Fermentation/Racking/Bottling for TC

[dedken]

I've just made up my first TC (having made loads of beer) and was wondering if there was a general rule of thumb about how long cider yeast ferments and also whether the TC would benefit from racking? I pitched two packets of youngs cider yeast when I realised the OG was 1.063:!: and it's gurgling away merrily as I type.

[trucker5774]

People will vary on this one. It's called turbo for a reason................it's fast. Pretty much as soon as it has finished fermenting it is drinkable, or can be bottled allowed to carbonate for about a week, chilled overnight and down yer neck!
I tend to treat it a little like AG but don't pay so much attention........................leave for about 4 days in the primary after fermentation has completed, then bottle and prime by your preferred method (bottling bucket for me if I have one spare, if not I prime in the primary FV) I give it a week to carbonate (150g of sugar to 23 litres) then into the fridge for about a week to settle further. That's it! I can't say I have ever noticed a huge difference by letting it mature.

[dedken]

Ok, that's interesting. I was sure I had read people saying it's drinkable after 3 months! I think I will keg mine as it's intended to be a scrumpy style. If it turns out anything like Weston's Old Rosie (which is what I'm after) I'll be simultaneously pleased and amazed.

[Cider Rich]

I have been brewing a 23l apple juice recipe which the OG tends to always be at around 1.045. It pretty much always takes 10 days in the FV to drop to 1.00 and then about a further 12 days to carbonate nicely in the bottles (and the taste to develop) so 22 days in total.

[dedken]

I've just kegged this after 6 days.. 1.063-1.002 = 8.3%. Yikes! (and that's before I primed with 1.5l apple juice). Amazingly it actually tastes like proper scrumpy. All it needs is to be served cold which is not going to be possible in my environs without pouring over ice. I sense a boozy summer; If making decent TC is this easy I'll be doing it every other week!

[Spud395]

It's just ridicules how easy it is!!

[EoinMag]

Ok, that's interesting. I was sure I had read people saying it's drinkable after 3 months! I think I will keg mine as it's intended to be a scrumpy style. If it turns out anything like Weston's Old Rosie (which is what I'm after) I'll be simultaneously pleased and amazed.

It's good after three months, up until that point it's very dry and sour, it starts to mellow with time.

[trucker5774]

I must try the three month thing...............I guess I have never been patient enough. My continuing disappointment with TC is how dry it is.

[EoinMag]

I must try the three month thing...............I guess I have never been patient enough. My continuing disappointment with TC is how dry it is.

Try the graff recipe in my signature, it's ready in about three to four weeks

[trucker5774]

Thanks EoinMag, I have just done a more basic one using just spray malt. I don't think I used enough as the difference was only slight. I will give it another go though. Cheers

[EoinMag]

Thanks EoinMag, I have just done a more basic one using just spray malt. I don't think I used enough as the difference was only slight. I will give it another go though. Cheers

It needs the hops to balance the tartness, it makes a big difference.