How Long After Bottling Until Cider is Ready

[fayderek14]

So I bottled 8 gallons of cider last night. Just want to know how long until they are ready to drink. Ive read that they age like a wine so the longer they sit in the bottle the better. Also should they age in the refrigerator?

 

[Randzor]

2-3 weeks for drinkable ciders. Hide 24 bottles to drink in 6 months.

 

[fayderek14]

The ones I'm gonna put aside for some time should they just be kept at room temperature or refrigerated?

 

[Randzor]

Room temp is fine, i'm sure the lower the better but i'm to cheap to store that long in a refrigerator...(I also probably would drink them.) I store them in my laundry room with the furnace, so there can be temp swings, but they tend to turn out ok.

 

[MindenMan]

I bottled a AJC batch of hard cider May 6th, 2013, and it was just an experiment in hard cider. I don't remember much about brewing it, so I can't really give any specifics, but when I bottled it I wasn't expecting much. About week ago, I opened a bottle that had been in the fridge for 5 or 6 days just to see if it was worth drinking or not. It was worth drinking, and I wanted to have another. I didn't, as there are only 4 or 5 bottles left. I had another batch of cider going at the same time, only made from fresh apples I had juiced. I can hardly wait to open one for Thanksgiving.

EDIT: Although there is no hard data on long term storage at "high" temps or swinging temps, if possible, keep them away from light as well. I put mine in the hall/coat closet. Dark, cool, as fairly stable temps too.