jonathanbarclay.com

So remember that batch of cider I started a few weeks ago?

Sorry the photos are still rotated weird.  They look fine on my computer, but as soon as I upload them something happens.

Here’s what happens next:

(continue reading…)

Here’s a quick overview on how to make your own 5 gal batch of cider.  I may or may not post more in-depth description of some of the steps, leave comments on what you’d like to see.

What you need:

5 gallons of juice – I like to use Indian Summer apple cider, its only ingredient is apple juice, no preservatives.

Some extra sugar (optional, to raise alcohol content) – I used 4 cans of apple juice concentrate, plenty of sugar, not much extra water.

Yeast – I used a starter made with the sediment from the bottom of one of my bottles of cider and 1 of the cans of concentrate, left on my stir-plate for about 48 hours until it started bubbling, if you can’t make a starter, I recommend Wyeast labs #4766.  My starter is a 3rd generation of that strain.

First step, clean and sanitize your container and add your first gallon of juice:

(continue reading…)

Bottling t+24hours – Drinkable! My very inaccurate measurements place the abv at about 6.6%, it almost tastes like there’s more than that.  Still very yeasty tasting, although it actually has a good apple flavor.

26 500ml bottles of cider! 7 plain, 4 with brown sugar, and 15 pomegranate!

here’s a video of the airlock bubbling on my cider, the phone was ringing, but I was busy!