Man, I love Apfelwein

[EdWort]

The best advice is to follow the recipe as noted on page 1, post 1. Be advised it will be dry and kick-a$$ strong. Although you won't know that by the taste the alcohol is virtually undetectable.

Great advice! I use corn sugar (dextrose) because it is 100% fermentable, dissolves practically instantly, and does NOT add any body or flavor.

Some folks have strayed from the recipe either by desire to experiment or they simply did not have the listed ingredients.

While this is a brain dead simple recipe, it does require patience.

And if you are new to it, don't forget the 3 glass rule before passing judgement. :cross:

 

[Dude]

I found Treetop!! It's on now!

 

[NYeric]

I almost hate to post on this enormous thread. I tried to read it all...got to page 55 and forgot half of what I read....

I have everything for Ed's Original recipe...What is the best way to bottle? And was there any preference to prime before bottling.

I am jumping on the bandwagon and starting mine this week

 

[rod]

i bottled both my batches in beer bottles and primed at the regular rate of 3/4 cup dextrose/5 gallons.
both are nice and fizzy

 

[PenPen]

Holy long thread Batman. I made it through many pages, Edwort, but what I really want to know is does this taste like a hard cider? I looooove hard cider and actually tried to make it last fall with fresh, unpasteurized cider. I didn't know anything about brewing at the time and ended up dumping it. What I've learned since then.....

 

[EdWort]

Holy long thread Batman. I made it through many pages, Edwort, but what I really want to know is does this taste like a hard cider? I looooove hard cider and actually tried to make it last fall with fresh, unpasteurized cider. I didn't know anything about brewing at the time and ended up dumping it. What I've learned since then.....

This tastes just like German Apfelwein

The closest hard cider I have had is Scrumpy Jack's which is pretty dry.

The key is to understand that it is not sweet, so if you are expecting that, don"t.

It will grow on you after 3 glasses though.

 

[dibby33]

Hi Edwort, I am bottling mine tonight! Been in barrel for about 2 months!!!

 

[Chrus]

Started my first batch of this about an hr ago. Thats a hell of a lot of apple juice. One thing i was dissapointed with, was the fact that the girl at the checkout who sold us the juice... she acted like it wasnt a strange thing at all for anyone to be buying 25L of juice... I dunno... i was kinda expecting some comment...

Anyway... its in the carboy fermenting now... off to a good start... had airlock activity withing about 10-15 mins..

I dont wanna wait for it though... i just wanna be able to drink it now... it looks so good...

Chrus

 

[Reidman]

Started my first batch of this about an hr ago. Thats a hell of a lot of apple juice. One thing i was dissapointed with, was the fact that the girl at the checkout who sold us the juice... she acted like it wasnt a strange thing at all for anyone to be buying 25L of juice... I dunno... i was kinda expecting some comment...

Anyway... its in the carboy fermenting now... off to a good start... had airlock activity withing about 10-15 mins..

I dont wanna wait for it though... i just wanna be able to drink it now... it looks so good...

Chrus

I've bought this much juice before outside of making this stuff..

Kids go through a hell of a lot of juice so it makes sense to buy it by the gallon

 

[britishbloke]

Thats a hell of a lot of apple juice. One thing i was dissapointed with, was the fact that the girl at the checkout who sold us the juice... she acted like it wasnt a strange thing at all for anyone to be buying 25L of juice... I dunno... i was kinda expecting some comment...
Chrus

She obviously hasn't had her training on watching out for terrorists.

Terrorist's have been known to buy large quantities of apple juice. Watch it!

 

[Whelk]

Terrorist's have been known to buy large quantities of apple juice. Watch it!

Yeah, they use it to make sticky bombs...not very deadly, but really annoying to mop up.

 

[Focus]

125 pages... does this thread hold the record for longest in HBT history?


Or does that go to last season's Fantasy Football?

 

[scottthorn]

I can't believe I read the whole thing - slow day at the office I guess!

I'll be mixing up some apfelwein this weekend. Thanks to Ed for founding this cult

 

[Ryanh1801]

Would strongbow Dry cider be comparable? Once i get all my AG stuff bought I plan on making this, just want to make sure ill like it first.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Would strongbow Dry cider be comparable? Once i get all my AG stuff bought I plan on making this, just want to make sure ill like it first.

No not so much. This Apfelwein is stronger and dryer. If you wanted to make cider more like strong bow. I would use the following.

5 gal of pasteurized juice
1 or 2 cans concentrate (optional)
2 oz of yeast nutrient
1 pack of nottingham yeast.​

I'm guessing 3.5-4% ABV with juice only

If you want to make it stronger add more concentrate or corn sugar. The concentrate will make it sweeter, sugar will make it dryer.

I don't know the ABV effect per can of the concentrate. Corn sugar by the lb will add 2.5% ABV.

 

[Ryanh1801]

Thats kind of what i figured, strongbow was dryer than other ciders i have had, but it still seemed pretty sweet. I asked the waitress if they had apfelwein and I just got a weird look. This was at the one bar i though might have it, they have over 200 different beers.

 

[MikeRLynch]

Maybe once edwort stops playing around as an amature and goes legit we'll see the Apfelwein handle on our local taps

mike

 

[EdWort]

Maybe once edwort stops playing around as an amature and goes legit we'll see the Apfelwein handle on our local taps

Someday I WILL open a brewpub and serve great beer and great food.

I call it retirement.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I just saw my first yeast-snow storm in both of my apfelwein's.

I never saw this before, I always keep the carboys covered with t-shirt or a towel and I keep the light they see to a minimum.

In this case since its Apfelwein there no problems with getting light-struck hops. I put a flashlight up to the carboy looking for fruit sediment only to find the snow storm going. - Apfelwein Snowglobe - Kind of like what it been doing outside all day!!

If you don't know what I'm talking about look at BierMunchers post 1048, page 105.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14860&page=105

BTW - Very Cool post BierMuncher.

I can't believe how much large white particals are floating around....

 

[EdWort]

I've never seen a yeast storm before with Montrachet yeast. Just lots of bubbles.

Here's what Montrachet fermentation looks like at 55 hours after pitching dry yeast.

Notice the lack of kreuzen or foam, but a very active air lock full of vodka.

.

 

[CAlexander]

Hey guys,

Made my first batch, fermented for about 5 weeks and just bottled it last Tuesday, priming with 3/4 cup of priming sugar. So it's been in bottles for about 9 days, cracked one open and there is only a hint of carbonation. I've heard to wait 3 weeks (unrealistic, come on guys this is my first batch I have to try it out ) so I guess I'm just confirming that in another week or so it will get more carbonation. Thoughts?

 

[sirsloop]

Keep in mind, if you have a drink thats 8.5% alcohol, there isn't going to be very much of a head on it. The booze kills head retention.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Yes - I've heard 3 weeks is standard since the yeast works slower. Keep the carbing temp between 59-86. Keeping it in the higher end will help it carb faster.

Nothing says you have to wait for it carb.

 

[JayMckeever]

since there is no carbonation, it can't really go stale can it? My question is, would I be able to keep the original apple juice bottles to put the Apfelwein in?

 

[EdWort]

since there is no carbonation, it can't really go stale can it? My question is, would I be able to keep the original apple juice bottles to put the Apfelwein in?

I've done that before I had kegs or bottles, but I kept them in the fridge. After 4 or 6 weeks, the bottles will still build up a little pressure even in the fridge. The problem you'll run into is how quick you drink a gallon of Apfelwein.

 

[bare19672]

Sorry, but with so many pages to review I just thought I would ask the questions.
1. Can I pitch a new batch on the old yeast cake?
2. I purchased some lactose how much should I use for the 5 gallons to sweeten?

I checked the gravity yesterday SWMBO really liked it uncarbonated with 1/2 7-up. I am going to try to bottle condition my first batch.
I can tell this is going to be popular so want to make another right away.

Thanks Ed !!!

 

[EdWort]

1. Can I pitch a new batch on the old yeast cake?
Yes. I've done it, but it has not fallen completely clear yet and it's 6 weeks old. I'm reserving judgment till I try it. As it is now, I won't do it again.

2. I purchased some lactose how much should I use for the 5 gallons to sweeten?

I don't sweeten mine. Perhaps someone will chime in here.

I checked the gravity yesterday SWMBO really liked it uncarbonated with 1/2 7-up

That's the way lots of Germans drink it.

 

[NOVA Brewer]

Put together my first batch of apfelwein tonight. 5 gallons of cider, 2 pounds of corn sugar, and a pack of Montrachet yeast.

What should my OG be?

 

[EdWort]

Put together my first batch of apfelwein tonight. 5 gallons of cider, 2 pounds of corn sugar, and a pack of Montrachet yeast.

What should my OG be?

Congrats! Depending on your juice, it should be between 1.061 and 1.065.

Welcome to the Club, the Apfelwein Club.

 

[NOVA Brewer]

Hm. Well, my OG was a bit higher - 1.070, but I guess that's close enough for government work.