Funky cinnamon cider

[cheyneco]

SG 1.060, currently in primary since 12/17. Clearing nicely but the test i pulled today for gravity was super funky tasting. Currently at 1.006.

1 gal applejuice, 4oz honey, 1 tsp of cinnamon extract and enough cane sugar to get SG to 1.060.

Thought after reading SG that I'd rack and bottle and have a nice fairly dry cider but it was barely drinkable. Will age cure this or is it a lost cause? I added AJ and another tsp of cinnamon to my glass and it was OK, definitely not what I'd consider good by any means though.

 

[Pickled_Pepper]

When you say "Funky" do you mean it tasted musty, rotten vegetables, beef and cheese, moldy bread, feet...etc etc

Is the aroma off as well? Was there any indication of a mold or white lacing in the fermentation vessel prior to bottling? What are your sanitation methods?

We may not be able to help unless we can get a better understanding of what you are tasting and smelling.

 

[EpicCider]

Whenever I add spices to my cider, I am always sure to coarse filter it back out at the end. Also any cider add ingredients too, seems to becomes a cider that needs long-term aging.

I made a vanilla cider once and it was terrible and I literally tossed all of my bottles out except for two-6 packs. When I was selling my house (about a year later) I came across it and just drank one, it was one of the better ciders I've made after aging.

 

[Nivek]

I've stopped using cinnamon in my primaries because of that. I have had horrible luck with it. Usually I have to wait months before the stench settles with the lees. And then it's terrible to finish a bottle should you accidentally sip yeast. I have been making my own cinnamon extract instead. Though I find it hard to get the results I want doing it that way.

 

[cheyneco]

Thanks. I back sweetened with Apple juice at a ratio of 1 part AJ to 2 parts cider.

It will make it quite a bit weaker but hopefully drinkable. I'm also going to carb a few days then age for a couple of months.

Going forward I think I will save my cider flavoring for just before bottling until I get more experienced.

 

[EpicCider]

Can I ask, Why 4oz honey then cane sugar?

Also what was the OG (before honey/sugar added).

It might just need some time to sit, depending on how much sugar was added, imo.

 

[cheyneco]

I believe OG before honey and sugar was around 1.05. I added honey and sugar because I did sugar on my first cider batch and wanted to try honey also. I don't really know what I'm doing so I was just experimenting. I'm going to drink 1 carbed this weekend and let the rest sit a month or more and try them at different times.

 

[eatwake]

Is there a chance you could get your cinnamon flavor by using cinnamon flavored candy (atomic fire balls, hot tamales, etc) ?

 

[atli126]

anyone know about the cinnamon candy options?

 

[lolznrofls]

I would think candy would have preservatives in it..not good for the yeasties

 

[Edcculus]

How about a shot or two of Fireball whiskey, or similarly flavored cinnamon liquor.

 

[ostensibly]

I've seen recipes for mead made with atomic fireballs - I have no personal experience with them but it sounds like they work.

I just had an amazing cinnamon cider today from J. Trees in MI, got me thinking about making some of my own.

 

[atli126]

Sounds great, I like angry orchard cinnamon cider

 

[CanadianBacon]

i made some cider with cinnamon, was undrinkable at first, too a long long time to age into something decent, smelt almost rubbery/spicy at first and got better.

I won't make it again tho.....

 

[lolznrofls]

Fyi..three cinnamon sticks for one gallon of cider wee bit to much.. wonder how I came up to that conclusion? ? My first epic fail brew..lmao!