Finlandia Pear/Apple Cider - third brew so a little worried.

[bevanjon74]

Hi all

Just a quick question, I'm on my third kit brew - after one not so successfull Milestone crusader, and a fantastically wonderful Brewmaster Cider - I am trying a Finlandia Apple and Pear cider kit...

Has anyone else tried these? I have two burning questions:
1) The colour of the mixture in the can was more "beer" colour than cider... ie a more darker brown than the Brewmaster - is this right? It doesn't look anything like the colour of the finished cider product on the label....
2) While fermenting like a bubbling volcano, and in fact keeping me awake at night, there is a distinct smell of rotten eggs coming from the fermenter... again I have read on the beer section that eggy stinks are normal (insert a gag here!) but are they normal with cider...

Any feedback most appreciated...

The smell is not worrying me, but the colour is very odd for a cider! Will it lighten up???

BJ74

[MightyMouth]

I have brewed 3 Cider kits so far all the same brand and they were all different colors. The one I have now is very dark compared to the others and has a different taste too. Go figure.

[bevanjon74]

Thanks MM
If thats the case I guess all may be well... as long as it tastes ok then theres no bother!
Cheers
BJ74

[bevanjon74]

This has now gone into the barrell and it smelt and tasted (yes I had a little try before barrelling it!!) gorgeous...
So all good.. Thanks for the advice MM

[jonnyv]

I have a Finlandia Cider kit fermenting... I started fermenting it one evening inside, went shopping with the missus the next day and came home to an egg smelling house

Was then instructed to move the FV outside into our store room and to 'de-smell' the house with Oust.

It's still bubbling away and smelling a bit but from what you've said, it should be fine

I took a hydro reading the other day and tasted it, didn't taste great but it's got a few days to go to clear itself up before kegging.

[bevanjon74]

Hi JonnyV
Got to having a glass of this last night, has turned out lovely!
The pear taste is definately there, and would make a great "sitting having a BBQ in the sun" drink - if we ever get any sun that is!!
Let me know how yours turns out.. I'm v pleased with mine
BJ74

[maxashton]

The rotten egg smell is sulphur compounds coming out of the brew. Put it this way, would you rather have those smells in your beer or in the air?

[SimonPJ]

Ive just got one of these kits on the go, its only been fermenting a couple of days, so ill post my results when its ready to drink

[bevanjon74]

Let us know how you get on SimonPJ..
Had a BBQ for the missus B'day on sat... now all mine has gone.. so its a popular drink.. 40 pints were supped by the guests in no time!!!!!

[SimonPJ]

Well, ive just cracked open a bottle of this cider, and it tasted absolutely superb! It had a good smell - no yeasty hint, and was perfectly carbonated from the bottle conditioning. I am well impressed with this cider! Ill be making more

I bottled the lot as Ive save a load of swing top bottles. It cleared in about 4 days.