Cider kit... any good?

[Canuck137]

Just wondering, I saw a cider kit today in my LHBS for the first time...

Been brewing close to 2 years and left beer kits behind a long time ago, just wondering if these are any good? It was in a tin can and came with the yeast same as a coopers kit...

I did try and make my own cider about a year ago... cant say it was very good and kinda left the idea alone. Now I am curious if these kits are any good?

My gut tells me no, but I am still curious. Just wondering if anyone has done one? Cheers!

 

[Calaeb]

What didn't you like about your cider? I have now brewed maybe four or five batches of cider, all have turned out pretty good. Heck even my wife likes them! I don't do anything fancy, some apple juice from concentrate whatever store is cheaper. Some sugar, I've had real good luck with s-04 yeast seems to play well with ciders. I wouldn't think the cider from a kit would leave you with a very good finished product considering how much they cost.

 

[Firewalker11]

What is in a cider kit? All I use is juice and yeast, my cider is pretty darn good. What was your recipe?

 

[Canuck137]

It was about a year ago I tried it, I think I basically did the simple: apple juice, ale yeast, 1 pound of dextrose.

Cider was borderline "ok"... I did it twice actually, first time I used ale yeast, cider was dry and not sweet... second time I used wine yeast and back sweetened with artificial sweeter to try and make it more sweet... result was still dry and mediocre. To be honest I like beer a lot more than cider, I guess I was making it for fun and for the ladies in my life haha.

Actually the kit is $20, about the same price, or maybe even less than buying $15 worth of AJ and a yeast packet... and yeah I had never seen a cider kit before either. I forget the brand name, it was the tin can yeast packet combo like the beer ones.

I guess next time I am there I will just try it for fun.

 

[Canuck137]

What is in a cider kit? All I use is juice and yeast, my cider is pretty darn good. What was your recipe?

What ale yeast are you using and do you back sweeten?