Noob trying a turbo cider.

[fastlad21]

Hi, this is my first attempt at making turbo cider. Fingers crossed I'm doing it right.

Firstly I have used 3L Apple juice (100% from concentrate), 1 tsp yeast, 1 tsp yeast nutrient, approximately 1 tsp sugar and a cup of tea (2 bags brewed to be strong black tea).

I have put it all together in a demi-john. It is now sitting in my garage in a plastic box to hopefully catch any eruptions (hopefully there won't be any tho)
This is how it looks at the moment.

Does it seem that I am doing things correctly? If not please can anyone advise me?

Thanks for reading.
Rob

 

[reddibaggie]

All looks good, what was the idea with the teaspoon of sugar though, that will have practically no effect on the brew. The above will ferment to about 5-6% abv. I've put 4 litres in mine and after the initial foam up, about 4 days, I'm going to put another half litre in.
I've also put in 25g of cascade pellets in as well, yummy.

 

[fastlad21]

Thanks. The sugar was mixed in with the yeast to help it along. It was until afterwards I realised I didn't need it because I had also used yeast nutrient. I'm going to top it up to 4.5L after initial fermentation.

 

[fivegoldstars]

Hi. I'm new to this too, and sharpening my teeth with some turbo ciders (not much of a beer/lager drinker tbh, so will just be ciders, wine...maybe mead). So far got three on the go.
Just one quick thing with your post - and I hope you don't think I'm being cheeky - but has that DJ been fully washed and sanitized? From the first picture, it looks like there's a film or a haze up to where the neck tapers in? Might just be the way the light is falling though.

 

[Maffa]

Not a cider drinker myself but am thinking of doing one of these for the Mrs. What's the time process with one of these? Is it any different to fermenting beer?

2 weeks in primary
1 week secondary
Bottle warm 2 weeks
Then cold?

Do you prime bottles?

 

[reddibaggie]

Hi maffa, yeh pretty much the same as any brew. I'm keeping it in the primary until it stops fermenting or hydrometer is 995. Then straight into bottles with 2 tsp of sugar for fizz. You can put it in secondary, but as it will allow even more yeast to drop out, you'll have to wait longer for the bottles to carbonate. No problem if you've got patience, unlike me..

 

[fastlad21]

Just one quick thing with your post - and I hope you don't think I'm being cheeky - but has that DJ been fully washed and sanitized? From the first picture, it looks like there's a film or a haze up to where the neck tapers in? Might just be the way the light is falling though.

No mate I don't think your being cheeky. It was definitely scrubbed both inside and out and sanitised for longer than stated on the package. It could be the light I'm not sure. It is a old Dj tho so I'm not too sure.

 

[fivegoldstars]

Not a cider drinker myself but am thinking of doing one of these for the Mrs. What's the time process with one of these? Is it any different to fermenting beer?

2 weeks in primary
1 week secondary
Bottle warm 2 weeks
The cold?

Do you prime bottles?

I think that there are several variables which will affect this (addition of sugar, amount of sugar in apple juice or additional ingredients, yeast used etc) - standard answer seems to be anything from a week to a month for initial fermentation in primary. Secondary can be anything from zero to six months plus. Bottles can be primed for fizzy, or not primed for still.
I've got three Dj's on the go at the minute...they've been happily bubbling for a good couple of weeks. I plan to put in secondary for a good month or so to bulk age, then bottle still. Once I've got a rolling stock, I'll probably age longer.

 

[fivegoldstars]

No mate I don't think your being cheeky. It was definitely scrubbed both inside and out and sanitised for longer than stated on the package. It could be the light I'm not sure. It is a old Dj tho so I'm not too sure.

Good stuff. Sometimes if cleaners are left too long, they can create a film. I think the oxi type cleaners can if left overnight, or too much powder used.
I'm just trying to get the right balance myself at the minute with regards to cleaning - I seem to be spending more time cleaning and sanitising than anything else. At the moment, I think that there are hospital operating rooms which are more contaminated than my bottles! Funny thing is, when I think about how my grandad used to brew, his DJs were always lined up under his washing in the kitchen, and I can't remember too much cleaning going on...

 

[fastlad21]

Yeah it could be the sanitising solution. It's just the cheap stuff from either the range or Wilkinsons. This is only my 2nd attempt at home brewing so hopefully I will get it cracked soon.

 

[Maffa]

Just bought 4ltr of Apple juice (from concentrate) and a litre of cranberry & pomegranate. Will add a cup of tea (2 bags) and some tomato puree to get the yeast going but I have a couple of questions.

In one TC recipe I read, it says to do 3 litres first, then add the yeast, wait a week and add the last litre of AJ. Whats the point of this?

Also, I have a 7g cider yeast satchet. Should I use all this just for a 1 gallon brew?

 

[reddibaggie]

The point of waiting a week is, the first week, fermentation can get quite fierce, so putting it all in a once could result in it blowing out through the bubbler and yes chuck the whole sachet of yeast in.

 

[fastlad21]

So it has taken about 3 days to get to this stage,

 

[fivegoldstars]

So it has taken about 3 days to get to this stage,

 

[fastlad21]

Thanks for that. Fingers crossed it's going to plan. As there is only 3L of apple juice in it at the moment, would it be best to just top up with apple juice or use something else?

 

[fivegoldstars]

With my TC's so far, I've done 3.5 to 4l of apple juice in the initial mix, and topped up after the head has subsided on day 3. The heads have been about an inch deep at their biggest.

 

[fastlad21]

Cheers. Once the head has built up and settled ill top it up with apple juice. Thanks again.

 

[Maffa]

Wont topping up halfway through fermentation make the OG reading obsolete?

How do you accurately calculate the %?

 

[fastlad21]

I didn't take a OG reading. I'm just wanting to get the process right firstly. As I believe it if it is filled right up it can sometimes bubble up through the water trap and go everywhere. I'm not sure how to accurately calculate the % doing it this way tho.

 

[fastlad21]

A little update.
Last night I added another 1L of apple juice and this morning there is some marks around the walls of the dj so I'm guessing it got more of a head overnight.