First time cider

[Nogud247]

I am trying to make a hard cider going as cheap as possible. I got 1 gallon of apple juice from concentrate at target. It only has apple juice and absorbic acid in it. I poured out about 2 cups then added one can of apple juice concentrate thawed. I took 1/2 cup water and a handful of raisins and boiled it whilst smashing the raisins with a fork then put the water sand fruit into my juice. Shook the whole thing for a couple minutes to add air. Pitched my yeast (bakers because it's what I had) and put the lid on almost all the way since I don't have an airlock. It all looked as expected at first but now it's got bubbles but no foam or anything. Is this normal? after pitching now (day2).

 

[TipsySaint]

ya that's pretty normal. cider doesn't have much protein in it so it doesn't usually form much krausen. check your gravity.... it should be somewhere around 1.004 or at least below 1.010

 

[Nogud247]

I don't have the means to check gravity yet. I'm hoping this adventure will let swmbo see validity in my desire to brew my own things so i can invest in the equipment needed to do it all nicely. I figure this will bubble for a week or so then I'll transfer it to another clean gallon jug and wait some more. I think that's the thing to do lol. I hope.

 

[Yooper]

I don't have the means to check gravity yet. I'm hoping this adventure will let swmbo see validity in my desire to brew my own things so i can invest in the equipment needed to do it all nicely. I figure this will bubble for a week or so then I'll transfer it to another clean gallon jug and wait some more. I think that's the thing to do lol. I hope.

A hydrometer is like $5, and can prevent bottle bombs and huge messes. If your SWMBO would rather have bottle bombs than spend $5, then you may get lucky and not have bottle bombs. But for $5, I'd rather err on the side of "no bottle bombs". Just sayin'!

 

[Nogud247]

Fair enough. I'll look into one. I think we have a homebrew shop somewhere round me. I'm sure it's been covered a million times over but what's my next move? Rack to 2nd fermenter for ?? Then what? Should I top it w water in the secondary so there's little head space? Sorry for the noob questions. I've read a million things and just want to be sure I give this a good shot at not sucking.

 

[TipsySaint]

head space is the death of cider. You don't need to go to secondary for any reason in particular. Once you hit gravity, give it a taste and when you like it bottle it. Cider can be a fusel (vodka kinda booze flavor) but that dissipates with age. It really depends on the type of apple and the sugars. If they put in some sort of fake sugar (sucralose) you may really taste that flavor. that's on reason many of use fresh cider from an orchard....

 

[Nogud247]

Another stupid question; if I make this still and age it a bit, can I force carb it with my soda stream before drinking? Has anyone done this?

 

[IrishinPA]

I've seen plastic wrap over the top and a rubber band used in place of an airlock. It may do you some justice.

 

[podz]

Cider can be a fusel (vodka kinda booze flavor) but that dissipates with age. It really depends on the type of apple and the sugars. If they put in some sort of fake sugar (sucralose) you may really taste that flavor. that's on reason many of use fresh cider from an orchard....

Fusel alcohols are produced by fermenting above the yeast's recommended temperature window, not according to the type of apple or sugar.

Plain old apple juice is readily available from stores. The only difference between store bought apple juice and fresh squeezed apple juice from an orchard is that the orchard juice isn't filtered - there is nothing else unique or special about it except for the high price.

 

[TipsySaint]

never carbed with soda stream but I don't see why not....

podz, that's good to know. I've had a few fusels but it only seems to be from certain orchards. I'll check my temps better. I've also seen some apple juice that has added artificial sugar in it....bad stuff...

 

[CallyBrewster]

I bought a soda stream specifically for the purpose of force carbing. Works great!

3 Tips:

1) Chill your cider as cold as possible before carbing it, the CO2 dissolves better that way
2) Wait for a minute or so after injecting the CO2, then use the soda stream "burp" function when you take the bottle off (fewer foam disasters this way)
3) Mark your soda stream bottles with a silver sharpie or your SWMBO's nail polish. Those bottles have a habit of walking away. They're the perfect size to BYOB at a party or to give a friend a taste of your hobby. Just be sure to get the bottle back.

 

[Nogud247]

Great tips. Thank you so much! This make it so much easier to get this finished. When it's all done I may hit it with something to kill the yeast then sweeten it still. Then when it's party time carb it up as you described. I see many more batches in my future. Love this forum.

 

[Nogud247]

It's only been 3 days and it's barely bubbling. I don't have an airlock so I'm going based off of the little bubbles I've been seeing since the first day. They're still there but less by far. It smells like wine more than ever before. It's still really cloudy. What do I do next? Wait a few days and hope it clears up then rack and wait some more? Should I taste it at this point (kinda scared)?

 

[podz]

Just leave it alone until it's completely clear. Should take about another week or two.

 

[TipsySaint]

I agree, Just let it be. Once you think it's done check it with a hydrometer. NO put in racking to a secondary, without the proper equipment you could introduce o2 and that can give it a bad flavor. Once you are sure it's done fermenting, you can throw it in the fridge for a couple of days, let the yeast settle out and then bottle and carb.

 

[ericbw]

It's been fermenting in that bottle with the cap on? Are you venting it from time to time?

 

[Nogud247]

The cap isn't on all the way. It's half a turn from tight. The Co2 pushes it up when it wants out.

 

[Nogud247]

Okay so stupid question #300 ; what would cause a slightly rotten egg smell? It wasn't there yesterday and it's slight today but it's there.

 

[ColoHox]

Okay so stupid question #300 ; what would cause a slightly rotten egg smell? It wasn't there yesterday and it's slight today but it's there.

Ciders are known to produce rhino farts.

 

[Nogud247]

Thank god.
Just found out my jobs closing it's doors yesterday and I can't justify another batch till income is steady again. I'll stop mother hen'n this thing. Maybe...

 

[phug]

If it doesn't clear or taste fantastic try it next time with wine or ale yeast. Bread yeast, I'm told, doesn't clear very well.

Sorry about the job situation


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[sablesurfer]

Just leave it alone until it's completely clear. Should take about another week or two.

OP used baker's yeast. I thought I had read in other places that it won't really floculate out (drop out of suspension) like brewer's yeasts.

OP may need to cold crash it to get it clear. <shrug>

 

[sablesurfer]

I'll stop mother hen'n this thing. Maybe...

No you wont. LOL



Yeah you might get some of that sulfur smell. One thing about going all redneck like this one, would be that flavor. Now 'they' say that even if that flavor ends up in the drink, you can let it age out.

 

[Nogud247]

So I guess it is clearing, I haven't been stalking it (much) so I was surprised today to see this. Should I keep waiting or bottle?

 

[TipsySaint]

taste it. if you like it, bottle it.

 

[Nogud247]

Well I used a clean straw to steal a sample. It's like a tart white wine flavor. There's a tiny hint of the yeast I used but it's so slight that it could be my imagination. How long do you think it can stay as is before bottling? I think time will help it round out. Wow it is pretty alcoholic, not sure of proof since this is a random batch with no readings but yeah, it's strong.

 

[podz]

Wow it is pretty alcoholic, not sure of proof since this is a random batch with no readings but yeah, it's strong.

There is no proof. If you put gunpowder in your cider, it will not ignite.

 

[Nogud247]

There is no proof. If you put gunpowder in your cider, it will not ignite.

Not sure of the ABV then

 

[TipsySaint]

I would bottle and then wait while it's under CO2 for it to mellow out....but if you keep the headspace low it can go awhile in there....

 

[Nogud247]

Well I decided to pour it off into an identical jug that's been cleaned and sanitized. I topped that up with water and put the lid on. It actually had a bit of apple smell when pouring so that's hopeful.