Hard Apple Cider Noob

[brewnoob]

Hi all, looking to make some hard apple cider over the next few weeks and after watching this video on youtube I'm a bit confused:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La38oQjdyPw

Would I really have to bother with a yeast nutrient? Surely all the sugar I'd be adding and all the sweetness from the juice would be enough.

Last question... would using Champagne yeast be okay, I can't see why not?

Don't hate because I am noob

Dan

 

[BrewDan]

Hello Dan...great name!!

As far as I am aware, you dont have to add yeast nutrient,I tend to as it just seems to help the fermentation get going. You dont want to go crazy on the sugar as it will probably end up too strong to drink if you arent careful, ive made a few without even adding extra sugar and they have come out fine. Id suggest using a hydrometer so that you dont go overboard. The type of yeast you are asking about using will probably end up leaving it quite dry, ive only tried cider yeast and youngs wine yeast before so cant really comment on that one. :

 

[graysalchemy]

Wine yeast or champagne yeast is fine but can leave turbo cider a bit insipid. It will taste better if you

A) use a proper cider yeast, I have a culture from a bottle of cloudy westons cider as it has live yeast in it.

B) Add a tsp of malic acid and tsp of tannin. These 2 are lacking in the apples used to make apple juice.

C) Let it mature even a month or two and it will taste better.

If you the above you will end up with something more like a half decent cider instead of fizzy pop you probably drank as a teenager.

I used to think TC without the above was fine until some one bought me some bottles of decent cider to try.

Hope that helps

 

[brewnoob]

Okay cheers guys, what sort of gravity should I be looking to get before adding my yeast? I'll only be making a gallon as it's my first time with hard cider so I won't be left 40 pints of **** cider lol

Dan