Full Hard Lemonade recipe

[paulster2626]

And we're good!

A little undercarbed but its good for me for the first carbed batch. 6 cups sugar and carbed (so I figure 1 cup fermented in bottles) and PERFECT sweetness. 8 would be too much IMO.

 

[hennesey1]

I followed the directions to the T and after 3 days very little activity in air lock. Should I add more water and nutrient and another yeast starter?

 

[thejudge]

I followed the directions to the T and after 3 days very little activity in air lock. Should I add more water and nutrient and another yeast starter?

Just whip in some more o2 and check gravity. It is slow and the yeast needs the o2 in such a harsh environment. When gravity reaches your mid point then add more nutrient and introduce more o2.

 

[hennesey1]

Just whip in some more o2 and check gravity. It is slow and the yeast needs the o2 in such a harsh environment. When gravity reaches your mid point then add more nutrient and introduce more o2.

Thanks judge ill try that tonight. It just seems extremely slow next to my wine that is just bubbling away like a mad man

 

[Jacinthebox]

mine worked really fast...and finished fast....check the gravity

 

[Jacinthebox]

And we're good!

A little undercarbed but its good for me for the first carbed batch. 6 cups sugar and carbed (so I figure 1 cup fermented in bottles) and PERFECT sweetness. 8 would be too much IMO.


View attachment 138232

let us know in a few days if the dishwasher got hot enuf to kill the yeast

 

[paulster2626]

let us know in a few days if the dishwasher got hot enuf to kill the yeast

I don't think it did. I was too scared to put it on "Super Hot" mode. I have a PET bottle in the closet that keeps getting harder, I think.

I have them all in the fridge right now. Acutally gonna have one right now!

 

[Jacinthebox]

I'll stick to the hot water bath then...thanks for the feedback

 

[gt_andy]

Bottling day for me. I made a 6 gal batch and plan on getting 15 12oz bottles and putting the rest in the Keg for force carb. Do these things carb quickly in the bottles? Or wait the standard 4 weeks?

Now I have a question about the keg and carb. Is this best at the same carb level as a standard beer?

 

[TexasWine]

Bottling day for me. I made a 6 gal batch and plan on getting 15 12oz bottles and putting the rest in the Keg for force carb. Do these things carb quickly in the bottles? Or wait the standard 4 weeks?

Now I have a question about the keg and carb. Is this best at the same carb level as a standard beer?

Because you're back sweetening and not just priming you're gonna carb up in a matter of days, not weeks. Make sure to fill a plastic bottle so you can do the squeeze test to see how the carbonation process is coming along. When carbonation is where you want it pasteurize per the sticky in the cider forum.

As far as kegging, I have no idea on that one. Actually gonna keg my first cider this week.

 

[gt_andy]

will have to pasteurize even when using sorbate to stop fermentation?

 

[Jacinthebox]

Bottling day for me. I made a 6 gal batch and plan on getting 15 12oz bottles and putting the rest in the Keg for force carb. Do these things carb quickly in the bottles? Or wait the standard 4 weeks?

Now I have a question about the keg and carb. Is this best at the same carb level as a standard beer?

it only took my last batch at 21 degrees C three days to carb up perfect.


has anyone tried the full 8 cups of sugar???

 

[Jacinthebox]

will have to pasteurize even when using sorbate to stop fermentation?

I would say no...it's only when you want to bottle carb, and stop the process before they bomb

 

[TexasWine]

will have to pasteurize even when using sorbate to stop fermentation?

Hey gt. Keep in mind if you're going to bottle condition this stuff, which I think you indicated you were in a previous post, you can't use sorbate.

 

[gt_andy]

Hey gt. Keep in mind if you're going to bottle condition this stuff, which I think you indicated you were in a previous post, you can't use sorbate.

I followed the recipe. So I added the sorbate. Does this mean I don't bottle condition?

I got about 15 bottled and the rest went into a keg.

Honestly it has a weird taste. Kind of tart. I used 6 cups of sugar when sweeting. Im wondering if it will mellow after carbonated.

 

[paulster2626]

I followed the recipe. So I added the sorbate. Does this mean I don't bottle condition?

I got about 15 bottled and the rest went into a keg.

Honestly it has a weird taste. Kind of tart. I used 6 cups of sugar when sweeting. Im wondering if it will mellow after carbonated.

It won't carb in the bottles. It's done. To carb what's left in the keg, use your normal method.

If you want to carb whats in the bottles, you'll have to just use a carb cap provided you bottled it in plastic.

6 cups of sugar was perfect for me - no tartness at all, just all around goodness.

 

[Jacinthebox]

I think I may try 8 cups...I liked it last time...but some folks suggested that it may need more sugar???

 

[kingogames]

I'll add that even with the sorbate, I still got some carbonation, So if you're looking to bottle condition, add the sorbate, and just let them condition 6 weeks or so. They didn't get super carbonated, but enough to give it a little zing.

 

[kingogames]

Sorbate doesn't kill the yeast, it just prevents the ones that are there from reproducing, so the one that are already there will eat on the sugar until they die, which is why mine carbonated a little even with the sorbate, not enough to bomb out though.

 

[paulster2626]

If you want a still beverage, then de-gas what you've got prior to adding sorbate and bottling. It'll make the carbonation that you're speaking of minimal to non-existant if there isn't already CO2 dissolved in the liquid.

 

[sfrisby]

Sorbate doesn't kill the yeast, it just prevents the ones that are there from reproducing, so the one that are already there will eat on the sugar until they die, which is why mine carbonated a little even with the sorbate, not enough to bomb out though.

What's the difference between adding sorbate and adding sorbate AND camden? Thanks.

 

[sfrisby]

Drinking my own now with a bit of a twist. Instead of pouring over ice, juice some oranges and freeze in an ice tray. Add a cube or two and stir as it melts. Good stuff.

 

[Paschendale]

Drinking my own now with a bit of a twist. Instead of pouring over ice, juice some oranges and freeze in an ice tray. Add a cube or two and stir as it melts. Good stuff.

That sounds tasty as hell!

 

[kingogames]

I need to make this again. Still too hot, but next month, it will be my first brew out the gate. Want it to be ready for next summer. This year's batch went waaaay too fast!

Definately going to try that orange ice cube idea!!!

 

[MusicalBrewer]

I just made a batch of this last Wednesday. OG was 1.064. I only had about 48 hours of airlock activity with 24 hours of really strong activity. I decided to check the gravity today to see how it was doing. It's down to 1.001 already--in just 5 days.

I've brewed about 10 batches of beer, but no wine. I'm unfamiliar with EC-1118 yeast. Do i need to let this sit the full 14 days? I'm content with the 8.3% ABV it currently has. I'm not planning on using the potassium sorbate. I want to bottle it, get some carbonation, then bottle pasteurize.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[paulster2626]

I just made a batch of this last Wednesday. OG was 1.064. I only had about 48 hours of airlock activity with 24 hours of really strong activity. I decided to check the gravity today to see how it was doing. It's down to 1.001 already--in just 5 days.

I've brewed about 10 batches of beer, but no wine. I'm unfamiliar with EC-1118 yeast. Do i need to let this sit the full 14 days? I'm content with the 8.3% ABV it currently has. I'm not planning on using the potassium sorbate. I want to bottle it, get some carbonation, then bottle pasteurize.

Thanks in advance for your help!

It might go lower, to 0.998 or so. If it tastes good, then add your sugar, bottle it up, and pasteurize when ready. No sense waiting for something to finish when it's already finished.

 

[MusicalBrewer]

Well I decided to bottle this up tonight, after just 7 days of fermentation. I'm on my 3rd glass and this is a fantastic drink! Very dangerous! Can't wait to see what it's like with a little carbonation...just over ice is great.

 

[Hollyberries4343]

Update, it turned out great! I carbed it up in the bottles and stovetop pasteurized. Perfect bubble, great taste too. This stuff is strong, very dangerous, I had 4 last night and I was feeling really good, lol. Thank you for a great recipe!

How did you do this! I want to try....if you can be specific I would appreciate it, this will be my first brew....thanks in advance!

Update, it turned out great! I carbed it up in the bottles and stovetop pasteurized. Perfect bubble, great taste too. This stuff is strong, very dangerous, I had 4 last night and I was feeling really good, lol. Thank you for a great recipe!

 

[sfrisby]

How did you do this! I want to try....if you can be specific I would appreciate it, this will be my first brew....thanks in advance!

Update, it turned out great! I carbed it up in the bottles and stovetop pasteurized. Perfect bubble, great taste too. This stuff is strong, very dangerous, I had 4 last night and I was feeling really good, lol. Thank you for a great recipe!

Search the stickies for Stovetop Pastuerization. All the details and pictures you will need.

 

[Hollyberries4343]

Thank you, I found it!