Batches #1, 2, 3, 4, and 5: Tasting notes

Over the last few months, Amy and I have been tasting the first 5 batches. The results are as follows:

• Batch #1 mellowed nicely, but the overall alcohol level made it unenjoyable.
• Batches #2 and 3 never mellowed and, while not bad, were very dry and flavorless.
• Batches #4 and 5 mellowed nicely and were fun to drink. Not as dry as Amy and I would prefer and a little tart, but I personally would be happy to have a few cases around at all times.

Batches #6 and 7: Fermenting very slowly

2+ weeks after racking these batches to secondary, and they are still, every so slowly, bubbling away. I have measured the SG a few times; the last time it measure ~1.015. So there is still a bit more to go. I am hoping to bottle next Sunday.

Batches #6 and 7: Second fermentation

On Saturday, December 31, I racked off batch #6 to secondary, removing the raisons, and back filled to 1 gallon. The SG was ~1.040 at the time of moving it. On Sunday, January 1, I did the same for batch #7.

Batches #6 and 7

I started two new 1 gallon batches on Wednesday, December 28. With these new batches, I'm hoping to build on the success of the previous two batches, which have aged nicely and have turned out to be my (and Amy's) favorite batches to date: mellow and fruity; a little tart and not quite as dry as I would like, but with plenty of flavor. My plan for these two batches is to ferment them to a SG of ~1.005. At that point I will bottle and allow the remaining sugar to add a little, but not too much carbonation. My hope by taking this approach, as opposed to the approach to batches #4 and 5 where I added juice prior to bottling, is to get a slightly drier cider with as much fruit as possible. We'll see.


The recipes for both batches #6 and 7 are, more or less, the same as batch #5, with a little less raisons (per Amy's recommendation).

Recipe #6 and 7:


1 gallon Wholefoods 365 apple juice
1/3 11.5g pack of Safale s-04 Dry Ale Yeast
1 oz of organic raisins


Based on batches #4 and 5, I will allow these batches to age for 3 months before I crack the first bottle. Or On Zoe Mae's BDay in March, as Amy says I will never be able to wait that long. Patience is a virtue, I suppose.