Dodgy Cider?

[Ianb]

After tidying out the shed to get ready to start playing with AG, I found some old kits, one of which was a John Bull Cider kit.

I decided to use a few up, so put on a pilsner, a bitter and the cider a week ago.

All was well, but on checking the cider this evening the head appears to have disappeared and it is smelling a bit sulphurous. Gravity has dropped to 1.000.

Does all sound well? Should I bother sterilising the old grolsch bottles or should it be binned?

I'm not hugely upset if the concensus is to scrap it! The ginger and turbo cider I got going at the weekend are bubbling away nicely and the bitter should be ok!!!!

[prolix]

sulphurous is not bad, it is common for yeast especially lager ones to give off sulphides just wait till the smell abates and then bottle

[Ianb]

Thanks for that. I've never had success with a John Bull kit, and thought this was going to be another strike of the curse!!!!

Will keep watching for a few days and see what happens.

[sparky Paul]

I've done a couple of the JB Cider kits, and they do pong a bit - its normal.

You'll also get a whiff of it as you open the bottles when its young... but if you have the patience, leave it for a few months and its great stuff!

[davidson]

I will second that sparky. I done a JB cider around xmas time. Only now it has become drinkable. I was considering throwing the lot. Glad I didn't

[hong]

I was gonna try a John Bull cider kit. Do you simply brew it up in a bucket, and once fermented out just syphon into primed pop bottles?
What kind of strentgh are these kits? Any more tips or advice would be gratefully received too,
cheers!

[davidson]

I was gonna try a John Bull cider kit. Do you simply brew it up in a bucket, and once fermented out just syphon into primed pop bottles?
What kind of strentgh are these kits? Any more tips or advice would be gratefully received too,
cheers!

Yes thats exactly what I did. Finished at around 5.3%. As this was one of my first kits I just followed the instructions that came with the kit.

[sparky Paul]

I also use 2 litre PET pop bottles.

You can also make the JB cider kits as a 32 pint kit - turns out at 7%+ with a good taste, but takes a little longer to mature.

[hong]

So obviously the less you make, the stronger it gets yeah? Also, how long does it usually take from start to finish before you can drink it?

[sparky Paul]

The kit gives you instructions to make 40 pints at 5%, or 32 pints at 7%.

You can have this stuff fermented, bottled and clear inside 14 days. At that point, you could drink it - but I'll tell you now it will taste rough!

If you can then leave it for at least another few weeks (preferably months), it turns into a far nicer drink.

One thing I would mention about this cider is that its not really like your usual bright fizzy sweetened cider - its more akin to a scrumpy-type taste, and is very dry indeed... I like it!

[hong]

ok Sparky Paul, thanks for the advice. I will definitley be trying a one asap.

[Ianb]

Well in late April I bottled the cider. I tried a few bottles at weekly intervals and it seemed to be getting better, then the AG bug bit and the cider was put under the floor and forgotten about.

I remembered it this evening, as I was wondering what to drink.

The choices were

Bottled SOL lager, warm
Cans of Carling, warm (No, I did not buy them, someone brought them to a party, then drank all my AG ale!)
JB cider, rather cool from being under the floor for 6 months.

Bit of a no brainer, I'm now starting the second bottle and thoroughly enjoying it. The sulphurous nose has gone, and it's thoroughly drinkable and contains alcoholicals, so it's ok to me!!!

Thanks for recommending I persevered, chaps!