Has my Cider Fermented ?

[Nobby Novice]

From an earlier post :-
I started my 10 litre brew 4 weeks ago. I stirred in the yeast in to the fv and covered. I am not sure that it has fermented at all ! Here is where I am going to need help. Does cider ferment the same as beer? A very vigorous fermentation with a foamy head which subsides at the end ? After 1 week I was not sure that it had started. There were just a few bubbles rising to the surface. I gave the brew a good rousing which caused a lot of initial fizz, covered again and left for a further 2 weeks. Last night I was prepared to throw the lot down the sink. All I could see was a lifeless orange solution. I decided to try my hydrometer. I had a reading of 1010. Considering my original reading was 1050, I am not sure whether to percivere. Does cider fermant similar to wine? Should I have used an airlock ?

[markbrannan]

If the SG has dropped, then yes, your cider has fermented. However, it may not be finished fermenting yet.

Generally, an airlock-ed fermentation is the preferred kind - but it will work without being airlock-ed. Having an open container gives rise to fruit flies or vinegar flies getting in and ruining your beer/wine/cider - as well as the potential for it to get oxidised and go bad. Just be sure to bottle it as soon as its ready - you can't leave it sitting around with no lid.

Check it again tomorrow with the hydrometer, if its 1010 again, bottle it right away - if not, just keep checking on it, and as soon as you get two readings the same two days in a row then bottle it. If its finished fermenting at 1010, your cider should be palatable - as it'll be sweeter than most ciders. Let us know how it goes - with pictures if possible!

[EoinMag]

Plain cider as in just apple juice does not tend to get a high krausen like beer does, as it doesn't have the head forming proteins and gunk that beer does in it.
The only really vigorous cider ferment I had was an adapted recipe that actually has crystal malt in it and some carapils for head retention, so it's basically 80% apples, 20% beer, I needed a blow off tube for that one.

[Nobby Novice]

Thanks for the replies. I have had the fv covered with the lid, but had not noticed any pressure on the sealed lid like I have with Beer. I have left the hydrometer in the fv so I will check tonight. I will try to upload pictures if I can.

[markbrannan]

80% cider and 20% beer? How did that go? What did it taste like? Cider with a head must be a bit strange

[EoinMag]

It's very good actually http://beernvictuals.blogspot.com/2010/ ... cider.html

[Nobby Novice]

I bottled the Cider last night. The hydrometer reading was 1008. So I am quite confident I should have a reasonable cider in a few weeks, when it clears.