Fermenting Apple Juice

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SiHoltye

Fermenting Apple Juice

Post by SiHoltye » Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:54 pm

Hello,

I know nothing specific to this process and I'm not sure i really like cider, still it sounded like something to do on a Sunday afternoon so it's made up now.

I took an empty 5L water bottle, sanitized it. Poured in 4L of Tesco Pure Apple juice (the cheap stuff 53p/L and sugars 11.4g/100ml), sprinkled on a 6g sachet of Youngs Champagne yeast, waited 15mins and shook the lot. OG 1.044.

Never done this before so quite excited to see the results!

grumpysod

Post by grumpysod » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:50 pm

Welcome to the dark side :) Soon you'll realise that all that messing around around with hops and malt just isn't worth it.

It's good to brew something that's ready to drink in just over a week, I've just pitched my third batch of juice on top of the slurry that was left over from my second batch, which in turn, was pitched on top of the slurry from my first batch. All this in just over two weeks.

My first batch was similar to yours and it's a surprisingly drinkable brew - I've none of the first 4l left - it was last nights tipple, the stuff I bottled today, will be drunk next weekend. I'll probably pitch another batch on top of the yeast and then start over.

Russ

Post by Russ » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:54 pm

'Tis a slippery slope 8)

Drink too much and you won't be able to 'see' the result. :lol:

BTW I use Te@co juice and it's great, I also didn't think I liked Cider till I started making it- but I'm developing a taste for it now :shock:

Once it's finished going mad (a couple of days) you can add some more apple juice to top up the FV-might as well make as much as you can!

I've decided to stop messing about with gallons of TC, I've seen the future...............and it 5 gallon batches from now on!

Cheers!

Curious Brew

Post by Curious Brew » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:15 pm

Russ wrote:I've decided to stop messing about with gallons of TC, I've seen the future...............and it 5 gallon batches from now on!
I too have seen the light. :twisted:

I'm going to fill one of my Freecycle FVs full of apple juice and off I go... enough TC to bathe in! :lol: :shock: :-k \:D/ :twisted:

SiHoltye

Post by SiHoltye » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:23 pm

Blimey, it's gone from millpond to foamy after 3hrs. Great watching the action so close up in a clear container as well.

SiHoltye

Post by SiHoltye » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:46 pm

Anyone know how long 6g of Youngs Champagne yeast might take to ferment out this 1.044 1G batch?

mattfuzzy

Post by mattfuzzy » Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:03 pm

few days, most use half a packet of yeast per 5L, after all a 6g sachet will do about 24L so i hear, though most will use 11g (ie: safale and stuff)

does anyone ever get comments or questions on supermarket checkouts about buying huge quantitys (over 5 items of the same stuff) of apple juice/honey and stuff? i do EVERY single time i shop... which isnt much :D
-matt

SiHoltye

Post by SiHoltye » Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:25 pm

Ta MF, no funny looks yet though only the once so far. If this proves drinkable I'll try other juices I think, and so may get looks in times to come.

mctoon

Post by mctoon » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:06 pm

Grumpy
It's good to brew something that's ready to drink in just over a week, I've just pitched my third batch of juice on top of the slurry that was left over from my second batch, which in turn, was pitched on top of the slurry from my first batch. All this in just over two weeks.

I might try this, With my TC i bin the crap in the bottom and then start with a fresh sachet of yeast,

So do you use the slurry with fresh yeast

Cheers Mal

grumpysod

Post by grumpysod » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:36 pm

I just use the stuff left at the bottom of my fv - it's only had 2 generations so should still be viable, I've added nothing but econmy apple juice.
me wrote:the stuff I bottled today, will be drunk next weekend. I'll probably pitch another batch on top of the yeast and then start over.
This batch didn't even last to the weekend. I've drunk the full 4L this evening (at 4.9% ABV it's not really a session drink) - then again it's my birthday today, so it's classed as a special occasion. My next 4l should at least last until next weekend. After that I now feel ready to step up to a full 5gallon brew :) then I might have even have something to drink at Christmas.


P.s.
It's strange that I've less typos when I've had a few drinks compared to when I'm sober :) I spend more time reading over my posts before hitting the submit button...

meikle

Post by meikle » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:18 am

Hi,
When you make another batch from the slurry do you shake it to wken it up or just let it sit?
I tried my firdt batch on Saturday night & woke up on the couch on Sunday morning....... :shock:

Curious Brew

Post by Curious Brew » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:42 am

meikle wrote:Hi,
When you make another batch from the slurry do you shake it to wken it up or just let it sit?
I tried my firdt batch on Saturday night & woke up on the couch on Sunday morning....... :shock:
I syphon and bottle a batch and then pour four litres of apple juice straight back in. Give it a damn good shake and then pop the airlock back on.

Wait a week/ten days and then repeat.

The longest I've reused a yeast is three times so far but TC seems so resistant to infection that I might try to see who far I can go without using a new yeast.

We could get a forum record competition going. :idea:

ideas

Post by ideas » Mon Dec 03, 2007 5:47 pm

Give it a damn good shake and then pop the airlock back on.
hiya, just wondering (not that i've done this..well maybe) what would happen if you didnt have an airlock? ive just got one of thse Pet gallon bottles with a lid and tiny hole in it. In my haste i didnt bother putting an airlock on, just left it.

Its been fermenting for about 4 days now, and the head is just dieing down. Does that sound about right or am i just a fool?

cheers

g

Crossbow

Post by Crossbow » Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:24 pm

You can get by without an airlock, although there is an increased risk of things going wrong, but TC seems pretty tolerant. I'd be inclined to use some kitchen paper or similar tied over the top to make sure nothing can climb in or drown tho :P

And slowing down after 4 days would be pretty normal, yes

ideas

Post by ideas » Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:40 pm

You can get by without an airlock, although there is an increased risk of things going wrong, but TC seems pretty tolerant. I'd be inclined to use some kitchen paper or similar tied over the top to make sure nothing can climb in or drown tho Tongue

And slowing down after 4 days would be pretty normal, yes
Thanks for quick reply, really appreciate it! Theres no chance of anything falling in as its in my empty 5 gallon tub with the lid loosely on.

Just waiting for that to finish now, and made some ginger beer today so that should start bubbling soon (with an airlock this time lol).

thanks, again!

g

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