Turbo cider - Apple flavour

[dwhyte]

Tried this a couple of times and although it is quite nice, it doesn't really have much in the way of apple flavour.
Don't really need it sweet as I like dry cider so that's not a problem, it's how to keep the flavour.

Is there an apple concentrate syrup we could use?

how do others keep the flavour?

Cheers

[crafty john]

Have you tried grating a couple of bramleys in each gallon, helps with acidity and flavour. I have looked into apple juice concentrate and it seems to be very expensive, I do all my TC's with half Morrissons pressed apple juice and half from concentrate, a pinch of wine tannin and a couple of bramleys. It takes longer to clear but it's well worth it.

[leedsbrew]

I'll agree with CJ! My tc's are alway better with a couple of apples grated into them.

[dwhyte]

Yeah did that,
20l Lidl Apple juice from concentrate, 8 blended bramleys, 1 small jar honey and a six bag tea mug.

What else could I try? Do you think the sugars have all been eaten therefore taking away from the flavour?

Saw apple squash at Morrisons today, comes in 1 litre and has 10% from concentrate plus apple flavour and sweetners. Might try adding that this time.

[simco999]

8 blended bramleys

Why didn't I think of that - I spent 30 mins last night chopping the buggers up. About 12 red apples - dunno which type. Removed the cores as I think they can be very bitter. The I boiled them with some marmalade - added honey to it when it had cooled. Add 14 litres of Aldi Apple juice - whats the worst that could happen????

[dwhyte]

Well, experiment conducted:

Took a bottle of my first experimental TC which used Young's cider yeast and fermented down to nothing. No body and very dry. (I do like dry cider!)
Didn't prime enough so only very, very slight tingle of co2 in the mouth.
Added a dash of Morrisons Apple squash and hey presto, a drink with more apple taste and body, ever so slightly sweeter which balances the dry and with proper priming next time, should be very good indeed.

Apple squash, 1litre for 65p or 2 for a quid! Can't go wrong.

In 23l, is 8 bramleys not enough then?

[gti1x]

I have recently used just apple juice (not the very cheap stuff, but ASDA's own) with some tea and used young's cider yeast - much better flavour than smart price apple juice tea and GP yeast. However I find that the flavour improves with keeping. It seems much better after a couple of months.

GTI

[crafty john]

I keep my TC for 6 months before drinking and it's a lot smoother and well carbonated.

[jason123]

I've done TC with just Lidls AJ and thought it came out fairly good. I'd say it definitely does improve considerably with age though.

[shazza]

I prime mine with tosscos High Juice 50% and 1L apple juice per 20L brew.About half a bottle of the cordial does the trick.

[Gordonmull]

We've tried braemars/braeburns, can never remember their name. 7 apples in the 5 gal brew blended, cores, skins stalks and all. Early indications are its going to taste wonderful, beutiful apply flavour. Last one was done with 8 blended bramley's in 5 gal. Much more punchy and a good cider. SWMBO polished it off tonight much to her disbelief/disgust.

We've tried a couple of kit ciders and they just wern't a patch on the TC.

Right now we also have 1 gal of OG1100 Uber cider in a DJ. Man I'm looking forward to that. We've promised each other that we WILL drink it from pint glasses. To save the maths I reckon that's going to be 16%.

[shazza]

that's the spirit!

[simco999]

Well, experiment conducted:
In 23l, is 8 bramleys not enough then?

Should be fine - I only put 12 in because they came in packs of 6!!!! My one previous to this didn't have any apples in and was thin and generally naff.

The first one I did had apples in and was great.

Fingers crossed.

[dwhyte]

Well, update:

Took my first quickly made experiment TC along to a Scottish Craft Brewers meeting.
Didn't see the bottle being opened as was in discussion with someone but heard 'mmm who made that cider, it's really good, I would buy that in a pub!'

It was a 4 pint sample with some of the Apple squash blended in until I could taste it. Some thought it was slightly too sweet so will experiment to get the blending right but it was a winner
Some of the blokes were from Camra and I thought they would slate it to f**k! They gave the best response

Just goes to show. Will get better and better I think!

It does have to be aged though, I agree.