Cider not gassing

Mike1981 · Jan 7, 2011

Hi, I brewed some cider and bottled it about 3-4 weeks ago. Ive bottled it in coopers PET 500ml bottles bought from Hop and Grape which i was told were suitable for cider. I put slightly just under 1 teaspoon of sugar in each bottle before sealing them. Stored warm for approx 5 days then have been in my garage since, which is probably around 5 deg c max. The bottles are still soft to squeeze so no carbonation is happening. I did some lager just after, same process and bottles and they are gassing up nicely....any ideas what i can do to gas it up or shud i add more sugar?????

any help welcome

shadow47 · Jan 8, 2011

You'll need to move them to where the temp is around 20c.

Otherwise the yeast will not turn the sugar into gas/alcohol, they'll just lay dormant.

rozza2010 · Jan 8, 2011

I had the same issue with the turbo cider I made. It only had tiny bubbles once it has been poured.

My bottles where in a room of around 20degrees. Only thing I can think of is that there wasn't enough yeast or sugar.

Cider Minx · Jan 8, 2011

mine will not go fizzy either but I was told it was because of strength of it so mine are all still cider now

shadow47 · Jan 8, 2011

The alcohol might be too high for brewers yeast(if that's what you used), maybe try adding a tiny bit of wine yeast starter made in a cup with teaspoon of sugar, a little warm water and some wine yeast, wait 'til it froths then chuck a teaspoon of it in each bottle.

I'd add another 1/2 teaspoon of sugar as well

If you like your cider sweet then add a Splenda tablet, because the wine yeast will eat most of the sugar making a nice dry and fizzy cider, but if you want it sweet...

Also best to leave them at room temp until they carbonate fully.

Good luck!!