed. Do NOT treat it like a beer! It usually ends up in the 10% ABV range or more, and the unwary drink it out of beer glasses. You don't drink wine out of beer glasses, and you shouldn't do the same with this.

+1 to this...It is a killer...

In fact there are a few warning labels you might wanna afix on the bottles for the innocent and those untrained in the ways of apfelwein.

FYI these are based on TRUE POSTINGS ON HERE....Drinker you have been warned!

 

[Yooper]

Come on, it's alcoholic cider. People love it. Super easy to make it. What's NOT the draw?

I'm not a cider fan, but Edwort served me some 14 month old Apfelwein. It's good! I don't usually drink hard cider, or even liquor, but it's because I'm an unsophisticated beer drinker. Still, many people love it. It's cheap, easy drinking, and great for non-beer drinkers to imbibe in when we're socializing.

It's a panty dropper!*

What else do you need to know?

(*Except you, Yoop. )

Well. I appreciate you remembering me, Krump! Trust me, it's not a BVD dropper. More like a "honey, I can't, I drank too much, snore" beverage.

 

[EdWort]

More like a "honey, I can't, I drank too much, snore" cleaverage.

Fixed it for ya.

 

[niquejim]

I don't know what the draw is.

I've had 5-6 different versions and they are OK, but I would much prefer an IIPA, or an IPA or a PA or a Stout, etc...

 

[HoppyDaze]

I have some seven month old apfelwein...it is really good, but still I can do about one 12oz bottle before Im tired of it. Im just a beer guy you know? I can say that I recently drank some 2 and half old apfelwein that wasn't worth piss. So, if they say that its prime at eight months I tend to believe them. I also think its well worth making a batch every so often ONLY IF you wait it out for the eight months which is nearly impossible for about 80% of the people...

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I made some, and didn't care for it. It's been in the bottles for well over a year now. But that's just me-I'm definitely in the minority on this. Most people love it, but it ain't for everybody.

 

[Duckfoot]

I make it to keep my orthopedic surgeon in business...

 

[zac]

I "brew" apple goody b/c my wife likes it, she likes to give it away, and if you are familar with that Joe Nichols song about tequila making her clothes fall off......

 

[Mr. Nice Guy]

I think it is popular because the recipe is not intimidating and Ed explains it very well.

I got my homebrewing stuff in the mail, read my beer kit's instructions, saw the Apfelwein thread and thought, there's something I can make. The first thing you "brew" can be intimidating with sanitation and all, this lets beginners focus on that stuff.

Oh.yeah, and the reason it stays popular is because it is great!