Just wanted to share my brew and bottle stories of my first batch of cider in Ireland. I had a much better equipment setup back in Iowa, USA but haven't got much new stuff yet. I am forced to go back to my college days of brewing in jugs with store-bought ingredients and equipment.
I wrote out the ingredients and the story for my family and friends back home on my moving blog, but here's the gist:
4L Tesco apple juice from concentrage
200mL (by measuring cup) demerara sugar
yeast nutrient
Black Label turbo yeast
It fermented out nicely and cleared. I had to bottle it by pouring into a measuring cup because I don't have any racking tubes (yet). Everything is tasting ok, there isn't much fresh apple flavor or aroma, and they are a little light on carbonation because I was a bit too timid with the priming sugar because I couldn't get a hydrometer reading. Just a little something to get me going.
Below are the links to the two different posts on my blog with pictures and descriptions. The descriptions are written for a general audience, so there is a little bit of basic brewing explanation included. Let me know what you think. Happy brewing to all!
http://iowa2ireland.blogspot.com/2013/08/first-ok-second-homebrew.html
http://iowa2ireland.blogspot.com/2013/09/bottling-cider.html
Very interesting piece. You may be interested to know that Tesco in Clearwater just off the Finglas Road carries a modest range of brewing supplies.
Some of the Tesco homebrew stock below. It's in the DIY Section. The stuff is dearer than the individual prices quoted by the specialist suppliers online but useful if you need a yeast or some other ingredient and don't fancy the courier charge.
Thanks for the tip! I had missed your post when you put it up here. I will certainly make a trip up there. I'd never have known about it without your tip. Cheers!