can i make hard cider from store bought apple juice?

Question

just wondering

i should ask, and how? do i need to add sugar as well as yeast, or is the sugar in the apple juice enough? i want a cider on the dry side

Answer 1

Yes you can, and pasteurized apple juice is just fine. Pasteurizing uses heat to kill off microorganisms in the juice, and that's a good thing. What you can't use is juice that's preserved with chemicals, especially sodium benzoate. There's no way to remove it from the juice and it will kill the necessary yeast that you add.

The simplest method is to get the preservative free unfiltered juice in the one gallon glass jugs. Google search for local home brewing supply stores in your area...you will need a couple supplies. If you don't have a home brewing supplier in your area, my favorite online source is http://morebeer.com
You will need a #7 1/2 rubber stopper with a hole (under $2.00 USD) about 3 feet of plastic tubing that fits tightly into the hole in the stopper, and yeast (between $1 and $6 depending on the brand and style). A packet of dry Champagne or other wine yeast is $1.00, and works really well. The Champagne yeast will produce a very dry cider. Do NOT use baking yeast...it will leave the cider tasting yeasty and funky.

Pour a cup of the cider...this gives you some room at the top, and some to taste to see how sweet it is. You will want to add about 1 lb of sugar to your apple juice. Then, follow the directions on the yeast packet for re-hydrating the yeast. Use only half the packet...the whole thing is for 5 gallons. When that's done, add it to your apple juice and shake the bejeezus out of it and put the stopper with the tubing into the top in place of the cap. Fill a small glass or jar with water and put the free end of the tubing into the jar...this is your airlock. It will allow the CO2 created by the fermentation to escape without allowing oxygen or bugs in.
Let this sit for about two weeks or until the bubbling in the airlock stops completely. You'll see the cider clarify a little and a thick layer of sediment on the bottom of your jug. Then, you'll want to siphon (called "racking) the clear portion off of the sediment into another container. This is called "secondary fermentation" and allows any other suspeded yeast to finish off any residual sugars and to settle out of the cider. After about 2 weeks of secondary fermentation, it should be ready to drink.

One vitally important thing to remember is that all the pieces that you use should be sterilized so that you don't introduce contaminants. If you're able to go to a home brewing store, ask them about their recommendations for sanitizers...my personal favorite is "iodophor" which doesn't require rinsing. You can use highly diluted bleach, but getting all the residue off without re-contaminating is tricky...but it works in a pinch. Also, read about home beer making...the recipes will be different, but the principles about sanitizing and cleanliness are universal.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
can i make hard cider from store bought apple juice?
just wondering

Answer 3

Yes, but it takes a lot longer because the pasteurization process kills off some of the natural yeasts that help in the fermentation process.

Answer 4

Apple Cider Vinegar eBook : http://AppleCiderVinegar.siopu.com/?Lxm

Answer 5

no, buy unpasteurized cider from a cider mill or apple orchard, then put a balloon on top of the jug and wait.......

Answer 6

No because it's already pasteurized.

Answer 7

yes