Rank 0 newbie looking for cider directions

[hijakk]

Hi all,
I have no brewing experience, equipment, friends with knowledge, etc.
I want to brew cider.
I've done some research, but am still unclear on the exact process.

Please fill me in on any misconceptions I have, steps I miss, etc.

So, what you need is a primary fermenter bucket thing, with a tight fitting lid and a water lock. Sterilize with hot soapy water and whatever sterilizer you get from the brew store.

Put in your juice and yeast, seal it up.

How long do I leave it? Two weeks? Until it stops bubbling a bunch?

Decant into glass bottle, leaving the Crap™ in the bottom.

How do I seal it? A stopper? Another waterlock? How long do I leave it this time, before I transfer it again? Do I have to?

I've learned a lot looking at Edwort's apfelwein thread - thanks! I'm hazy on one thing, though, it looks like fermentation takes less time when you work in smaller amounts.. Is that right? Like, Ed's apfelwein takes around 4 weeks for primary fermentation in a 5 gallon batch, how long might it be for a 1 gallon batch?

 

[Kayos]

Hi all,
I have no brewing experience, equipment, friends with knowledge, etc.
I want to brew cider.
I've done some research, but am still unclear on the exact process.

Please fill me in on any misconceptions I have, steps I miss, etc.

So, what you need is a primary fermenter bucket thing, with a tight fitting lid and a water lock. Sterilize with hot soapy water and whatever sterilizer you get from the brew store.

Put in your juice and yeast, seal it up.

How long do I leave it? Two weeks? Until it stops bubbling a bunch?

Decant into glass bottle, leaving the Crap™ in the bottom.

How do I seal it? A stopper? Another waterlock? How long do I leave it this time, before I transfer it again? Do I have to?

Here ya go:
Primary fermenter bucket thingy :Plastic Bucket (6 Gallon) | MoreBeer but much more fun bedause u can see it working:
Better Bottle - 6 Gallon Carboy | MoreBeer

get the lid for the bucket with the hole and the #7 stopper and an airlock

or for the plastic bottle get this cap and the same airlock

No need to use hot soapy water, just use this

then add (my own recipe)

4 gallons apple juice, 3 containers apple juice concentrate (frozen) 2 pounds corn sugar

the more sugar, the drier, the less, the more juicy and less alcoholy (again, my own words)

Use either this yeast (drier)

or cider yeast (sweeter)


It will look like orage juice for a few weeks then you will see it clear from top to bottom. When it looks super clear again, it is done. You can carbonate it by adding 1 cup of corn sugar to it before bottling or just bottle it still (non carbonated). You really don't need to transfer it again.

Feel free to PM or ask away if anything is unclear

 

[hijakk]

Awesome, thank you! Thanks for all the work getting the links too

I'm going to do a very basic one first, see how it turns out in a few months, and then start experimenting with other fruits. Visions of prickly pear cider have been dancing in my head since this summer, and the 12oz bottle of concentrate makes just about 4.5 gallons when diluted fully.

 

[Kayos]

NP, I really recommend getting the clear bottles to ferment. It makes the hobby so much more fun to see it going crazy...and this stuff does!

I bottled my last batch with sugar to carb and some with Splenda to sweeten. It worked great! Came to about 12%, to boot!

 

[newbeerpig]

After bottling, how long do you have to rest the bottles before drink? Also for fermenting the cider, how do you know when it is done?

 

[Closet-Car-Boy]

I bottled my last batch with sugar to carb and some with Splenda to sweeten. It worked great! Came to about 12%, to boot!

I've often wondered about artificials. Do they add any after taste? I thought most people looked upon it as un-kosher. As for me, if it works well for everyone else, I'm going to try it.

 

[Yooper]

After bottling, how long do you have to rest the bottles before drink? Also for fermenting the cider, how do you know when it is done?

You can leave it in the bottles as long as you want. Cider that's aged a bit is better- smoother and better tasting- but it can be drunk young, too.

You know it's done by using a hydrometer- they are really the only way to tell.

One last thing that hasn't been brought up. You don't "decant" the cider- you siphon it into the bottling bucket, or carboy, etc. No splashing or pouring when you bottle it- you use siphoning tubing and/or a bottling bucket with a piece of tubing or a bottling wand to fill the bottles. It's pretty easy!

 

[JoeSponge]

OK, I gotta ask... What is with a "bottling bucket"? I don't get it. Siphon from carboy (first or second time) to a bucket, and then siphon to bottles. I have only done a couple batches, and the first bottling I did was from the original carboy (no racking) into bottles. And, I was cheap, and used used soda bottles that some guys at work saved for me.

 

[BrewinJack]

OK, I gotta ask... What is with a "bottling bucket"? I don't get it. Siphon from carboy (first or second time) to a bucket, and then siphon to bottles. I have only done a couple batches, and the first bottling I did was from the original carboy (no racking) into bottles. And, I was cheap, and used used soda bottles that some guys at work saved for me.

bottleling bucket reduced sediment which might get into the bottles...soda bottles work just fine but there is a certin class to glass bottles...

and +1 to Kay thats some rocket fule there

Cheers

 

[Kayos]

I've often wondered about artificials. Do they add any after taste? I thought most people looked upon it as un-kosher. As for me, if it works well for everyone else, I'm going to try it.

If you don't add too much, no after taste. It is not like a Mike's hard or a Ace Cider. It is much more like a sweet, sparkling wine.

Kosher? Personal preference. I brew whatever I like. This has gotten HUGE reviews from friends. And it's a panty remover for sure.

As far as bottling bucket, it just lets me get clearer beer/cider. Also, I like to be able to turn on/off the spout between every few bottles for a good stir when using bottling sugar.