Hi everyone, I'm totally new to the world of homebrew cider but could do with a few pointers. The first batch I made I followed the instructions for the forty pint brew and it turned out okish but was incredibly dry and a bit watery in the flavour department. The second time I tried to make a batch I replaced the sugar with eight litres of apple juice (tescos own brand) and although it's got more flavour it's still very dry and a tad tart. Has anyone got any tips on how to make it a tad sweeter or another brand of kit that's better than this (my local homebrew shop also stocks black rock cider kits). Any advice on this would be warmly welcomed.
Many thanks
Adam
Help with John Bull cider kit.
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Geezah
Re: Help with John Bull cider kit.
For a carbonated sweet cider these are your options:
1. Once fermented and clear, add sugar to desired sweetness, add fermentation stopper, store the brew in a corny or keg, keep refrigerated @ below 8c, prime with co2.
2. Once fermented and clear, sweeten with artificial sweetener (yuck), prime and store in your chosen containers and allow for carbonation (secondary fermentation).
3. Once fermented and clear, sweeten with sugar and store in your chosen containers and allow for carbonation (secondary fermentation) but through trial and error you can find the correct amount of sugar to create co2, but you need to chill the cider before it ferments out all of the sugar so it retains sweetness.
4. Use DME in place of sugar for secondary as it does not 100% ferment out so leaving behind some residual sweetness.
5. Once fermented and clear, add sugar to desired sweetness, add fermentation stopper, add co2 via a SodaStream, transfer to storage bottles and cap.
6. Grow a pair and get used to dry cider
Tips:
Never make any 23L kit up to full volume. Always stop at 19-21L
Add apple flavouring
If you use a SodaStream allow 2-3 minutes per bottle rest before you slowly release the pressure when taking the bottles off the SodaStream.
1. Once fermented and clear, add sugar to desired sweetness, add fermentation stopper, store the brew in a corny or keg, keep refrigerated @ below 8c, prime with co2.
2. Once fermented and clear, sweeten with artificial sweetener (yuck), prime and store in your chosen containers and allow for carbonation (secondary fermentation).
3. Once fermented and clear, sweeten with sugar and store in your chosen containers and allow for carbonation (secondary fermentation) but through trial and error you can find the correct amount of sugar to create co2, but you need to chill the cider before it ferments out all of the sugar so it retains sweetness.
4. Use DME in place of sugar for secondary as it does not 100% ferment out so leaving behind some residual sweetness.
5. Once fermented and clear, add sugar to desired sweetness, add fermentation stopper, add co2 via a SodaStream, transfer to storage bottles and cap.
6. Grow a pair and get used to dry cider
Tips:
Never make any 23L kit up to full volume. Always stop at 19-21L
Add apple flavouring
If you use a SodaStream allow 2-3 minutes per bottle rest before you slowly release the pressure when taking the bottles off the SodaStream.
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WalesAles
- Falling off the Barstool
- Posts: 3914
- Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:07 pm
- Location: South Wales UK.
Re: Help with John Bull cider kit.
Look on the post for `Cheap Raspberryade`.Geezah wrote:
6. Grow a pair and get used to dry cider
Easy to make your own TC (Turbo Cider) from Tesco Apple Juice.
Look on this Post for loads of different recipes.
I`ve never tried a Cider Kit so I can`t comment, but making your own from Apple Juice is the way to go!
WA
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afp71
Re: Help with John Bull cider kit.
Hahaha Geezah, I love dry cider but this was dryer than a dry thing from drysville. Anyway thank you for your advice and tips.