What an awesome username - I’m 20 hours into my private certificate now.
The cider is at 1.041 today, as we’re passing the 100-day mark and falling SLOWLY. The good news is that every sample tastes amazing.
This is about stuck fermentation in a cider; yes there are other threads about dealing with preservatives like potassium sorbate (k-sorb).
Problem: Very slow / stuck fermentation
Brew: 5 gallons of Nature's Nectar Apple Cider (with potassium sorbate, but the raw cider "requires...
I'm not sure why everyone leaves this out
Add the sugar - preferably dissolved in the smallest amount of water already - after a day or two or three in primary. This will keep your yeast in a lot better condition. Make your hydrometer your best friend and add the sugar as soon as your...
I rinse out my bottles with a tiny shot of dish soap and hot water after I drink them, then dry. Put them through the dishwasher twice before bottling, using 1/2 detergent the first cycle, and no detergent the second cycle. Never had any problems.
Funny you mention this... I'm in NYC as well. I had the problem just yesterday that I couldn't find grape juice concentrate. I'll let you know when I find some. Good luck!