How long?

[bdub]

I have some cider fermenting away in the basement and have yet another question.

How long can it sit in the primary? The fermentation is going strong as ever now, but i figure i may as well figure out the next step now. My original plan was to let it sit untill late march and bottle it as a bday gift for my girlfriend. Do i need to move it over to a secondary before then, or will it be ok?

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Quite long.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

But in all seriousness any gravity readings?

 

[bdub]

well, no.
I tossed it all in the primary without taking any readings. It was my first act as home brewer, back when all i had was corn sugar, apple juice, yeast, and a better bottle.

I have no idea where it started out at. But, i have since picked up some more equipment, and will take a reading once the fermentation dies off.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Youll get some different opinions on the use of a secondary vessel on this site. Many on this site will not use a secondary for most brews myself included. But for that long I would get it off the yeast cake after fermentation dies down.
EDIT: Im speaking mostly from beer brewing so ignore what I just said. I didnt see you were doing cider. Im a "new posts" whore

 

[bdub]

would i be just as well to bottle it once it stops fermenting and let the cider sit in bottles?

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

I would say it depends how patient you are

 

[bdub]

this will not be drank, besides test samples for hydro tests, until her 21st birthday.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

wow well then in that case IMBO i would say you cant really go wrong with a secondary. Are you going to carb it? Again remember I am no cider expert.

 

[bdub]

it will be carbed up. i might keep one six pack uncarbed just to try it.

 

[GrantLee63]

For ciders, I primary for 2 months, secondary for 4 months, then bulk-age for at least one year. Most ciders are drank waaaaaaaaaaay too young. YMMV.

- GL63

 

[HP_Lovecraft]

I agree, though I never had the patience to wait that long UNTIL I got married, and a few cased went into storage.

I didn't get around to pulling them out until 7 years later! They were the best cider I've ever had, ever. Mellowed beyond my imagination.