Large batch of cider

[Cory]

Thanks to tips (and gifts!) from the NHC forum and members, I am rebuilding my brewing hobby from scratch after leaving all my equipment back in the States.  I stepped up on my batch size in a real fermenter for this batch of store-bought juice cider.  The batch used 16.5 litres of apple juice, a cup of black tea, 1kg white sugar, 500g brown sugar, raisins, yeast nutrient, and turbo yeast.  Fermented well even in the cooler temps of the apartment in winter. 

This batch used some turbo yeast I had, so it's a bit dry and has just a little bit of off flavor.  Since this batch I've gotten some real cider yeast (and a hydrometer!) from Homebrew West.  Can't wait to try it!  I used to use Red Star Champagne back in Iowa because it was cheap and available down the street.

I have a few photos of this batch on my blog if you care to check it out.  The articles are worded for a general audience and so aren't very detailed for brewers. 

Brewing post:

http://iowa2ireland.blogspot.com/2013/11/first-big-batch-of-cider.html

Bottling post:

http://iowa2ireland.blogspot.com/2013/11/bottling-big-batch-of-cider.html

Making a small test batch in a 3L vodka bottle I found outside of Kiely's in Donnybrook:

http://iowa2ireland.blogspot.com/2013/12/how-much-vodka.html

Note:  I don't make any money from my blog, not trying to spam or exploit the good people of this forum.  It's just easier to post photos and longer stories over there than it is here.

[Ciderhead]

Hi Cory great to see things are working  out for you, and you are getting some benefit from the site.
I have to say tho I think it's a bit rude leading members off site, by all means have your blog in your signature but posting direct links to one of your blogs is not the done thing.
Your post would be removed on other forums.
It's a bit like having a conversation at dinner and announcing half way through that there is a better meal next door and leaving with half the guests!
Post your experiences here we would love to read them.

[Cory]

Sorry 'bout that.  New forum user.  I took off the links and fleshed out the post here a bit.  I'll remember that in the future.  Wasn't trying to artificially direct traffic to my site, just easier to share photos, etc.  I'll put my blog link in the signature line.

Thanks for the tip.

[Greg2013]

Cory did you have to back sweeten this and if so what with ? Need to get one of these quick batches down myself while i wait for my other stuff to mature

[Cory]

Y'know, I've never back-sweetened a cider before.  I usually don't mind them dry and haven't ever messed around with the stabilizer chemicals.  When I REALLY want it sweet, I overload the gravity with extra sugar (1.1+) and just let the yeast ferment it down as far as they can.  This, of course, makes a pretty strong (15%+) drink, but with some time to age the bite settles and there is a nice warm drink for the winter.

Probably easier ways to handle that, though. 

[Greg2013]

[/quote]

Cory, there were no rules broken, so put your links back so we can at least see what you're on about! Don't mind CH, he wants to be a moderator but he can't use computers properly yet.
[/quote]

Says the guy still using computers from the early 80's 

[Greg2013]

Can't bate them!

Can't lift them to bate them the bloody things weigh a ton and are the size of a small room

Cory i am interested to know why you used tannins from the teabags for this cider ? Have you found this beneficial? I understand the need for tannins in brewing but i would not have thought it was necessary for apple cider ?

[Cory]

Ok, links back up if anyone wants to check them out.  I actually got the tea tannin idea from this forum, the famous Aldi/Lidl cloudy apple juice thread that is almost always bumped up to the top.  It sounds like cheap store bought juice (like what I use ) doesn't have a lot of the natural tannins that come from the skins of fresh apples (and the skins of grapes in wine) for cider.  I might be wrong there, but that's what I've heard.

I have made lots of cider from store bought juice back home without the tea and a few batches with it and I have to say it makes a big difference in taste.  The cider with the tea has a nice bit of...shall we say amplified flavor?  I'm not good with taste words, but it gives it a little something.  One of my small (3L) batches had too much tea and it was not so pleasant, but one cup of STRONG black tea in 20L gave enough kick for me.  I think the famous Aldi/Lidl recipe has a bit more than one cup, so balance to your own tastes, I suppose.

[Ciderhead]

Sorry 'bout that.  New forum user.  I took off the links and fleshed out the post here a bit.  I'll remember that in the future.  Wasn't trying to artificially direct traffic to my site, just easier to share photos, etc.  I'll put my blog link in the signature line.

Thanks for the tip.

Cory, there were no rules broken, so put your links back so we can at least see what you're on about! Don't mind CH, he wants to be a moderator but he can't use computers properly yet.

Cory do what you want so, and no It takes a "special" kind of person to be a mod and I wouldn't have the specific skill set or ability to do that job.

Glad to see, site has loosened our approach to external links as there are a few sites I wanted to direct others to on the past but didn't feel it appropriate.

[lampie]

nice pics.

I always use the clear cheap stuff from the aldi at €1 per 1.5 lt. I always put in a cup of strong tea on a 20/25 lt batch and i dont add any additional sugar.

But try and get some pomgranate juice and use 4 lt AJ and 1 liter pomgranate juice, a cup of strong tea and yeast. Let it ferment for 7/8 days and then rack it and leave that 1 week still in warm and then about 4 months in the cold. Before botteling i add about 0.5 per 5l of cider for priming and just to give a bit more of an apple taste. Leave the bottles a week in warm and 1 week in the fridge and ready to drink.

the 4:1 is the basis and you could use any other juice but i know pomgranate makes an exelent cider.

here is a pic of the finished cider after 4 long months of waiting

[Ciderhead]

Lovely, looks like iced tea, I hope you enter some in the national comp?

[lampie]

Maybe next year. But it wont be a national anymore then .. I have put an thread up with the recipe and little how too