Suggestions for a cider kit

[Mucknbullets]

I am looking for some guidance (or should that be abuse?) on getting a cider extract kit going. Something along the lines of Magners/Stella Cidre (oh I can hear the howls of anguish and disgust) as both I and the SWMBO will both drink it. I have done a couple of lager extract kits and found the process pretty easy so was looking for the same in cider really.

I aim to have a go at a TC once I get a DJ off a mate or might just use the 2L scrumpy bottles I got and go small batch. TC seems (from what I have read in this here forum) to come out dry and as I have a sweet tooth to rival a 5 year old this might not be to my taste.

Cheers

Ade

[Gordonmull]

You'll rot your teeth young man!

Sweet TC is possible but you need room in the fridge.

Check this thread out: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=35802

[Marshbrewer]

I'm just conditioning a barrel of Magnum Apple Cider. It needs 1.3 Kg of sugar (from memory) so I substituted 900g of that by using 10L of Lidl 'Apple juice from concentrate', which works out about right, as although it didn't state the natural sugar content on the cartons, it's about 90 - 100g per litre for most pure apple juices. 2 weeks in the FV (was ready after 10 days, but I like to brew at weekends) and it's been in the barrel now for 1 week. What's it like? Still a little yeasty and cloudy, but that will clear up, and to my mind it tastes like Bulmers or Magners, that type of thing. Hope that's helpful.

[Mucknbullets]

Gordon, but late for my teeth as most are filled or crowned already (only 38). Had read that thread a while back and forgotten in so thanks for the reminder.

JJSH, looks like a Magnum for me then. Thanks. Like the idea of apple juice instead of sugar as should add flavour. We drink the Lidl stuff by choice as it tastes better than other supermarket brands. Will put an order in after payday me thinks.

Cheers

[Marshbrewer]

Hope it works for you, mine is taking a while to totally clear, but is nearly there. It's not too bad, but making it in a king keg means that in this weather it's a bit warm. I always slagged off blokes in pubs who had ice cubes in their cider, but I'm afraid I've started doing that.

It is smoother than turbo cider, but also a bit 'thinner', but then I find magners, etc, a bit thin.

[Cheshire-cheese]

I also used the Magnum apple cider kit and didn't add sugar, just 6 litres of pressed apple juice, oak chips and made up to 23 litres,
here's a video of me making the cider
It tastes great and gets the thumbs up from SWMBO.

[Mucknbullets]

If this batch turns out acceptable then I will follow your idea of pressed apple juice. When it was being bottled it gave off a lovely smell so hopefully that will bode well for flavour. Hopefully opening 1st bottle this weekend if cleared.

[critch]

its easy to back sweeten tc, just add splenda or another artificial sweetner(not saccarine!)

lots of artisinal cider makers backsweeten their product with this

[Mucknbullets]

I have a very sensitive tongue when it comes to most sweeteners so not sure I can back sweeten with them. I can't stand any diet drinks even the ones without saccharine. Who ever thought that was sweet needs a good kicking.

[Gordonmull]

Just tried some splenda in a pint of TC, the difference between that and sweet cider is that you feel the sweetness and acidity together in commercial sweet cider, with the sweetener it seems sour followed by sweet, which I thought quite jarring. SWMBO just screwed her face up and shook her head. Thumbs down for that one but I don't know if age might make a difference? I like my cider dry anyway but had to experiment.

[afur130173]

how much splenda would you use to back sweeten 5 gallons of tc.