Well, I've been coming here for a while for advice and thought I'd share my 'work in progress' Ginger Cider recipe. I really like the way it is now, but if anybody has suggestions or advice I'm happy to continue tweaking it.
Target Volume: 5 gallon
Target ABV: 7.5%
Ingredients:
6.2 lbs sugar
2.5 lbs honey (I just use nice cheap Clover honey)
2 oz. Cascade Hops
6 cups Ginger juice
5 Campden tablets
1 tsp. yeast nutrient
Wyeast 1056
Procedure:
* Start with 6 lbs of sugar in brew kettle, add water to 5 gallons total
* Bring water to a boil
* 15 min: 1 oz Cascade hops
* 5 min: 1 oz Cascade hops
* Chill to <90F
* Add ginger juice, campden tablets, and yeast nutrient
* Wait for 24 hours before pitching yeast to allow campden tablets to off gas
* ~2 weeks in primary fermentor
* Rack to keg.
* Back sweeten with 2.5 lbs of honey.
- I've generally had the best luck by taking equal parts cider and honey and putting them in a small container that I can shake vigorously until it makes a honey syrup and then adding that to the keg. Otherwise I often get a layer of honey at the bottom of the keg.
* Allow to condition in the keg for at least 2 weeks. This really mellows the hops and honey and results in a nice smooth cider; if you drink it right away it'll be harshly bitter followed by cloyingly sweet.
Thoughts? As I said, I'm a big fan of this recipe already, but I'm always looking to experiment.
Target Volume: 5 gallon
Target ABV: 7.5%
Ingredients:
6.2 lbs sugar
2.5 lbs honey (I just use nice cheap Clover honey)
2 oz. Cascade Hops
6 cups Ginger juice
5 Campden tablets
1 tsp. yeast nutrient
Wyeast 1056
Procedure:
* Start with 6 lbs of sugar in brew kettle, add water to 5 gallons total
* Bring water to a boil
* 15 min: 1 oz Cascade hops
* 5 min: 1 oz Cascade hops
* Chill to <90F
* Add ginger juice, campden tablets, and yeast nutrient
* Wait for 24 hours before pitching yeast to allow campden tablets to off gas
* ~2 weeks in primary fermentor
* Rack to keg.
* Back sweeten with 2.5 lbs of honey.
- I've generally had the best luck by taking equal parts cider and honey and putting them in a small container that I can shake vigorously until it makes a honey syrup and then adding that to the keg. Otherwise I often get a layer of honey at the bottom of the keg.
* Allow to condition in the keg for at least 2 weeks. This really mellows the hops and honey and results in a nice smooth cider; if you drink it right away it'll be harshly bitter followed by cloyingly sweet.
Thoughts? As I said, I'm a big fan of this recipe already, but I'm always looking to experiment.