My n00bie senses are tingling..

[clum]

Right guys this forum has been fantastic but I am dithering in the wind now.. I have been brewing my first brew batch - cider -. But now I think it has stopped (or slowed) fermentation after only 5 days.. I took some out to taste last night and although tasting like cider it also tasted slightly acidic(cider vinegar maybe ) is there a way I can neutralise this with house hold items (bicarbonate soda..? etc) or should I just cut my losses and bottle it with some sugar to add some bubbles..?

Kind Regards,

Clum :electric:

 

[frenchy]

Hi Clum!
I'd say it's perfectly normal.
Take a hydrometer reading, if it's all fermented prime it and bottle it.
The taste should improve with time.

 

[clum]

See my only problem was I did not take a hydrometer reading until last night when I tested it because I started before I purchased one.

Do I use my hydrometer in a long tube or is a reading with it just in my 25 litre vat ok?

Think I will bottle it tonight.. How much sugar should I use as a primer..? I have 23 litres in my vat...

Regards,

Calum :drink:

 

[Rolfster]

Remove some of your cider in a sterile way and use a long tube to do your reading.

Your looking for a reading below 1.000.

Have you seen this thread? viewtopic.php?f=40&t=45066
So ideas on changing the flavour a little.
If you just want pure cider then as frenchie said leave it for a while to age.

 

[LeithR]

Also, if your SG is around the 1000 mark leave it in the FV and take readings for the next 2 days if the readings stay steady then bottle it. There is no hurry at this stage, you can leave it for weeks if necessary in the FV before bottling and it encourages a little patience which is a great asset in this hobby.

If you want to experiment with flavors then I can suggest you try Lowicz Blackberry, Cherry or Raspberry which can be got from Tesco's in the International foods isle, I think they are about £2.50 a 440ml bottle. I like to use a whole bottle per Gallon but others might want to use only 1/2 or 2/3rds of the bottle. Up to you. This brings a great flavor to the cider.

 

[clum]

Also, if your SG is around the 1000 mark leave it in the FV and take readings for the next 2 days if the readings stay steady then bottle it. There is no hurry at this stage, you can leave it for weeks if necessary in the FV before bottling and it encourages a little patience which is a great asset in this hobby.

If you want to experiment with flavors then I can suggest you try Lowicz Blackberry, Cherry or Raspberry which can be got from Tesco's in the International foods isle, I think they are about £2.50 a 440ml bottle. I like to use a whole bottle per Gallon but others might want to use only 1/2 or 2/3rds of the bottle. Up to you. This brings a great flavor to the cider.

I was going to try some flavouring.. It is bramble season in scotland so was thinking about maybe going foraging and getting some nice black berries for it..

Appreciate the help n advice

 

[oldbloke]

Cider can be quite acid when young, a bit of something sweet (like your blackberry suggestion) helps, but a bit of age will help a lot too - as it does with wine.

 

[clum]

I was thinking about experimenting with half of it.. So I was going to drain half of it into bottles just now and then leave the other half in the vat..

I was wondering if this would start to taint my batch since my vat would be half empty (or half full :))...????

Patience is something I will need to learn.. Thank god I'm not married.. :whistle:

Regards,

Clum :thumb:

 

[LeithR]

Good luck with your experimentation, I was out picking blackberries this afternoon for a batch of Elderberry wine I'm planning. most of them seemed to be low to the ground so have a sore back now, thankfully my pal is coming to take me out for a pint or 2/3/4 this evening.
I'll be on the Thrappledouser or one of the other Inveralmond brewery beers, they are all pretty good.

You should be ok with a bit of headspace for a short while, the way the CO2 is produced creates a blanket of gas above the beer with the air above and not in direct contact with the beer. But don't take the airlock off for anything but a serious reason like bottling!

 

[clum]

Hi guys.. Cider turned out quite nice.. Although with the brambles in it it seemed to be very fizzy when opening the bottle.. only tried a couple as of yet because i am trying to give it a bit of time in the bottle.. Going to try my hand at some beeeeeeeer now

Regards,

Clum

 

[Rolfster]

:thumb: : :thumb: