fermentation time for cider

[Chaz]

morning all. I've just started a new cider and the instructions say to ferment for 4 days before barreling but this doesn't seem long enough to me so any advice from the more experienced brewer would be great.
Also any suggestions for a good Christmas brew would be much appreciated

 

[freester]

Is this from apples or a kit? No experience of kits but from apple juice can take anything from 2 weeks to all winter depending on whether you add yeast or just let it ferment naturally.

 

[Chaz]

its from kit only started this afternoon. I stopped brewing a about 10 yrs ago and have only just started up again so I'm very rusty

 

[freester]

its from kit only started this afternoon. I stopped brewing a about 10 yrs ago and have only just started up again so I'm very rusty

I've no experience of cider kits but the best advice I can give is use a Hydrometer and once it's down to 1.000 or not going down any more it's done...

 

[booyaa]

I started a kit on Sunday and is down to 1.01 already. Very quick to ferment so not surprised it says 4 days. I am going to give it at least a week though to make sure it is completely done.

 

[Chaz]

I'm doing exactly the same leaving it a full 7 days.
Thanks

 

[Flying_Fox]

When I make Turbo Cider I give it a week for the initial fermentation and then I bottle it/let
it settle for another week before having a drink

 

[johncrobinson]

Re:>booyaa/chaz

It IS a good idea to make sure the fermentation is finished.!!

A couple of days will do no harm at all.

 

[Ale House Rock]

Ive made a few of the Bulldog kits. Use a thermostatic heater for temperature control. In my experience, these ferment pretty fast and i find that after a week, gravity is down to 1 or less. After bottling they clear quickly too so you'll not have to wait too long before enjoyment sets in!

 

[johncrobinson]

I was able to get thermostatic controllers from work.

Never ever failed,Never ever stuck.

Except when i switched one off by accident, next day first and only "stuck" fermentation.