Turbo Cider (part 1)

[jazzer1960]

No sugar ?

[jaybee66]

@jazzer1960 - Well, let me put it like this. I used not to and got a fine sparkling cider. For my last batch I decided to increase the 1.3 or whatever it read on the hygrometer up to 1.5. A load of sugar was added and fermentation was done with champagne yeast.

Last night I had a bottle that I laid down at the beginning of July. Now, I have two names for my cider; "Head Wreck" and "Mind Melter". Last night's bottle was definitely the latter. I won't be adding sugar again, for champagne yeast!

[jaybee66]

@jaybee66 - I do add two sugar cubes when racking into bottles. That aids the carbonation.

[sjgidman1982]

it me not looking correctly, i went on the asda site to see how much the apple juice was u used and there are 2 in very similar container 1 is 50% and the othe is 100%

[jaybee66]

@sjgidman1982 - I use "ASDA Smartprice Apple Juice" in the white carton with green writing. It's now 65p a litre but still cheaper than any other 100% concentrate.

[sjgidman1982]

does it matter that the juice you are using is only 50% pure

[jaybee66]

@sjgidman1982- I suppose that would depend on what the other 50% is. If is water then you are going to produce a very watered down drink with 50% less alcohol. Typically, with added sugar, I might produce a 6% drink. Without sugar you are barely going to produce a 1% drink. I would look for 100% pure concentrated apple juice from your local supermarket. You are from the UK so get yourself to a local ASDA and get their 55p own brand juice. If you're buying from Lidl/Aldi, I am sure there is 100%.

[jewishmilkman]

Is the heat mat an absolute necessity?

[jaybee66]

@jewishmilkman - No, cider (unlike beer) doesn't mind low temperature for fermentation. A mat just speeds things up.

[DevonHomeBrew]

@jaybee66 hahaha not all beer like high temps lager likes lower temps

[jaybee66]

@DevonHomeBrew - Are you admitting to drinking lager? Be gone little boy!

[DevonHomeBrew]

@jaybee66 no u strange man i love to make cider aswell but with real ingredients unlike u who uses apple juice and makes so called turbo cider pahhhhh you my friend are a step below me in the homebrewing

[jaybee66]

@DevonHomeBrew - If I lived in Devon and had access to real apples then I would be using them. Unfortunately, I live in the devil's backside (Northampton Town) and would have to buy apples and not very good ones at that.

[DevonHomeBrew]

@jaybee66 well thn thts a very good excuse but i think if u want to make a nicer cider dont use all juice go and buy a kit from a homebrew store they turn out very well but i think my farm yard cider is the best

[espedair]

Just put my first batch in, thanks for the clear guide :)

[lightweightmick]

I got 90lbs of apples scratted ready for pulping at the weekend... meanwhile I'm drinking your turbo cider - lol - it's not bad! I used Morrison's apple juice (Bettabuy) Squeezing a tea bag into the 2nd glass and adding a few drops of cider vinegar has transported me to Somerset!! I've bought far worse in so called cider pubs... I'd always fancied trying apple juice and yeats but seeing your vid gave me a shove - thanks, I'll definitely be making more. Cheers, lwm

[jaybee66]

@lightweightmick - glad you tried it

[thegriggspaul]

do you put a full pack of yeast in ... i've never known the correct amount..so you have 4 liters juice to how much yeast...?

[stonerj0e]

you forgot to add sugar

[jaybee66]

@stonerj0e - Not necessary , I use the natural sugar in the apple juice - I only add sugar for a sparkling cider - For natural cider, added sugar is a crime!

[jaybee66]

@stonerj0e - No sugar needed for natural cider - Already, plenty of sugar in apple juice - I only use sugar for sparkling cider - Sugar in natural cider is a crime!

[twodeadpoets]

Is there a part 2?

[jaybee66]

Almost. I deleted one crucial shot as my hands were in the way of the action. I have not brewed since and am now packing to leave the country, so it is unlikely the required shot will be taped.

I might re-edit and put in a title, in place of the missing shot, explaining what to do. However, that will have to wait until I have moved.

[twodeadpoets]

Too bad. Where are you headed if I might pry?

[jaybee66]

Asturias, the home of Spanish cider. Not quite as good as north European cider but better than anything that came out of a factory.

[TheTrueEVPHunter]

why not just add all the apple juice in then the yeast?

[jaybee66]

To get things started.

There is less juice in the demi-john if you need to give it a shake.

The apple juice heats quicker on the heated mat if there is less juice.

The yeast has less juice, that is warmer and more mixed so things get under way more quickly.

[kwaidonjin]

try putting frozen cranberries that you grind up in a blender,Its like ocean spray cranapple that gets you drunk.

[TheTrueEVPHunter]

I am lucky enogh to work at a cranbery marsh so I get free fresh cranberrys

[ostmash]

@kwaidonjin oh i am so trying that today!!!

[krimkrim8]

dose it matter what kind of yeast you use?or can you use all kind of yeast to this?cheers

[jaybee66]

I only ever use wine and champagne yeast.

However, I believe brewers and bread yeasts have been used but you will have to google for their usage requirements.

[purplemutantas]

@jaybee66 I have used bread yeast. It works, it will make alcohol. But, wine yeast will turn out a better product. Not long ago I made an apple wine with red wine yeast. Turn out way better than anything I had made with bread yeast. Wine yeast is cheap, so it's worth it.

[raheeny]

What % alc. is the cider if you don't add any sugar? Cheers !!

[jaybee66]

I've been getting 4-4.5%.

Apple juice has a lot of natural sugar.

The only sugar I add is a spoonful for carbonation purposes.

[djr6789]

ino this is a pretty dumb question but : will the cider be fizzy or would you have to carbonate it to do that?

[jaybee66]

Adding sugar for the secondary fermentation will carbonate the cider by producing carbon dioxide as a bi-product.

[djr6789]

ok thanks so much for the quick reply :D

P.S one more question is there a special yeast to sugar ratio ?

[jaybee66]

Not really. Just trial and error. You don't need that much yeast. I usually only use half a sachet per 4 litres. I never add sugar for the first fermentation. Just a spoonful for the secondary fermentation when I bottle the cider.

I have some video of the secondary fermentation but it is not complete enough to put on YouTube. I haven't brewed for a while because people keep giving me their drink all the time.

I'll get round to it, one of these days.

Happy brewing!

[djr6789]

ok thankyou so much for the info

[bigybigbigy]

use a 2 liter coke bottle and put a bollon on top.

it works so well and the more suger the better.

did it last week now it tast like whitewine and is bout 18%.

The higher the starting SG the more sugar in the mix and it's the sugar that turns to alcohol (the yeast eats the sugar and craps alcohol, handy eh?)

[SoundOfAShark]

I no the basics of it

but your saying i could put like 12 tea spoons of sugar and it be higher in alcohol?

but obviously the more sugar the more yeast?

[bigybigbigy]

yea i guess.

[lumpybruisychickeny1]

no just more sugar

[RustyR]

Are demi-johns required to make cider?

Because I have a 5 litre plastic container in my garden (which once contained cider).

Providing I clean it and get a stopper do you think it would be all right to use?

[jaybee66]

It depends on whether the plastic is food grade or not. Some plastic containers are good only for a short duration. You are expected to drink the contents afore the plastic goes bad.

Rather like buying bottled water. The sell by date represents the date the plastic goes off, not the water.

You can buy 'food grade' plastic containers that will be cheaper and more available than demi johns.

Any vessel that can be stoppered is fine so long as the vessel does not react with its contents.

[iamaGod357]

will a coke bottle work?

[jaybee66]

A relatively young one, yes.

[trytops007]

where is part 2 !?

[sforrer]

Good video, gonna give this a try too. Hope there's a Part 2 showing end result?

Does it come out cloudy /clear, sweet/dry?

[jaybee66]

Thanks for watching.

I have most of part 2 complete but I messed up one shot and will re-tape that bit during the next batch.

The initial first week in the demi-john gives a cloudy still cider, which I prefer. You can leave it longer to clear but that's for wine makers who don't know cider making.

If I rack it into bottles and make sparkling cider then that is clear.

All my ciders are dry. I don't add sugar for the initial fermentation and only add 2 cubes for the secondary fermentation.

[wampam102]

i hope you do some follow up videos cause im def going to try this now

[wampam102]

Nice video! where did you get your demijohn? Ive been looking for one just like that without luck. Whats its holding capacity?

[jaybee66]

Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed my video.

I got all my equipment from someone advertising on Freecycle. You might try putting a wanted ad there. I also noticed a load at a recycling centre.

They are imperial gallon demi-johns or 4.5 litres.