cider

[zebee]

I can report that 2l of cheap apple juice, 2 tablespoons of sugar to feed the yeast, said yeast, and 4 days produce something that tastes vaguely cidery and has a kick like the proverbial mule.

Next I'll try their "fruitier" yeast in search of taste.

And I must see if I can produce ginger beer. Should be possible to get good tasting with a suitable recipe.

Comments

fermentation

[spz]

I've been told that the result is better if the fermentation happens at the low end of the temperature scale and is at as unchanging temperature as feasible (hence probably the tradition of keeping the fermentation containers in the cellar if available).
I've only tried doing Federweisser to date, which is grape juice with yeast in various stages of incomplete fermentation (bought bottled and with yeast just starting out to ferment), and I can attest that letting that get too warm yields a vigorously bubbly, but unpleasantly sharp tasting result.

In any case, happy experimenting and happy tasting. :)

Re: fermentation

[zebee]

Yeah, the recipes given by other users talk about cooler fermentation.

Once I let it get an entire day old, the taste got better, it's not all that bad really considering it was cheap apple juice. I won't get much chance to try cool fermenting for a while.... be lucky to get the place under 25deg for the next 3-4 months but maybe in the winter.

[reddragdiva]

Any measurements of alcohol percentage?

[zebee]

The website has a basic graph. According to that it should be in the 4-5% range. Adding the sugar might add a bit more go.

I'm accumulating ginger cordial recipes to make ginger beer from. If I can find a good one that might be the way I head rather than cider.