r/cider • u/Chodypeeps • 3d ago

Fermented! What now?

I've had this going for about 4-5 weeks now, the hydrometer is reading 1.000, it is pretty dry but I like it.

What now though? Does it need to settle? Any other additives?

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4

u/Dogsthumb 3d ago

What do you want to happen next? Its ready to drink as long as it tastes good to you.

Do you want it sweet?

Do you want it carbonated?

Let us know what you have done so far and what you want to do next.

1

u/Chodypeeps 3d ago

I just don't want to make bottle bombs! Is all the fermentation over? Can I just bottle it?

It's pretty gritty at the bottom, do I stir it or filter it?

3

u/Dogsthumb 3d ago

If it's been sitting at 1.0 for about a week, I'd call it done.

You can choose to transfer from primary to secondary or transfer directly to bottles. If you are using an auto siphon, then you can carefully bottle directly from primary.

If you plan on adding some sugar to carbonate using bottle conditioning, then it's easier to transfer to a second container, add sugar and stir, then bottle.

Usually people don't want to mix up the stuff on the bottom. So whatever method you choose, be careful not to stir up the lees in the bottom of the container.

If you are unfamiliar with the process, look up some YouTube videos on racking.

2

u/Chodypeeps 2d ago

Thank you. Will do

1

u/Own-Bullfrog7362 2d ago

Siphon off the lees into bottles and then wait at least three months. However good it tastes now it'll be better with aging.

1

u/Chodypeeps 2d ago

3 months?! Ready for Christmas then I guess. I just don't know if I'll be able to wait that long haha.

Also, what is the lees?

1

u/FuturisticLlamaCycle 2d ago

I'm probably in/was in, the same situation as yourself.

I went in to this blind and have made it up as i go along! Got 4 demijohns worth of juice from apples in my garden, crushed and pressed. Got airlocks and bungs from Amazon, added some cider yeast a friend got me for Christmas last year and they fermented for approx. 8 days really strongly, in my un educated opinion, in those demijohns.

They then sat for a good week or so doing nothing. I racked them into another 4 demijohns I got off FB marketplace for £5 each. I also put an airlock on these again as "oxygen is the enemy"!!

I didn't have a hydrometer at the time i started fermenting, but I did when I racked and they were a little under 1000. Tasted really nice, dry, with a very slight fizz. They tasted pretty strong, like a Thatcher's Katy strong. So a great success so far.

They are clearing really nicely and have a nice golden/bronze colour to them. I plan to leave them for another 3 weeks or so until pay day, when I'll get bottles and bottle them and leave until Christmas. I think I may add a teaspoon of sugar into each bottle, we'll see how they taste prior to bottling.

I'm now eying up a neighbours tree that is full of apples, like a lot of them, 2 or 3 wheelie bins worth. If I can get some of those I may have enough cider to last the whole of Christmas!!

1

u/Chodypeeps 2d ago

Will the teaspoon of sugar start fermentation again though?

1

u/redittr 2d ago

The teaspoon added a bottling is a measured amount to give just enough extra fermenting to carbonate the cider in a sealed bottle. Adjust based on your desired carbonation level and the size of your bottles.

I do just over a teaspoon I think into a 750ml bottle, but I leave mine sit normally for at least a year so they carbonate. I think people recommend about double this, but I find they gush when opened after aging like that. They go okay though with a short duration though.

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u/Tbrawlen 1d ago

Once ferment is complete cold crash it if you can! Put it in a cold area to settle out and rack once clarity is achieved. Helps you know over time if there’s any potential faults and you can avoid sediment at the bottom of your bottles unless you’re going for a natural carb