im a little confused about cider. help plz

[doulovebeef]

so ive been reading the stickies and various other posts here in the cider forums, ive been brewing beer for 2 years and this is my first try making hard cider and im a little confused on a few things.

First, is there an ABV% i should stay below to maintain the apple flavor? i heard anything over 8 or 9% and you start losing flavor.

Second, i plan on back sweetening with apple concentrate when it comes time to keg. so should i let it ferment totally dry and then back sweeten, or should i stop it at around 1.010 or so?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Nateo]

Are you trying to make a woodchuck style sweet cider? I've found regular apple juice with no adjuncts ferments out with enough residual sweetness (for me) without needing to backsweeten. It's not like candy sweet though, a little sweeter than a raw granny smith apple.

 

[doulovebeef]

no not that sweet, i just want some apple flavor left.

 

[doulovebeef]

Nateo, do u let yours ferment totally dry?