Grow Your Own Magazine

pigletwillie · #1 (**permalink**) 31-12-2006, 01:47 AM

Is it possible to make a good cider using bought apple juice and adding yeast as I am unable to source a big enough supply of apples to make a worthwhile amount?

shirlthegirl43 · #2 (**permalink**) 31-12-2006, 09:32 AM

Turbo Cider

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Well this is as easy as it gets!
(called turbo as its so quick and easy)

Ingredients:
4.5L of pure apple juice
1tsp yeast

Method:
1. Place 3L of apple juice into a demijon (assumeing everything is sterile)
2. PLace 1tsp of yeast into the demijon
3. shake
4. leave for 36-48hrs to ferment then top with with the remaining of the juice (cant fill it right up at the start as it will foam quite a bit)
5. leave to ferment out
6. Rack off and drink (or if you like cider fizzy then prime as usual)

Copied from another forum I am a member of - PM me if you want the link!!

I have tried this and it was quite acceptable - similar to scrumpy rather than strongbow if you get my drift

Steve · #3 (**permalink**) 31-12-2006, 12:39 PM

Hi Piglet,

http://www.yobrew.co.uk/cider.php

I tried this concocktion last year and may I say it was a great success it tasted a lot like Gaymers Traditional,MMMMmmmmm hic or as my OH would put it 'oh no not again !!!!!!!!!!'

pigletwillie · #4 (**permalink**) 31-12-2006, 03:17 PM

Bang on, choices choices, thanks both.

Brewer-again · #5 (**permalink**) 31-12-2006, 09:23 PM

Great idea to use juice, but it could be worth checking the amount of sugar, as sucrose, in the pack. You could use a hydrometer or it will probably be written on the packet. Also check for E numbers and preservatives.

You could do with about 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) per 4 galls. As said before, very easy, enjoy!!

rhubarbontoast · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 09:55 PM

Once fermentation has finished, you can siphon the cider into clean plastic soft drink bottles and prime it with a couple of teaspoons of sugar. Leave it for a couple of weks and you will have a lightly sparkling brew. You will have a small sediment on the bottom of the bottle so take care pouring... enjoy.

pigletwillie · #7 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 10:39 PM

I was going to store it as flat cider in capped wine bottles but will fizz some up

vicki lorraine · #8 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 11:24 PM

This year i had tons of bramleys can i make cider with these?

madderbat · #9 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 11:24 PM

If you use (empty!) water bottles they have ridges along the sides and catch the sediment very well I find. If you want it to go flat, store with the tops on, but not screwed up tight - acts like a fermentation stopper.

rhubarbontoast · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 12:08 PM

May be obvious but don't prime anything in a non-carbonated drinks bottle. They are designed for the pressure, a water bottle isn't. The mess would be spectacular.

pigletwillie · #11 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 06:16 PM

I now have 2 demijohns of cider in waiting on the go in the kitchen. Hopefully It will be racked off and matured plenty to be ready for my birthday in July.

shirlthegirl43 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigletwillie

I now have 2 demijohns of cider in waiting on the go in the kitchen. Hopefully It will be racked off and matured plenty to be ready for my birthday in July.

Hi PW - if you used the link I sent you it will be finished drunk and done again a few times over before your birthday. I think mine took about 3 weeks start to gone!

pigletwillie · #13 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 06:25 PM

Bang on, I like things like that brewing wise. I do get a little impatient sometimes.

shirlthegirl43 · #14 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 06:37 PM

LOL - know just what you mean. I like kit wines for speed (and guaranteed results) but do a small amount of proper wine for fun (first year of brewing last year!)

Brewer-again · #15 (**permalink**) 09-01-2007, 08:22 PM

I can remember being in a rush 'when I were a lad', I have even drunk some brews early which is not a good idea

but now I just make sure that I make twice as much as I think I will need. I have known myself and say three friends drink wine for an evening, with a meal in there somewhere, and that can be the end of six or more bottles. It does not happen a lot but when you think it can take 3 months to make the wine, all your stock can go very quickly.

My oh used to be very sarcastic about the amount I made but she was always pleased on the evenings that we were pouring it out. Make more than you think you need, save some as it gets better with age and store it. I am thinking of storing wines under the house, there are always some empty places.
I have four gallons behind the settee at the moment.

pigletwillie · #16 (**permalink**) 16-01-2007, 09:32 PM

The cider seems to have fermented out now. If I rack it into a sterelized demijohn and then again after a day or two to remove the sediment, will it be ready for bottling?

How long then do I leave it to mature before tasting it.

shirlthegirl43 · #17 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 08:00 AM

Rack it of the yeast lees and leave it to clear - feel free to have a taste - you may like it just the way it is. How long you wait to drink it is totally up to you. I think I was patient and waited a few weeks for it to clear. Use the empty demijohn to put another batch to go!!

pigletwillie · #18 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 12:27 PM

Thank you Shirl, Apple juice is on the shopping list.

shirlthegirl43 · #19 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigletwillie

Thank you Shirl, Apple juice is on the shopping list.

No worries.

Where do you get all the lovely piggie pics?

pigletwillie · #20 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 01:06 PM

Self portraits Shirl!!!!

shirlthegirl43 · #21 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 01:11 PM

ROFL!!!! You are very photogenic PW!

pigletwillie · #22 (**permalink**) 17-01-2007, 01:23 PM

I was a beautiful baby, It all went wrong as I grew older.

pigletwillie · #23 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 06:28 PM

I am most chuffed today. The first batch of cider is now bottled (8 bottles 75 cl) and the second batch is in the demijohns. I have added exra sugar this time to give it a bit more va va vooom in the tast and alcohol department.

It will be labelled as Piglets Special Sui-cider and hopefully will come in at about 5.5-6%