Man, I love Apfelwein

[Mirilis]

Anyone used brown sugar added to theirs? I only had 1.5 pounds of corn sugar (priming sugar left over from when i made kit bears before AG) So i used 0.5 pounds of Dark Brown Sugar just for the hell of it and had to use Pasteur Champagn yeast as that was all that was available.

I used Mott's Apple Juice if that matters too.

 

[Thwizzit]

Had a BBQ this weekend and someone brought over a bottle of Relax Reisling wine in an elegant cobalt blue bottle (which I washed and promptly de-labeled) because I thought it would make a nice Apfelwine bottle. It's only about eight or nine dollars a bottle so I may have to drink a few more, get some corks and add them to my bottle collection.

Coincidentally, the description of the wine says it's got some apple flavors 'Forward fruit and floral aromas of apples and peaches with just a hint of citrus.'

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Had a BBQ this weekend and someone brought over a bottle of Relax Reisling wine in an elegant cobalt blue bottle (which I washed and promptly de-labeled) because I thought it would make a nice Apfelwine bottle. It's only about eight or nine dollars a bottle so I may have to drink a few more, get some corks and add them to my bottle collection.

Coincidentally, the description of the wine says it's got some apple flavors 'Forward fruit and floral aromas of apples and peaches with just a hint of citrus.'

"Relax Reisling" is that the wine with rohypnol in it?

 

[EdWort]

I just tasted my 2/4/08 batch

We just finished a 2/5/07 keg. It was awsome! It's great having 8 month to a year old Apfelwein. The apple flavor and aroma is amazing at this age.

 

[Lost Pirate]

We just finished a 2/5/07 keg. It was awsome! It's great having 8 month to a year old Apfelwein. The apple flavor and aroma is amazing at this age.

Your right as always Ed. I just kegged a batch I made in Sept. and it's fantastic. I don't know if I'll have the patience to wait that long again though!

 

[EricK The Red]

I just tapped my keg with a 1.5 month old batch and it's great! My first batch was a 3 gal test batch using Nottingham and it too was good, but not as good as with Montrachet IMO.

 

[blacklab]

Anyone used brown sugar added to theirs? I only had 1.5 pounds of corn sugar (priming sugar left over from when i made kit bears before AG) So i used 0.5 pounds of Dark Brown Sugar just for the hell of it and had to use Pasteur Champagn yeast as that was all that was available.

I used Mott's Apple Juice if that matters too.

I used 1 lb corn sugar and 1 lb brown sugar in my first batch, and IMHO, it was much better than my current version, which is all corn sugar.

 

[BigKahuna]

Your right as always Ed.

and because of this...

but not as good as with Montrachet IMO.

Notice this is a IMO not a IMHO! Now...Dont' get me wrong, EricK is right, and it's worth experimenting, but there is no humility in dinking with Ed's recipe. Make it as he says, keep a 3 fermenter stash bubbling at all times. When you get curious, experiment with brown sugar, Cote Des Blank, and Peach flavored grape juice (VERY GOOD), or what ever your deal at the time is, Just Don't try and call it Ed's Apfelwein. Ed isn't responsible for more than what I estimate to be nearly $25,000 worth of apple juice because his recipe needs modified.
5 gallons Apple juice
2#'s Corn Sugar
1 pack Montrichet

Pure Magic!

 

[kaptain_karma]

I need more fermenters. Afer my first batch, I've dedicated one better bottle to only apfelweine, but every batch is long gone before the next is finished, let alone aged for a year.

Thanks again to Edwort for such a simple and delicious phenomenon!

EDIT: Does anyone have the knoledge/means to caclulate how Ed's Apfelweine has influenced worldwide sales of preservative-free apple juice?

 

[Homercidal]

Ok, need to build a time machine, so I don't have to wait for my next batch of Apfelwein to age properly. I don't know how you guys can do it!

 

[Thwizzit]

Ok, need to build a time machine, so I don't have to wait for my next batch of Apfelwein to age properly.

 

[mrhead]

Ok, need to build a time machine, so I don't have to wait for my next batch of Apfelwein to age properly.

Add it to the list: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=64579

 

[badsneaker]

Will it change a bit with age? Does anyone else think it tastes like champagne?

I carbonated a few bottles from my last batch. I have to say that they taste exactly like the champagne my sister-in-law had served at her wedding a few weeks ago. I'm not much into wines though.

I have some stored in a refridgerator for the past few months... it is amazing how much the taste is improving.

 

[hellbender]

Well, its been about five weeks and my initial batch has cleared nicely and now is as clear as the original apple juice. Does this thing ever stop fermenting? It has been held at 68-74 F for the entire time.

I started another batch this week and it got off to a roaring start.

I mixed up a batch in strict accordance with Ed's recipe on April 2. After 24 hours the fermentation was underway. As of this morning the batch is cloudy, the airlock is bubbling merrily along and I observe a 1/2" ring along the sides of small bubbles as well as some small bubbles rising through the center. I am maintaining the tem,perature at about 68 F.

I used Krkland brand apple juice available in 1 gallon jugs at the local Costco.

 

[Merz]

Question: Will it turn out ok if i dont ferment for the full 6 weeks?

I am moving to Wyoming next week and my apfelwein will have been in the primary for only about 3.5 weeks. Will it be ok if i bottle it and take it with me? or should i show my dad how to bottle it so he can do it when its done?
Thanks.

 

[BigKahuna]

Question: Will it turn out ok if i dont ferment for the full 6 weeks?

I am moving to Wyoming next week

Apfelwein will ferment just fine in Wyoming. I promise.
Strap your carboy in the back seat, pack your cloths around it and go. It will be Fine!
You could also leave it till you go back to your dads

 

[TexLaw]

Hey, you wanna know what goes well with a glass of apfelwein on a nice day?

A squeeze of lime.


TL

 

[Merz]

Apfelwein will ferment just fine in Wyoming. I promise.
Strap your carboy in the back seat, pack your cloths around it and go. It will be Fine!
You could also leave it till you go back to your dads

Thats true, but im not bringing my brewing equipment with me. I will be living at a friends house for 4 months working in the oil fields and wont have time or space for it. Could i leave it here in the primary for 4 months until i get back?

 

[Merz]

Hey, you wanna know what goes well with a glass of apfelwein on a nice day?

A squeeze of lime.


TL

Good thing i bought my girlfriend a dwarf lime tree for valentines day!

 

[blacklab]

Thats true, but im not bringing my brewing equipment with me. I will be living at a friends house for 4 months working in the oil fields and wont have time or space for it. Could i leave it here in the primary for 4 months until i get back?

I'd just leave it in the carboy until you get back. Or you could have your dad bottle it after it clears.

By the way - welcome! I used to surf down your way all the time.

 

[Thwizzit]

Hey, you wanna know what goes well with a glass of apfelwein on a nice day?

A squeeze of lime.

Or just some squeeze...

 

[Merz]

I'd just leave it in the carboy until you get back. Or you could have your dad bottle it after it clears.

By the way - welcome! I used to surf down your way all the time.

Thanks! I tried surfing for about a year and never got the hang of it. Now im more into kayaking, fishing, and beer drinking.


So, it will be ok after 4 months in the carboy? I will probably do that then. If it doesnt work, im only out ~$20.
I was hoping i could bottle it and bring it with me so id have something to drink in Wyoming..

 

[skou]

I started my last batch in December, and bottled it yesterday.

Came out just fine!

steve

 

[IrregularPulse]

Just tasted my first batch for the first time yesterday. Took my gravity reading (1.001 at 66*F). Drank my sample. A little surprised at how it turned out. Very clear.(expected) tast like a pale wine. Could definitely see it tasting like champaigne after carbing it. Does more apple taste come out after being bottled?? Not a giant fan so far. Thought it was so so but not something worth waiting 2 months for....*Hoping more flavor comes out in growlers*

 

[Shaggy]

Just tasted my first batch for the first time yesterday. Took my gravity reading (1.001 at 66*F). Drank my sample. A little surprised at how it turned out. Very clear.(expected) tast like a pale wine. Could definitely see it tasting like champaigne after carbing it. Does more apple taste come out after being bottled?? Not a giant fan so far. Thought it was so so but not something worth waiting 2 months for....*Hoping more flavor comes out in growlers*

From what Ed has been been saying, letting it mellow for months the apples do come back more in time. I think he said he just finished off a keg recently that was 8months old and it was wonderful. I'm hoping so myself as the first reading I took I tried the sample and it was tart and hot lol!
Anyway...my first batch is a bit over 2 months now. I'm going to check the grav this week and see if I should bottle. Then I'll start another batch while the current one rests for a while. Letting this stuff sit while life rolls on anyway...well, I don't mind the wait. Especially if I like it after a good aging.

 

[BigKahuna]

When do you think a Noob should give Apfelwein a try?
I mean A DIE HARD Beer drinker...NooB
Like batch #3 or #4....Maybe #2 if they got a glass carboy with their kit?

 

[xcrusader]

When do you think a Noob should give Apfelwein a try?
I mean A DIE HARD Beer drinker...NooB
Like batch #3 or #4....Maybe #2 if they got a glass carboy with their kit?

I'd say its a good batch #1. Its easy and you cant screw it up..unless you dont follow the directions...

Give it a whirl.. you wont be disappointed.

 

[Shaggy]

I'd say its a good batch #1. Its easy and you cant screw it up..unless you dont follow the directions...

Give it a whirl.. you wont be disappointed.

Yeah...this threads original recipe was my first.
Its so simple to put together I couldn't resist giving it a try.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I did it between batches 2-3. I don't really consider it a "batch" cause it wasn't exactly a brew day. just pouring and shaking and pitching. DONE

 

[fratermus]

When do you think a Noob should give Apfelwein a try?
I mean A DIE HARD Beer drinker...NooB
Like batch #3 or #4....Maybe #2 if they got a glass carboy with their kit?

Sure. Sooner rather than later, because it will take longer than normal beer. Stick it in the glass primary and forget about it for a while.