Turbo Cider - a question or 2

Khannie · 17-06-2013 4:32pm

My advice: Do. If only so you can see how much it changes with time in the bottle.

It'll probably not be super fizzy though.

Super-Rush · 17-06-2013 8:54pm

So I popped a bottle just now after 9 days it has a good fizz and its super dry as I used champagne yeast. The taste is not nice at all though.

Khannie · 17-06-2013 10:18pm

Did you not add any sweetener?

Super-Rush · 17-06-2013 10:25pm

I primed with juice and some sugar but I have the feeling you're going to say i should have added something else.

howamidifferent · 18-06-2013 6:59am

The yeast will have consumed the apple juice and sugar so will leave no residual sweetness. So you should have added an artificial sweetner like splenda etc.
You can still do this as you open each bottle to drink or add something else to sweeten at drinking time.

Khannie · 18-06-2013 9:19am

What he said. All the sugar is already gone = mega dry.

I found splenda didn't dissolve well after the fact so if I were you I would just add somewhere between 2 and 4 sweetener tabs per half litre to your glass as you're pouring. They just dissolve away while you're drinking. I use the lidl "cologran" ones and find them fine. The tesco "everyday" ones are exactly the same.

303Techno · 18-06-2013 3:33pm

Just got 24l on the go.

So I should be looking into Sweeteners now? Is it necessary for a good taste? Going to just opt for Splenda most likely.

Does everyone here measure gravity? Is it possible to just wait 2 weeks and it's highly likely it'll be ready? Not sure whether to order one or not.

adamski8 · 18-06-2013 9:56pm

Lads im going to use stevia to sweeten my cider (natural sweetner from plants) as opposed to that artifocial chemical crap, no worse than big macro brewers adding all sorts of stuff if you use splenda etc in your cider.

Khannie · 19-06-2013 10:47am

adamski8 wrote: »

Lads im going to use stevia to sweeten my cider (natural sweetner from plants) as opposed to that artifocial chemical crap, no worse than big macro brewers adding all sorts of stuff if you use splenda etc in your cider.

I'm wary of stevia. I haven't seen anywhere whether it ferments or breaks down in alcohol or not (i.e. it may not sweeten at all). Also it's very expensive and there are no known health benefits associated with it compared with (for example) splenda.

It is well marketed, but I think that's all.

Brewie · 19-06-2013 11:03am

Hi folks,

I bottled my second 5 gallon batch last week using the orginal recipe by Khannie posted at the start of the thread and it worked out fantastically. By the time I finished the last bottle, it would have been bottled for 10 weeks. The difference between 3 weeks and 6 sixs is unreal. Such a massive difference in taste.

After that success I am thinking of buying a 5l demi john and trying apple & berry cider and a apple & pear cider maybe. What I am wondering is what it the best way to go about this. I read that I should get the berries in a mesh bag of some sort and just leave them in the bag submerged in the fermenting apple juice? Is it as simple as this?

Should I mash the berries or leave them whole? I'm thinking I should mash them a bit to get the flavours to mix with the apple juice.
What berries should I use? mixed berries, rasberries, blackberries etc etc?
Do I use the same receipe I use for the normal cider and just add the bag?

If someone could post a recipe & method for making a berry and apple cider and a pear one I would be most grateful.

Thanks,
Brewie

avfc1874 · 21-06-2013 3:47pm

hi i've 16 litres of apple juice cider on the go (nearly ready) when its fermented i was going to syphon it into another bucket, add a litre of apple juice to it and then bottle it with 1 tsp sugar per bottle. would this be ok. and should i use sweetner or sugar. any advice appreciated

adamski8 · 21-06-2013 8:57pm

Khannie wrote: »

I'm wary of stevia. I haven't seen anywhere whether it ferments or breaks down in alcohol or not (i.e. it may not sweeten at all). Also it's very expensive and there are no known health benefits associated with it compared with (for example) splenda.

It is well marketed, but I think that's all.

It doesnt ferment! Its cheap enough a big pack of 75g of tescos own is only 2/3 euro.

No known health benefits probably causd stevia has none and none has been found yet on splenda (but splenda is a artificial sweetner and just like aspartamine id rather not be consuming it)

Super-Rush · 22-06-2013 9:10am

Had an explosion sometime between Wednesday and this morning.

Wonderful.

303Techno · 22-06-2013 12:12pm

avfc1874 wrote: »

hi i've 16 litres of apple juice cider on the go (nearly ready) when its fermented i was going to syphon it into another bucket, add a litre of apple juice to it and then bottle it with 1 tsp sugar per bottle. would this be ok. and should i use sweetner or sugar. any advice appreciated

Be interested to hear this also.

blueshed · 22-06-2013 12:22pm

avfc1874 wrote: »

hi i've 16 litres of apple juice cider on the go (nearly ready) when its fermented i was going to syphon it into another bucket, add a litre of apple juice to it and then bottle it with 1 tsp sugar per bottle. would this be ok. and should i use sweetner or sugar. any advice appreciated

I have used the cheap sweetner from Lidl, Colgrain and first time used 4 tabs per 500ml btl but 2nd time only used 2 tabs per 500ml btl.

to prime my btls I use approx. 50ml of cloudy AJ per btl and a few btls with 1 tea spoon of caster sugar.

going by the advice here and a few other sites the 50ml of AJ seems to work better.

Super-Rush · 22-06-2013 1:58pm

So I chilled another bottle and opened it just now with a couple of splenda tablets and all I can say is wow. Really refreshing and it packs one hell of a punch. It worked out at 10%.

avfc1874 · 22-06-2013 5:48pm

blueshed wrote: »

I have used the cheap sweetner from Lidl, Colgrain and first time used 4 tabs per 500ml btl but 2nd time only used 2 tabs per 500ml btl.

to prime my btls I use approx. 50ml of cloudy AJ per btl and a few btls with 1 tea spoon of caster sugar.

going by the advice here and a few other sites the 50ml of AJ seems to work better.

is that all you need just apple juice. no sugar?

Weevil · 22-06-2013 6:15pm

avfc1874 wrote: »

is that all you need just apple juice. no sugar?

50 mls apple juice will give you approx. 5 gms sugar, equalling a teaspoon.

stuchyg · 22-06-2013 7:47pm

Bottled 10ltrs tonight, much stronger bang of alcohol off this batch for some reason. Rocket Fuel ftw

blueshed · 22-06-2013 8:54pm

just had 2 btls of my apple and frozen raspberries cider.

the 1st btl was from a normal AJ from concentrate and the 2nd was from the Lidl cloudy AJ.

The Lidl btl was much nicer.both were made same day and bottled same day.

giftgrub · 22-06-2013 8:57pm

I have some rhubarb growing in the back I'm thinking of putting into a mix....just to make sure i have it right...it DOESNT go into the primary fermenter, you add it after you've racked and leave it again for a bit before bottling as normal?

Khannie · 22-06-2013 9:14pm

That seems to retain flavour better with the berries alright. stands to reason it'd be the same.

Super-Rush · 23-06-2013 12:37am

Could you use honey as a sweetner?

howamidifferent · 23-06-2013 2:23pm

Super-Rush wrote: »

Could you use honey as a sweetner?

I dont think so as it 100% fermentable.

EDIT: I'm assuming you mean adding as an ingredient during initial fermentation.

avfc1874 · 24-06-2013 9:35pm

howamidifferent wrote: »

Has any one tried any of the the Kit ciders? at around €18 euro a kit it works out much cheaper than Lidl apple juice which is usually €1.29 a litre... But what's the result like? How does one compare to the other?

Any inputs appreciated.

i used the brewbuddy cider, turned out really good:p(the few bottles i did give away went down well):)

giftgrub · 01-07-2013 9:10am

Has anyone tried another type of juice? the only reason I ask is because the TWO Lidls near me were out of the cloudy stuff!!

I wouldnt mind, i had everything sterillised and ready to go

Khannie · 01-07-2013 9:25am

giftgrub wrote: »

Has anyone tried another type of juice? the only reason I ask is because the TWO Lidls near me were out of the cloudy stuff!!

I wouldnt mind, i had everything sterillised and ready to go

Don't do it! I have tried the stuff from concentrate and even after a long time in the bottle it was rubbish compared to the cloudy stuff.

Aldi do it too, and SuperValu have one too though it's 1.59 a litre.

You should check the fridges in your lidl if they're out too. They do keep some in the fridges for whatever reason.

matrim · 01-07-2013 9:32am

Khannie wrote: »

Don't do it! I have tried the stuff from concentrate and even after a long time in the bottle it was rubbish compared to the cloudy stuff.

Aldi do it too, and SuperValu have one too though it's 1.59 a litre.

You should check the fridges in your lidl if they're out too. They do keep some in the fridges for whatever reason.

Is there any other non apple juice you could use for it to get different flavours

Khannie · 01-07-2013 9:58am

matrim wrote: »

Is there any other non apple juice you could use for it to get different flavours

I made "pineapple turbo cider" (from concentrate) and a mixed fruit juice. Both not great, even after time in the bottle.

I have flavoured a few apple ciders with spices and honey though. They have worked out well.

matrim · 01-07-2013 10:17am

Khannie wrote: »

I made "pineapple turbo cider" (from concentrate) and a mixed fruit juice. Both not great, even after time in the bottle.

I have flavoured a few apple ciders with spices and honey though. They have worked out well.

Was wondering as my GF does't like apple cider and was thinking about alternatives. Would it just be finding a good quality juice and using that instead of apple juice

303Techno · 02-07-2013 5:29pm

Could anyone give some advice?

Did a 24l worth of apple juice batch. Should be ready for priming tomorrow, I'm planning to use 2.5l of apple juice (is this okay?) and also wondering should I add any Lidl sweeteners and how much?

To avoid exploding bottles should I just ensure I don't fill up to the top? I'll be just reusing plastic sterilized bottles. I'll be priming by adding it all together in one larger (apple juice + cider) bucket then bottling. It smells a bit like Strongbow, is this normal? Haven't removed lid the entire time.

Conmaicne Mara · 02-07-2013 9:29pm

matrim wrote: »

Was wondering as my GF does't like apple cider and was thinking about alternatives. Would it just be finding a good quality juice and using that instead of apple juice

A new girlfriend would be the correct course of action alright

Khannie · 03-07-2013 9:25am

303Techno wrote: »

Could anyone give some advice?

Did a 24l worth of apple juice batch. Should be ready for priming tomorrow, I'm planning to use 2.5l of apple juice (is this okay?)

Yep.

303Techno wrote: »

and also wondering should I add any Lidl sweeteners and how much?

Yes and it depends on how sweet you like it. None = mouth puckeringly dry. 2 per litre = dry. 4 per litre = medium dry. 7 per litre = sweet (a la bulmers).

303Techno wrote: »

To avoid exploding bottles should I just ensure I don't fill up to the top?

Just don't add too much priming juice. That's what causes the explosions.

303Techno wrote: »

I'll be just reusing plastic sterilized bottles. I'll be priming by adding it all together in one larger (apple juice + cider) bucket then bottling. It smells a bit like Strongbow, is this normal? Haven't removed lid the entire time.

Yeah, that's normal. All the sweetness is gone out of it now because the sugar has all been fermented into alcohol.

Good luck!

Khannie · 03-07-2013 9:27am

matrim wrote: »

Was wondering as my GF does't like apple cider and was thinking about alternatives. Would it just be finding a good quality juice and using that instead of apple juice

I haven't found any decent alternatives yet. You might try the apple and mixed berry. My wife loves that.

RATM · 05-07-2013 11:38pm

Had to get back on here and report on my own attempt at this turbo cider. I followed the tweaks that Khannie has made further back the thread by adding 2 750g bags of berries from Lidl )one bag was mixed berries, the other raspberries). Also I only added the berries a week before I intended to bottle.

After adding 4 of the Lidl sweetners to each 500ml bottle I waited three weeks before trying and when I did the cider was absolutely delicious. It was sweet without being too sweet and the colour is best described as orange with a red hue, probably because I didn't go all out on leave the berries sit in the fermenter for a full two weeks. I think I will on the next run, which I'll get going next week.

I'm really impressed with this recipe and have to give thanks to khannie and others who helped me out through the process. Its a great recipe mainly because the Lidl cloudy apple juice is of such a high quality. I'm now wondering what other juices are out there that match the quality of this- does anyone know of a pear juice that would be up to scratch ? I'd really like to have a go at making some really sweet and fizzy perry, the women in my life would be eternally thankful=)

loyatemu · 08-07-2013 10:08pm

put on 5l of cloudy apple yesterday for a test batch (I had some spare cider yeast lying around due to last years pathetic apple crop).

I only have demijohns here so don't want to go messing around with muslin bags - assume I can blend up some mixed fruits with a little more juice and then strain it into the jar for secondary?

Lovely Bloke · 09-07-2013 7:31am

Does the cider come out cloudy, or does the suspended apple come out of it?

giftgrub · 09-07-2013 9:14am

I put my first big batch (23L) on almost a week ago now, after having a few good DJ runs.

However I'm not seeing any airlock activity with this one at all....there was a lot of froth inside,which has died down.

bin temp is about 22 degrees, could the warm weather be screwing things about? its in one of the cooler rooms of the house,

BeerNut · 09-07-2013 9:31am

Ignore the airlock, it doesn't tell you anything useful. The gas is probably just leaving some other way. It's fine.

Khannie · 09-07-2013 9:49am

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Does the cider come out cloudy, or does the suspended apple come out of it?

Cloudy. Yum.

BeerNut · 09-07-2013 9:51am

It'll clear if you leave it a couple of years.

Khannie · 09-07-2013 9:56am

Haha.

My wife insists that the cloudiness makes it. She says it has a much nicer texture / mouthfeel.

giftgrub · 09-07-2013 11:39am

BeerNut wrote: »

Ignore the airlock, it doesn't tell you anything useful. The gas is probably just leaving some other way. It's fine.

I figured as much...not too worried though, it smells like its fermenting!!!

303Techno · 09-07-2013 3:53pm

Bottles got tiny bit of green or more so brown sludgy at very bottom point of bottles, only small amount, seems like it could be shook back in but dunno if it means ruined or that's what I should do. Hope it aint ruined thought everything was going okay apart from noticing that, been in dark warm for about 5 days not fizz head starting to show etc. Only got Campden Tablets here.

BeerNut · 09-07-2013 4:01pm

Just dead yeast. Perfectly normal. It's fine.

loyatemu · 09-07-2013 10:13pm

adding some pectolase will help it clear.

flanaganred · 10-07-2013 3:41pm

Hi got 23 litres of turbo cider fermented ready for bottling,I have splenda granulated sweetener just wondering does it need to be dissolved or can it be put in the second barrel with the apple juice for priming and roughly how many spoons per litre would bulmers sweet be?also have glass bottles in a solution of milton would it be ok to rinse them out with cold water or do they need a scrub with a bottle brush?which I forgot to buy!!this is my first time brewing so bit of a learning process

loyatemu · 15-07-2013 10:04pm

pic of my 1st couple of batches. I blended half a bag of fruit with half a carton of juice, then sieved, to add to the bottle on the left - still a lot of crud on the top though (I added a couple spoons of pectolase, be interesting to see how well it clears). the one on the right is still in primary.

The 5 litre water bottles from Lidl beat the crap out of glass demijohns - 1.29 each, they're pre-sterilised and come with a lid

howamidifferent · 16-07-2013 7:59am

I have to agree re the Lidl water botles.

Khannie · 16-07-2013 9:53am

flanaganred wrote: »

Hi got 23 litres of turbo cider fermented ready for bottling,I have splenda granulated sweetener just wondering does it need to be dissolved or can it be put in the second barrel with the apple juice for priming and roughly how many spoons per litre would bulmers sweet be?also have glass bottles in a solution of milton would it be ok to rinse them out with cold water or do they need a scrub with a bottle brush?which I forgot to buy!!this is my first time brewing so bit of a learning process

Just spotted this now. Splenda needs to be dissolved IMO. It doesn't mix as well as other powders at room temperature. You can dissolve it with the juice that you're going to use for priming though.

I'm not sure about the spoons. I've never used the granulated one before. Pretty sure others on here have though.

I never bother with a bottle brush unless there's "gick" (that's the scientific term :pac:) in them.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Turbo Cider - a question or 2

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