Playing With Ciders...

[Brewing_Brad]

Hi Guys,

I got my new (second) fermenter on Sunday and was desperate to put something in it so I went down the the brewshop and was drawn in by the pretty packaging of an Irish Cider. Now, I've never made a cider before, but by all accounts it looks like the same approach to beer (although this kit I got had an apple schnapps extract in it...interesting).

Any way, the instructions that came with it failed to mention the bottling stage, so I have no idea how much priming sugar I'm gonna need. I'm guessing the same as beer, but I just want to double check with those who might know.

The kit contained:

1 tin Blackrock Cider
1kg Brewcraft Enhancer #15 (I threw the bag out so I don't know what was in there, but I'm guessing a mix of Glucose, Malt and something else)
500g Lactose
50ml Apple Schnapps extract
Blackrock Cider yeast.

So, what say you? About the same priming sugar?

Cheers
Brad

 

[mika]

500g of lactose won't ferment out, so it'll be sweet... literally.
I've always primed at the same rate as beer... but the I've only done two ciders. Both seemed alright to me though.
Just be aware that your FG might be a little high due to that lactose. Not used it in the past but read a bit about it, might be worth searching the forum seeing what the consensus is.

 

[BS Brewing]

Brewing_Brad I have some cider on the go at the moment my first, on my can of Black Rock cider it say add 1tps per 750mil bottle or none if you want a still cider (no carbonation) remember priming is just to carbonate the drink.

warm still cider is great on those cold winter nights...So some say :blink:

BSB

 

[Mr Bond]

Same as beer and you will be fine.

 

[Brewing_Brad]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the advice.

mika_lika said: "500g of lactose won't ferment out, so it'll be sweet... literally."

That's the plan. I love sweet cider and I just had a taste of it then (airlock not bubbling and I wanted to check it was working) and it is gonna be SUPER sweet. I likes it!


BS Brewing said: "warm still cider is great on those cold winter nights...So some say"

Thanks for the tip! I might do a half and half mix. Bubbles and no bubbles

 

[BS Brewing]

I just checked mine after yesterday no activity in the airlock...(took a reading 1.026 still too high - OG 1.048) though the out-bubble held the liquid...checked it this morning and took a reading and it had gone down to 1.020 so it still working away...gave the lid a bit of a turn to see if it was sealed properly and its back bubbling away very slowly...I think it is OK as the out-bubble held the liquid so my thinking is there was enough pressure to keep any nastiness at bay...it taste great...I'll leave it now till after Easter before reading it again just keep an eye on the out-bubble.

As for making 1/2 carbonated and 1/2 not I don't think I would bother unless you really want to as no carbonate would just be like flat cider and heating it would do that anyway....what do others think on this as I'm no expert with cider and last time I really got stuck into it was in the 70s when I use to go with a Tassie girl in London and thats all she drank.

BSB