sam triple Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Just put a small batch of cider down from a batch of wind blown cookers and eating apples ,so many takes on how to brew it so just went for the easiest option , the mrs was o the cheese greater pulping them as she burnt her food mixer out trying to make Nutella (but that's another story ) I pressed them got just over a gallon of juice added yeast yesterday so now its time to wait and see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Did you use Champagne yeast? Gives the best ferment on cider. You'll need another fermenter to transfer to after a couple of weeks to filter it (Depends how cloudy/bitty you like your cider!) - I tend to filter 4 times so you can see through it. Just keep everything as sterile as possible. Brilliant making booze for pennies - Makes it taste delicious!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 I believe it was champagne yeast we used ,got a few demijohns to transfer it too , will need to get filter papers though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woods&wurz Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Buy a jam making straining bag rather than filter papers as they'll be really fine and fill up quickly. The jam making bag will fit into your funnel nicely too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 4 hours ago, woods&wurz said: Buy a jam making straining bag rather than filter papers as they'll be really fine and fill up quickly. The jam making bag will fit into your funnel nicely too. 👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 That 118 champagne yeast is a monster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddoakley Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 Filters!?!?! It should have lumps of Apple, cores, seeds, bits of branches,leaves, bugs, feathers from the pigeons that dropped into it and probably a few bits of rats. Not had a decent coder in a while..... Edd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted August 30, 2019 Report Share Posted August 30, 2019 On 28/08/2019 at 13:32, sam triple said: I believe it was champagne yeast we used ,got a few demijohns to transfer it too , will need to get filter papers though Go and get a square metre of unbleached muslin cloth from Dunelm. It'll do what you need and can be washed and reused. As far as yeast goes I dont like champagne yeast for cider as it ferments very dry. That's fine as long as you know what your blend is likely to come out like, but if you dont and you get a very thorough ferment you can end up with cider that will pucker your mouth like a cats bum. I use homebrew cider yeast and then sweeten with non -fermentable sweetener if required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveboy Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 Don't forget the Paracetamol 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted August 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 13 hours ago, Zapp said: Go and get a square metre of unbleached muslin cloth from Dunelm. It'll do what you need and can be washed and reused. As far as yeast goes I dont like champagne yeast for cider as it ferments very dry. That's fine as long as you know what your blend is likely to come out like, but if you dont and you get a very thorough ferment you can end up with cider that will pucker your mouth like a cats bum. I use homebrew cider yeast and then sweeten with non -fermentable sweetener if required. It was usual brewing yeast we used and woman had some muslin so transferred it to demijohn, like I said learning curve so will see how it goes 2 hours ago, daveboy said: Don't forget the Paracetamol 😂 Got those in already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woods&wurz Posted August 31, 2019 Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 (edited) Trial and error is the best way to learn. I don't know if you have one already but it is worth investing in a hydrometer, (cheap as chips on the bay). Cider really needs to have a specific Gravity (SG) of 1070 for it to keep longer after the fermentation is completed (SG1000). You simply add caster sugar into the pressed apple juice until it's disolved to increase the gravity, it's not rocket science. Some purists will faint at the thought of doing such a thing but I've found it allows you to make a cider to a known alcohol content when using a variety of apples which aren't that ripe / sweet. Edited August 31, 2019 by woods&wurz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted August 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2019 2 hours ago, woods&wurz said: Trial and error is the best way to learn. I don't know if you have one already but it is worth investing in a hydrometer, (cheap as chips on the bay). Cider really needs to have a specific Gravity (SG) of 1070 for it to keep longer after the fermentation is completed (SG1000). You simply add caster sugar into the pressed apple juice until it's disolved to increase the gravity, it's not rocket science. Some purists will faint at the thought of doing such a thing but I've found it allows you to make a cider to a known alcohol content when using a variety of apples which aren't that ripe / sweet. 👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Would you drink this ? Came out looking a little orange ,I’m sure I used apples 🤔 but it’s doing it’s thing bubbling away merrily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveboy Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I've just watched a program on the Isle of Man prison and the inmates brewed something that looked just like that.😯😯 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 10 hours ago, sam triple said: Would you drink this ? Came out looking a little orange ,I’m sure I used apples 🤔 but it’s doing it’s thing bubbling away merrily I think you may have the demijohn to full, you should not have the contents coming up into the airlock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woods&wurz Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I'd agree with Old un, the level wants to be down roughly where the handles start. It looks fine, it'll start off like this and then change colour as it goes. If it's bubbling then it's working, if you source a hydrometer then when the SG is around 1000 then she'll be ready to bottle. It will clear out as it goes, I use pectolase to help it clear out more ( again true scrumpy brewers will dispute this). Once it's clearer you'll notice a healthy amount of sediment on the bottom. the next step is to sypon the fluid of this (called racking) and into a clean demijohn (or 5 litre plastic water bottle) you can then top it up back to the previous level with more pressed apple juice or cooled boiled water. Once its all done and you get to bottling i'd use the swing top (grolsh style) bottles, if it needs sweetning then pop about half a teaspoon of canderel sweetner into the bottle before you fill it. DO NOT use sugar as this will kick of fermentation again which could cause your bottles to blow due to the CO2 being produced, as already suggested above by Zapp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Cheers guys for all your tips once again this is my first dabbling into home brew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Drop the fill in the demijohn to just below the glass handles (bit lower if you have a vigorous ferment) then fill the airlock bubbles with clean water about half way up, when gas starts coming out it will push it to one bubble (like the video) oxygen/air is your enemy, and so are fruit fly’s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Cheers 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 there seems to be no more bubbles passing thru the air lock is this normal ? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 It has stopped fermenting (hopefully). Either test with a hydrometer or taste it to see if it is sweet or as cats bum puckering as you like! Get it racked into a nice clean demijohn in a cool place and await it clearing so you can scupper it all in a oner, or bottle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Let it settle and then syphon into another container to filter and replace the airlock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted October 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 First batch bottled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted December 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2019 First bottle cracked open ,tastes quite “raw “ hopefully won’t get the trots later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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