Pear Cider Help

[liveoakbrewer]

Hey Y'all,

So I am thinking about making a pear cider pretty soon hear. My parents just moved to the Pear capital of the world (the tiny town of Courtland, CA) and I'm up there for the summer while I'm interning.

I was watching the episode on BTV on ciders this weekend between brews so I sort of have a general feel for what's going on, but I am open to suggestions or anything really. (http://blip.tv/brewing-tv/btv-67-how-to-make-hard-cider-6339012). I am thinking it would be easier to just get pear juice/cider at the pear fair in a week or so. Seams like a better deal than pressing a bunch of pears myself. I don't want to use the natural yeast though, anyone have suggestions or advice on how to kill it off. I was talking to my Dad and he was saying just boil it like you do with beer wort. Would that work, or is it better to add some sort of chemicals to kill it off. Then I am a fan of anything White Labs, so there Cider Yeast is what I'm thinking, any other suggestions though? As far as spices, I'm not too sure, cinnamon, cloves, maybe a little pepper to give it a little kick on the back end. Would I want to boil this in or just do it like dry hopping and throw in in the secondary.

Anyways like I said I am just looking for any suggestions, so feel free to comment or leave any suggestions or advice you have!

 

[Bigelow92]

I am no expert, but when I recently got supplies to make a cider from smashing my own apples, and my bud at the LHBS told me to fill my carboy up with the fresh cider, and to crush some Camden tablets into it, per the directions. The. Slap an airlock on it and let it sit for a few days to a week, and this will kill off all the wild yeast / bacteria without affecting the flavor. Then he said make a tea with your spices by just steeping them in hot water and toss them in with your yeast. Also, you need to add some pectic enzyme, and a little yeast nutrient would probably be good too.

Like I said I'm a newb myself, just relaying what I've heard good luck!

 

[liveoakbrewer]

Sounds good thanks!


So do you add the spices and the tea in or just the tea?

 

[Bigelow92]

I would make the tea by boiling the spices (just to sanitize everything) and strain it before adding though its up to you. I like to avoid sediment where possible. I think it will also make the flavor from your spices a little more subtle.

**edit: autocorrect