cider making

[Mark1964]

I have a couple of demijohns spare i know you need juice but should i buy sweetened or unsweetened. Also how long does it ferment for what hydrometer readings should i have (start and finish) do you transfer to another demijohn after fermenting and when do you bottle do the bottles need priming. Sorry to ask but i dont have a clue about cider or wine making : thanks

 

[daveanson]

Sorry I can't really answer you're question as I'm new to brewing too. I knocked up my first batch last weekend into a 20l beer barrel with a pressure valve. You're questions are just a few of the same questions I still have. It seemed simple at first, then the more I keep reading about it, the more confused I get. I don't really know what I'm looking for. I'll follow this thread with much interest.

 

[evanvine]

You buy your "apple juice from concentrate" and add champagne, cider or general purpose yeast + the tea from 1 T-bag.
After about 10 days rack into your second DJ and add 1 campden tablet and about 1.5 tbl spoons of "splenda".
Bottle with about 0.5 tsps sugar per 500ml and wait 4 to 8 weeks.

 

[Grumpy Jack]

Try this one...

3 x Lidl 1.5 litre AJ cartons... at 84p each
Cider yeast
few teaspoons of sugar if ya fancy it...
Bit of yeast nutrient if you've got it, but not essential...

Leave it 10-15 days

Bottle with a half teaspoon of sugar per bottle, ready in 2 weeks for lightly carbonated, a bit longer of you want it fizzier... Once you've done one, you can start playing, I like adding dried ginger root to give it an edge, or for the ladies, when it comes to bottling, use Ribena or similar to act as your primer. :thumb:

 

[evanvine]

3 x Lidl 1.5 litre AJ cartons... at 84p each

4.5 x 1ltr cartons of Rio Doro AJ from Aldi is the same price and makes to my mind a really good cider when matured for 12 wks or more

 

[Mark1964]

thanks for the tips guys ill be tring it soon :