first time questions

[azak]

I started a cider 8 days ago. I was at the homebrew store talking to a guy that worked there wanting something with a fast return. I am making wine, and just have the itch to brew something I can drink now. He told me to go to the store and buy a gallon jug of applejuice and just throw in the yeast and yeast nutrient. So that is what I did. I noticed that as of yesterday the bubbling has almost stopped in the airlock, but I did not want to pull it out to de a hydrometer reading. I am not going to make this carbonated, so I am wondering if I should rack it, top off and let it go. Or should I rack it and add sorbate? This is assuming that my sg will be 1.000. I am leaving town tomorrow and not returning until Friday. Will there be any harm in just leaving it?

 

[snuesen]

You need to do hydrometer reading. So bubbles stop/slow... that could mean it's finishing up or could mean yeast pooped out and you have a 1% Apple juice. If you sufficiently sanitize your equipment you shouldn't fear opening up your project every now and then.

 

[snuesen]

You generally don't want to rack early, by the way. Yeast often times will "clean up" after themselves after active fermentation, potentially removing some off flavor compounds.

 

[azak]

so one more question I have is, can I leave it too long? If I leave it without racking for 6 months is that ok
?

 

[smh]

If it was clean when you started there's no real problem with leaving it for a long time. That being said, I would probably get it off the yeast cake after about 1 month. I don't have a great reason for that, but after cleaning up after themselves I suspect the yeast will start to become stressed and may give off flavours...maybe?
It won't take you long to drink a gallon....