Adding concentrate to Turbo Cider questions...

Steve-h71 · Dec 20, 2013

Hi All, So I have my first gallon of TC in the fridge to clear it. It tastes ok as it is although maybe a bit weak on the flavour. Can I add some of the sainsburys no added sugar apple squash to the next brew, I want to try and get the recipe reasonably good before trying to make 5 gallons of it.

Dont shoot me down here... I really like the taste of Stella Cidre, I like a sweeter drink, I used to drink gallons of coke until I had a heart attack, so trying to be good, alcohol is good for heart disease dont you know. I also spent 20 years smoking a lot of the green stuff, and so had a hunger for sweet stuff.

I have been reading a lot of threads about TC and HB in general, I would try a lager kit but I find lager a little too bitter for my taste buds, I never really got into ales as I was too busy smoking... Maybe I need to find a landlord that is willing to do a tasting sesion so I can find a beer I like and then go brew some.

Back to the original post, So will adding the squash be any good for the Cider, I see in the ingredients (listed below) that it has preservative, so do I need to boil the liquid, an I right in understanding 15 minutes boiling is long enough ? ? I have also read that adding sugar to the TC can make the taste weaker (maybe this is my problem as I added about 150 gms to a gallon, I have got some Belgian Candi Sugar, will this give the Cider a nice caramel type taste or is it pointless ??

Thanks for any info and guidance you guys can give this new brewer, I am really enjoying what I have done so far and cant wait to build up a good stock of acceptable brews.

Cheers.

Steve-h

Sainburys NAS Apple squash Ingredients
Water, Apple Juice From Concentrate (20%); Citric Acid, Acidity Regulator: Sodium citrate; Flavourings, Malic Acid, Fruit and Vegetable Extract, Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabisulphite; Sweetener: Sucralose; Antioxidant: Ascorbic Acid.

Manitude · Dec 20, 2013

Hi there,

I've thought about this myself and I came to the conclusion that it would be more suitable to use the squash to backsweeten the cider. So once you've finished fermenting add the squash. It avoids you having to boil it up and so forth. The preservatives in the squash will aid will stabilisation, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to add a bit more just to make sure you don't end up with something too dry.

You could try adding a bit to a glass of your current brew to see how it turns out.

oldbloke · Dec 20, 2013

Except that may interfere with carbonation

Manitude · Dec 21, 2013

I personally don't carbonate my ciders - I prefer them still. But yes, I can see that could be problem if he doesn't have a pressure keg.

Steve-h71 · Dec 21, 2013

hi guys, thanks for the replies. At the monent no keg so bottle carbonation it is. The no added sugar has sweeteners so i thought it would help to make the cider sweeter as i like it as well as addig strength to tne flavour. I will give it a go today i think.
So will boiling the squash for 15 mins be enough to cook out the preservatives ??
Again thanls for your advice...
Steve.

oldbloke · Dec 21, 2013

People reckon it's enough, yeh

Steve-h71 · Dec 21, 2013

Cheers Oldbloke,, The brew is in the fermenter and is on its way, time will tell eh. I am just trying a few different twists to the recipe to see what I like etc. I think someone has got me a cider kit for christmas, I was thinking of using 10 litres of apple juice as half the water to add to the kits flavour, I have read so many reviews of cider kits being a bit on the bland side of taste, I dont want that now do I.....