In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

The Hard Cider Thread

Discussion in 'The Smokehouse' started by SKEETER McCLUSKEY, Sep 18, 2019.

  1. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

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    Yes. That’s the plan.
     
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  2. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    I wasnt satisfied with the carb level of my last batch....ill post my notes later...
     
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  3. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    3.9 gallon of cider
    Shooting for 3.6 vol co2
    66°bottling temp
    160g dextrose

    Max pressure in my test bottle was about 25psi after 3 weeks.
    Dont get me wrong,its carbonated but I was looking for more...kinda like coke or Pepsi type
     
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  4. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    Last edited: Oct 1, 2019
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  5. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

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    Not for sure.... first time for cider. I’m planning on doing the back sweetening, than doing a pop bottle to feel. Then pasteurization of the glass bottles.

    I know when doing beer, I’d just follow the formulas.... sometimes they were spot on and times the weren’t.
     
  6. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    Guess I'll go for 4 volumes this time.
    I'm back sweetening with erythritol.
    Bottling a couple batches in 16 oz plastic(new)
    The rest I'm doing in 16oz swing tops,some of which will get pasteurized.
    I'll post a pic of my pastureizing set up if you want.
     
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  7. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

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    A bunch of first for me... I’m gonna with the theory that it’s mostly like a beer, but slightly different...
     
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  8. Dpopps

    Dpopps

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    I kept looking at this thread and it caused a bit of envy. I haven't made anything in years, but still have everything needed. I have zero notes from years past, just going to wing it.

    Only doing a gallon for now, in the past I backed carbed with frozen concentrate or might even use more cida .

    20191002_170515.jpg
     
  9. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    just to add that the ones that get pasteurized will be back sweetened with apple concentrate.
     
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  10. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    looks good!!!!
     
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  11. Dpopps

    Dpopps

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    Back in the day I tried two different methods to back sweeten. There was a powder the brew store sold that killed the yest and another time I used a sugar that won't react to yeast , forgot what the suagr was called but I had to order it and it was a little pricey .

    For this gallon I'm just going to add something for a little carbonation. I do think pasteurized to sweeteen would be best option .
     
  12. Dpopps

    Dpopps

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    Has anyone ever tried a yest that dies off at a lower abv?
     
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  13. Highbeam

    Highbeam

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    Don’t just use frozen AJC to backsweeten, get funky, use raspberry apple or some cranberry or whatever else you might find in the concentrate isle. My last batch I even used a tropical apple guava juice which was a bit pulpy but good. I’ve used cans of Jumex peach nectar and honey as well.

    I use the potassium sorbate to effectively kill the yeast and stop fermentation before adding the frozen juice concentrates and kegging. I don’t want the yeast to start eating again! Especially if I fill a bottle with the finished cider for a gift. Boom!
     
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  14. Highbeam

    Highbeam

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    That’s really tough to do. You can stop the yeast before they eat all of the sweetness with Camden tablets or potassium sorbate. Or just backsweeten to taste after they eat all of the fermentable sugars.

    Way inthebeginning I used xylitol which is a nonfermentable sweetener. It worked but tasted weird. I can’t taste the potassium sorbate.
     
  15. Dpopps

    Dpopps

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    I've thought about trying a cherry concentrate.

    That's what I used years back ,xylitol. It was ok but I didn't really care for the taste it left . I have some Camden tabs, but like to use as little additives as possible.

    I'm waiting to see skeeters method to kill the yest. I guessing if you heat up bottles that are carbonated, things can get sketchy.
     
  16. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    Just racked this 5gal and also bottled 30 16 oz with 184 grams of corn sugar 20191006_101815.jpg
     
  17. bushpilot

    bushpilot

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    How about a little melomel, in this case, elderberry mead.

    First time, we will see how it goes. It smells good. :)

    15703863305263633310902237387370.jpg
     
  18. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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    Nice!!!
     
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  19. Dpopps

    Dpopps

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    I was getting a few bottles prepped and found one still full. :confused: popped that sucker open, I was shocked it still had some carbonation, smelled ok too. To be on the safe side I dumped it. Don't think I've made cider in 10 years.
     
  20. FatBoy85

    FatBoy85

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    Believe it or not treat it like a wine, not beer. Since there’s no grain in cider, you’re already at a bunch of juice and sugar with yeast. Beer is typically none of the juice unless it’s added for flavor later on or as a sugar.
     
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