Q&A for How to Make Apple Cider

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  • Question
    What is the difference between cider and vinegar?
    Community Answer
    Cider is like a fruit wine. Vinegar is when wine stands open to the air, ferments, and oxidizes the alcohol into acetic acid. Cider is alcoholic while vinegar is sour but non-alcoholic.
  • Question
    How can I make a clear, non-alcoholic apple cider?
    Dominic Antonacci
    Community Answer
    Use a finer filter, such as a coffee filter. It's helpful to first filter it with the cheesecloth (like above), then run that through the coffee filter.
  • Question
    How much alcohol is hard cider likely to contain?
    Community Answer
    That varies depending upon the particular cider. It usually ranges from just three or four percent to upwards of 20 percent.
  • Question
    How many pounds of apples does it take to make a gallon of fresh pressed cider?
    Community Answer
    About 14 pounds of apples, which is equal to 28 large apples, 42 medium apples, or 56 small apples.
  • Question
    What is a cheesecloth?
    Community Answer
    A cheesecloth is a tightly woven piece of cloth normally used in the processing of cheese that has many other uses. You can locate and purchase them on Amazon.
  • Question
    How much can I drink per day?
    Community Answer
    Try not to drink more than 3 glasses per day.
  • Question
    Should I put priming sugar in the bottle to carbonate hard cider?
    Community Answer
    If you want more bubbles, more like a Prosecco, add 10 g of sugar to the bottle before putting the cider in, do no shake. After a week your cider is ready.
  • Question
    Would using wine bottles work to bottle it? Also, do I need to do anything special with the bottle first?
    Community Answer
    Yes,wine bottles will work. You should thoroughly clean them first, and make sure that the bottle is clear white.
  • Question
    Should I add cinnamon?
    Community Answer
    You could. It depends on your personal taste, and how you want your cider to taste.
  • Question
    How much yeast do I put in 5 gallons?
    Community Answer
    Usually the manufacturer will give a value of how many cells a gram or ounce of dry yeast contains. Since it is similar to beer ABV (alcohol by volume), around 1/4 oz or around 7-8 grams would be enough if dry sprinkled into the "wort." The same applies if the starter is made, but be aware, that fermentation could be more intense since the cells are already active, thus giving you a drier cider.
  • Question
    Should I leave the seeds in when making apple cider? Does non-alcoholic cider taste similar to ones made with alcohol?
    Sabra Ewing
    Community Answer
    The seeds will cause an unpleasant, bitter aftertaste so they are best left out. The alcoholic and nonalcoholic version will taste similar, but the more alcohol it contains, the more watery it will taste and the less flavorful it will seem, because alcohol numbs the tongue. Therefore, if you are making a high alcohol cider, focus more on body and flavor. For body, add raisins to primary fermentation, or add a bit of Water in which bananas have been boiled At the end of fermentation. Add apple extract to make the flavor come through more strongly. Also, the yeast strain affects things like the taste, alcohol level, and dryness.
  • Question
    Where can I buy glass bottles?
    Community Answer
    Visit a glass bottle retailer. This is an establishment that specializes in the sale and distribution of glass bottles and accessories, like caps. Or, try a shop that sells brewing supplies.
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