Graff (Malty, slightly hopped cider)

[Jwin]

Thanks. I can cold crash. Even if I cold crash to clarity, is there enough yeast in suspension for carbonation? I added bentonite. Will this be a problem for bottle carbing?

Should be fine. Many cold crash before bottling. It won't hurt to let it sit for a few more days for a diacetyl rest.

 

[IJesusChrist]

Should be fine. Many cold crash before bottling. It won't hurt to let it sit for a few more days for a diacetyl rest.

I bought a keg, finally, for this. I added half a cup of sucrose last night, had no bubbling in the airlock this morning, so figured fermentation hadn't started yet (but hope it will).

Will try it out in a week or 2. My hose connectors for force-carbing will come in next week.

 

[thunderwagn]

I'm at 1.5 weeks and it looks like fermentation is slowing down a bit. I'll probably let it sit in the carboy till week 3. I've got a stout to bottle first
I can't wait to try this thing called graf though!

 

[jarensingh]

Brewed this October 1st and it still looks like its chugging away. Was planning to bottle tomorrow, but I suppose maybe it'll be ready after the weekend. I'm excited to try this, hoping for a quality product to use as Christmas presents.

 

[IJesusChrist]

Brewed this October 1st and it still looks like its chugging away. Was planning to bottle tomorrow, but I suppose maybe it'll be ready after the weekend. I'm excited to try this, hoping for a quality product to use as Christmas presents.

Wow, what temperature? Have you take an sg lately? Mine stopped at 1.014-ish after about 7 days

 

[jarensingh]

Wow, what temperature? Have you take an sg lately? Mine stopped at 1.014-ish after about 7 days

It's in my basement, about 62-64 degrees last I checked, . I haven't taken a gravity reading since I closed the fermenter. I did boil some water and a pound of brown sugar and put it in after a few days, so that didn't speed the process along at all

 

[IJesusChrist]

It's in my basement, about 62-64 degrees last I checked, . I haven't taken a gravity reading since I closed the fermenter. I did boil some water and a pound of brown sugar and put it in after a few days, so that didn't speed the process along at all

..oh haha

 

[thunderwagn]

Ha, I'll be at 2 weeks Sunday, and mine is still going. I followed the recipe except for using Bry-97 yeast.

 

[IJesusChrist]

Ha, I'll be at 2 weeks Sunday, and mine is still going. I followed the recipe except for using Bry-97 yeast.

Ahh perhaps it is the difference in yeast. I used S-05.

 

[IJesusChrist]

Man, so I followed the original recipe to a T. I may have added the wort a bit too hot to the cider/juice.

It tastes alright. Its like a tart dry cider, mixed with coors light. It's just not that amazing.

It also gives me one hell of a hang over .

It's ... just OK. Not sure if I would make this again... I'd probably reduce the grains 1/2, add more sugar to bump the ABV 1-2%, and back sweeten with a little cider concentrate...

I might even consider caramelizing some sugar. It's just... OK.

 

[thunderwagn]

Man, so I followed the original recipe to a T. I may have added the wort a bit too hot to the cider/juice.

It tastes alright. Its like a tart dry cider, mixed with coors light. It's just not that amazing.

It also gives me one hell of a hang over .

It's ... just OK. Not sure if I would make this again... I'd probably reduce the grains 1/2, add more sugar to bump the ABV 1-2%, and back sweeten with a little cider concentrate...

I might even consider caramelizing some sugar. It's just... OK.

Yeah, I tasted a sample of mine the other day checking gravity. I know it's still a bit early, but to be good it's got a TON of improving to do...
I'm going to brew it again and probably use crystal 120L. I do think I got a lazy batch of yeast, so I'm going with a different yeast and also going for a yeast nutrient.
I'm not giving up on this yet. It's gotten way to many great reviews. I'm chalking up my first attempt to brewer error somewhere and ****ty yeast.

 

[Jwin]

I've used apple juice concentrate and brown sugar with good luck to boost abv.
I got lazy with my last arch of granny smith based cider and left it in primary for almost 3 months. It smelled of vinegar so I dumped it.
I found the granny smith juice at walmart about this time of year last year. Seemed seasonal.

 

[j1laskey]

Another fantastic batch View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1446083680.331944.jpg

 

[RobertMT]

I've made four batches in last few months. They get good reviews from most that try them, at least the beer drinkers. Most common remark, that's a real good tasting beer, it has interesting flavor, what is it?

First batch was OK, followed recipe pretty close, using Knotty.
Second batch, switched to 6 gallon glass carboy, I did small, 2 1/2 gallon boil, BIB 4lb two row, 1lb 60L, 1lb instant oats, 1/3oz hallertauer @60min and another 1/3oz at flame out, cooled and added to 3 1/2 gallons AJ, with washed Knotty. At bottling, primed with 1/2 can FAJC and bottle conditioned 3 weeks. Incredible head and smooth just past dry.
Third batch 1lb 60L steeped, in 3qts 150 water, sparged with 3 qts 170 strong tea, added 4lbs of M.O. LME, 30 min boil, 1/4oz Cascade at flame out, cooled added to 3 1/2 gallons AJ, 2 cans FAJC, one tablespoon powdered lemon, washed Knotty, kept ferm temp lower 68 instead of 72 of previous batches. Primed with 1/2 can FAJC. After three weeks in bottle, incredible flavor, reasonable head and bit darker.
Fourth batch 4lbs MO LME, 1 gallon strong tea, 30 min boil, 1/4oz cascade for 30min, cooled, added to 4 1/2 gallons AJ with 2lbs brown sugar dissolved in it and 1 tablespoon of lemon powder, washed Knotty, fermented at 65 three weeks, transferred to secondary, two 3 gallon, added another pound of brown sugar, to each batch, after another two weeks, cleared one batch with gelatin and cold crashed, bottled tonight, primed with 1/4 can FAJC. Not sure if it'll carb or not, alcohol may be too high. Sample was like Pappy's with MO and touch of citrus, from cascade and lemon. Very smooth, strong, hint of apple and slightly sweet, few weeks in bottle and may be best yet.

Last 3 gallons, from this batch, I'm going to rerack and throw in some whisky OAK chips and let it set in secondary another few weeks.

 

[IJesusChrist]

Hmmm. Ok so, I don't have equip to do biab or all grain. With everything you said what would you recommend for the next batch?

 

[RobertMT]

Hmmm. Ok so, I don't have equip to do biab or all grain. With everything you said what would you recommend for the next batch?

I would try for lower fermentation temps, mine get better, the lower I can maintain. If you're finishing in 7 days, you must be running over 70 - 72, mine's taking closer to four weeks. Too warm, you get more off flavors and hangovers. Let it age a bit, it helps mellow it out.

Have your tried Pappy's Pub Cider yet? it could be more to your tastes. It leaves more apple taste, month or more age helps it. It's ABV is pretty high, I've done it with Knotty and 1/4 less sugar, replacing half remaining sugar with FAJC and priming with FAJC. It brings it down to 13-14% range.

Be sure to leave room or add blow off tube, I added it to Graff yeast cake and had massive over flow, through airlock.

 

[seabrew8]

Anyone use gelatin with this stuff?

 

[IJesusChrist]

I would try for lower fermentation temps, mine get better, the lower I can maintain. If you're finishing in 7 days, you must be running over 70 - 72, mine's taking closer to four weeks. Too warm, you get more off flavors and hangovers. Let it age a bit, it helps mellow it out.

Have your tried Pappy's Pub Cider yet? it could be more to your tastes. It leaves more apple taste, month or more age helps it. It's ABV is pretty high, I've done it with Knotty and 1/4 less sugar, replacing half remaining sugar with FAJC and priming with FAJC. It brings it down to 13-14% range.

Be sure to leave room or add blow off tube, I added it to Graff yeast cake and had massive over flow, through airlock.

Mellow it out? It's too mellow! There aren't any off flavors, really, its just... bland. Like I said, someone took Coors light and mixed it with 3 tbsp of some woodchuck cider.

I'd be willing to try the pappy's next. I read about that. I didn't know the ABV was that high though, wow

 

[RobertMT]

If it was too bland, maybe you needed more/darker crystal and aroma hop. I rechecked my notes and first batch was 2lbs light DME and lb amber DME, 1/3oz hallertauer for 30min and small aroma hop addition, 1/4oz cascade at flame out, primed with 1/2 can FAJC.
It was more like Michelob, mixed with apple, than coors light.

By mellow, I meant let the fuzzel go away, to help with hangover.

 

[RobertMT]

Anyone use gelatin with this stuff?

I've tried using it to clear, last couple of times, not as good as super-clear KC, but dirt cheap.

 

[IJesusChrist]

No fusels, hangover is probably just drinking too much hah... I haven't added anything to backsweeten so perhaps that's an issue. It's alright. Really. I can drink it. I just would rather drink a woodchuck or even angry orchard

 

[seabrew8]

I've tried using it to clear, last couple of times, not as good as super-clear KC, but dirt cheap.

Thanks, how long has it taken to clear naturally in your experience?

I'm really trying to find something i can brew thats relatiavely easy and i can buy most of the ingredients locally! I'm hoping this is it, i'm a beer guy. Ordered the DME, hops etc yesterday!

 

[wc1376c]

Thanks, how long has it taken to clear naturally in your experience?

I'm really trying to find something i can brew thats relatiavely easy and i can buy most of the ingredients locally! I'm hoping this is it, i'm a beer guy. Ordered the DME, hops etc yesterday!

If you wait that extra week like Brandon says, it will clear by then. All 20 something batches that I have made take approx five to seven days and they start pouring clear (i can watch TV through the lighter ones).

 

[seabrew8]

If you wait that extra week like Brandon says, it will clear by then. All 20 something batches that I have made take approx five to seven days and they start pouring clear (i can watch TV through the lighter ones).

Not sure of the extra week your refering too.

Whats normally your timelime? I ordered mt hood hops any experience with those?

20 batches! awesome.

 

[IJesusChrist]

...something i can brew thats relatiavely easy and i can buy most of the ingredients locally
...
Ordered the DME, hops etc yesterday!

Wait what?

 

[seabrew8]

"most"

 

[wc1376c]

Not sure of the extra week your refering too.

Whats normally your timelime? I ordered mt hood hops any experience with those?

That extra few days is for kegging. Brandon wrote about this at the start of this forum.

My time line is scewed now, I have about two batches sitting in reserve (waiting for empty kegs). After pitch I am usually have a drinkable Graf in two weeks. I make sure that as soon as I keg a batch I brew a batch. I have been brewing this and Braggots for the last three months exclusivley.

 

[seabrew8]

That extra few days is for kegging. Brandon wrote about this at the start of this forum.

My time line is scewed now, I have about two batches sitting in reserve (waiting for empty kegs). After pitch I am usually have a drinkable Graf in two weeks. I make sure that as soon as I keg a batch I brew a batch. I have been brewing this and Braggots for the last three months exclusivley.

Thanks, thats fast! I have a pappy pub cider going now and a few old wine kits my father had that he was going to throw away. I really can't wait to get the graff going because the pub cider is going to take at least 6 weeks i figure. Last time i got into brewing i really shot myself in the foot by not giving it the time it needed so i like to have some quick turn around stuff.

I assume the braggot stuff with honey takes longer then graff?

 

[thunderwagn]

My graf has been in the fermentor for a month today. Did another gravity check today and it's 'done'. The flavor has improved vastly over the past week. I'm now picking up some malty notes, a bit of tartness, a bit of sweet and nice apple at the end. We have some cold days coming up this week. I think I may cold crash outside just to finish clearing it up a bit and go ahead and bottle.

 

[A50SNAKE]

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me out, with a BIAB stove top recipe for the all grain brew? I was wanting to do this on the stovetop and I think my 1G paint strainer bad would be a good way to go with this one...

thoughts?