Has anyone tried sainsburys "basics" AJ for making cider

[az77]

60p a litre i think, my only worry is does it have preservatives in it or not, it seems to say its pure concentrate, what do you think?

[Pooky]

I used to make wine with cartons of fruit juice it always used to turn out well, i don't see why you can't make cider from them as well, they just need to be pure & unsweetened.

[dave-o]

If it has preservatives in it, it has to say so on the label.

[Spud395]

Most of the cheap supermarket AJ's are fine for Cider, check the label and work away, they are mostly rehydrated juice coccentrate

[awalker]

Have used Sainsburys basics AJ several times and it turns out fine.
Worked so well have even done a couple of 30litre batches with it
Go for it.

[az77]

Have used Sainsburys basics AJ several times and it turns out fine.
Worked so well have even done a couple of 30litre batches with it
Go for it.

Good to hear, fancy giving me your extact recipe ?

What was your SG, how much additional sugar did you use, any other ingredients etc?

[awalker]

No problem will check details at home later

But I think the juice alone was 1.040 SG (but will check) and just added champagne yeast to get it nice and dry
So it was low abv, will look on beersmith tonight and give you the exact details

[awalker]

Yep checked and it was 1.042 SG on its own and the champagne yeast

[Tony01]

I've used it - made from concentrate, but gives a lovely dry cider - I did mix 3 ltrs of apple and raspberry with it though (in a 20 ltr batch).

have fun! (Mine was 56p a ltr)

[az77]

I've used it - made from concentrate, but gives a lovely dry cider - I did mix 3 ltrs of apple and raspberry with it though (in a 20 ltr batch).

have fun! (Mine was 56p a ltr)

So did you actually use 20litres of concentrate of did you add some water instead, thinking of costs, i know still cheap, but maybe use 10-15 litres for a 20litre batch, also use 1 or 2 packets of yeast?

[Spud395]

Dont add water, go to other brews section of this forum there's a lot of info and recipe's for TC there.

[Tony01]

So did you actually use 20litres of concentrate of did you add some water instead, thinking of costs, i know still cheap, but maybe use 10-15 litres for a 20litre batch, also use 1 or 2 packets of yeast?

Here's my recipe:
Batch size - 20 ltrs

16 ltrs apple juice
3 ltrs raspberry juice

Simmer 340g honey in around 1 ltr of apple juice for 5 mins
Add 15 ltrs of juice to the fermenter
Add 1 cup of black tea
Add the juice with honey
Add 2 teaspoons pectolase
At around 25C, pitch the yeast, cover and shake well to aerate (one packet)
Fit airlock.

Add the remaining juice (2.5 ltrs) once the yeast head settles a little – day or two.

I forgot that the juice was coming from the supermarket 'fridge - so I had to stand it in warm water to raise the temp to around 19C
Hope that helps.