Skittles Cider - What's your opinion?

[snakehipsbrodie]

Just made a batch of cider with 300g of skittles in instead of using sugar. Just wondering if anyone has every tried this or what the forums opinion on the outcome would be. Cheers

 

[BargainFittings]

Definitely report back the result.

Sounds like it will be unique.

 

[TandemTails]

Did you use the 'orchard' package of skittles? haha.

Aside from making the color really funky, i'm not sure what to expect. Please report back after fermentation and let us know!

 

[BeeDeeEff]

Well skittles are just corn sugar with a bit a of dye and artificial flavoring right?

So I'm guessing it'll turn out to taste like Cider with a hint of Koolaid

 

[snakehipsbrodie]

Just done a OG test to let you them dissolve and came out 1.051 and has started bubbling. Smells pretty skittly! Just used the standard bag but if it works well I might try separate colours, looks a murky brown purple now. Will let you know how it goes!

 

[user 211287]

I wonder how one Skittle or a Red Hot would work as a priming sugar.

 

[snakehipsbrodie]

I could maybe use certain colours to give an extra taste. No idea how many I'd have to use though.

 

[Hankhill11]

is there any risk of some of the additives being toxic to the yeast?

 

[kmbell]

I made a cider once where I added several sugars, including, I believe brown sugar and powdered sugar, splitting the difference between several recipes I found online. Also added in some finings. Don't ask me who thought powdered sugar would add some special note, but I tossed it in there anyway after dissolving in boiling water.

The end result tasted like, well, cider. Once the final product had taken maybe 4 months in the bottle, it was clear and dry and very drinkable. I couldn't perceive any of the additional flavors I added at the beginning and the color was neutral as well.

 

[Jonakr]

Just made a batch of cider with 300g of skittles in instead of using sugar. Just wondering if anyone has every tried this or what the forums opinion on the outcome would be. Cheers

I've tried a variety of candies, from Jolly Ranchers to Red Hots. I have yet to find one I like. The flavor just doesn't seem to keep during fermentation.

For my go-to cider I add 3 oz of Ninja'd ginger root to 5 gallons of juice. I've been trying to find ways to add different flavors and wind up going back to original herbs or plants.

On the other hand, I had no idea that blue candies were supposed to taste like raspberries, or that Tootsie rolls were chocolate flavored. They have a taste, but not as advertised.

 

[smorgan82]

I experimented with horehound candies a few months ago. They contained roughly the same amount of sugar as cooper's carbonation tabs I had from a Mr. Beer kit so I thought, why not? No one else seemed to be able to tell the difference between the two, but I could. It gave me just a hint of earthy flavor. It was especially delicious in a 1 gallon lychee batch.

 

[BrewSavage]

Skittles makes it a true West Country cider

 

[bembel]

I'm going to 'dry hop' with jolly rancher watermelon, using candy is friggin genius. Well done. Use it to prime or back sweeten though. Will keep most of the flavor that way.

Starbust possibilities?
Sour patch kids
Gummies
Swedish fish

Reese's peanut butter.......ok that's a stretch, might work for a porter though

 

[Mismost]

Maybe I just have a sensitive gut today...but the whole idea just kinda gagged me....but, I hope it turns out well for you.

Reese's or Snickers will not work at my house...in fact, they seldom even last long enough to make it back home...those wrapper just explode open exposing the contents to possible oxidation, forcing me to eat them quickly before they spoil. Waste not, still want more!

 

[Newsman]

I have a bunch of Red Hots. I thought about trying to add some for flavor, but they didn't dissolve very well, so I gave that up.

 

[snakehipsbrodie]

I made a sherbet lemon batch and it was bad, really chemically smelling and tingly on the tongue, binned it unfortunately. The Skittlebraü has developed a yellow layer of foam on the top but smells awesome. Will try carbonating a few bottles with skittles and see how it goes. Home brewing is a learning curve after all!

 

[Paps]

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11640

 

[snakehipsbrodie]

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11640

Thanks for that, mayb I should have boiled them up first as well but too late now. Maybe next time.

 

[snakehipsbrodie]

That's it just bottled, 1 teaspoons brown sugar and two sweetener tablets per 500ml bottle. Came out a murky brown/yellow, 6.5%. Tasted ok, slight skittle taste and aroma so hopefully the sugar and sweetener will bring the taste out. Will carbonate for two weeks I reckon, then the all important taste taste!