Something went wrong!

[bosster01]

Okay well I just kegged my 2nd batch of cider and had the first taste....

Unfortunately something went wrong.

Last time my cider went great so I decided to put 5 gallons of juice on top of the yeast cake from my first cider. It fermented fine and then I added a bottle of cranberry juice to it and let it sit for like 3 months.

It has a beautiful red color. Went to taste it with the wife today and it tastes extremely sour/tart similar to a sour beer.

I'm assuming the taste I'm getting is vinegar, but TBH I'm not sure. There was no evidence of infection that I observed and fermentation was uneventful. This is the first time I've let something ferment for so long. It was on the yeast cake for the entire time.

Any ideas/tips?

Thanks!

 

[Jessiegaddy]

When the sugar ferments out of the cranberry juice it becomes very tart. The more cranberry you use the more tartness you get. I dump juice on yeast cakes all the time with no ill effects. In fact you get a faster fermentation because of the greater amount of yeast. I doubt that you made vinegar out of your cider because you would know right away. Cranberries without sugar are like way tart and sour.

 

[bosster01]

When the sugar ferments out of the cranberry juice it becomes very tart. The more cranberry you use the more tartness you get. I dump juice on yeast cakes all the time with no ill effects. In fact you get a faster fermentation because of the greater amount of yeast. I doubt that you made vinegar out of your cider because you would know right away. Cranberries without sugar are like way tart and sour.

Hmm. Well now I'm conflicted. I'm not entirely sure if it's vinegar or not but it was extremely tart.

I have it in the keg currently with 2 cans of frozen apple juice concentrate for sweetener. Maybe I'll give it another whirl...

It definitely tasted bad though. Like sour beer. I actually enjoy sour beer though lol.

 

[Double_D]

You'd be able to smell acetone if it was vinegar. Acetobacter produces ethyl acetate. I'm leaning toward it's the cranberry juice. Its very tart. Frozen apple juice concentrate works well to back sweeten in the keg so I think you have the right idea.

 

[bosster01]

You'd be able to smell acetone if it was vinegar. Acetobacter produces ethyl acetate. I'm leaning toward it's the cranberry juice. Its very tart. Frozen apple juice concentrate works well to back sweeten in the keg so I think you have the right idea.

Thanks for the tip.

It definitely does not smell like acetone. It smells good & normal just tastes weird.

 

[Double_D]

I did a sour brown with cranberry sauce one year. I know its off topic but you might try that next time around. I made my own sauce though.

 

[buMbLeB]

Why don't you add some sugar to a taste test batch? If it's vinegar it'll still be perceptible.

 

[bosster01]

Well... I couldn't throw the cider away so I kegged it, added 2 cans of FAJC and carbonated.

Tried it today and I can't believe it. It tastes fantastic. Went from absolutely gross to my best cider.

Mild tartness now that I've added sweetness.

Unfortunately I had my keg posts on backwards so I had to open it, stick my hand in the cider to help me switch the posts. But.. I'm going to just act like that never happened and continue to drink it lol.

Thanks for everyones input.

 

[Aristotelian]

Pure cranberry is extremely tart. With all the sugar fermented out, I am not surprised it tastes sour.