Requesting HELP for Hard apple cider

[DustinJames]

Hello good people of HBF! This is my first post. I am BRAND new upon home brewing! and wanted too try out one of the "Household" way's of it before i went out and got a kit. here's what i did:

I went too a local store and bought 1 bottle of Organtic pressed apple cider( still has apple chunks and skin, no preservatives (so i thought it was good!) I put a little under a cup, i figured since it was already sweet i would skimp on the sugar (Read some where the more sugar the longer it take's etc etc. Like i said i am testing out the whole "Household" aspect of the home brewing. so i got another 100% apple JUICE no preservatives, i tasted it. figured id put a whole cup of sugar in this bottle like i said before i haven't purchased a kit yet, so i figured since the bottle's they came in would be great too use since they were clean and i had seen some video's on Youtube and figured if they could do it so could I! so. cider came in a glass bottle (very fancy bottle) and the second came in a plastic bottle (yes noobish i know ) and for kick's i had a unopened bottle of 100% grape juice that had no preservitives (at this point i had the yeast i became addicted) For yeast i used just Dry yeast, i activated it and proofed it as the package said.

(Sorry for the big story just wanted too provide a backround upon the subject)


So bottle #1 hard apple cider Aka the glass bottle has foamed at the top and is bubbling nicely! no problem's! 1 packet yeast little under a cup of sugar + a tiny bit of cinnamon (for that extra taste )

Bottle #2 plastic bottled apple juice with the full cup of sugar yeast no cinnamon

Bottle #3 is grape juice yeast full cup of sugar.

the QUESTION is bottle #2 isnt foaming at the top like #1 and #3 was wondering if i should worry or be doctoring it. or if anybody had tip's


After adding all ingredients I put on a rubber glove over and a hole at the top (like the video says) and let it work. however 2 hour's later for some strange reason i panic-ed and decided non lubricated condom's would work so much better so i poked a hole at the top and slid em on there. (yes very childish i know but it's all i had lying around and figured too be better than rubber glove's since i had no balloons figured it was the best ALT


Like i said before i am a COMPLETE n00b and any help or criticism will be happily taken Please and thank you!


~Dust

 

[ChessRockwell]

however 2 hour's later for some strange reason i panic-ed and decided non lubricated condom's would work so much better so i poked a hole at the top and slid em on there

You totally must post a picture of this fermenting! Hahaha! good idea though really...

I wouldn't do any doctoring on #2 yet, how long has it been?

 

[DustinJames]

You totally must post a picture of this fermenting! Hahaha! good idea though really...

I wouldn't do any doctoring on #2 yet, how long has it been?

Ahh, 5 hour's i think.


ROFL I will get picture's up within the hour!

 

[JRems]

So your brewing hooch with condoms , great first post. Try buying some basic cheap items for your next batch like a bung and airlock. Read up on proper sanitation as well.

 

[DrummerBoySeth]

You will likely make 2 hard ciders and some form of grape wine with your process. Depending on what kind of "dry yeast" you used, they may turn out pretty good, or they may be pretty gross. Yeast selection makes a HUGE difference in the end product. Bread yeast is for making bread, and will make beer (or cider) that is less than ideal.

I would have been more comfortable with the rubber glove as an airlock than a condom, but I think that is just a mental block on my part. The condom will probably function fine as long as it is cleaned properly and sanitized. However, if you are considering repeating this experiment, go ahead and spend the $5 for a drilled stopper and airlock that will fit a one gallon glass jug. You can get them online from any homebrew supplier, or you may have a homebrew shop in your area. In the long run, a stopper and airlock will be cheaper than condoms anyway!

Is your goal here to make cheap booze, or are you looking to make really tasty, good drinks? If it is a quick, cheap buzz you are after, then you probably will get what you are looking for with your recipe.

If you want to make a simple, better quality hard cider, then I suggest the following...
1) One gallon good organic cider (no preservatives!) The more cloudy/chunky the better. I suggest getting cider in one-gallon glass jugs for this.
2) Open jug and pour out enough cider so that there is at least 3 inches of empty space at the top of the jug.
3) Boil one cup of Belgian Candi Sugar (table sugar works OK too) in one cup of water and let it cool to room temperature.
4) Rehydrate 1/2 packet of White wine/Cider brewing yeast (NOT bread yeast) as per packet instructions.
5) Add the cooled sugar water to the cider jug and re-close the cap on the jug.
6) Shake the jug vigorously for 30 seconds or so.
7) Add rehydrated yeast mixture to the cider jug.
8) Recap again and gently swirl to mix in yeast. (no need to shake vigorously here.)
9) Install stopper and airlock on jug and place it in an air-conditioned room (temperatures between 60 and 70 are ideal) for 2 weeks.
10) After 2 weeks fermenting, remove airlock and drop in one cinnamon stick that has been soaked overnight in vodka (to sanitize it)
11) Reinstall airlock and let the cider sit for another 3 to 7 days.
12) Serve and enjoy.

This may seem a little more complicated than your process, but in reality it really is not very complex at all. Taking the time to pay attention to the little details like yeast selection , proper fermentation time, and controlling fermentation temperature is what makes the difference between making prison wine and good homebrew.

 

[DustinJames]

I am here too make nothing but great drink's to learn and too share my knowledge with newbie's like myself one day! I value you're input and thank you for the advice and taking time too explain too me I have a few apple place's around here i will vist them once fall come's closer. I have orderd some new yeast, Would it be ethical too make a air lock using tube's and water etc? does it work the same? Not that im cheaping out.

And once the bubble's stop flowing and the "Airlock" deflates ill be all set too enjoy my beverage?

Truly grateful for the advice!

 

[BainbridgeBrewer]

I am here too make nothing but great drink's to learn and too share my knowledge with newbie's like myself one day! I value you're input and thank you for the advice and taking time too explain too me I have a few apple place's around here i will vist them once fall come's closer. I have orderd some new yeast, Would it be ethical too make a air lock using tube's and water etc? does it work the same? Not that im cheaping out.

And once the bubble's stop flowing and the "Airlock" deflates ill be all set too enjoy my beverage?

Truly grateful for the advice!

What you are describing sounds like a blow off hose. We use these generally at the beginning of a higher gravity beer ferment so any krausen (foam) has a place to go and doesn't blow up the fermenter. You probably don't need to worry about explosive fermentations while you make ciders. It should work fine for you if you want to go that route, I've left blow off hoses on for the entire primary stage due to laziness.

Taste the cider once it stops showing signs of fermentation. Normally you'd check to make sure it has stopped fermenting using a hydrometer over a couple days. If it tastes alright then you're good to go. If not, let it sit and try it in a week or two.

 

[sethcros]

Is this a kid? The grammar leads me to think so..

 

[DustinJames]

What you are describing sounds like a blow off hose. We use these generally at the beginning of a higher gravity beer ferment so any krausen (foam) has a place to go and doesn't blow up the fermenter. You probably don't need to worry about explosive fermentations while you make ciders. It should work fine for you if you want to go that route, I've left blow off hoses on for the entire primary stage due to laziness.

Taste the cider once it stops showing signs of fermentation. Normally you'd check to make sure it has stopped fermenting using a hydrometer over a couple days. If it tastes alright then you're good to go. If not, let it sit and try it in a week or two.

What is the time table on that? When should my "Airlock" fill up? and when should i expect it too be ready? i read off some hillbilly articles one guy said his was drinkable 6 days after? (im very patient) just trying too get as much info as possible. and if needed will make adjustments tmrw! in the process of posting picture's right now.

 

[DustinJames]

That's what it currently look's like as of 2 hour's ago.

 

[BainbridgeBrewer]

So if I'm reading the posts right you started this today, its been 7 hours since you pitched your yeast. you might not see anything start for the first 8 hours, sometimes it takes 48 hours. Its not great if it takes that long, but sometimes it happens. Relax, let it sit. If you're trying to learn the process then this is part of it. You'll need a good week generally for the primary. Then let it age until it tastes right. Start reading other posts in the beginner section.

 

[DustinJames]

So if I'm reading the posts right you started this today, its been 7 hours since you pitched your yeast. you might not see anything start for the first 8 hours, sometimes it takes 48 hours. Its not great if it takes that long, but sometimes it happens. Relax, let it sit. If you're trying to learn the process then this is part of it. You'll need a good week generally for the primary. Then let it age until it tastes right. Start reading other posts in the beginner section.

You got it! i will be sure too keep researching it throughout the time being, will taste in a week or so and let you know how it taste's thank you much!