Hello new member busting my home brew cherry

RioSteel · Nov 25, 2012

Hi all,

Joined today to be ready to ask for help when I need some which I expect I will.

Did my first brew the other week after a friend at work from Romania inspired me with a a bottle of his "moonshine" then I found out distilling spirits is illegal in UK without licence and I need a plum orchard to make this brand of moonshine of which I have neither.

I did however do some basic net searches went and bought a 2 litre bottle of spring water, which I poured away and 2 litres of apple juice and chucked in a teaspoon of fast action bread yeast. I worked, it bubbled it went everywhere when I undid the lid, it tasted shocking but I thought if I can do this in a week then what else can I do. So I recreated the experiment with a 5 litre bottle of spring water 5 litres of apple juice a balloon with a pin prick in and some cider yeast which I bought along with a hydro meter from my local brew shop in Leeds. This also worked and tasted better. And if I read it right gave me 5 litres of 5.6% yellow unfizzzy cider.

I then went back to the brew shop asked the bloke what I needed to buy to do a cider kit. I mentioned my above experiments and he rolled his eyes but put me on the right track.

I now have 40 litres of black rock New Zealand cider from a kit fermenting my back bedroom.

Anyway hi again.

Has anyone used this kit and what do you think of it?

Thanks,

Rio

RioSteel · Nov 25, 2012

Just another quick question I'm now attempting to prime my original experiments I think I've used the right amount of sugar 1tsp per 500ml, how long does this take?

Thanks again,

Rio

31bb3 · Nov 25, 2012

Welcome to the forum just be aware we do not tollerate the discussion of distillation as we are a uk based forum and as you have already said id illegal in the uk
feel free to join in the forum and im sure you will get your answer soon

oldbloke · Nov 25, 2012

RioSteel said:
Just another quick question I'm now attempting to prime my original experiments I think I've used the right amount of sugar 1tsp per 500ml, how long does this take?

2weeksWarm2weeksCold pretty much always works. You might be Ok with 1wk/1wk but I always do 2/2 (now I have some stock built up...)

Sounds like your early experiments were tasted too early. I let my turboCider fement until it drops clear (10 to 20 days, depending), then bottle.

RioSteel · Nov 25, 2012

Thanks Eddie I'm not up for distilling so no worries there.

Cheers oldbloke looks like I need to master my patience and get something else on sharpish. Turbo Cider? I'll have to find out more.

I'm a real ale fan myself but thought cider might be an easier start.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers