Making My First Cider, Would Like Some Advice

[jturkish]

I just bought this

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YT5XJQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Is that all i need? just pitch some cider yeast and call it good?

Or should i check the gravity of the juice and add sugar as needed to bring up to 1.060 or whatever desired alcohol amount?

 

[sniperd]

You can do different things, add sugar to kick up the gravity, flavor it, etc. Whatever you do will come out well, but have a plan to carbonate it unless you want it flat.

If you keg it's easy. If you want it very dry but carbonated, also easy. But if you want to back sweeten it you'd have to use a non-fermentable sugar or get tricky try to pasteurize. Lots of posts out on here on different ways to do it.

 

[jturkish]

i was planning on carbonating it like i would with beer

 

[sniperd]

It will work fine if you ferment the juice alllllll they way down and then add priming sugar/bottle like normal. You'll have a very very dry cider and of course that is fine if that is what you are looking for.

If you don't let it ferment all the way, bottle bomb time!

 

[jturkish]

It will work fine if you ferment the juice alllllll they way down and then add priming sugar/bottle like normal. You'll have a very very dry cider and of course that is fine if that is what you are looking for.

If you don't let it ferment all the way, bottle bomb time!

was reading terminal gravity should be .996-.998, was planing on taking a gravity reading to see if i reached before carbonating

 

[sniperd]

That sounds right to me, should be good to go!

 

[boob_brewing]

Yes, once you hit ~1.00X ish you're getting close. For a cider noob, back sweeten with splenda and prime with corn sugar as you would regular beer. Much less guessing and PFM.

Chive on!
-AH

 

[jturkish]

Yes, once you hit ~1.00X ish you're getting close. For a cider noob, back sweeten with splenda and prime with corn sugar as you would regular beer. Much less guessing and PFM.

Chive on!
-AH

1 week later gravity is 1.010 - can i bottle without priming and have enough sugar to carbonate?

how much splenda do i use for 2 gallons?