Best way to clear cider

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Kristoff

Best way to clear cider

Post by Kristoff » Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:50 pm

Hi, I need to bottle my 10 gallons of cider, im going to condition it, but it's still really cloudy, which I don't mind, but everyone else will turn their nose up - maybe I should leave it, and drink it all myself :twisted:
Anyway, it's around the 7% mark, so should I use wine or beer finings, or is there a better way - i.e. filtering?

Gurgeh

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Gurgeh » Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:19 pm

leave it alone. it'll be too rough to drink until the new year anyway. mine is utterly star bright having been in the bottles for 3 or 4 weeks.

Curious Brew

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Curious Brew » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:39 am

I filter mine through my kidneys. :lol:

Kristoff

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Kristoff » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:41 am

Curious-brew wrote:I filter mine through my kidneys. :lol:
:lol:
My kidneys have been very naughty and need punishing :twisted:

DREADSKIN

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by DREADSKIN » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:24 pm

LEAVE IT FOR A WHILE (MONTHS) IN YOUR BIG FERMENTORS, TAKING IT OF THE LEES EVERY FEW WEEKS. IT JUST NEEDS TIME, AND WILL BE TASTIER THE LONGER YOU GIVE IT. HOWEVER, CLOUDYNESS WONT REALLY MATTER, AND IF YOUR MATES TURN THEIR NOSES UP AT IT EVEN BETTER (CIDER SHOULD BE A BIT CLOUDY). HOWEVER I SOMETIMES USE BENTONITE. GET A TABLESPOON OF BENTONITE PUT IT IN A CUP COVER WITH WATER. LEAVE IT TEN MINUTES TO FLUFF UP. POUR IT IN TO CIDER/WINE, AND THEN RACK IT OFF WHEN EVERYTHING HAS FALLEN OUT (THREE-FIVE DAYS). WORKS A TREAT, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY IT LEAVES BEHIND A SLIGHT 'EARTHY' TASTE. I HAVE NEVER NOTICED IT THO.

Kristoff

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Kristoff » Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:13 pm

Thanks for that, I'm going to leave in now unti at least xmas, then bottle it.
Is it better to move it somewhere cold, (the shed) currently it's in the cloakroom around 18c

Gurgeh

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Gurgeh » Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:26 pm

what sort of carbonation do you want on it? if you bottle it now then you can control that, harder later unless you re-pitch...

Kristoff

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Kristoff » Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:44 pm

Gurgeh wrote:what sort of carbonation do you want on it? if you bottle it now then you can control that, harder later unless you re-pitch...
Thanks, I'd forgotten about that - I want it sparkling, so I need to bottle it now then don't I? :roll:
I'm assuming that when I bottle, best to rack off whilst bringing a bit of sediment through, then add priming sugar, then bottle?
Should I use granulated sugar or dextrose, and at what rate?

Gurgeh

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Gurgeh » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:56 pm

there will be some yeast in suspension anyway - certainly enough to do the job by xmas.
I wouldn't purposely attempt to get some sediment to come through - it'll be too much!

If you move your FV or whatevr it's in, in preperation for bottling then some mild rousing of the yeast will be inevitable.

Kristoff

Re: Best way to clear cider

Post by Kristoff » Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:03 pm

Gurgeh wrote:there will be some yeast in suspension anyway - certainly enough to do the job by xmas.
I wouldn't purposely attempt to get some sediment to come through - it'll be too much!

If you move your FV or whatevr it's in, in preperation for bottling then some mild rousing of the yeast will be inevitable.
Thanks mate, that's exactly what i'll do then :wink:

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