Cider didnt carbonate

[nomnomnom21]

So i just taste tested my 3rd batch of cider using a recipe i tried before. Unfortunately it was only lightly carbonated after 20 days in the bottle, and it tasted like the carbonation drop wasnt fully eaten up by the yeast. Any ideas on how i can make sure my yeast is healthy enough before I bottle so that they carb it appropriately?

Here is the recipe for my 1 gallon batch:

-1 gallon Trader Joes Cider
-ec-1118 yeast
-3tbs Xylitol
-1 cinnamon stick

Fermented in primary for 2 weeks, in secondary for 2 weeks then bottled and tasted 20 days after.

 

[Hankins]

Check the temperature of wherever you're storing the bottles for carbonation -- it might not be warm enough for the yeast to do their business.

Last year, several of my batches were taking forever to carbonate, if at all. I tried everything to troubleshoot and got to the point where I thought I might have a bad capper or caps that weren't sealing. Then I checked the ambient temperature, and realized the bottles were sitting around 65ºF or so. I moved them to another room that averages a little over 70ºF and everything has carbonated perfectly ever since.

 

[dmtaylor]

Patience. Cider takes time and people are impatient. Takes too long to ferment, takes too long to carbonate....... No. Cider (and the yeast in it) takes its own sweet time. Give it a couple more weeks. You'll get your carbonation. Patience.

 

[1bottlerocket]

I can second the being patient advice. My cider has been sitting for nearly 4 weeks now and the carbonation level is getting right where I like it. I like a very small amount of carbonation and it is shaping up nicely. This is my first batch of cider. Although there are some flavor issues I need to work out, I am happy with my results on the carbonation.

 

[Greghark]

What did you add for bottling sugar?

 

[nomnomnom21]

What did you add for bottling sugar?

Just those carb drops you buy at a brew shop. Ive used them before with no issue, but i think ill switch to Apple Concentrate for better flavor

Patience. Cider takes time and people are impatient. Takes too long to ferment, takes too long to carbonate....... No. Cider (and the yeast in it) takes its own sweet time. Give it a couple more weeks. You'll get your carbonation. Patience.

Thanks i'll just ride it out. Im sure it will carb eventually and the flavor can only get better. I took a break from cider for a while and forgot how long it can take.

 

[slym2none]

J i think ill switch to Apple Concentrate for better flavor

4mL per 12 oz (so, 42-44mL per gallon) should give you medium levels of carbonation (2.4-2.5 vols of CO² or thereabouts).

 

[nomnomnom21]

So i tried my cider again, 5 weeks after it was bottled and its still not carbonated well. I used Oxyclean for the first time when i bottled and might not of rinsed the bottles too well. Anyone think some residual Oxyclean could have hurt the yeast?

 

[dmtaylor]

Doubt it. I have had ciders that took 5 months to carbonate (not 5 weeks). Sometimes it just takes longer than we would prefer. Try to learn to either love it flat or to leave it longer. Natural carbonation just tends to be a bit of a crapshoot with ciders unfortunately. I drink mine flat usually and love it anyway.

 

[MindenMan]

OP, change your name to Grasshopper and be patient. Really, no two batches of cider react/ferment/carbonate the same even with the same recipe and yeast. I ferment my cider under pressure as cool as is feasible and it takes my ciders sometimes months to ferment out; followed by months in the bottle before drinking and my ciders are always quite good.
I have made drinkable ciders in 5 or 6 weeks, but I would rather wait and have something I just can't have/buy/get/etc., anywhere else.

 

[nomnomnom21]

OP, change your name to Grasshopper and be patient. Really, no two batches of cider react/ferment/carbonate the same even with the same recipe and yeast. I ferment my cider under pressure as cool as is feasible and it takes my ciders sometimes months to ferment out; followed by months in the bottle before drinking and my ciders are always quite good.
I have made drinkable ciders in 5 or 6 weeks, but I would rather wait and have something I just can't have/buy/get/etc., anywhere else.

Ahhh its driving me crazy. Sigh ok. Lol its getting slightly better, im just not use to waiting so long. Im glad it can still be good