First ever Cider

[Lucretia]

Hi,

Ok, I've got the following:

• 2x very clean 1 gallon demijohns.[/*:m:1i25jhbo]
• 1x pack of Cider yeast.[/*:m:1i25jhbo]
• 1x tub of sterlising powdery stuff.[/*:m:1i25jhbo]
• 1x airlock.[/*:m:1i25jhbo]
• 1x Bung.[/*:m:1i25jhbo]
• 1x bung with hole for airlock.[/*:m:1i25jhbo]
• 2x 2L ASDA apple juice from concentrate (nothing added or so it says).[/*:m:1i25jhbo]

My aim is a dry fizzy cider, but I have no clue as to what to do now.

I also have a bag of dark brown sugar (I've seen a recipe that adds 300g) and teabags. Should I add honey or should the sugar suffice?

I know I have to sterilise the demijohns, do I need to sterilise the cup that I brew the strong tea in? What about the bungs/airlock?

Should I heat up the AJ before adding it so the yeast starts?

As for priming to get it fizzy, do I use granulated or the brown sugar mentioned above?

Thanks,
Luke.

 

[nickmcmechan]

sterilise everything and rinse well before you start

 

[Stone Cold]

im no expert cider brewer but iv done a fair few of these turbo ciders now and I say ...its hard to feck this up combine ur juice sugar and add a strong cup of tea no milk :) :thumb: add yeats wait untill its stopped going fermental wait a few days for it to clear some and bottle with a tea spoon of sugar per pintish :clap:

i think tc are great better than white lightning lol

 

[Lucretia]

im no expert cider brewer but iv done a fair few of these turbo ciders now and I say ...its hard to feck this up combine ur juice sugar and add a strong cup of tea no milk :) :thumb: add yeats wait untill its stopped going fermental wait a few days for it to clear some and bottle with a tea spoon of sugar per pintish :clap:

how much sugar tho?

i think tc are great better than white lightning lol

Oh god, if it's gonna taste like that vile stuff, i'd better not bother!

 

[Stone Cold]

depends how strong u like it, start off with 200grams and see what it tastes like, and keep on brewing untill you find the recipe you like. this kind of cider is so cheap and fast to brew do loads

 

[evanvine]

For your first making I would suggest that you don't add any sugar, you will still get 5.8% ABV.
You say you want "dry cider", this you will most certainly get!
Try one table spoon of Splenda initially.
Hope all goes well. :thumb:

 

[Lucretia]

For your first making I would suggest that you don't add any sugar, you will still get 5.8% ABV.
You say you want "dry cider", this you will most certainly get!
Try one table spoon of Splenda initially.
Hope all goes well. :thumb:

Why use fake sugar?What about the aftertaste you get with that? surely the real thing is better?

Luke

 

[evanvine]

Why use fake sugar?What about the aftertaste you get with that? surely the real thing is better?

Luke

How are you going to tell the yeast not to eat it?

 

[Lucretia]

Why use fake sugar?What about the aftertaste you get with that? surely the real thing is better?

Luke

How are you going to tell the yeast not to eat it?

A goog talking to I was thinking it might affect theflavour too.

 

[evanvine]

Your cider will ferment to total dryness!
I suggest "splenda" as it does not drop out of suspension, does not have an after taste and to just take the edge off the very harsh dry taste.
One of the big things of this Forum is you do your own thing, then tell us which way was up.
The great thing about this Forum is you get advice from experience!

 

[Lucretia]

hokay, put in the apple juice and the yeast and here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo2DIYYO5hI

not sure it's right though.

 

[Lucretia]

Well, it's been going for a while. Although I could never really seem to catch it bubbling on it's own, I would have to sit and watch it for a while. If I put my hand on the bottle it would feel cold and then bubble. Not sure if this was caused by shaking it a little.

Should I have shaken the demijohn at all?

Luke.

P.S: It's on the windowsill, my room is warm and it's wrapped in a towel, just saw a bubble, so it's still going or I've woken it up a bit.

 

[Lucretia]

put it on the windowsill which gets the most sun in a towel, it's still bubbling so looks like it was too cold where it's been before.