Suggestions for a first time Cider?

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

so when you say "dryhop" you mean i should do what?

[LordEoin]

To put it simply - Once primary fermentation is done, chuck some hops in for a week.
Have a read off this : http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,2732.0.html

[Ciderhead]

You tube it, pretty simple process just remember though sanitation and latest thinking is 3-5 days

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

cheers guys, will check it out now . . . no doubt i'll be back with more questions soon 

[Ciderhead]

Finlandia would probably have been my second choice
I don't know the pale
Get er brewed have good prices on kits at the mo

Sorry this was my first choice, but by a country mile the best kit cider I've ever had
http://www.homebrewwest.ie/muntons-premium-gold-autumn-blush-cider-422-p.asp

[LordEoin]

The good thing about the finlandia kit is that it doesn't need a whole lot of patience and there's more residual sweetness so less fiddling around with backsweetening etc. It's also cheap as chips.

[Cory]

Ditto on the Lidl special.  I've made a few small and one large batch of the store-bought apple juice-sugar-nutrient-tea bags.  Don't tell the rest of the club, but I've also done well with the Tesco Sun Grown juice from concentrate 85c/1.5L ain't too bad.  Maybe my American taste buds have already been fried, though.  Good luck and keep trying different things.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Got my order but received brewmaker cider instead of the Finlandia!!!! Grrr

Started a new thread about the Brewmaker Brand if anyone has any tips?

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

To put it simply - Once primary fermentation is done, chuck some hops in for a week.
Have a read off this : http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,2732.0.html

LordEoin - what do i need to buy to "dryhop"? I want to get my bits sorted for when i brew this IPA.  Do i just need hops and a muslin bag? is there a hop you'd recommend for this kit?

[LordEoin]

Need: hops (you can just chuck them in loose.
My preferred: hops, muslin bag (60cent), bag of marbles to weigh it down (€1)

Any hop you like the taste and smell of will do. You'll be the one drinking it, so brew it to your taste.

More traditionally something like challenger, fuggles, goldings, target but personally I prefer hops like cascade, willamette, motueka, bramling cross. One of the last IPAs I made was with 40g bramling cross and 40g styrian goldings and it was great.
Here's a great resource for hops to style: http://byo.com/resources/hops

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Thanks again LordEoin, will maybe try fuggles - from what I've read it should go well with my IPA.
Lost my marbles years ago, they'll be hard to replace though ....

[Ciderhead]

Don't forget to sterilise everything  a piece cat gut tied around top helps retrieval or a sterilised metal coat hanger