Homemade Hard Apple Cider
10-19-2008, 01:39 PM
#32
0.0 BAR
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Homemade Hard Apple Cider
Originally Posted by Ichi-Go
I have 5 gallons of cider going at the moment as well as an apple/blueberry/pomegranate/raspberry concoction. I just bought some publix apple juice, 2lbs of sugar, and some montrachet wine yeast. Came out awesome last time I made it. You can use campden tablets to kill all the wild yeast and bacteria instead of boiling I dont know what boiling does to apple juice but it probably works just as well. If you move the cider to another carboy after 4 weeks and age it for another couple weeks it should clarify a lot. Ill get some pics of my brews when I get my room mates camera monday.
www.homebrewtalk.com
Use real brewing yeast, it will come out way better. I recommend a wine or champagne yeast since they can normally take higher alcohol. Red Star yeast packets are 60-80 cents. Get a hydrometer and you can find out what your alcohol level is.
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=4393
Using that yeast in my straight apple juice and this one in the apple blueberry/raspberry cider.
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=4394
60 cents isnt much to spend when you know it can take alcohol and is breed to make alcohol not fluffy bread.
www.homebrewtalk.com
Use real brewing yeast, it will come out way better. I recommend a wine or champagne yeast since they can normally take higher alcohol. Red Star yeast packets are 60-80 cents. Get a hydrometer and you can find out what your alcohol level is.
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=4393
Using that yeast in my straight apple juice and this one in the apple blueberry/raspberry cider.
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=4394
60 cents isnt much to spend when you know it can take alcohol and is breed to make alcohol not fluffy bread.
10-19-2008, 03:15 PM
#33
0.5 BAR
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 126
Re: Homemade Hard Apple Cider
Originally Posted by jeffsciv23
so your saying i can just get some apple juice and put yeast in it and let it forment for a couple weeks and i will have delicious alcohol flavored goodness?
Its a homebrewtalk favorite. Instead of using dextrose like I did the first time I used 2 lbs of brown sugar, I wont know how it is until 4-6 weeks. Also its not a good idea to use the 5 gallon water bottles for water coolers they have some bad propertys, not good for fermenting alcohol. I am sure you could get all the equipment for 40 bucks plus 25 dollars for 5 gallons of apple juice and some sugar, 4 weeks later awesomeness. Also you can clean/sanitize any pop top non twist top beer bottle and reuse them to bottle your alcohol.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f25/man-...felwein-14860/
10-19-2008, 03:19 PM
#34
1.5 BAR
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,164
Re: Homemade Hard Apple Cider
Originally Posted by kain
its perfectly legal in georgia.
10-19-2008, 09:48 PM
#35
3.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,967
Re: Homemade Hard Apple Cider
Originally Posted by random-strike
i'd post a picture of my still but its way too cool for ya'll to see
I took a small sample out of it today, just to see what was going on. I can smell alcohol in it and taste it, The color has gotten lighter and it's still fermenting and bubbling. It's looking good so far.
On a side note I did a batch of pears up in the same manner, heated, sugar, yeast, container. I'm curious to see how that comes out. I only did 2 gallons though.
10-20-2008, 03:15 AM
#39
Guest
Posts: n/a
10-20-2008, 05:12 AM
#40
0.0 BAR
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Homemade Hard Apple Cider
Originally Posted by Ichi-Go
Actually yes, try and get some corn sugar (dextrose) to add, the extra sugar boosts the alcohol.
Its a homebrewtalk favorite. Instead of using dextrose like I did the first time I used 2 lbs of brown sugar, I wont know how it is until 4-6 weeks. Also its not a good idea to use the 5 gallon water bottles for water coolers they have some bad propertys, not good for fermenting alcohol. I am sure you could get all the equipment for 40 bucks plus 25 dollars for 5 gallons of apple juice and some sugar, 4 weeks later awesomeness. Also you can clean/sanitize any pop top non twist top beer bottle and reuse them to bottle your alcohol.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f25/man-...felwein-14860/
Its a homebrewtalk favorite. Instead of using dextrose like I did the first time I used 2 lbs of brown sugar, I wont know how it is until 4-6 weeks. Also its not a good idea to use the 5 gallon water bottles for water coolers they have some bad propertys, not good for fermenting alcohol. I am sure you could get all the equipment for 40 bucks plus 25 dollars for 5 gallons of apple juice and some sugar, 4 weeks later awesomeness. Also you can clean/sanitize any pop top non twist top beer bottle and reuse them to bottle your alcohol.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f25/man-...felwein-14860/
