I Have Just Created The Perfect Apple Cider, But..

[macr]

I have just created the perfect apple cider, but..

......I used a Coopers lager to get it. It was made just with the stuff that came with the kit as I was keen to get rid of it and go on to some better K&K's. It was bottled at 1010 final gravity and has been in the bottle sinc the 30th of March. I opened one yesterday and was impressed in how clear the beer was (I racked it).

So my question is, should I keep it for longer or have I gone and ruined it at some stage?

 

[pint of lager]

Are you happy with the result? Does it taste ok? Is it an apple cider made with a coopers lager yeast, or is it a coopers lager kit made with sugar? You are not clear in your post as to what you are trying to achieve.

All you have said is that it is clear. This is a function of how well the yeast flocculates, how well the kit manufacturer has dealt with the pectin issues in apples (if it is an apple cider kit) and your sanitation (some bacteria and wild yeasts generate cloudiness.)

Racking and cold conditioning help to flocculate out yeast, making it easier for the end result in the bottle to have very little sediment

Clarity by itself is no judge of the quality of a fermented product. Have tasted many many kit beers, they are stunningly clear, but are doughnut beers. Then, plenty of all grain beers have a bit of chill haze, but taste superb.

Commercial apple cider makers probably have access to specialist yeasts, which you may not. A neutral ale yeast should be fine to make apple cider..

 

[macr]

It was meant to be a Coopers Lager Beer, not a cider. Obviously my sarcasm, wasn't that easy to understand.

.I used a Coopers lager to get it.

or have I gone and ruined it at some stage?

I thought that these two lines would of highlighted the fact, that something was amiss. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[pint of lager]

Ok, there are cider kits out there, so glad you cleared that point up.

The beer will probably retain that cidery twang, drink it very cold to mask this flavour. The twang will stay there, no matter how long you keep the beer.

There was some debate a while back, as to whether the cider flavour was due to stale extract, or excess sugar.

1. Go and buy your ingredients from a local hbs. Some of the other Novacastrians on board will tell you where to shop. PM them, or they may PM you if they don't or do want to mention names. The kilo packs for adding to kits as sold by the hbs are an easy option to improve your beers out of sight.

2. Check your fermentation temperatures.

3. Check your sanitation.

4. Keep reading the threads in the forum Brewing Questions/Advice & FAQ's Kits & Extracts. There is excellent advice there for the new brewer.

 

[macr]

Unfortunately there is no beer twang at all just a cider taste. I will keep it for a couple more months, before piffing it. Temps were within Coopers parameters, but I know this is not optimum brewing temps. I was just using the kit as I wanted to get a feel, before I move on to the kits and ingredients, that I have already bought from the LHBS.
I am hoping to get a fridge and thermostat soon, so I can control temps better.
Sanitation. Yep did clean thoroughly with all the right stuff, but how can you ever know if it was perfect. Rhetorical question, so don't answer it.
I guess I write off that batch and move on to the Brewcraft Newcastle Brown, with the Black rock Amber malt and UK Goldings, then.

 

[captain_booze]

i had that problem when i started brewing. colder temperatures fixed it though. good luck with your next batch macr.

 

[macr]

Colder temps sounds good. The temp was fairly high, but now we are moving into winter, I may have better luck. I will get a fridge, when I find some spare cash.