Cider Kit

[fxrs]

I did my first brew, a Youngs Lager kit, a couple of months back and have been working my way through the results. Right now I have a Coopers Real Ale in bottles at the secondary stage and have a Muntons Pils in the FV which is due bottling in a few days.

I am now looking toward my next brew and I think it has to be cider. The decent weather is hopefully on the way and a wee cider would be nice. The question is, which cider kit to go for. Any recommendations? I have had a search through the archives here and notice the Black Rock Cider gets good reviews. I want to stay with the kits for now.

Which cider kit would you recommend? Apple? Pear?

Grateful for your suggestions

Thanks

[DerbyshireNick]

Sorry not a recommendation but...

I hear allot of people saying Cider kits end up a bit thin and the way around it is to use apple juice instead of sugar.

basically if you need 1kg of sugar, look on the apple juice bottle and if it has say... 50g of sugar per 100ml for instance you are going to need 1000 / 50 = 20...

so 20 x 100ml = 2000 ml (2L) of apple juice. Then just top up with water to the right volume.

I suspect it will be more apple juice than that though!!!

[barney]

Black rock cider takes ages to condition and the stink of sulphur never really goes away.

Magnum Elderflower Cider, is fast clears quick and, according to the mrs, the best cider ever made.

Cider is a girls drink right?

[fxrs]

Black rock cider takes ages to condition and the stink of sulphur never really goes away.

Magnum Elderflower Cider, is fast clears quick and, according to the mrs, the best cider ever made.

Cider is a girls drink right?

Thanks.

This Elderflower cider, is it sweet or dry? Think a wee dry one might be nice. What about a pear cider, anyone have any recommendations?

Would be nice to get going with this and have it ready for the better weather

Happy days

[fxrs]

Finally got a cider in the FV, its a Muntons Autumn. Started it yesterday so has a few days to go.

not sure yet if it will be kegged or bottled. Maybe a bit of both?

When its done fermenting I want to keep sediment transfer as low as possible. Had thought about syphoning to a cleaned FV then after a day or so when it has settled, put it on bottles or keg. Is this ok?

Grateful for your guidance

[FarmerFred]

If you were to transfer it to another FV for 5-7 days (if you can wait that long) I would have thought you'll get a lot more sediment out of it. I've done this before with beers: 2 weeks, then transfer + 1 week. There is markedly less sediment in the bottles. Let us know how it goes

[fxrs]

I am looking ahead to bottling time for this cider and would like some advice ref priming.

The instructions with this kit says I should use a "heaped" teaspoon for each 500ml. I intend using 1ltr bottles and want to try carbination drops.

How many carbination drops should I use per bottle?

As usual, I am very grateful for your help

[fxrs]

I am looking ahead to bottling time for this cider and would like some advice ref priming.

The instructions with this kit says I should use a "heaped" teaspoon for each 500ml. I intend using 1ltr bottles and want to try carbination drops.

How many carbination drops should I use per bottle?

As usual, I am very grateful for your help

Or as an alternative, could I add some apple juice to each bottle? If so, how much?

If this is an option I would bottle some with apple juice (how much per litre?) and some with carbonation drops (how many per litre?) just to see what the difference is.

[fxrs]

Decided to use carb drops in the end, 3 in each litre bottle.

The cider has been in the bottle for just over 3 weeks now and has sat in a cool room. I notice the sediment in each bottle is still a bit 'wispy' and will unsettle at the slightest movement of the bottle. When making lager and ale the sediment seemed more compact and not wispy. Should the sediment in my cider be more compact? Will this happen over time?

Grateful for guidance

[Mitchamitri1]

Enjoy your cider kit, but I have to admit that it strikes me as strange that anyone would bother with a cider kit when lidls sell apple juice at pennies.

[fxrs]

Tried some cider tonight.

It was a bit lacking in taste so intend leaving it till August and hope things improve.

What was evident was the amount of carbonation in the bottle. Lots of life in the glass when poured and the head took a wee while to disipate. It looked more like a lager than cider. I used 3 carbonation drops in a litre bottle. Maybe 2 would have been plenty.

Will report back in August...........

[oldbloke]

Cider is a girls drink right?

Ah, you're not from the West Country, then.

[jonewer]

How do these kits compare to shop cider?

Are they like factory cider such as Strongbow or proper cider like a Weston's vintage or Sheppy's?