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Hello, Rather than merely dumping a load of apple juice in an FV and bunging yeast on top, I have been experimenting with some proper "recipes" recently. Today's was a fruit TC aiming for about 7% ABV. However, I think I miscalculated the additional sugar as, upon taking an SG reading it...

This is about brewing really but I couldn't think where else to put it? Like any hobby / interest / way-of-life brewing can become costly especially if one invests in all the available accessories, gizmos, not-really-necessary add-ons etc. I have been looking at bottle drainers and came...

I usually pick up a sachet of yeast and a tub of nutrient from a well known high street shop that sounds like Bilko. Whether I am making a one gallon demi-john or 23lt bucket load I have always only chucked in one sachet, though I might varythe nutrient a bit. Today, I visited my...

Previously I have used pressed apples or shop bought juice to make my cider. Is there any point in buying a kit? What are the advantages, if any of a kit?

I'm sure this has been asked before (I think I may have asked it!). Glass bottles that have had carbonated drinks in previously (I'm using Shloer bottles ATM) will be OK for carbed cider? I am think of replacing the screw caps for corks, because I can.... Thanks

So, after a lot of talk about sanitisers and whether you need to rinse etc today I took a look at a brew that has been sitting in the FV for a couple of weeks. It is nicely clear and in nearly all respects seems great, except there seems to be a slight "bleachy" taint (I used 'no rinse'...

I have always kept my cider DJs in the dark during fermentation, mostly just because I put them in the airing cupboard, but also because it seems the right thing to do. I imagine it doesn't make any difference if you keep them in the dark or the light?

As a relative newbie to cider making I have noticed that over the last year or so I have acquired quite a bit if "stuff". Apple pulper and press, FVs, multiple demi-johns, bottles of various description, etc. Most of these bigger items are in the garage but the likes of little bits such as...

I recently made a batch of cider using pressed apples from the garden. It seemed to go through primary fermentation very quickly and I was a bit worried I had "lost" it. However, on the advice of some fellows on here, I racked it off to a second FV where it has sat for a couple of weeks. It...

Hi For my previous cider brews I've used gallon demi-johns. I've sanitised them using Milton fluid and cold water, basically filling them to the brim and allowing some of the liquid to flood over the brim, so I'm sure the insides are completely sterile. Obviously this uses a fair bit of...

Hi, I think I know the answer to this but always like to check the opinions of the knowledgeable folk on here! I put on a batch of cider five days ago using juice from my own apples, about 15 litres. As it was from home juiced apples I was pretty free with the Campden tablets. I did the...

Are there any 'natural' sweeteners suitable for back-sweetening cider, rather than using Splenda or aspartame based artificial sweeteners? I seem to recall reading somewhere that yeast doesn't like honey but I may have imagined that? Sent from my GuyPhone using Tw@tatalk

Just bottled my first cider and on opening the DJ there was the faintest whiff of hospital operating theatre though it doesn't seem to have adversely affected the cider. However, I find effectively rinsing all my gear difficult, time consuming and uses a lot of water, so I'm looking for "no...

I started a DJ of cider three weeks ago from pressed apples from my garden. It spent two weeks in the FV before being racked off. It's now spent a week cooling in the garage. At the point of racking off this batch had a FG of 1.000. Last weekend I whacked together a TC and I've just checked the...

When racking off a DJ or bottling how close to the lees can you get the syphon without starting to pick up detritus? How much liquid would you expect to 'lose' as a result? Sent from my GuyPhone using Tw@tatalk

I've got a couple of ciders on the go which should OK for bottling within the next week or two. I want to drink them at Xmas! I also would like some of it fizzy. How long does the carbonation process take in the bottle approximately? Have I got time to get some in for Crimbo? Sent from my...

...as it is supplied, presumably it performs some function? What is it? Sent from my GuyPhone using Tw@tatalk

So my first cider brew, made from apples from the garden, finally took off. Today I went a bough a couple of glass demijohns, took an FG reading (1.000) and racked off. Obviously a small amount of overspill fell in to my mouth, and I have to say I'd have drunk it there and then! Still, the...

I've seen a number of recipes that include "tea". Is this literally a cup of PG Tips, and why is it added? Cheers NICK Sent from my GuyPhone using Tw@tatalk

With my first cider brew appearing to be moving along nicely I am now thinking ahead to bottling etc but I'm getting some confusing messages from my research, maybe forumites can help clear this up? Glass bottles may explode if there is any further fermentation in the bottle, is my...