I recently made 5 gallons of just plain apple juice fermented with S-04. I found several mentions of people asking about using this yeast for cider/apfelwein but no conclusive results, so I wanted to make a thread to actually document my outcome. It spent 5 weeks in primary, but the better bottle had developed a slow drip (fixed by keg lube) so I had to rack it. At racking I pulled a sample to measure the FG and have a taste. The first sip is tart, but that wasn't really so prominent on the second and third sips. It taste more neutral to me, like a softer dryer apple juice with just enough sweetness remaining. I love it! The first time I ever had apfelwein I was surprised by the white wine character in the taste. This doesn't have that, and I think I really like it.
OG 1.056
FG 1.008
AA 85%
6.1% ABV
Also, you have to love the flocculation of this yeast. Just had to show this off...
OG 1.056
FG 1.008
AA 85%
6.1% ABV
Also, you have to love the flocculation of this yeast. Just had to show this off...