Hi everyone I'm new to cider making and this forum as been a great resource for me. I was wondering if anyone had any comments or suggestions on my first two batches.
Batch A
5 x Gallons Indian Summer Cider
1 x 12 oz apple juice concentrate
1 x packet Red Star Champagne yeast
Initial gravity is pretty low at around 1.040
Should I add sugar, honey, more concentrate? I was hoping to get a semi dry cider with this batch and after I did a little research I found that I probably used the wrong yeast as the champagne has a pretty high attentuation. Im not sure what to do with this batch now, I'll probably have to age it for some time once its been through primary and secondary.
Batch B
3 x gallons Indian Summer Cider
16 x 12 oz apple juice from concentrate
2 lbs honey
1 x Nottingham Ale yeast
This batch was somewhat modeled after Brewfrick's "Panty Dropper". I had 3 leftover gallons of cider from my order so I figured why not start another batch? I made up the difference in concentrate (to get 5 gallons) and added organic honey. I went with the Nottingham in order in the hopes of getting a sweeter/ semidry cider. Did I overdo it on the concentrate? Is it going to be "jet fuel"? I've still got a gallon of room in the fermenting bucket so I could add more cider or water if neccessary to dilute it.
Thanks in advance,
Andrew
Batch A
5 x Gallons Indian Summer Cider
1 x 12 oz apple juice concentrate
1 x packet Red Star Champagne yeast
Initial gravity is pretty low at around 1.040
Should I add sugar, honey, more concentrate? I was hoping to get a semi dry cider with this batch and after I did a little research I found that I probably used the wrong yeast as the champagne has a pretty high attentuation. Im not sure what to do with this batch now, I'll probably have to age it for some time once its been through primary and secondary.
Batch B
3 x gallons Indian Summer Cider
16 x 12 oz apple juice from concentrate
2 lbs honey
1 x Nottingham Ale yeast
This batch was somewhat modeled after Brewfrick's "Panty Dropper". I had 3 leftover gallons of cider from my order so I figured why not start another batch? I made up the difference in concentrate (to get 5 gallons) and added organic honey. I went with the Nottingham in order in the hopes of getting a sweeter/ semidry cider. Did I overdo it on the concentrate? Is it going to be "jet fuel"? I've still got a gallon of room in the fermenting bucket so I could add more cider or water if neccessary to dilute it.
Thanks in advance,
Andrew