whats the best way to store hard cider for atleast a year ???

[baddagger]

im going to be making about 45gallons of hard cider this weekend. Im going to be fermenting in 5-6 gallon batches and want to store them in 5gallon kegs when there done.

Now what is the best way to store the cider for long terms.. cause i want to be able to make the cider last for the year or longer.

one thing i like to backsweetent my cider with 2-3cans of pure apple jucie concentrate.... Woudl it be better to put that in the keg then store after fermenting or woudl it be better to add the cans of concentrate to the kegs of cider right before i am about to put it in the kegerator?

 

[Pommeau]

If the kegs will live in the kegerator the whole year, you should be able to backsweeten then keg. If the yeast is allowed to spring back to life by getting warm, they will chew up all the sugars. So as long as its cold, you should be ok. If you let them stay warm, any sugar in the keg will ferment, it will go dry and drop new lees at the bottom (pickup tube end) of the keg.
I'd leave any kegs that will not stay refrigerated the entire time- dry and nonfermenting, top off keg with Co2 and sweeten closer to when I'd be drinking them. They should keep stable longer.

 

[roadymi]

Many are anti chemicals but a little sulphite when kegging will prevent oxidation and enhance the chances your cider will maintain quality through the year.