Hi!!

[felerty]

Hi everyone!

My names Rich and I've just started to consider brewing my own cider!

I've got two demijohns on the way with a bubbler and siphon tube etc.

I plan on using Apple juice from concentrate for my first batch to test the waters, I've read a lot of good results can be had by using carton juice so I hope for the best!!! :hmm:

I love this forum and appreciate any advice (proper newbie to all this!!)

Thanks

Rich

 

[oldbloke]

You also want a source of tannin - strong tea is often used.
Your yeast would probably enjoy some nutrient.
Malic acid is recommended if you want to make quality stuff.
You'll likely need pectolase to get it to clear.
A bit of some other juice to round out the flavour helps.
My fave juice mix so far (per gallon):
1/2 litre Welch's white grape/apple/pear
1/2 litre cranberry
1/2 litre very strong Earl Grey tea
3 litres value apple juice

Oh, and: You'll enjoy it. A lot.

 

[graysalchemy]

Welcome to the forum :

+1 for what oldbloke says plus giove it plenty of time at least 2-3 months mturing 6 is better for flavours to develope.

:thumb:

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome.

 

[felerty]

Thanks for your replies!

I'm not too fussed about it being clear.
I have got malic acid.
I heard tea would be good but I didn't know how much so thank you.
Would you add any sugar at the start? If so how much for a 5 litre brew? I'm not bothered about strength but I want it to taste great (and I'm willing to be patient!)
Would you recommend racking into another demijohn then ageing In that with the bubbler still in?
Also I'm worried about priming?? Once aged I was going to bottle in 2 litre lemonade bottles. Once primed I don't want It to pop! Do you need to stop the fizz somehow before it does??

Once again thanks for the advice!

 

[eggman]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[oldbloke]

I heard tea would be good but I didn't know how much so thank you.
Would you add any sugar at the start? If so how much for a 5 litre brew? I'm not bothered about strength but I want it to taste great (and I'm willing to be patient!)
Would you recommend racking into another demijohn then ageing In that with the bubbler still in?
Also I'm worried about priming?? Once aged I was going to bottle in 2 litre lemonade bottles. Once primed I don't want It to pop! Do you need to stop the fizz somehow before it does??

About 4 teabags in half a litre, pretty well stewed, to the gallon.
Straight juice will give 5 to 6.5 %ABV, even with 1/2 litre just being tea. Frankly, that's enough. Extra sugar doesn't really improve the taste enormously.
If you're going to age it properly, rack it to a demi. I always leave the airlock in. But you can go straight to bottles.
Assuming you mean PET plassy lemonade bottles, they can take a lot of pressure so no worries there. I prime (glass bottles) with 1tsp/500ml(or pint). Grays does it by weight, for greater accuracy - 10g/litre I think.

 

[graysalchemy]

Grays does it by weight, for greater accuracy - 10g/litre I think.

I actually use 7-8g /L for cider :thumb:

I would add 1 tsp per gallon of malic acid and go with OB's suggestion on tea. I wouldn't bother adding sugar you should get a decent 5-6% cider from just using juice. If you are wanting a pleasent drink for summer time I don't think you will want more especially if you are planning on drinking a 2L pop bottle at a time :lol: :lol:

 

[charlie_mead_face]

welcome to the forum :