Graff (Malty, slightly hopped cider)

[onipar]

S05 is fine and scale it down to 4 gallons.

Thanks! Any good programs or tips for scaling? I was trying to use Hopville's Beer calculus, but I don't think they have a "scale" option, and it's tough to do with beersmith due to the apple juice addition (can't find an option for it).

 

[Clifton]

You don't need Beersmith to scale the recipe for you.
You're good enough, you're smart enough, and dog gone it, people like you!
Divide ingredient quantities by 5 and multiply by 4. Scaled!!

 

[onipar]

You don't need Beersmith to scale the recipe for you.
You're good enough, you're smart enough, and dog gone it, people like you!
Divide ingredient quantities by 5 and multiply by 4. Scaled!!

Ha! Thanks, Mr. Smalley!

I'm an English Professor; I'm allowed to be easily confused by mathematics.

 

[Clifton]

No problem. Don't sweat it. I'm sure you'll make a great graff regardless of your academic tendencies.

 

[Aet2198]

I bottled my first batch of Graff yesterday night, tasted a sample and it was very applely not to tart. :rockin:

 

[aajpnony]

Batch size question:

I have to make a 4 gallon batch because I only have a 5 gallon carboy free. Can I simply omit 1 gallon of apple juice and brew the rest of the recipe in the same way, or should I scale the entire recipe down to 4 gallons?

Also, is their a consensus on the best yeast to use? I was planning Saffale US-05. I'd like it to ferment not too dry, and thought that would be best.

Finally, is there a preferred hop variety for this recipe? I have very little brew experience, and therefore I don't have a particular favorite, or even a good idea of what they all taste like.

Thanks!

if you have a blowoff rig (initially) vs. an air lock, you can do a 5 gal batch in a 5 gal carboy. when fermentation calms down, switch to the airlock and you'll be fine, if you want.

this recipe its very fool proof if you are clean and sanitary. I've done 4 batches, three of them just from dumping juice on top of a gallon our so of an ale that just finished fermenting (with it's respective yeast cake). like magic every time.

 

[onipar]

if you have a blowoff rig (initially) vs. an air lock, you can do a 5 gal batch in a 5 gal carboy. when fermentation calms down, switch to the airlock and you'll be fine, if you want.

this recipe its very fool proof if you are clean and sanitary. I've done 4 batches, three of them just from dumping juice on top of a gallon our so of an ale that just finished fermenting (with it's respective yeast cake). like magic every time.

Thanks! I'm also thinking about putting 4 gallons in the carboy, and the other gallon in a 2 gallon bucket I have.

 

[sweetpoetatoe]

Thanks! I'm also thinking about putting 4 gallons in the carboy, and the other gallon in a 2 gallon bucket I have.

That can be fun, i like to do that with batches, and then do little experiments, dry hopping or different yeast strains, things like that. Just gotta remember which is which when you bottle it all

 

[KCBigDog]

I can't wait to make this. Probably going to be next weekend.

 

[onipar]

That can be fun, i like to do that with batches, and then do little experiments, dry hopping or different yeast strains, things like that. Just gotta remember which is which when you bottle it all

Yeah, I was thinking of adding something to the small batch, but I'm not sure what. I definitely don;t want to over hop it. Maybe some fruit, or spices. I guess a couple cinnamon sticks might be a nice addition.

 

[sweetpoetatoe]

i know it cant support he bitterness, but i have been thinking it oculd be good with a really nice hop nose that could complement the apple, i might try it on the next batch

 

[onipar]

Just finished brewing this. I had an OG of 1.060. I pitched US-05 at 62 degrees after hydrating in water. I used .5 oz cascade hops (5.5% AA) and .5 pounds crystal 120, because I used a cheapo apple juice.

I put 4 gallons into my 5 gallon glass carboy, and 1 gallon into a 2 gallon bucket. I'm planning on adding a couple cinnamon sticks to the one gallon batch after about 2 weeks, and leaving it for 1 week. I *may* put a bit of nutmeg or allspice too, but probably not.

 

[sweetpoetatoe]

you did the blowoff and split it?

 

[onipar]

you did the blowoff and split it?

Yeah. I realize I probably didn't have to use the blow off, but I had the assembly ready and on hand. :cross: Ya never know.

Any suggestions on the spice addition for the 1 gallon test batch? Anyone try spicing the graff with good/bad results.

I'm amazed that the wort is holding at 66 degrees in my 75 degree room. I put a wet shirt over it, so maybe that's helping.

 

[sweetpoetatoe]

if you put it in a little thing of water an wrap the shirt so its touchin in th wate a little, itll wick it an keep it wet too

 

[onipar]

if you put it in a little thing of water an wrap the shirt so its touchin in th wate a little, itll wick it an keep it wet too

Yeah, I didn't have time to rig up a swamp cooler yet. If the temp gets too high I'll probably do it today while I bottle my mild ale.

 

[onipar]

How many Volumes of CO2 are you using for this? Or how much sugar?

Thanks.

 

[Shooter]

So, rather than make a new thread, does anyone know what happened to Brandon? He hasn't had activity on this site for over a year.

 

[The_Broodwich]

How many Volumes of CO2 are you using for this? Or how much sugar?

Thanks.

I treated it like a weisbeir. I think it wound up being ~.25 lbs of sugar. I can look it up in my log when I get home.

 

[onipar]

I treated it like a weisbeir. I think it wound up being ~.25 lbs of sugar. I can look it up in my log when I get home.

Thanks, I appreciate it! When I checked the Priming Calculator, they had cider down for 2.25 volumes of CO2 (I think), but I wasn't sure if I should treat this as a normal cider in terms of carbonation or not.

 

[verboten]

just ordered the ingredients to make this

apfelwein is already fermenting, I figured I had better make this too!

 

[pianoguitar]

Hey everyone- first post!

I'll be giving the graff a try next week. I skipped the hops and wheat, plus I'll be using 80L crystal and 2.5 lbs pilsner LME.

 

[DoctorWho]

Hey pianoguitar, welcome!

I understand after reading this whole thread why you might want to skip the hops, but I find that they really go a long way in balancing out this recipe. I think it's one of the reasons why this cider doesn't require at lot of ageing before its good. It's also what gives it the unique beer/cider hybrid flavour that most people enjoy.

The wheat is just for head retention and doesn't change the taste, but you might want try it with hops...I use .5 oz fuggle for 5 gal and it's perfect.

Obviously, it's your call

Enjoy!

 

[dover157]

+1 on the hops, I used the called for ammount, but at half the strength since im still learning to understand the value of hops. I have noticed that to really get a good flavor I have to put about 1/2 of a pellet in the bottom of the glass before I pour. Next time ill be using the sugested hops.

 

[pianoguitar]

Thanks for the input! I'll give a half oz. of fuggle or willamette a try, maybe pick up some torrified wheat too.

 

[onipar]

Sorry to ask the question again (especially if it's been answered already) but how is everyone carbing this Graff? Either by volumes of CO2 or by amount of sugar is fine, I'm just trying to get a handle on what the best carb level is for this.

The tastybrew.com bottle priming calculator lists ciders as 1-3.5 volumes of CO2, with 2.25 if you select it from the drop down.

If anything I guess I'll shoot for 2.25. That about right?

 

[Cozmcphish]

I just bottled mine a couple weeks ago and used Coopers carb drops (1 per standard beer bottle). Cracked one open last weekend and they seem to be carbing nicely.

 

[onipar]

I just bottled mine a couple weeks ago and used Coopers carb drops (1 per standard beer bottle). Cracked one open last weekend and they seem to be carbing nicely.

Thanks! I found this said about the carb drops: "They are supposedly designed to give you approximately 2-2.5 volumes of CO2 in a 12 oz bottle when conditioned at room temperature."

So that sounds to be right about where I was shooting for.

 

[RobWalker]

Putting a batch on today using a cider malt blend kit and burnt honey for a "toffee graff." will let you know how it goes

edit - small update.

I basically wanted to use a cider kit up that I had going spare, it's a Samson's West Country Cider with added shelf dust kit and contains Malt Extract and Apple Concentrate. As cider kits have always been so disappointing in my experience (I just dumped a 5 gallon batch of Elderflower Cider because it was crap, not because it went wrong) I tried a different method of basically burning the honey first, then adding in the wheat and boiling this with some water and the hops which were some left over hallertau's, very low AA at 2.5% so I used the recommended maximum. After that I blended the kit with this mixture in the brewing bucket, and I'm gonna ferment with Safale.

OG is a low 1.032 but that should leave me at around 4%, which is nice for a beer/cider imo. Faster fermenting too, so meh

Also bought some Heading Powder to add to the keg, for some extra body hopefully. Might add some DME in at some point.

This is a 3 gal batch, so let's see how it goes!

 

[pianoguitar]

I made my 5 gallon batch of graff last night (finishing around 2AM). Thanks to doctorwho and dover for suggesting to use the hops and wheat. OG was around 1.057 or 1.058. I've seen some very slow bubbling today with the primary in the mid 60's. I'm looking forward to trying my first cider- though I do miss the strong smell of hops coming out of the airlock.