Need some advice on last years cider...

[monkeyb0y]

Hi All,

I pressed 3 gallon of wild apple juice in sept\oct last year...
Stuck it in a 3.5gallon FV with close fitting lid and left it...and left it....lol...until now

I added chapagne yeast and nutrient to get it going as i recall and it was left fermenting well

Ive took the lid off and not expecting anything drinkable, have been greeted by a reasonable looking liquid...
There is a light hazy skin over the top and what looks like white fluff in small areas up the sides...
But the liquid smells like cider icelolly!..
It doesnt smell bad tbh..

What should i do - chuck it \ try it?..is what ive described perfectly normal?..
any advice would be helpfull...

thanks
Rich

[second2none]

Get it bottled man! If it makes you ill dont drink the rest of it!
Think of it this way alcohol is used in that hand wash stuff to kill bacteria
and alcohol is a brillient persever, think of that drinkable bottle of whiskey from 1851 that just sold for £14,000
"Icelolly cider" sounds much nicer to me than that!

[simco999]

I added chapagne yeast and nutrient to get it going as i recall and it was left fermenting well

Understatement of the year - get it bottled - could be a classic.

[monkeyb0y]

Oh my....
Thanks for response....but I've now got a dilemma....only got a sterile budget barrel...no gas....what are my options...can I prime with sugar?
Thanks

[art.b]

i use 2 litre coke bottles and 2 tea spoons of sugar per bottle....

[Philipek]

I sometimes get a white film in a few of my bottles of TC. I understand that it is a lacto infection. though I could be wrong. I have not been able to taste the difference between the clearly infected bottles and those without the white film, though I don't have the most discerning palate. And it only makes me ill if I drink lots and lots of TC in one go. The next day I'll have a headache and stomach ache.

[Trunky]

[a-slayer]

Taste it, if it is OK bottle and drink. What else do you need to know?

[monkeyb0y]

Thanks for replies and advice...I have barreled it and just finished a busy day...
I tried the cider and even though its strong, and remenicant of scrumpy, its tart and not great neat....
So I'm sat at the kitchen table writing this and looking at a pint of snakebite made from it and tenants expo...wondering if its a good idea on a work night...lol
I've seen so many on here chuck brews and glad I did it the right way and asked!...
Also got all my kit cleaned and 2 new brews on the go ... a headcracker and a stout...a good day off work imo..
Here goes...cheers all !

[simco999]

Top notch - I love a good Snakebite - if its too tart to drink on its own thats the best solution!!!

[monkeyb0y]

Well ain't had no ill effects today so...upping the anti tonight with a few more...