Cherry TC

DanielB · Oct 16, 2018

So...my first flavoured TC is ready.

2 litres fresh preasep AJ
2 litres Tesco AJ
200ml Lowizc cherry
1 mug strong tea
Tsp pwctolpec
Plain old wine yeast.
Start SG 1052
Now finished (12 days) at 994

My questions....
It's not very cherry flavoured. And of course quite dry.

-Should it be more flavoured?

-I was going to batch prime. I have about 4.5litres total...so how much Lowizc Cherry to batch prime with?

-Will this increase the cherry flavour?

Thank you!

Bigcol49 · Oct 16, 2018

Hi!
I think Lowicz is 84g of sugar per 100ml - that figure came from another thread on this forum
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/lowicz-syrup-in-beer.78783
To get 2.7 volumes of CO2 you need 33g sugar in 4.5 litres, so I reckon 40ml should do the trick.

DanielB · Oct 16, 2018

Thanks Bigcol49; that is a reassuring amount of syrup...and long the lines of what I had read elsewhere (21, up to 65g/ Demijohn).

However...my confusement, posted on other threads here, is that some Lowizc TCs are priming their DJ with half a bottle of syrup!

Am I misunderstanding something!?

Bigcol49 · Oct 17, 2018

Hi @DanielB
What is their batch size? They may be making more than 5 litres of cider.
EDIT- I've seen your replies on another thread, and half a bottle in 5 litres seems excessive.
However, if other members have used that much without problems it may be OK.
Batch prime with 40ml but try an extra 15ml in just one bottle. You may want to put this bottle in a plastic box in case itbhas problems!
One cheat - condition with sugar as usual and add a little syrup to each glass you pour - this will combat the dryness.
Try using a low attenuating ale yeast to aim for a less dry cider.

DanielB · Oct 17, 2018

Thank you Bigcol49.

That all makes sense. I have gallons of wine and cider on the go, and as a complete newbie. I thought I was ready for the next, bottling, phase...but have had a list minute panic as I read conflicting information... Your advice is reassuring.

Plus, I'm getting all confused as I litter the forum with questions

When you say "low attenuation yeast", what is that? What do I need to look out for?

Thank you!

Bigcol49 · Oct 17, 2018

Hi @DanielB
Try Danstar Windsor.
Attenuation is a measure of the decrease in sugars in the brew after fermentation.
Yeast will chomp away merrily on any sugar it will find. Some are voracious feeders, leaving very few sugars unprocessed, giving a very dry end product.
You want a yeast that will be unable to chow down on certain sugars, so they will be left in the cider, which will taste sweeter.

DanielB · Oct 18, 2018

Ok...I've finally done it! After weeks of asking, I finally have some thing bottled.

Thanks must go to my mum, my dad, my teachers, Mr Smith my badminton coach...and all the wonderful help (to date) on here.

This is my first batch of Cherry TC.

3.5 l AJ
1/2 bottle Lowizc cherry
1 tsp pectolase
1 tbag strong tea
General wine yeast.
SG 1053 15 days to 994.

I am using plastic 500ml PET bottles - as I'm anxious about explosions at the moment.

I left two with NOTHING.
2 with 1 tsp sugar in each bottle
2 with 7ml Lowizc syrup per bottle
1 with 1/3 tsp ''stevia" sweetener plus a tsp sugar
1 with 1/3 tsp "Stevia" sweetener plus 7ml Lowizc syrup.

I will report back....

Derekmr · Mar 11, 2019

How did these work out?
Also want to prime with lowicz, would be interestintin how it tasted

DanielB · Mar 11, 2019

Derekmr said:
How did these work out?
Also want to prime with lowicz, would be interestintin how it tasted

They all tasted perfectly good - none of them lasted that long :laugh8:

The fix was very good. Close to excessive...but just within acceptable - as in not too messy!

None of them were overly sweet.

My only area for adjusting and learning will be some tasted a bit 'thin'... Not sure how else to describe it. Perhaps I mean ''body' (and lacking it). I think that it is more tannin/tea that will help this.

When I make more I will happily use lowicz. For me the flavours were fine - I could perhaps afford to add more to get more fruit flavours without compromising too much sweetness.

What I will definitely do is add more tea....

As a base recipe (s) I feel the above are good places to start...see what you think and then adjust one item at time.

One other thing. Although I could drink them, and enjoy them after the 15 days or so from starting....they all tasted better with time...by that I mean about a month or so...

Happy to give any more feedback!

Derekmr · Mar 11, 2019

DanielB said:
They all tasted perfectly good - none of them lasted that long

The fix was very good. Close to excessive...but just within acceptable - as in not too messy!

None of them were overly sweet.

My only area for adjusting and learning will be some tasted a bit 'thin'... Not sure how else to describe it. Perhaps I mean ''body' (and lacking it). I think that it is more tannin/tea that will help this.

When I make more I will happily use lowicz. For me the flavours were fine - I could perhaps afford to add more to get more fruit flavours without compromising too much sweetness.

What I will definitely do is add more tea....

As a base recipe (s) I feel the above are good places to start...see what you think and then adjust one item at time.

One other thing. Although I could drink them, and enjoy them after the 15 days or so from starting....they all tasted better with time...by that I mean about a month or so...

Happy to give any more feedback!

Thanks, have used lowicz before but not for priming and have heard the taste stays better if some is added after fermentation

I've got a few on the go, will let you know how they are soon.

DanielB · Mar 11, 2019

Thanks - please do!

I had rather a glut of brew over Christmas then spent the last few weeks drinking it...I really need to get brewing. You've inspired me!

Derekmr · Mar 11, 2019

DanielB said:
Thanks - please do!

I had rather a glut of brew over Christmas then spent the last few weeks drinking it...I really need to get brewing. You've inspired me!

I stopped then too but gone for it in a big way last few weeks....

DanielB · Mar 11, 2019

Wow! You're a veritable inspiration...I'm getting back on this....!!

Derekmr · Mar 11, 2019

Good on ya, get some on and post some pics.

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