Hard Apple Cider Question

[TimeOff]

Alright fella's, I am coming to the end of the batch of Hard Apple Cider that I've made from my backyard apple tree. Second try this season, and I'm really enjoying it.
So wondering about making another batch before harvest next fall. What store bought juice do you recommend. Pasteurized but not preserved. Superstore has a non-alcoholic cider for a decent price, but should I stick with a regular non-preserved apple juice?

[omega50]

When the farmer's stock of fodder
He has placed within the barn,
When he's gathered all the apples
And has placed them safe from harm,

When the butchering is over
Then the farmer feels so-so;
But he's always sort of worried,
Fears the cider's gittin low.

He sees the signs of winter
In the breast-bone of the fowl;
And he fears a spell of weather,
For he's heard a tooting owl.

As he fills the yawning wood-box
He remarks,"It's going to snow."
Then he says,"We must be keerful,
For the cider's gittin low."

When the cold and snapping breezes
Bend the sere and leafless trees,
When a pile of feathery snowflakes
Is the most a farmer sees.

Then he comes in from the tavern,
And he whispers rather slow,
"Goin to be a freezin' winter, and the cider's gittin low."

So throughout the Winter season
And a part-way through the Spring
The farmer feeds the cattle, And doesn't say a thing

But when he sees us drinking,
With his face expressing woe,
He remarks, while helping mother,
That" the cider's gittin low"

[omega50]

Never used store bought juice, but 2 issues immediately come to mind.

I would check store bought juice to make sure that there has not been sorbates added to inhibit fermentation.

And I would likely make a Malic acid addition to a sweet juice.

Other than that it should matter little

[TimeOff]

Ok Omega, That was a very fitting poem. But what would you recommend?
PS: was hoping you would chime in…

[TimeOff]

Originally Posted by omega50

Never used store bought juice, but 2 issues immediately come to mind.

I would check store bought juice to make sure that there has not been sorbates added to inhibit fermentation.

And I would likely make a Malic acid addition to a sweet juice.

Other than that it should matter little

Yes, Non-preserved. But does the Non-alcoholic cider have other flavourings added? Like cinnamon?

[omega50]

Originally Posted by TimeOff

Yes, Non-preserved. But does the Non-alcoholic cider have other flavourings added? Like cinnamon?

Should be listed in the ingredient list-I would absolutely avoid any spiced flavours added before fermentation. They seldom taste right once fermented.

Cinnamon and clove if desired are best added later.

I see PC Mulled Sweet Cider online and would avoid that as it is pre-mixed with spices and orange juice.

Not sure which cider you saw there
http://www.presidentschoice.ca/en_CA...od1410023.html

[TimeOff]

Originally Posted by omega50

Should be listed in the ingredient list-I would absolutely avoid any spiced flavours added before fermentation. They seldom taste right once fermented.

Cinnamon and clove if desired are best added later.

I see PC Mulled Sweet Cider online and would avoid that as it is pre-mixed with spices and orange juice.

Not sure which cider you saw there
http://www.presidentschoice.ca/en_CA...od1410023.html

Yes, that was the one I was looking at. Thank you for the info.

Ps: I'm a secret admirer of you're cooking threads. Have you thought about posting a "Omega 50" cook book? I'm sure the AO forum would sticky it!

[omega50]

[omega50]

Originally Posted by TimeOff

Yes, that was the one I was looking at. Thank you for the info.

Ps: I'm a secret admirer of you're cooking threads. Have you thought about posting a "Omega 50" cook book? I'm sure the AO forum would sticky it!

Please remember that I have not made cider from store bought juice and the possibility does exist that that cider you were considering could indeed work well. Perhaps a small tester batch would illuminate the possibilities.

I just have had poorer results from fermenting cinnamon with the fruit off of my tree. So I don't do it anymore

[TimeOff]

Ok, thanks again. I will look for a non-preserved juice when on sale.

[Fish along]

I really like Apple cider,not hard cider.you could buy it at liquor stores years ago,but haven't seen it in a dogs age,I have 2 fine Apple trees in my back yard and would love a good recipe, Thanks.I have plenty of dehydrated Apples could these be used? I have brewed dog berry wine and blueberry wine with success, but haven't tried Apple cider,long as it tastes like Apple with 7% or better alcohol could be my next addiction. Thanks again, also Omega, nice poem.

[KegRiver]

A few years ago I had a batch of kit wine brewing but it didn't fill the carboy to the level I wanted, so I bought a couple of jugs of white grape juice from the local grocer and poured that in.
Big mistake. It killed the yeast and I couldn't get the fermentation to restart.
I wound up with the lowest alcohol wine I have ever made. And it didn't even taste all the good.

I believe that only vacuum sealed produce is safe to use for brewing. It does not require anti fermentation treatment. All non vacuum sealed fruit products will have anti fermentation additives I believe.

I would consider buying fresh fruit from the Fruit Truck if I was doing it.

[Hindsight]

I buy 4 of these Presidents choice apple juice 3.78 L at No Frills and mix in a carbuoy.

Put first two in the carbuoy then add sachet of wine yeast and sugar (I've used most of a 2kg bag because why not ) Then add the other two containers of apple juice and it should be fairly well swished around already but you can give it a bit of a shake. Leave that for two weeks and you'll have 7-8% apfelwein (or "roofie cider" as we've named it in my house)