Bottling cider, sweet and carbed?

[93JeepYJ]

Just brewed my first beer ( brewers best red ale) and it turned out pretty good. I now have 5 gallons of fresh apple cider in the primary and am wondering if there is a way to sweeten it when it is done but still bottle carb?

 

[Revvy]

I use lactose to back sweeten.

 

[93JeepYJ]

Great, what is that and will my local brew shop Cary it? Sorry I'm such a noob but I'm learning more about home brew everyday!

 

[Revvy]

Great, what is that and will my local brew shop Cary it? Sorry I'm such a noob but I'm learning more about home rewind everyday!

Yes your homebrewshop will carry it, it is quite a common ingredient. It is milk sugar. And it is not fermentable by beer yeast, so that means it will stay sweet, whereas any fermentable sugar will ferment. Lactose is a main ingredient in sweet, cream or milk stouts. I use it to sweeten some beers and ciders even when I am priming them to carb, I boil it along with my regular priming sugar at bottling time.

 

[93JeepYJ]

Ok, a little google work shows about 1lb in a 5 gal batch. Does that sound good and how much sweetness will that get me, it's for my wife and she loves sweet desert wines.

 

[93JeepYJ]

Sweetened with lactose and has been in the bottles for a week with no grenades. Can't wait to try it in another week or so.

 

[hookmeup]

So what s the verdict on the sweetness? More, less or just right? I have a batch waiting to be bottled and was going a similar result. Anything you would do differently?
Thanks

 

[93JeepYJ]

I used 1.5lbs in 5 gallon and ended up adding 1packet of sweet n low per 16 oz bottle because the lactose just wasn't all that sweet but it did add a good thicker mouthfeel. Now I just need to figure out why only 1 out of 10 bottles is carbonated.