Graff (Malty, slightly hopped cider)

[bottomup]

Do people rack this to secondary or just leave it in primary until finished?

 

[Rowdy]

Do people rack this to secondary or just leave it in primary until finished?

Primary 30 days and bottle..

 

[Tandor]

Just bottled my first batch. The hydro sample was amazing. Can't wait to crack open my first bottle.

 

[tribble222]

Brewed this up on Wednesday. It's been going so hard that this morning the krausen was coming out of my airlock! Guess I'll have to use some fermcap next time!

 

[Tandor]

I used fermacap on mine and it still reached the top of my carboy.

 

[JsnSnk]

Brewing a batch of this as we speak. Followed exact directions except yeast. Used wyeast 1388 belgain ale. Might add a little sugar so it does not go too dry. Born on date on the carboy of 3/11/12.

 

[JsnSnk]

So with only two pounds DME what are some thoughts to fortify with one pound dextrose with the 1388. Boost ABV without drying out.

 

[Clifton]

Adding sugar will make it drier. If you want it less dry you need to add an unfermentable sugar. Lactose will make it sweeter, maltodextrin will add body.

 

[marty1966]

Hey, so, quick question regarding fermentation temperature. My graff has been at 68 for a couple of days, yesterday the temp went to 72, is this a problem? I can move the bucket to the basement, but then it will drop to low 60's. Is this a problem? I was going to move it once the bubbling stopped.

Will 72 degrees during fermentation hurt the final product?

Thanks.

 

[ndoe22]

I would go with the lower ambient temp. Vigorous fermentation creates a lot of heat inside the fermenter. Mine had a active fermentation for 10 days.

 

[Bookem15]

Ok so here it is, I just racked this to secondary to add some blackberry flavoring for the wife. I took a small sample to taste and it tastes a little like vinagar ??? I fermented at 64-66 degrees with us04 yeast and had a good fermentation and it had been sitting in the dark for 2 weeks. Is this batch no good or is there a way to save it? Any help would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[pwortiz]

Bookem, I'm not experienced with this yet; my first HALF BATCH of this stuff is going now (pic attached) but if it tastes like vinegar, I couldn't hold out much hope personally.

To all those that have commented over the last 163 pages, has anyone used clear bottles for this stuff? When I do ciders I usually use clear bottles, but this isn't really just cider is it? Also, the OP states 14 days fermentation then bottle, "Ferment 2 weeks at 64-68 degrees then keg or bottle." But some call for longer? Mine's been going now for less than 1 week so I have time to find out if people can answer one way or the other.

I used the Walmart Great Value juice, 10L and Carapils because that's what I had on hand, US-05, .2 oz Hallertau mittelfruh and divided the DMEs as stated originally. My OG was 1.070 @ 70ish. My half gallon of water/boil with hops 'n such seemed to end up much lower.

If anyone can comment on the ferm time and bottles used, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[KCBigDog]

I always do long primary. I let my Graff go 4 weeks.

 

[Matteo57]

Let me say when I first kegged my graff, about 4 weeks after fermentation started I thought it was pretty bad..... "not good" being a positive statement about it.
After that I have now let it sit in my keggerator since nobody drank it for awhile and it is actually decent. I did back sweeten it with a few tablespoons of apple juice concentrate (since it's in the fridge, no worry about fermentation or whatever). It has gotten MUCH MUCh better. Still not something I LOVE but it is very drinkable and two of my friends who come over often ask for that first.
So... IMO, let it sit for AWHILE! btw..... it is probably about 4 months old now guessing...? Good luck

 

[29thfloor]

Apple Peeler recipe from AHS:
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=13326

I can't see the actual recipe but it sounds a lot like a graff ("requires 3 gallons of apple juice, not included with kit")

 

[ZombieBrew83]

Here are my results:

Used Target brand apple juice. Ingredients included vitamin C
1 oz Cascade 7.3% AA
2 lbs XLDME
0.75 lbs Crystal 120
0.25 lbs Flaked Wheat (head retention)
Dry yeast S-05
OG 1.061

Fermented on the hot side at 75 F according to my LCD temp strip on the bucket. The airlock was bubbling after only 4 hours and completely stopped after 72 hours. Primary for a total of 14 days then bottled. FG 1.012.

After only a week in the bottle I chilled a couple bottles in the fridge to give it a try. The aroma is amazing! Like apple pie. The mouth feel is pretty good too considering it has only had a week in the bottle. I was surprised by how much it had carbonated. The taste is pretty tart. The malt has a slight presence and it finishes with a tinge of grapefruit. It's pretty dry too with a very slight alcohol presence. The color is deep gold. I am very pleased with results so far and look forward to see how it ages after a couple more weeks in the bottle. Thanks, Brandon O!

 

[AGadvocate]

Does it have to be the 100% apple juice no preservatives no sugar added?

 

[ZombieBrew83]

Does it have to be the 100% apple juice no preservatives no sugar added?

It is important not to have any preservatives besides vitamin C. Any other preservatives will prevent the yeast for doing their job. good luck!

 

[j1laskey]

Pulled my first pint last night....I just don't know why I waited so long to brew this stuff. This stuff is fantastic!

 

[j1laskey]

 

[ZombieBrew83]

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57391"/>

Nice! That is about the color my was. What type of Crystal did you use.

 

[j1laskey]

Nice! That is about the color my was. What type of Crystal did you use.

I followed Brandon's original recipe. I used 0.5# C60.

 

[AGadvocate]

This recipe is so good, I had to dedicate a Home brew Wednesday to it.
Hope you enjoy the Vid

 

[crazybluerider]

Does this krausen up like beer or could I brew 5 gallons in a 5 gallon carboy like cider?

 

[AGadvocate]

Well the video I shot last night, was exactly 5 gallons in my 6.5 gallon fermenter. The air lock is going crazy right now with some foam coming out of it. So I guess to answer your question, you need a 6.5 gal fermenter for a 5 gallon batch. The aroma coming out of the airlock actually smells like apple pie!

 

[crazybluerider]

Just brewed up a batch of this. I altered it a little to match what I had laying around the house though.

What I brewed-

2.5 lbs Munich LME
8 oz crystal 120L
4 oz honey malt
.25 oz willamette 9.6% AA

3 gallons apple juice
1 gallon apple juice concentrate

OG 1.088

Now comes the waiting.

 

[LyonsAudio]

Made a batch of this on April 8th (so 14 days ago).

Its down to 1.006 so I was going to bottle it today along with a beer that needed to be bottled up. (half mini-keg, half bottles). While I was doing the beer I noticed the Graff was still bubbling (once every 45-60 seconds).

I should wait on that right? I'll check the SG tomorrow night and Tuesday to be sure, but just making sure I am not being silly waiting.

Tastes great out of the hydrometer. Quite cloudy, but I don't think I care. Rather drink than wait.

 

[ZombieBrew83]

Made a batch of this on April 8th (so 14 days ago).

Its down to 1.006 so I was going to bottle it today along with a beer that needed to be bottled up. (half mini-keg, half bottles). While I was doing the beer I noticed the Graff was still bubbling (once every 45-60 seconds).

I should wait on that right? I'll check the SG tomorrow night and Tuesday to be sure, but just making sure I am not being silly waiting.

Tastes great out of the hydrometer. Quite cloudy, but I don't think I care. Rather drink than wait.

Wait to bottle if it is still bubbling. You're hydrometer is the only way to tell if it's done or not. Although, at 1.006, you are probably finished. What was you're SG? What yeast did you use?

 

[j1laskey]

I bottled at 1.008....didn't want to get too cider dry. Having yet another pint now....so good

 

[LyonsAudio]

I used nottingham, and started at 1.06 (I think, maybe 1.065).