I just started cider making a month or so ago. I've been into fermenting and preserving for years, so this seemed like a natural next step. I started googling and ended up making a pretty basic cider;
4 gallons fresh pressed, pasteurized juice,
2 lb local honey,
1 packet EC1118 wine yeast
Fermented out completely dry in 10 days. Flavour? Very dry, a little harsh, but I think it will mellow with age. Still prominent apple flavour. Very high alcohol content( no hydrometer), guessing its on par with a fairly strong wine.slightly cloudy, just what I was looking for in a "farm style" cider. Pretty happy with it.
Now onto batch 2 and three.
4 gallons pasteurized fresh pressed apple juice
3 lb local honey
1 gallon cranberry juice( mixture of one store bought container with added sugar and some I pressed myself from fresh berries)
2 containers frozen concentrated cranberry juice( no preservatives, did have added sugar)
One pack ale yeast( can't remember the exact type, bought at a local brew store, came from Australia)
Currently about 4 days in, bubbling about every 30 seconds. The goal for this one is a sweeter, fruity cider.
Batch 3 is
1 gallon( less a few cups) fresh pressed apple juice
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups strawberries, puréed, strained
1/2 tsp pectin enzyme
Packet EC1118
This is more of an experiment than anything. Ideally it will have some nice strawberry flavour.
I'll keep you updated!
4 gallons fresh pressed, pasteurized juice,
2 lb local honey,
1 packet EC1118 wine yeast
Fermented out completely dry in 10 days. Flavour? Very dry, a little harsh, but I think it will mellow with age. Still prominent apple flavour. Very high alcohol content( no hydrometer), guessing its on par with a fairly strong wine.slightly cloudy, just what I was looking for in a "farm style" cider. Pretty happy with it.
Now onto batch 2 and three.
4 gallons pasteurized fresh pressed apple juice
3 lb local honey
1 gallon cranberry juice( mixture of one store bought container with added sugar and some I pressed myself from fresh berries)
2 containers frozen concentrated cranberry juice( no preservatives, did have added sugar)
One pack ale yeast( can't remember the exact type, bought at a local brew store, came from Australia)
Currently about 4 days in, bubbling about every 30 seconds. The goal for this one is a sweeter, fruity cider.
Batch 3 is
1 gallon( less a few cups) fresh pressed apple juice
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups strawberries, puréed, strained
1/2 tsp pectin enzyme
Packet EC1118
This is more of an experiment than anything. Ideally it will have some nice strawberry flavour.
I'll keep you updated!