ALCOHOL %

[carman]

Hi, May have been done before ,what the highest alcohol achieved with cider brews and what was the taste like

cheers Mick

[TC2642]

Really does depend on what type of yeast you use and how much fermentable sugar you have in your apple juice. I've made up to 8-9% cider, very dry and it will mess you up. You could probably top proper cider yeast out at 12% odd. Do expect dryness for the majority of homemade cider without adding campden or artificial sweeteners though.

[Ben711200]

It's an odd pursuit. I think we've all tried to make something as strong as possible but as above, it ends up being ridiculously dry, and destroy you after a bottle.

With added fermentables and the right temperature conditions, there's no reason you couldn't go up to 15% or so with the right yeast.

[Rookie]

One way to get HIGH alc. % is to freeze distill it after fermentation is done.

[Pinto]

17.8% - Pinto's Suicider. Can only be made with Gervin GV4 ultra high alcohol yeast (or turbo yeast, but that makes something pretty undrinkable as its designed for distillers to make spirit wash so off flavours would be rife)

Pain to make, bigger pain to carbonate, drank like slightly fizzy apple wine and blew your brain out of your ears after half a pint

Making it was a technical exercise, and paid more of a homage to wine making than cider brewing; IMO, ciders taken over 9% loose the apple character and take a spirity edge alien to the drink you know and love.

[CJR]

Make sure you have enough yeast and are patient with the fermentation if you make Pinto's Suicider. My attempt came out ridiculously sweet and only at 7.6% but now I'm pairing it with some contaminated very bitter stout, it makes a great Poor Man's Black Velvet. Two balls-ups = One great drink.

[DeadFall]

for strong stuff I always start out with a good yeast until that is maxed out, then use turbo yeast (hydrated in sugary water and left for a couple of hours first) to get the high % alcohol. I've made some nice port style wines like that.