Malted apple cider is HOT!

[carvindc125]

recipe

1 gallon apple juice (no preservatives)
1 cup light DME
16oz honey
1/4 teaspoon s04
SG 1.070
racked to secondary 14 days from start, and took gravity reading about 0.996 so its dry that is right at 10% ABV

GOD its HOT! Like almost Vodka HOT.
It smells Wonderful just like every other cider I have made but MAN it taste hot very harsh.
now I decided to take a taste of the bottom of the bucket very close to the sediment and it wasnt nearly as hot as the top I pulled off for a sample but it was still harsh as hell. Anyone have a clue as to what would cause it to get this hot and do you think it will mellow out in the secondary after a few weeks?

 

[BoShimTang]

My guess is it's the honey. I've made two batches of cyser (3 gallons apple cider with 10lbs. of honey) and they were both a little rough until they were aged. The first batch was bottled after about 6 months and it still had off flavors for the first year or so. The second batch was brewed in August 2011 and I just bottled it this April... It is smooth! IDK the ABV off the top of my head but it was well in excess of 15% on both batches.

 

[carvindc125]

On a lighter note the cherry apple cider I made 8 weeks ago has carbonated and taste AMAZING

 

[carvindc125]

My guess is it's the honey. I've made two batches of cyser (3 gallons apple cider with 10lbs. of honey) and they were both a little rough until they were aged. The first batch was bottled after about 6 months and it still had off flavors for the first year or so. The second batch was brewed in August 2011 and I just bottled it this April... It is smooth! IDK the ABV off the top of my head but it was well in excess of 15% on both batches.

Could be the honey. I knew that would make it a bit harsh but didnt realize it would do that....O well i'll let it age a while and see what happens

 

[BoShimTang]

Could be the honey. I knew that would make it a bit harsh but didnt realize it would do that....O well i'll let it age a while and see what happens

Just be patient with it... You may be pleasantly surprised!