Cider Short fermentation

[Matt1969]

Hi all. I'm a novice cidermaker and this is my first post so apologies if I get the lingo wrong.

My juice only fermented in the bin for 36 hours. I left it another day then tested it - gravity was at 1000 so I've moved it to a cooler place. I used Campden tablets (two lots as first didn't clear the natural yeasts etc) then Cider yeast. I know that different mixes of apples can ferment at different rates but this seems very short.

Should I be worried, and is there anything I can do now to ensure a decent result?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

 

[Bando]

What was your start gravity? If its hit 1000 no matter how long it took its pretty much done, some wines I've made took that time to ferment to 10% and other things I've dine have taken weeks, it all depends how well the yeast takes to what balance nutrients they have available from the apples you used but either way its a win for you if taken so little time?

 

[Matt1969]

What was your start gravity? If its hit 1000 no matter how long it took its pretty much done, some wines I've made took that time to ferment to 10% and other things I've dine have taken weeks, it all depends how well the yeast takes to what balance nutrients they have available from the apples you used but either way its a win for you if taken so little time?

Thanks, good to know. I'll check the gravity before fermentation too next time!

 

[Bando]

Youre welcome, If you check the gravity before and after you can Google ABV calculator and put in the amounts to get the alcohol content if you didn't already know.

 

[Matt1969]

Thanks. I new that but forgot to do it - it was late on a Sunday by the time I'd finished pressing! I am planning on adding sugar in the bottles for secondary fermentation - would this increase ABV as well as adding fizz?
Overall I'm happy, as last year's turned to vinegar - I think due to out of date Campden tablets and too much foam building up, so the cider yeast didn't get going.

 

[Bando]

Just enough sugar for the fizz will only add about 0.5% so nothing notable, i am very lucky and unlucky in that sense, I've never had a brew go to vinegar, even when I've tried to make vinegar by letting vinegar flys at it and leaving it open.. God knows why I didn't use any Campden or anything but weeks later still no luck haha, suppose I should count my blessings one of these days ill end up with one of my most promising batches turning to vinegar just for me writing this post. Haha

 

[Matt1969]

Cheers Bando!

 

[Bando]

Cheers Bando!

No worries buddy