Two trials...

[davekermito]

I've made quite a few TCs now and have never stuck to a single recipe (it's too much fun fettling with different mixtures!)

So I've made two DJs up and having a taste test:

DJ 1 - Strong, spicy, full bodied (hopefully)

4 L of cloudy apple juice (non-branded cheap as chips stuff)
of which 1 L boiled up with 400g of golden syrup and left to cool down with three tea bags
5 cinnamon sticks and a non-descript quantity of cloves left in the DJ
OG - 1080ish fermented with champagne yeast

Steady, fast fermentation still going strong after 4 days. Should be a silly 10-11% ABV if the yeast can take it!


DJ 2 - Standard stuff - but ready quicker.

5L of clear apple juice
Nothing
OG - 1050 fermented with spare pack of S04
Went with no additives as the S04 should retain some of the sweetness of the cider (unlike the champagne yeasts often mega dry finish).
Should be a far more sensible 4 or 5% ABV.
Fermentation - messy. Lots of explaining to the missus to do, as well as cleaning of carpet! Note to self - even with less attenuating yeast and low OG, leave plenty of space - it can always be topped up later!


So there are two completely different TCs. I will report back with the findings! I get the feeling both will end up in the same barrell as a best of both worlds brew!

[davekermito]

Both have finished, so on with the sampling!

DJ 1 - FG 985 - the lowest I've ever seen. By my calcs, that'll be around 12.5%

Taste: Spicy, but utterly undrinkable due to the dryness

DJ 2 - FG 1015 (4.5%).

Taste: Sweet, but quite drinkable.


Stablilsed DJ2 (don't want the ale yeast active - produces a less refined sparkle) and then chucked it into a barrel along with the 'live' contents of DJ1, some gelatine, and some AJ for priming. Hopefully should have a slightly spicy 7% which is neither sweet nor dry!