Hi y'all from NC

[hallerobin]

Hey gang,
I'm in Durham, NC, and I make hard cider!
Still learning and experimenting, but having fun. Except my initiation into the "bottle bomb" club. That was decidedly NOT fun (but a valuable lesson was learned).

I'm a gal, 36 yrs, with 2 hound dogs and a cat. I run marathons and play tennis; to pay the bills, I am a public health researcher at UNC (go Heels!).

I rarely visit the non-cider forums, but I'll try to pop in and see what you beer brewers (especially the gluten-free ones) are up to!

Cheers!

 

[Hello]

Welcome. Is your go-to LHBS Bull City Homebrew? How is that place?
I'm always curious about cider bottle bombs. I have to bottle some cider here soon and it seems the chances of bottle bombs are greater.

 

[hallerobin]

Yep, I frequent Bull City Homebrew. I really like it--their prices seem very reasonable, and the staff I've met are very helpful.

Bottle bombs are quite avoidable; it's a matter of knowing how quickly the activity is going to happen and stopping it in time. My mistake was attempting to pasteurize a "gusher," when I should have just cold crashed.

Of course, if you're not looking to carb the cider, then your chances of a bomb are very slim.

 

[Hello]

Thanks. I'm looking to carb it. I'm making it for a friend who hates beer. Thus far, I've only made and given out beer and she is left out. I plan to head to Bull City HB one day soon just to check it out. I shop around the Raleigh area mostly but it's fun to poke around other HBS.

 

[hallerobin]

Cool; cider is super easy compared with beer.
If you want to meet up sometime, let me know. I finally feel like I'm getting ok at the whole cider thing, and I'd be happy to share whatever I've learned.

 

[layd0g]

Hey all! I'm in Apex and Bull City is the only HBS I've been to in the Triangle. I did their brew school about a year ago and caught the bug.

I can't speak for their cider ingredients, but the beer and wine ingredients are right on point. In fact it's cheaper than online if you include shipping. Their equipment is a little bit pricey, but if I need something in a hurry I don't hesitate to get it there.

The guys are all really cool and most of them are far more knowledgeable than I probably will ever be.

 

[hallerobin]

Hiya, Apex! Great to have the Triangle represented here!

 

[Acidjazz54]

Welcome hallerobin. I'm down in Sanford so a bit of a ways but my wife works in Durham and when I happen to be up that way I'll stop into Bull City.

I have done one cider but I didn't like the recipe I did (had hops which maybe it shouldn't have) but I would like to do another in the future. Maybe you can pass along some of the things you've learned.

 

[Hello]

Cool; cider is super easy compared with beer.
If you want to meet up sometime, let me know. I finally feel like I'm getting ok at the whole cider thing, and I'd be happy to share whatever I've learned.

Awesome, thanks for the invite. May take ya up on it some time.

Hey all! I'm in Apex and Bull City is the only HBS I've been to in the Triangle. I did their brew school about a year ago and caught the bug.

I can't speak for their cider ingredients, but the beer and wine ingredients are right on point. In fact it's cheaper than online if you include shipping. Their equipment is a little bit pricey, but if I need something in a hurry I don't hesitate to get it there.

The guys are all really cool and most of them are far more knowledgeable than I probably will ever be.

If you're in Apex then you're a pretty easy drive to Atlantic Brew Supply which just happens to be conveniently attached to Raleigh Brewing Company. Guys there are cool as all hell.

 

[hallerobin]

Welcome hallerobin. I'm down in Sanford so a bit of a ways but my wife works in Durham and when I happen to be up that way I'll stop into Bull City.

I have done one cider but I didn't like the recipe I did (had hops which maybe it shouldn't have) but I would like to do another in the future. Maybe you can pass along some of the things you've learned.

I'd be happy to, though I'm still learning, too!
When you're ready, let me know, and maybe I'll be a bit more seasoned

 

[Stealthcruiser]

HOWDY!
From Atlanta, Ga.
My Wife is from N.C., from Chatham County, Siler City, where Aunt Bea used to live.

Me likey N. C. !

 

[hallerobin]

Yeah, Siler City isn't too far at all!
Cackalacky, represent!

 

[Acidjazz54]

Hallerobin,

So as I said I'm interested in Cider and have been looking at a Caramel Apple Cider recipe on here. I'm wondering, it calls for 2 cups raw sugar and I have a ton of corn sugar that I'm not using, do you think it would be OK to use this?