Muntons Cider Kit

[g1tpo]

Hi All,
Having got well into kit (real ale) brewing over the last couple of years, I decided it was time to try cider. My wife used to drink this all the time, and kit brewed cider has to be cheaper than White Zinfandel!

After looking through the lists of cider kits at my usual on line supplier, I decided, on the principle that you get what you pay for, that I'd get the Muntons Premium Gold Cider Kit. At £24 the most expensive kit I've ever bought! I then checked some of the comments on the forum...and they weren't exactly complimentary.

I haven't started to brew this yet, but read the instructions, and various waffle written on the box. I made an intersting observation... among the various comments saying how good it is, the following appears:- "To guarantee consistent brewing, this cider kit also contains a special cider yeast to ensure optimum brewing and a crystal clear result". Interesting. I also ordered a couple of my usual Woodfordes kits at the same time (and some Safeale S04 yeast). Just out of curiosity I checked the yeast supplied with the cider kit....plain silver sachet marked "X TZB 6G Yeast"...very much like the ones supplied by Woodfordes...but remember this is "special cider yeast".....strange that my Admirals Reserve has EXACTLY the same packet of yeast supplied with it!! I know they are all made/supplied by Muntons..... but this question of yeast...is it special cider yeast or not?

I assume "X TZB" is a batch number or whatever.......

Sorry to be so long winded about this. I'm now in a dilemma....do I use my expensive S04 yeast in the cider...or the supplied "special yeast", which apparently isn't? I'd also be interested in any comments from anyone who's recently brewed Muntons Premium Gold Cider....

NB I find the Safeale settles better in the bottle than the Woodforde/Munton stuff.... with beers anyway!

Rob
Seghill, Northumberland

[seymour]

Funny, very recently Uncle Joshua, barney and I sleuthed this one out together. See: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=57582

It turns out X TZB 6G Yeast means a 6g packet of the old Edme English ale strain, also sold by Fermentis as S-33, but as you suspected, yours is from Muntons.

S-33
Folcculation: Med-High
Attenuation: Med-High
Ideal Temp: 59-75°F/15-24°C
Alcohol Tolerance: High

Believed to be the same as Edme, one of the original dry yeasts, from the old brewery strain in Mistley, County Essex, England, see also: http://www.edme.co.uk/pdfs/The_History_of_EDME.pdf

Versatile, consistent, fast start and finish. A good all-purpose ale yeast with subtle English characteristics. Despite relatively high attenuation and alcohol tolerance, it can leave behind some pleasant residual sweetness, slow to clear but nonetheless good for bottle conditioning.

Nothing to sneer at, this is a great strain for classic English ale or cider.

Now, having settled that...do a Google search for Applejack. Once you finish fermenting this kit and bottling a few regular ones for your wife, you should totally ice-jack the rest.

[g1tpo]

Thanks for the info....proves my point that there's nout "Special Cider" about it.....

Have just started the brew...made to 30 pints...OG is a very healthy 1054.

I've decided to use the yeast provided...cannot bring myself to waste Safeale S04 on something that isn't 'proper beer'!

Rob

[pumblechook]

I have brewed this kit a couple of times and I like it, though it is quite dry. I've also found that it really benefits from being left as long as possible before drinking. I've held a crate to one side for about 3 or 4 months and it is markedly better than when it was first brewed. I'm going to try and hold a few bottles back for at least another 6 months to see what it's like then.

I would also recommend racking this one off the dead yeast into a secondary FV after about 5 days. It's only slight now, but when this cider was young there was a slight yeasty taste off it... Admittedly it has mellowed but it would be better if it wasn't there at all.

If this doesn't float your boat I've had really good success with wilko's own 1 can cider kit, brewed short. That always disappears very very quickly when I have people round and is ready to drink pretty quickly too. Put this one in a king keg rather than my normal bottles and it comes out gin clear. Lovely for the warmer weather!

[g1tpo]

Thanks pumblechook..... I'll probably try the Wilkinsons brew next...I know they do some 'flavoured' ciders which sound interesting.

I had a feeling the Muntons brew would end up dry..... the wife prefers sweet cider, or at least sweetish.....may add some sweetex before bottling...

Rob