Can I just throw yeast at apple juice?

[bigdave]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm shopping tomorrow so will pick up 10(ish) ltrs of AJ. I've ordered some Richies champagne/cider yeast (it was the first one I came to on ebay, is it any good?) so should be ready to rock n roll on monday! I'm going to have a blast at Trucker5774's method of halting fermentation through chilling as I have plenty of fridge space.

[bigdave]

12ltrs of apple nectar purchased!

[afur130173]

I've read some bad reports on richies yeast butt not been too bad any time I've used it.

[bigdave]

Yeast arrived in the post. They've sent Youngs Cider Yeast for some reason (the joys of ebay) but hey ho... I'll get it all on the go tonight.

[Pinto]

Nothing wrong with that I've used it myself and results were good - just hope you didnt pay too much; I can get it for 99p per sachet from my LHBS

[bigdave]

I think it cost about £1.20 including postage.

Chucked it all in the FV last night! 12ltrs apple nectar, 1ltr tea, 1.5kg sugar. OG 1.068 @19ºC

[jordanchaos]

The Maple flavour syrup from Tate and Lyle has unfermentables that work.
Ive also tried boiling up some hard cider apples straining the cooled juice in to the FV, that works, tea works and grape juice really really works


no one has mentioned killing off the yeast before full fermentation with campden tabs to maintain sweetness? any reason?

[oldbloke]

Well, Campdens don't kill yeast: they stun it a bit, but they don't kill it. Think of all the winemakers who Campden whenever they rack, and fermentation carries on.
Potassium sorbate and Campden together would be a better bet, if you want to kill the yeast.
But, if the yeast's dead, where's your carbonation coming from? Not keen on completely still cider myself.

[bigdave]

36 hours and we're off

[Pinto]

36 hours ? She's a slow burner for a TC - My CInnimonator put the first bubbles through the airlock after just 4 hours @ 21 degrees

It'll make up for it soon enought tho - if your mix has nutrient it'll be going mental soon

[bigdave]

No nutrient....

I'ts droped really cold last night (the FV was reading 17º this morning) and fermentation seems to have dropped right off. Popped it in a sunny spot and turned the heating up before I left the house so we shall see how it goes.

[oldbloke]

It'll be OK, just take a bit longer. A cooler ferment /may/ give you a tastier end product.

[bigdave]

Ive never had this trouble with ales

[danbrew]

Wort is perfect medium for yeast though. Anything else needs a bit of help. If you can get some nutrient I'd be inclined to whack a bit in... Not saying it will happen in your case but a lack of nutrient could cause funny smells...

[bigdave]

There's nowhere locally that stocks it & it's likely to be a week on Saturday before I can get to a HBS! Only thing I have to hand is a packet of S04 which I cant imagine would be of much use.