Do I add my cider flavours in primary or secondary fermentation?

[monkeybutler]

Hi there.

I made my first cider a little while ago. It was really nice dry, in fact I was surprised how nice, but I tried back sweetening it and I think I might’ve got a bit sloppy because it turned out tasting sour and yeasty. Anyway I’ve decided i’d prefer to make a simple dry cider this time but perhaps make two batches to experiment with flavouring in one.

I was thinking of using four litres apple juice to one litre pomegranate juice (or whatever other flavour I can get.) I have seen some people say the primary fermentation can take away some of the flavours. Would I have more success if I fermented the apple juice first and then added the pomegranate juice after? With my batch of apple cider will it taste more appley if I ferment four litres first and then add some extra apple juice at the end, even if this starts up fermentation again?


Thanks!

 

[VW911]

Adding apple juice later will just make it start fermenting again.
I used to work for a (quite well known) cider maker, and we developed a really good cider by adding apple juice to cider, pastuerising it, then kegging it. We also made several flavoured ciders, but, the flavouring was always added after fermentation...

 

[fury_tea]

Adding apple juice later will just make it start fermenting again.
I used to work for a (quite well known) cider maker, and we developed a really good cider by adding apple juice to cider, pastuerising it, then kegging it. We also made several flavoured ciders, but, the flavouring was always added after fermentation...

I made a strong apple and pear cider with juice and sugar and stopped fermentation with sorbate and metabisuphate and then added a litre of apple and pear juice back to it. It was one of the nicest ciders I've made.

 

[monkeybutler]

I made a strong apple and pear cider with juice and sugar and stopped fermentation with sorbate and metabisuphate and then added a litre of apple and pear juice back to it. It was one of the nicest ciders I've made.

That’s exactly what I tried with my first batch, except without the pear, but it tasted really bad. I assume something must’ve got in at some point when I was adding the extra juice or taking the hydrometer reading.

 

[BrewMeHappy]

I primed a cider with raspberry Lowicz juice the once which turned out quite nice, but blimey they were a bit lively when I opened them and think I overdid the amount I put in.

 

[LED_ZEP]

I primed a cider with raspberry Lowicz juice the once which turned out quite nice, but blimey they were a bit lively when I opened them and think I overdid the amount I put in.

I find 1/3 - 1/2 a bottle of Lowicz will prime a 25l pressure barrel. I also add a full bottle to the primary and it does make a nice cider.

 

[BrewMeHappy]

I did it with a Calpol syringe into each bottle but can't remember how much I added now. Either way it was a tad too much