7 replies to this topic

[porter]

Anyone else make cyser? We went to a semi-local orchard yesterday and I got 5 gallons of pasteurized (no preservative) cider for $35. Seemed like a pretty good deal. I don't have a reasonable source for local honey so just end up buying it at Costco. Want to get back into making a yearly batch (keg the batch from last fall and put a new batch in every year).

 

Right now I have a batch that is either 2 or 3 years old (not sure) that will be getting kicked out of the carboy and into a keg. My favorite cyser (or, I guess, melomel) I've made is with a cherry cider blend. I may skip that this time but might try to find some cherry juice to add to the mix.

[positiveContact]

I've only done cider. I haven't tried much mead but what I have tried tasted very boozy to me which I don't really enjoy. Maybe I just haven't had the right stuff yet.

[porter]

Cyser does a good job of balancing the boozy character from the honey. I don't really care much for ciders or mead, but really like cyser.

[positiveContact]

Cyser does a good job of balancing the boozy character from the honey. I don't really care much for ciders or mead, but really like cyser.

 

maybe I'll give it a shot sometime when I'm thinking about doing a cider again.  can you not get unpasteurized cider near you?  historically I have used that and let nature take its course (no pitching of yeast).

[porter]

Colorado is not New England. We have orchards out on the western slope, but that's a 5-6 hour drive. We have orchards closer in Canon City, but the crop was wiped out by hail this year. I feel lucky just to get some usable cider at all.

[Mya]

UV pasteurized cider might as well be unpasteurized for the purpose of fermenting, in my experience with local cider makers.  I've had it spontaneously ferment when not refrigerated.

 

The Fall's Bounty that the boards did as group brews were pretty awesome.  

[porter]

Well, it certainly took off right away. It did say to keep refrigerated at all times, likely because as you say UV was used to reduce microorganisms but probably not 100%. I still pitched yeast. I just used US-05, like I do for most everything else.

Fall's Bounty was spiced, IIRC?

Edited by porter, 27 September 2020 - 12:18 PM.

[Mya]

Well, it certainly took off right away. It did say to keep refrigerated at all times, likely because as you say UV was used to reduce microorganisms but probably not 100%. I still pitched yeast. I just used US-05, like I do for most everything else.

Fall's Bounty was spiced, IIRC?

yes, spiced