Potassium Sorbate?

[pkincaid]

Hey guys!
I am getting ready to keg cider and I normally just cold crash and keep in the fridge attached to the taps. So I never worry about yeast, but now I have a keg that is going to a camping event with me and I figure now is as good a time as ever to learn about Potassium Sorbate. So I'm curious, how much do I use in a 5 gallon batch of cider to kill off my yeast? Do I mix it straight in? Will it affect flavor? My recipe is below just in case that matters.
Any and all thoughts.

5 gallons of cider
2 lbs of brown sugar
White labs Cali ale yeast.

 

[JF_HBrews]

1/2 tsp per gallon is on my label - also make sure your fermentation is done as it won't stop active fermentation according to a note. i think you'll be fine with this especially if you keep the cider cold after adding it.

 

[JF_HBrews]

.. and , yes, I've back sweetened several ciders using this method to stop a new fermentation

 

[pkincaid]

Excellent! Thanks!

 

[pkincaid]

Well now I'm really confused!
My cider is at about 5% which is where I want it to stay. How do I stop the fermentation? I need to
Keg 5 gall and the other 5 will be bottled, so I'll
Just heat those guys up. But what do I do about the keg? I don't want it to keep fermenting.

 

[youreanimpulse]

Can't you cold crash the yeast to stop the active fermentation? Then just keg/bottle as normal, using sorbate in the keg.

 

[pkincaid]

I don't know. If someone can confirm this, I'd be greatful!

 

[youreanimpulse]

The yeast should go dormant and drop out. It is one of the ways to leave sweetness in a cider, rather than back sweetening.

 

[pkincaid]

But like I said in op,
I'm taking the keg camping. I can keep it in the fridge for now, but when I camp
And the keg warms, won't the yeast wake up? I swear I'm not a newb, but I haven't used Sorbate before. I've always let the fermentation finish.

 

[youreanimpulse]

I would think crashing (stopping fermentation and making most of the yeast fall out), racking clear cider off of the cake and then using sorbate would be quite effective. I admittedly haven't tried it before. I'm curious also what others think.

 

[pkincaid]

That's a decent idea. And I'll have to try it.
Thanks!