summer harvest TC

[crafty john]

I went to my allotment yesterday and collected some eating apples and some cooking apples so I thought I would put some of them to good use before they all get eaten by the kids or made in to pies.

2 kilos eating apples
1 kilo cooking apples
3 large bramleys
850 gram morrissons desert pears
1 bottle belvoir organic apple and pear cordial
6 litres Morrissons pressed apple juice
champagne yeast
yeast nutrient
Pectolase

Core and juice the fruit in an electric juicer add to 10 litre FV
add the cordial and pressed AJ
give it a good stir
disolve 2 tsp pectolase in 1/2 a cup of tepid water and stir it in
stir in 2 tsp yeast vit
sprinkle the champagne yeast into FV and cover for 15 mins, then give it a good stirring, fit lid JOB DONE

it was bubbling away within 1 hour, I am going to rack off into DJ's after a few days and top up with more AJ.

OG was 1.050

[DREADSKIN]

that should be lovely. a little acidic at the start, but lovely. i would be for adding a few more ltrs of that pressed juice to bulk it out so i could have more of it to drink... but thats just me

[Mitchamitri]

I'll back dreadskin up on the acidic comment - the apples from most trees that can be picked at the moment (or fallers) are those the tree doesnt want.

[crafty john]

that should be lovely. a little acidic at the start, but lovely. i would be for adding a few more ltrs of that pressed juice to bulk it out so i could have more of it to drink... but thats just me

Racked it off last week in to my 28 litre FV and added 8 litres pressed AJ and 6 litres AJ from concentrate and 750 grams dextrose, I went away for a week and it is still gently bubbling away. I have a full 23 litres now will keep you posted.

[crafty john]

Dreadskin my friend you where right about the acidity, I bottled the said brew today I added 15 ml of wine sweetner which sorted the acidity and 120 grams of dextrose for a good carbonation, I will think twice before adding so many fresh apples next time. I have a box of apples softening at the moment to make some proper cider, I just need to get a few more cookers and maybe a few crab apples then I have to work out how to extract the juice as I don't have a press.

[crafty john]

Just opened a bottle and even though I say it my self it's awesome, the wine sweetener I added has taken care of the acidity, it is really smooth, slightly sparkling with a nice apple flavour and a slight tang, which I like. I am sure I can taste the pears, It's nice and clear too

dreadskin, thanks for the advice that extra pressed apple juice did the trick

[DREADSKIN]

nice one mate.
last year i got two big bags of apples after my pressing was done. i blended them up and mixed the mulch with apple juice and let them ferment in those big water bottles (20 ltr ones). after 2 weeks fermenting i got a pillow case and poured the juice and crap into in and wringed the bag over a massive funnel made out of the top end of a big water bottle. i then topped up the extract with more shop bought juice. it was quite nice.

[crafty john]

nice one mate.
last year i got two big bags of apples after my pressing was done. i blended them up and mixed the mulch with apple juice and let them ferment in those big water bottles (20 ltr ones). after 2 weeks fermenting i got a pillow case and poured the juice and crap into in and wringed the bag over a massive funnel made out of the top end of a big water bottle. i then topped up the extract with more shop bought juice. it was quite nice.

A man after my own heart, Waste not want not!!