I am just getting started making hard cider. I had success using cider straight from a press near my house. All I did on that was leave it at room temperature and loosened the cap. That tasted great(minus the aroma of sulfur) and I am now trying with store bought apple juice. Here is where I seem to go bad.
In my first attempt I believe it was in too cold of a room... I waited two weeks and saw no bubbling and by this time it smelled very tart/bitter and dry. I thought it might be turning to vinegar or something. End story, I ended up pitching it. In that batch I added Lalvin118 straight into the apple juice and added 1 cups of sugar to the 5 gallons. I am wondering why this weird taste occurs? I got a similar taste on my second batch where I did the same routine but made sure the carboy was in a warmer environment and the yeast was active, but did not add extra sugar. Two weeks in the bubbler is going at about 1 bubble every 4-5 seconds. At this point I took it off its Lees and put it into another carboy/racked. Could not adding extra sugar make this weird taste? I was expecting it to start to taste like the final product. I have watched many videos and read a bunch to try and get a proper cider, but the taste has come out bitter each time.
Any direction would be helpful... I am trying to find someone to guide me into making a great cider because for some reason I am messing up. Any response and help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance.
In my first attempt I believe it was in too cold of a room... I waited two weeks and saw no bubbling and by this time it smelled very tart/bitter and dry. I thought it might be turning to vinegar or something. End story, I ended up pitching it. In that batch I added Lalvin118 straight into the apple juice and added 1 cups of sugar to the 5 gallons. I am wondering why this weird taste occurs? I got a similar taste on my second batch where I did the same routine but made sure the carboy was in a warmer environment and the yeast was active, but did not add extra sugar. Two weeks in the bubbler is going at about 1 bubble every 4-5 seconds. At this point I took it off its Lees and put it into another carboy/racked. Could not adding extra sugar make this weird taste? I was expecting it to start to taste like the final product. I have watched many videos and read a bunch to try and get a proper cider, but the taste has come out bitter each time.
Any direction would be helpful... I am trying to find someone to guide me into making a great cider because for some reason I am messing up. Any response and help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance.
