Starter for Cider?

[Jilaman]

I am going to be getting at least 5 gallons and possibly two 5 gallon carboys full of fresh pressed cider this saturday. So I will likely be fermenting 10 gallons. I bought some White Labs English Cider Yeast WLP775. Since I am going to be doing two 5 gallon batches is it possible for me to create a starter with some apple juice or something? That way I can split it between the two batches.

 

[Freezeblade]

Apple Juice is perfect to do a starter with, as it's probably right around 1.050, go ahead and make up a big starter, then split it between the two batches after a few days of the starter.

 

[Jilaman]

I have a left over gallon of Mott's apple juice from making my last batch of apfelwine. Never opened so that should be good enough right?

 

[Yooper]

I have a left over gallon of Mott's apple juice from making my last batch of apfelwine. Never opened so that should be good enough right?

Yep, as long as there is no sorbate, you should be fine.

 

[Jilaman]

Nah it is 100% Apple juice, acorbic acid. That's all.

 

[Jilaman]

I made a 750ml start for the cider, and if it ferments out fast, I may step it up to a 1L before I pitch on Sunday.

 

[msabin]

Would you believe the local discount grocer only had 28 gallons of apple juice (100% juice, no preservatives) on th shelf! I may have overloaded my trunk with that much though.

I went from there to the LHBS and picked up a Cider yeast smack-pack.

Tomorrow I should have bubbled in the starter, and soon there'll be 5 or six carboys on the counter...

...I wonder if the counter can take the weight...

--Matthew

 

[Mr_fleabite]

Est. Juice SG at around 1.05
X 8.333 = ~8.75 lb/gallon
X 28 = 245 lb
+ 13lb/carboy (just guessing)
should put you around 310 to 325 lbs.
Don't throw your back out moving all that around!

 

[computergeek13]

question - how exactly do you make a cider starter? i have a big 1 L flask that i put on a magnetic stir plate for beer. I picked up the same white labs yeast you did - the liquid vial.

About to start 6 gallons of fresh cider myself. Wanted to get the yeast going tho... never made a cider starter.. think i need it? and if so how! thanks in advance!

 

[msabin]

I use the same basic process as for beer -- the fresh juice is already about the usual gravity for a beer-starter.

I put 1 liter of juice in my flask, and pitched the yeast.
Covered with sanitized foil.
20 or so hours later I had a little foam on top, gave it a swirl and it doubles in volume with foam.
poured 1/3 or so into each of two carboys full of juice, then bottled the remaining starter in three sanitized bottles for future use.

--Matthew