2009 Cider - Part 3

Continuing the racking of all my ciders from the 2009 season.

These are made from the juice obtained from my annual Cider Pressing Day party, where I trick all my friends into coming over and helping with the processing,chopping, and pressing of the apples I have managed to scrounge/beg/steal (and in some cases, buy).

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• cider
• juice
• apple
• sweet
• fermented
• hard
• racking
• carboy

[vjp333]

I found your videos last night, as a beginner looking for advice on my first batch of cider. I really enjoyed watching them all. I'm using Montrachet yeast, cider from a local orchard, and ~4 pounds of honey in a 5 gallon carboy.

Can I indulge in a couple of questions for you (or others)...

1. What's a safe headspace to allow to the top of the carboy, so it doesn't foam over?

2. What do you use for a sanitizing solution, to treat the siphons, airlocks etc?

Thanks!

[32bituser]

@vjp333 For primary fermentation, I fill to the point where the carboy top starts to curve inward towards the mouth. When it's time to set it aside for aging, I try to fill it right up to the bottom of the neck.

You might consider primary fermentation in a 6.5 gallon bucket. That will give you all the headspace you need.

For sanitizing, I use Star-San.

[Cloudkicker000]

I dont know for sure, but you sad something like, that your cranberries cider did taste more cranberry last time, did you freeze the berries last time too?

Because I think maybe that if you freeze fruit that some esters get lost..

keep up =)

[32bituser]

@Cloudkicker000 Hmm... I dont remember.. Good question though..

[granite25]

I've read Autumn berries are high in lycopene an antioixidant

[32bituser]

I saw (or maybe heard) that somewhere too.. cant quite remember where..

[macheesmo3]

Just moved my first batch to bottles to carbonate!!! I learned a ton watching yer videos and keep em coming! Oh , and how long once the cider is in the bottles before it's full carbonated and ready to drink? Is it like beer and I should just wait for it to fully clear? Thanx again!

[homebrewpower]

Hi @32bituser, love your videos, are you planning on any more videos? All the best from the UK

[Quazzar36]

"I think i'm actually starting to get a little drunk"  classic! Love you're videos.

[ManBearPigLOL]

wheres the new videos?

[Cloudkicker000]

@32bituser At least much of the C vitamins break down when it is below 0 Celsius degrees ;) 

[super0pimp]

ok make some more videos! make some beer or something :-)