How to make alcoholic cider?

Question

My husband brews his own beer and I would like to make an alcoholic cider like stronghbow or Mercury...

Answer 1

If he's already familiar with beer brewing, then cider is a piece of cake. Simply use an ale or cider yeast (from the home brewing supply store) and use apple juice that contains no preservatives (pasteurized is ok, but ingredients like sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate will render the apple juice useless).

If you're using commercially bottled juice, add it straight from the bottle to the fermentor, add any additional fermentable sugars as desired (fruit concentrate, cane sugar, honey, etc.) and take it from there as if you were brewing beer (gravity sample, pitch your yeast, wait patiently, etc.). If you're using clear apple juice/cider (where it's crystal clear without any sediment) then clarifying agents should not be necessary. If you're using unfiltered apple juice, then adding a little pectic enzyme a day before pitching the yeast will help with clarifying.

Have fun.

Answer 2

Making hard cider is very much like making wine. Fresh pressed apple cider is fermented without the addition of any sugars. The starting gravity should be between 1.040 and 1.050. This will produce a dry cider with about 4.5% - 5% abv. The key to success is using fresh pressed cider that has not been treated in any way.
http://www.leeners.com/cider.html

Answer 3

You can find a variety of cider recipes on the web. I pasted a link below for a great article on the cider-making process.

I recommend a quick web search to find a recipe. Use keywords homebrew apple cider.

If your husband doesn't want to be super-formal and follow a proper recipe, here is the super-easy way I've made it before:

1 - 1-Gal Glass Jug of Cider (you can still find these sometimes, small opening, little hook for a handle)
1 - package champagne yeast

Directions:
-Empty a bit of the cider from the top -- pour a glass and enjoy.
-Prepare the yeast for pitching (usually dissolving in warm water)
-Put yeast in jug of cider
-Put fermentation lock in cider jug lid (since your hubby homebrews he should have one that fits)
-Let ferment in garage (watch out for overflow!)
-Use homebrew experience to guesstimate bottling time

The more care you put into preparation, the more clarity and yeast/trub removal you can acheive. Good luck.

Answer 4

Cider recipe
ingredients:
1 oz. Yukon Jack�
1/2 oz. Canadian Whisky
3 oz. Hot Spiced Cider

Cider preparation:

1. Mix in highball glass, garnish with cinnamon stick.

2. Serve in: Highball Glass.

Answer 5

Cheapness is one ingredient, however the potential is likewise an argument. sturdy cider is greater palatable than sturdy beer - have you ever tried particular Brew - that's rank - white lightning is a lot tastier!

Answer 6

Buy some apples and your half way there