newbie cider

[Trentonln]

Hello,

I'd been wanting to make my own cider for a while now; I went to a local homebrew place that's been there for years, and the owner basically said to keep it simple, experiment, have fun.

So, right now I've got a plastic-wrapped 2-gal plastic bucket with about a gallon of apple juice (juiced myself with 3/4 bushel of jonagold & some other type of apple) with a packet of wine yeast put in there (proofed) and a teaspoon of sugar. In my basement (50 - 60 F). Doesnt look like much is happening right now. Some small bubbles & foamy stuff on top, but that's all. It's been a 3 days....

Is this cider that I want to make salvageable at all? what would be any next steps to get the best product out of it? I'd rather not buy any specialized equipment..
Thanks,
Bob

 

[HerotBrewer]

Should be fine. I brewed up some cider using storebought cider WITH preservatives, and added brown sugar and Fleischmann's bread yeast. Fermented out in 4 days or so. Just give it some time.

Did you take an original gravity reading? That's really the only way you can tell if fermentation is going on. You won't necessarily see alot of foaming, or krausen like with beer.

 

[Trentonln]

I don't know how to take gravity readings. I'd like to put off buying equipment for now, and get more detailed in the future. Being a natural product, with yeast put in, in addition to the yeast already on the apples, with the sugars in the apple juice, I would *assume* it's fermenting. Smelled it last night & it's smelling a bit funky (in a brewing/yeasty sorta way), so I'd guess somethings' going on. Guess I'll just wait a few more days, and see what happens, I guess!?

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Hello,

I'd been wanting to make my own cider for a while now; I went to a local homebrew place that's been there for years, and the owner basically said to keep it simple, experiment, have fun.

So, right now I've got a plastic-wrapped 2-gal plastic bucket with about a gallon of apple juice (juiced myself with 3/4 bushel of jonagold & some other type of apple) with a packet of wine yeast put in there (proofed) and a teaspoon of sugar. In my basement (50 - 60 F). Doesnt look like much is happening right now. Some small bubbles & foamy stuff on top, but that's all. It's been a 3 days....

Is this cider that I want to make salvageable at all? what would be any next steps to get the best product out of it? I'd rather not buy any specialized equipment..
Thanks,
Bob

The temp might be at the lower end for the strain of yeast you're using. What strain is it? Regards, GF.

 

[Pappers_]

Yes, I think GF is on the right track. Move it somewhere where the temp is closer to 70 and see if you can warm up the yeasties and get them to work. I usually try to ferment my cider between 60 - 65, using an ale yeast.

 

[HerotBrewer]

I don't know how to take gravity readings. I'd like to put off buying equipment for now, and get more detailed in the future. Being a natural product, with yeast put in, in addition to the yeast already on the apples, with the sugars in the apple juice, I would *assume* it's fermenting. Smelled it last night & it's smelling a bit funky (in a brewing/yeasty sorta way), so I'd guess somethings' going on. Guess I'll just wait a few more days, and see what happens, I guess!?

I can definitely see where you're coming from on saving money on equipment right now. I'd say that if you buy ONE piece of equipment, make it a hyrdrometer. Not only can you figure out how much alcohol is in your brew or check to make sure fermentation is happening, when you get to the stage where you want to start bottling your brews, you need it to make sure you aren't making holy glass handgrenades.

Midwest sells a hydrometer for $6. Well worth it. Check your LHBS.

Returning to the topic of your post, you're probably fine. Just leave it for a while.

 

[Trentonln]

thanks for the replies. Not sure what kind of yeast exactly it is; I threw away the envelope & didn't write it down. Maybe next time I'll start writing down everything! I'll just wait a few more days & go from there..

 

[Trentonln]

Update: I had some last night of the finished product. Think I made apple wine instead of cider! It's light colored, and is very "winey".... It's still pretty good though.

I'm working on a 2nd batch, it's fermenting now. One difference is I'm using hodgson mills bread yeast from the supermarket instead.

 

[pstohs]

Midwest sells a hydrometer for $6. Well worth it. Check your LHBS.

Returning to the topic of your post, you're probably fine. Just leave it for a while.

Any advice on specifics to what kind of equipment to buy in addition to hydrometer. I too found that my LHBS wanted to get me started for cheap, though I would have happily purchased additional equipment (such as a hydrometer) to do the job right. I'm thinking it would be nice to have a list of required, and then optional but strongly recommended equipment to help people when they go buy their first set up.

Getting a hydrometer on Monday! Too late to take a reading now, I guess the next batch i'll do it right.

 

[HerotBrewer]

What equipment do you have already?

 

[pstohs]

5 Gallon (actually 6.8) Bucket with Spigot, Lid, Airlock.

That is it. I currently have a batch of cider going.

I plan on picking up another bucket when I rack over to Secondary, also with a spigot for easy bottling. The LHBS suggested that I have two buckets because they said I'd be all set for beer afterwards, though after spending some time on the forum I feel like there's a whole handful of stuff to get before I start with beer.

Are there any additional items that are either essential or that would make life easier or the brewing process better?

I guess i'm a Gear Junkie....

Thanks for your input!

 

[Wildbill001]

Like you, I'm just starting out. One of the things I've discovered I'm gonna need going forward is a LARGE funnel so I can pour from my pasteurizing pot to the carboy. Used the largest, grocery-store funnel I could find, about 4in. in dia., and still made a huge mess.

I have also bought:

• a 3gal Purex-brand plastic jug for my primary carboy. Probably should replace with a Better-Bottle at some point
• a 6ft length of 5/16 vinyl tubing for siphoning
• A bottle of Idophor (I think that's the name) for sanitizing without having to rinse
• a case of longnecks and caps (already had a capper)

On the wish-list:

• a wine-thief or turkey-baster for getting samples to check SG
• Bottling bucket with spigot
• several 1-gal jugs for small batches (wanna try mead next)
• Another 3gal Better-Bottle for a secondary

Hope that helps.

Willbill

 

[HerotBrewer]

The only thing that is a must have for cider or mead besides what has been listed is a hydrometer.

Wildbill, do you have an airlock for your primary? If you get/make a drilled stopper for it, you can use your tubing run into a vessel of water.

 

[Wildbill001]

Oh yeah. Knew enough to get airlocks and appropriately sized corks for everything.

Wildbill