Cheap juice, best?

[bracconiere]

Yeah. Don't think I better add that additional 5# of honey. QA23 only goes up to 16%

yeah best i ever got spiffy special yeast to do was 16%, claiming 18-20%....even with the fancy 1 day ferment nutes included....

 

[Newsman]

i'm familar with S-23 lager yeast?

Don't know anything about that. Here's a link to a page about QA-23 - QA23 Yeast | Scott Laboratories

 

[Newsman]

yeah best i ever got spiffy special yeast to do was 16%, claiming 18-20%....even with the fancy 1 day ferment nutes included....

I could dump a packet of EC1118 in have in the fridge. That being said, if it has some residual sweetness, I definitely won't cry. I don't like dry wine, I prefer semi-sweet like some of the Italian wines.

 

[Newsman]

i'm familar with S-23 lager yeast?

BTW. Just checked and the alcohol tolerance with S-23 is supposed to only go up to 9-11% that's a but lower than where my cyser should end up

 

[Deric]

I've mostly used Kirkland and Tree Top. For some reason, around here, Tree Top is cheaper than Kirkland brand at Costco. I "think" I like the Tree Top better. Maybe it's the vitamin C?

Usual recipe is 10 gallons juice, 4 cans FAJC (or other flavored concentrate depending on what the wife wants). Ferment with Notty till bone dry. Stabilize and add one (maybe 2 depending on flavor) FJC.

 

[Newsman]

That's a BIG brew. Guessing you put it into two kegs?

 

[Deric]

That's a BIG brew. Guessing you put it into two kegs?

Yep.



Edit: I'm really not a Cider fan but my wife and my brother both like it so I have one keg for home and send one to my brother's.

 

[bracconiere]

Don't know anything about that. Here's a link to a page about QA-23 - QA23 Yeast | Scott Laboratories

Thanks for the Link! they have cervesiea yeast too! at fair prices!

(damn! they don't sell to the public )

 

[iceman_ii]

1 liter jars at Aldi for around 3 bucks.

Not sure which Aldi you are shopping at, but here in Fort Worth, I just picked up "Natures Nectar" this weekend for $1.35 a 2 quart bottle, that's $2.70 a gallon, if yours is sticking you for $3 a liter, you are getting ripped off. on the for what its worth side, Natures Nectar clocks in at 28g sugars per serving. its my first cidar, so just checking it out, the next batch will use better yeast (pitched redstar premier cuvee - yes i know, its champaign yeast, but I had plenty on hand, and it is very neutral) and probably a bit more sugar to jack the abv.

Making Roland's Roland's Fantastic Tart Cherry Cider 5.25 gal apple, 1 gal tart Cherry, OG 1.050 - Pitched the yeast yesterday morning

 

[MaxStout]

Not sure which Aldi you are shopping at, but here in Fort Worth, I just picked up "Natures Nectar" this weekend for $1.35 a 2 quart bottle, that's $2.70 a gallon, if yours is sticking you for $3 a liter, you are getting ripped off. on the for what its worth side, Natures Nectar clocks in at 28g sugars per serving. its my first cidar, so just checking it out, the next batch will use better yeast (pitched redstar premier cuvee - yes i know, its champaign yeast, but I had plenty on hand, and it is very neutral) and probably a bit more sugar to jack the abv.

Making Roland's Roland's Fantastic Tart Cherry Cider 5.25 gal apple, 1 gal tart Cherry, OG 1.050 - Pitched the yeast yesterday morning

It was their black cherry juice for $3.

 

[iceman_ii]

It was their black cherry juice for $3.

Sorry, my misunderstanding... my Aldi didn't even have black cherry juice, outstanding find for you!

 

[MaxStout]

Sorry, my misunderstanding... my Aldi didn't even have black cherry juice, outstanding find for you!

$1.35/half gal for apple juice is a good deal. Hope you bought them out.

 

[cortex]

I've had perfectly clear ciders from Great Value juice without adding any enzymes. If the jug has solids (think Musselman's cider), I add pectic enzymes to clarify it.

+1 for this. Unless there's solids, I want something to drink quickly or I know a particular brew will be tough to clear I find the best clearing method is just leaving it the hell alone for a few weeks.

 

[bracconiere]

leaving it the hell alone for a few weeks.

patience is a virtue. but sometimes you need to know it'll pay off, or it's hard!

 

[jseyfert3]

Somebody might have said this already, but when I go cheap I use the frozen concentrate. It's cheaper and there is only vitamin c in it (absorbic acid).

Where do you find FAJC cheaper than juice? I’ve compared at several stores and I’ve not yet found FAJC cheaper than juice. Including juice made from concentrate. I find this funny, they make FAJC, ship it to some company that mixes with water back to juice and bottles it, ship to store, and it’s STILL cheaper than buying the FAJC directly.

EDIT: Also nearly all store bought juice I’ve seen only has ascorbic acid adding. This seems to be the case for all mass produced juices I’ve seen. Seasonally sold “cider” on the other hand often sold around here at stores in the fall has always had other preservatives added. I always check when I see in case it’s suitable for cider making. Guess I need to get off my butt and find an orchard this fall, thought fresh pressed juice from orchards may be limited as the apple crop wasn’t great this year around here.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Where do you find FAJC cheaper than juice? I’ve compared at several stores and I’ve not yet found FAJC cheaper than juice. Including juice made from concentrate. I find this funny, they make FAJC, ship it to some company that mixes with water back to juice and bottles it, ship to store, and it’s STILL cheaper than buying the FAJC directly.

Apple juice is fairly bulky compared to concentrate. The other part is that frozen apple juice concentrate has to be kept frozen (I believe) while being transported, but I'm not sure about bulk transport of concentrate... I know that juice made from concentrate is pasteurized because it's shelf-stable.