Gonna give a 5ltr Cider a go . . .

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Evenin all,

I had a read of LordEoins "How to Demi-John" thread and I have decided to give making my own lidl/aldi cider a go.
I've read through a lot of threads about similiar ideas but just wanna start one with info relating to my specific attempt.

What I want?
A sweet and high ABV Cider. mmmmmmmmmmm 

What I have?
So far, I have a 5ltr Tesco Still water bottle that I will fit my airlock and bung (http://www.homebrewwest.ie/spare-bung-for-33-litre-fermenter-2025-p.asp) to.
I picked up a packet of Lalvin EC1118 too. http://homebrewguru.ie/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38_44&products_id=303

Here's my suggested idea: (from recipes of this thread)
Add 4.25ltrs of lidl/aldi apple and pear juice to demijohn.
Chop up some raisins (small box 40grms ) and add them along with 1 or 2 ? teabags to a muslin bag.
Pour a half litre of water over the muslin and leave to steep for 30mins.
Mix 200grm Brown Sugar into steeped mix after the 30mins.
Do I Next - 1) add liquid only from my 30min steep to the Demijohn or
                       2) add liquid and muslin bag to Demijohn?
Pitch Yeast.
Leave in demijohn for x amount of months or bottle after a few weeks and leave in bottles for x amount of months.

If anybody has any ideas/suggestions to my suggested concoction please leave a comment? Especially with regards to making her sweet and strong.
Thanks.

[Ciderhead]

I shouldn't but I can't resist.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

thats a very valid point, cheers CH 

[Ciderhead]

Fancy coming down at week-end and sampling the real stuff, in fact I am going to get you to contract brew?
PM sent.

[lampie]

supermarket juice ciders are realy easy and maybe it will not be the real thing but this is te recipe i always use.

5 liter AJ
cup of strong black tea ( for the tannin)
yeast ( i use allround wine or cider yeast)

let it ferment for 7 days and rack and leave for 4 weeks.

and when botteling sweeten with splenda.. that is all up to your own taste.. But splenda does not ferment so this will make your cider sweet.

also try to ferment 4l aj and take an other juice. Had some great ciders when i mixed with pomgrantate juice.. This will take at least 3 months aging before it realy nice to drink.

Its a nice and easy cider and my friends and family like it very much. But they are all dutch and not real cider drinkers. the only cider that is widly available is stronbow brought by heineken.. so its close to water and expensive... I vistit the irish pub a lot to get a good real stronbow cider from tap.. And there is a big difference ..

[Eoin]

Ec1118 is a champagne yeast it will dry a cider right out. Add a little honey to bump ABv, sweeten whilst drinking by adding some fresh apple juice to each glass.

Sent from my HTC One

[lampie]

oh I use a pack of AJ to get some bubbles in the cider.. There is enough sugar in the AJ to give it some bubblies It probably will give it a bit more appel taste to the cider too.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

thanks for the replys and the info guys

[Garry]

I did a 5l aldi cider as one of my first brews. I didn't add any sugar and it came out at nearly  6% using Champaign yeast 

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

cheers Garry

[lampie]

I did a 5l aldi cider as one of my first brews. I didn't add any sugar and it came out at nearly  6% using Champaign yeast 

I have about the same abv when using cheap juice and even with when i use other cheap juices from other shops. I have to say that the aldi juice is tasting the best. It has the best apple flavor compaired to other brands..

Just took a sample test straight out of the pack

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

just a quickie

Can the apple juice be from concentrate or does it have to be pure pressed juice?

[nigel_c]

I put on a quick demi on Tesco AJ juice the other day. To play around with till my AJ from the group buy is ready. It had an OG of 1.042 before i added raisins a about 100g of LME. I pitched Nottingham yeast. I play on adding some passion fruit to to this and having it ready by summer.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

so was it the cheap ass tesco value juice from concentrate?

[nigel_c]

Yep thats the one. 1.5L for about €1.30