How much sugar to add to tc to get 5%?

[Base]

Hi guys been out of the hobby for a year and seem to have forgotten everything I know!

I've lost all of my notes on TC and want to make a 5% and a 6% tc recipe. I've already started two buckets of 20L each of sainsburys AJ 1 packet of youngs cider yeast each and some yeast nutrient. I'll be adding strong tea after I rack it.

How much sugar should I add dissolved in boiled water?

Also how much citric acid should I add?

What should my fg be?

Thanks

 

[RobWalker]

I think you will be adding water to get it to 5%! Assuming OG of 1.045 which is around the mark of most apple juice, you're looking at 6% with no sugar inclusion.

 

[oldbloke]

Check the packs the juice came in for the sugar content, then do the math. Most give at least 4.5%, many are 5% or more.
100g per litre gives 5% according to the PA2 column of http://www.brsquared.org/wine/CalcInfo/HydSugAl.htm which I think is the estimate most widely used among us amateurs

 

[graysalchemy]

I agree with the above you won't need to add any as it will ferment down to 1.000 or lower giving you about 6% :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Onionman]

Down at 5%, remember that it won't keep brilliantly.

 

[Base]

Boxes say 104g per litre.

I'm not really understanding that chart. At that amount would it be just under 5% then?

And what's meant by it not keeping well under 5?


Thanks guys

 

[graysalchemy]

My TC has been aging for over six months in a fermentor and it is fine. It was just juice no suagr additions.

 

[oldbloke]

Boxes say 104g per litre.

I'm not really understanding that chart. At that amount would it be just under 5% then?

Most people (AFAIK) use the PA2 column. 104g/l gives 5.1% according to that. PA1 says maybe only 5%. PA3 and PA4 are more applicable to wine-strength(and above) stuff, but suggest a higher ABV anyway. I dunno what PA5 is intended for, but I can tell from when I fall over that my turbociders are stronger than that column suggests.

 

[Base]

Gravity is under 1 now. Can I rack off the yeast to let it settle and clear?

 

[ScottM]

104g per litre, 20 litres = 2080g

According to my calculator that will give an OG of around 1.037. Assuming the FG is 1.000 then it'll be around 4.79% when finished. From what I understand it'll probably notch just under the 1.000 so it sounds like it'll be dead on what you are after.

For the 6% cider simply add 500g of sugar to the FV and you'll hit 6% (based on 20L again).

Check the gravity again tomorrow and make sure the reading is consistent. If it is it's time to rack

 

[oldbloke]

Gravity is under 1 now. Can I rack off the yeast to let it settle and clear?

If you're bulk-conditioning, yeh. I only do small batches so would just bottle it, with priming sugar, it''ll be clear by the time it's had its minimum 3 weeks in bottle.

 

[graysalchemy]

It will taste better if it is allowed to mature in bulk. :thumb:

 

[Base]

Thus batch is going to be quick, the next will be aged for a while.

Got 2 25 litre batches now. Ones going into a king keg ones going into 2 litre bottles. Glass bottles next time just pinching pennies this time
.

How much sugar per litre to prime with please?

Thanks

 

[graysalchemy]

6-8g per litre I would say. :thumb:

 

[Base]

Thanks for that :drink:

 

[RobWalker]

While we're on the subject of watering down cider, has anyone ever watered one down to make a 4%ish cider? I'd like something easy going for late summer and I have some TC maturing but it's more to 5.5%.

 

[graysalchemy]

If you water it down you are going to lose a lot of flavour. I would suggest watering it down with apple juice when you serve (obviously you can't do that if you are bottle conditioning.)

 

[RobWalker]

yeah, but the TC stuff is quite pungent, more like a thatchers or something - i'm thinking watering down to achieve a bulmerish quality, nice and uninteresting!

 

[graysalchemy]

yeah, but the TC stuff is quite pungent, more like a thatchers or something - i'm thinking watering down to achieve a bulmerish quality, nice and uninteresting!

:lol: :lol:

Just go for it then

 

[oldbloke]

While we're on the subject of watering down cider, has anyone ever watered one down to make a 4%ish cider? I'd like something easy going for late summer and I have some TC maturing but it's more to 5.5%.

You might try a 500ml bottle of Suma apple concentrate, some tea, and water to the gallon.
Should come out about 4.6% with about 0.88 the apple-iness of standard TC.
Not a recipe I like the look of myself, though, TBH