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Oct 13, 2008 16:34:45 GMT
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you don't NEED a valve, I just poked a hole in the bottle top and tied a cloth over it, and the second time I just fixed a tea towel over the bucket with clothes pegs, it helps to have a valve but both me and Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall (sp?) don't and we never have any problems. You will, don't worry. The airlock keeps out air which oxidises the alcohol to vinegar, and airbourne bacteria which do the same, only much faster. You'll get away without one only so long as your fermentation is producing enough surplus CO2 to "blanket" your drink and keep the air out. Something with lots of nutrients for the yeast that ferments really quickly like beer will do that, something that doesn't like cider, won't. This is experience talking, losing a batch to bacteria infection is a very convincing advocate for airlock use. |
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor |
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Oct 16, 2008 21:33:09 GMT
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Just read this whole thread, looks like fun and like someone else said, I never realised it was all this easy! I see what you're saying about the need for an airlock etc, but since it's likely that I'll have problems convincing certain people that big barrels etc belong indoors, I'm going to have a bash at the "Robinsons bottle and j-cloth" approach first .  What yeast to sugar ratio do you guys find works best? (Its cider i'll be having a go at making) |
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1989 VW Scirocco GTII 1.8
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tdipd
Part of things
Posts: 121 
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Oct 27, 2008 15:45:08 GMT
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Last Edit: Oct 27, 2008 15:45:34 GMT by tdipd
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Oct 27, 2008 19:35:23 GMT
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That kit will do fine, I've got a pressure barrel for my brews, got it from Wilkinsons - no more than £15 I seem to remember.. You need to be able to read instructions and know how to wash/get things clean and its a piece of cake !  Just ask if you need more help ! |
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brocko
Part of things
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Oct 27, 2008 20:34:04 GMT
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The missus has a load of apple trees in her garden, and i think i have an old wine making kit in the loft (with a big glass demijohn (sp?) in it) I see a plan forming here So all thats needed is a load of apples, a juicer, sugar & yeast? or am i oversimplifying it a bit? |
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Oct 28, 2008 16:05:07 GMT
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If any of you fancy going a little further with your cider take a look at this site. ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Main_PageI'm a member of the accompanying newsgroup, there are some rather more serious cidermakers than me on there but the wiki is a mine of useful info. |
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor |
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brocko
Part of things
Posts: 106
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Oct 28, 2008 16:55:03 GMT
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Cheers for the link Herald, Looks like thats my evenings reading sorted!
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Oct 28, 2008 18:02:24 GMT
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Any time! If you don't fancy making some the cider pub guide will tell you where your nearest pub that serves something other than Magners is. |
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Last Edit: Oct 28, 2008 18:02:47 GMT by herald948
"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor |
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Oct 30, 2008 20:35:47 GMT
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Well my first batch of home made free apple cider is now bottled, and labelled up in time for my mate's 30th!  |
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A bit stingy on the bottle filling there! Like the label. |
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor |
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Never tried one of those, seem like a lot of money though really. When for very little work and about 25% of the price ( and a bit of luck !! ) you can have largely the same thing ! |
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righto ive started on a brew now.
4 cartons of apple juice, sugar, yeast !
its in a 5lt water bottle doing the 1st stage, then ill transfer it to another 5lt for the 2nd stage and ill reuse the 1st and start all over again ;D
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 SPLIT RIMS ARE FOR WINNERS |
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Well had half a bottle of this on Saturday to follow a few beers and had a head like a badgers bum come morning! Mine tasted more like apple wine in strength! |
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how much sugar did you put in then ?
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SPLIT RIMS ARE FOR WINNERS |
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Well had half a bottle of this on Saturday to follow a few beers and had a head like a badgers bum come morning! Mine tasted more like apple wine in strength! Leave it for a few months On saturday I had a few bottles of my last years cider, a year since pressing, 6 months in the bottle. Looks like p155 but is beautifully clear, has about 7% alcohol and a lovely smooth matured apple taste. No headache on Sunday morning too which was as well because later in the day I had to ride 35 miles home in the wet on the 400/4. |
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor |
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,960
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Making my own beer.....stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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I've just started a brew. 5 litre of tesco apple juice, a couple of spoons of honey, some sugar and some yeast. I used a 5 litre demi jon. Couple of questions.
1) How long do I leave it in the bottle for the 1st fermentation?
2) What do I do next?
It smells like really strong cider at the minute so seems to be going well.
Matt
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I'm at that stage now. i left it over night and when i came down it had a 6" head on it ;D
but i need to know whens good to strain all the sediment out and start stage 2.
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SPLIT RIMS ARE FOR WINNERS |
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,960
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Making my own beer.....stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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What's stage 2? Mines been doing stage 1 for about 5 days now as i've been so busy I haven't had a chance to buy another bottle lol.
Matt
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well I read somewhere you should strain it to remove the sediment and pop it into another big bottle, leave it for two weeks then strain it again and bottle it for good with a spoonful of sugar per bottle. I'm making some more in a mo  |
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SPLIT RIMS ARE FOR WINNERS |
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