First batches, getting antsy.

[phug]

So, prior to Christmas I was being obnoxious and spending a lot of time reading this forum. The SWMBO clued in and picked me up some basic gear for the holidays.

Long story short. I started two one gallon batches side by side, and now just want it to be finished.

Batch 001

1 gallon glass carboy
fermentis safale s-04
mixed two varieties of pasteurized cider that I overpaid for, but could only get one gallon of the cheaper stuff and also wanted to compare yeasts, hence the mixing.
Started back on Dec 30th.

Batch 002

1 gallon glass carboy
Lalvin ec1118
mixed two varieties of pasteurized cider that I overpaid for, but could only get one gallon of the cheaper stuff and also wanted to compare yeasts, hence the mixing.
Started back on Dec 30th.

I have no idea of the starting SG nor the current SG as I have no hydrometer. I want one now, as psychic brewing sucks. That's going to have to wait a little bit, probably until after I can justify it by drinking and enjoying the batches I have going right now.

Tonight I was whinging about the process taking so long, probably due to my ambient basement temps floating between 49-55. So she told me to just go try it, as I had mentioned getting an alcohol smell from the ec1118 batch. So I took my poor man's wine thief (turkey baster), rinsed, and then starsan, and stole myself some small samples.

They're both sweet right now. But not as sweet as the starting cider. Not dry, nor syrupy, (I would hope they wouldn't be syrupy, as there was no added sugar. Lightly carbonated, since they're still fermenting in primary. Good apple flavour, although the s-o4 batch reminded me a little bit more of gingerale mixed with cider.

So now, I'll try to go another week before I take another taste (otherwise I won't have anything left, I'm just kidding, as I took small samples, but one gallon batches are smaller than I thought.)

My father in law has some bottling equipment, wing capper, stubby bottles that I may borrow, otherwise I've been collecting some 750 ml PET bottles.

I'm debating letting the ec1118 batch go dry, as I've yet to meet a cider I didn't like, but I'm think I'm more partial so a sweeter cider. *note to self, buy a hydrometer*

The current plan is either to bottle pasteurize via cooler or dishwasher method with at least one PET bottle for checking on it. Probably cooler method, as I don't think the dishwasher method will get approval from the SWMBO. I'll dial up the hot water heater to 150, and then top up with freshly boiled water.

I'm already stocking up on some apple Juice now while it's on sale to do the next batch more cost effectively, as well as looking at an orchard much closer to home, 30 min or so, surprising since I'm in the middle of a big city.


Hopefully all goes well, and I can justify having the SWMBO pick up a hydrometer at the LHBS on her way home from work, or stop by on the weekend with the kid.

 

[phug]

ok, so... I fiddled.

The SO4 batch was sitting next to the ec118 batch in a room at 55 ambient and it looked sad.

The ec1118 has a layer of bubbles an inch thick, while the S04 batch had a tiny ring of bubbles around the edge. as a result I've moved the S04 batch to another room that seems to be about 60 ambient temp.

Has anyone here bottles in stubbies? Or, for that matter, has anyone bottled into glass coke bottles? I would imagine they can handle carbonation pressures, but will they take a standard crown cap?

 

[phug]

fiddling did absolutely nothing.

the 5 degree ambient temp increase did not affect the way that the S04 fermentation appears. So note to self and other first time brewers. I guess S04 just looks that way. All the more reason to use a hydrometer if you're using that strain of yeast or any other that looks the same when active.

 

[Pickled_Pepper]

I have used coke bottles before. They accept the crown caps just fine. If you are unsure, just "dry" cap one to make sure.

It's always exciting to get your first batch going, but you have to be patient and let the yeast do it's thing. the room that stays steady at 60ºF is probably going to be a little better environment than a room that fluctuates from 50-55ºF

 

[phug]

thanks for the input, much appreciated.

 

[WVMJ]

Has anyone mentioned to you to get a hyrometer? Maybe even a spare one to Your EC1118 is a very powerful yeast, its probably going to eat everything and go dry, not knowing any gravity details says you need to be carefull with this batch if you carb it, its not a low alcohol beer yeast, it can do champagne easily. I like your numbering system, batch 001, 002, looks like you are looking ahead when you reach batch 100! WVMJ

 

[Melana]

Can you start something else to keep your attention off of the first two?

 

[phug]

Trip to the LHBS has already been planned for this weekend to pick up a hydrometer. and possibly another airlock and bung, I have another 1 gallon growler, but it's right now holding my premixed starsan. I'm sure I could find something else to use, but if I do start another batch, I'll have nothing to rack to secondary in.

unless I hit the whole foods or organic grocery as well as the lhbs and pick up some cider or juice in a galon glass jar.

Sadly our Walmarts here don't seem to be keen on selling juice in one gallon jugs, maybe it's an Ontario thing, or maybe it's just my store.

 

[phug]

Can you start something else to keep your attention off of the first two?

That might be worse right now as it'll just give me an extra batch to obsess about. After I get some into bottle that's drinkable, or looks like it will be. definitely.

 

[Melana]

fyi there is a 'bottle adoption' thread here somewhere... What city do you hail from?

 

[Pickled_Pepper]

I use 1 gallon plastic milk jugs for my star san. Since it gets used quite often and jostled around, I like the fact that it's in plastic and not glass. I just dump it into a plastic pail, use it to sanitize and then return it to the jug with a funnel.

If you can't get gallon milk containers...plastic 1 or 2 liter soda bottles would work.

 

[phug]

fyi there is a 'bottle adoption' thread here somewhere... What city do you hail from?

Toronto, north of the border.

Anyone who has anyone bottles in need of a loving home, I'm all ears.

I use 1 gallon plastic milk jugs for my star san. Since it gets used quite often and jostled around, I like the fact that it's in plastic and not glass. I just dump it into a plastic pail, use it to sanitize and then return it to the jug with a funnel.

If you can't get gallon milk containers...plastic 1 or 2 liter soda bottles would work.

come to think of it, I did save a 2 liter jug that I might be able to use, and I might have a soda bottle I can save from the recycling.

That would free up a glass carboy, which means I just need to invest in an extra airlock and drilled-bung. Stoppers I'm not too worried about, I picked up some polyseal growler caps. Then at least I could start up a new batch as soon as I rack to secondary, or after I've bottled if I need to mix it first.

Thanks Pepper.

 

[phug]

ok so the 1118 batch was starting to get a little bit dry, still sweet enough though. For the moment it has lost alot of the apple aroma, but the flavour is still there along with a bit of dryness. Taste's like a hard cider to me. Fortunately I turned on the empty minifridge this morning, and now I've put it in the fridge, airlock and all, to quiet down the yeast, let things settle, and hopefully clarify. I COULD throw it outside, since it's 18F outside, but that's pretty cold.

I'll take SG readings this weekend to see where my tastebuds say it's done, and I'm going to make an assumption of 1.050 for the starting SG to guesstimate ABV.

The S04 batch has slowed down, but it's still got sweetness and no sign of dryness, so I'll let it go a bit longer.

I DID find a 4 gallong water jug from the summer when we take drinking water with us places, so that's now holding the Starsan. That frees up the 3rd carboy. I'm thinking I may be starting another batch this weekend with storebought apple juice.

I did some looking around today, and woe is the Canadian who tries to get a good deal on crown caps. 7.99 for 144 at the LHBS. and all the online places the shipping is going to kill the savings.

 

[phug]

woohoo, got my hands on a hydrometer. boohoo, the capper I was going to have access to is rusted solid.

I came home to find my 1118 batch frozen /mostly. after unfreezing it, the temp corrected SG right now is 1.005 so it's fairly dry but still drinkable, and I'm actually fairly certain that some of the commercially available ciders I've had are about the same dryness. I've adjusted the fridge to try for a non-frozen temp and have put it back in to avoid going any dryer.

The S04 batch is currently at 1.020 so it still has a little ways to go.

I'm estimating an OG of 1.050, but may calc my ABV using 1.045.

I'll have to keep an eye on the S04 batch, and hope they bothclear a little.

 

[phug]

fyi there is a 'bottle adoption' thread here somewhere... What city do you hail from?

I've tried searching this mysterious bottle adoption thread. No luck. Can anyone link it?

found it, thanks

 

[phug]

checked this morning, and the digital thermometer in the fridge read 32 on the dot, and the cider wasn't frozen, so there we go, now to leave it there and hope it clears, without dropping anyfurther in the way of SG.

 

[phug]

well, racked batch 001 off the lees, it's at 1.016as of two nights ago, I'll probably cold crash it tonight or tomorrow.

Im the mean time I started batch 003 with 4 litres-ish of store bought apple juice and 1 can of aj concentrate and s-04

 

[phug]

Bottled on Saturday at 1.016 for batch 001, and 1.002 for batch 002.

One pet bottle for each batch, and mostly stubbies for the rest of it.

Both were tasty, and still hazy. Batch 002 with the ec1118 was obviously failry dry, and will continue to dry as it carbs. I'll check the SG and Carb on my plastic testers, and cooler pasteurize after I see a 2 point drop or so, and the carb is at the right level.

I think batch 003 I'll try to bottle at about 1.008-1.010 as I definitely enjoyed it a lot as a semi dry when it was at 1.005