New Cider batch

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Got my grains heating up to 155*
I got oats and English extra dark crystal, 2lbs total. I'm going to attempt a partial mash, and add 3 lbs light brown sugar and 7 cans of apple juice concentrate.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Getting all the goods off the grains.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Rinsing my grains with boiling water after heating the grains at 155 for one hour.



My son decided to throw his train into the left over grains!



So I went a little astray from my original idea. I added 2.5 lbs of light brown sugar, 2.5 lbs of DME and some pumpkin pie spice to the boil.



Anyone ever used this? I added about a tablespoon.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

This is what I got off the two pounds of oats and crystal (my extract). Not bad. Nice,dark and chewy. Just what I was going for.



I added 2 gallons of spring water and 8 cans of apple juice concentrate.



My yeast starter.



And here it is! I'm going to check the OG now.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Here it is, looks to be at 1.100 exactly.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Here she sits.



If anyone is interested here's my notes. I will keep an update on how it's doing.

 

[watomlinson]

Good thing you have a lot of head space on that thing, 1.100 is a monster gravity for a cider, but I guess technically this is a half way point between cider and Graf. Either way, sounds like it'll be a nice dark malty drink. Are you aiming for dry or sweet? Let it go all the way and you're looking at a hybrid apfelwein instead of cider.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

I know MONSTER GRAVITY! I can't wait to see what it's going to turn into. I should call it my Monster Mash.

 

[theDarkPint]

I know MONSTER GRAVITY! I can't wait to see what it's going to turn into. I should call it my Monster Mash.

Agreed. There is no name more appropriate than Monster Mash. Make it so.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

I HEAR BY DECLARE THIS YEAST INFUSED BEAST OF A BROWN SWEETENED CIDER.....MONSTER MASH!!! Thank you, thank you very much

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Good thing you have a lot of head space on that thing, 1.100 is a monster gravity for a cider, but I guess technically this is a half way point between cider and Graf. Either way, sounds like it'll be a nice dark malty drink. Are you aiming for dry or sweet? Let it go all the way and you're looking at a hybrid apfelwein instead of cider.

I prefer it a little sweet and carbonated.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

2am and its chugging away nice and steady







Go baby Go!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

 

[WilliamSlayer]

I wondered as well... what was the yeast? With a "monster S.G." like 1.100 did you use a strong belgian strain?

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

No just a wyeast cider/wine yeast, I always use it for my ciders. It's clean and usually works well.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Yummy!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Smelling sweet and appley

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Yummy!

Within the past hour or so the crausen is gone and it's bubbling the airlock like its on crack! Very tiny little bubbles going nuts like a freshly poured soda. You can here it sizzling away.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

 

[WilliamSlayer]

The power of nature right before your eyes. Bet your son gets top marks when he takes bio-science later on in life! Lol

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

It's been about 10 days now and I just took a reading. It looks to be about 1.020, not done!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Wait a minute, I did the calculation wrong. 1.100-1.020=0.080x131=10.48. I'd call it done.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

There we go man! Extracting the goods!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

The goods in secondary. Now we wait

 

[Unferth]

This looks pretty darn good, and I'm sure the toy train will only help the process.

Question: looks like a bit too much headspace for a secondary... Planning on racking into something smaller?

 

[WilliamSlayer]

Or bottling? And what type bottles if I may ask?

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

I have some 3 gallon carboys but I was afraid it would be close so I through it in the 5 gallon just to be safe. I plan on bottling in a month. I will back sweeten with AJC.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

I have 12oz glass bottles that I will be bottling with.

 

[WilliamSlayer]

Well a month in that 5gal carboy shouldn't be too bad I would think. But I would get it into bottles sooner rather than later, OR fill the 3gal carboy and bottle the rest!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

How come? I just never heard of having too much room in a secondary. Thanks

 

[WilliamSlayer]

How come? I just never heard of having too much room in a secondary. Thanks

Great question!

I was of the mind that after racking to secondary you have lost the protective 'blanket' of co2 that the cider had in the primary. Is that not the case for this batch? Did you rack it over with some fermentation yet to occur? If so, that protective blanket will be re-established.

If not, the large ammount of surface area is reacting with that cider, oxidizing it, and (possibly) allowing airborne bacteria to reach it (ex. - acedobacter).

Hopefully I'm just being a paranoid 'devils advocate' for you. Not criticising your technique!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Hey no problem man thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to place it in bottles then tomorrow.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

I transferred it to my 3 gallon. A lot better. Thanks for the insight.

 

[WilliamSlayer]

Looks great. (Got to get started on my next batch...)

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Bottled today!







Nice dark brown color



My carbonation tester bottle to see when it's ready to put into fridge.
Oh man this is the creamiest beverage I have ever made, I added 4 cans of AJC to exactly three gallons of my cider, at time of bottling. It's perfect! Now to let carb up.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Today was a good "brew" day

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

3 gallons yielded 33,12oz. Bottles

 

[ColbyJack]

Nice!

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Nice!

Hey that's a Cheesy name you got there

 

[WilliamSlayer]

Looks tasty. Your racking technique must be better than mine Haree, I never manage to get more than ten bottles per gallon. And frequently get less! What's your secret?