Over the last year or so, I made 4 batches of apfelwein (hard cider). This is basically wine made from apple juice instead of grapes. The first, a 1 gallon test batch is long gone, but today, I get to compare apfelwien II, III, IV. Inspired by this: Man I love apfelwein
I had a gallon of macintosh cider. Must have been the first one I did. I would like to do more single variety ciders, but it is hard to find the juice around here.
Disclaimer: I have never really been much of a cider drinker. In fact it is usually the last drink of choice when out, so bear in mind, I am no expert. Not a fan of woodchuck, strongbow or woodpecker.
Apfelwein II | Apfelwein III | Apfelwein IV |
Pours with a decent head that fades quickly. Translucent yellow. Like "Cider" but lighter. Streaming bubbles which kick op some sediment. | Massive head taking up 1/2 the glass. This recendes to nothing in a minute or two. Crystal clear apple juice yellow. You can see bubbles streaming up through it. | No head whats so ever. Perfect crystal clear and perfectly still. |
Aroma of tart apples with slight cider-i-ness. | This one had a little more of that ciderness in the aroma | Something off...Meaty? Dank? Apples with some off aroma. Hard to place. |
Tastes like apple champagne. Slightly tart with an apple flavor that lingers long after you swallow. | Milder apple flavor. Almost tastes like watered down apple juice. | Some apple, but that musty, old yeast? rubber band? flavor distracts. |
Has a spritzy champagne like mouth feel | This one has a softer, creamier feel to it. Surprising considering the size of the head, but that could be from the fast pour knocking CO2 out. | Still and flat (Have not carbonated this one yet) |
This one is the most interesting of the three. The apple flavors are well represented. Sadly that might have been my last bottle from that batch. | This one is the most drinkable. Not as interesting as the first but goes down too easy. Looks like I had too much pressure in the keg. Lowering that will give a more controlled pour that keeps more CO2 dissolved. | I dumped most of the third glass. It is drinkable if you really need some alcohol, but definitely is not ready. Hopefully some more aging will help here. |
Recipes & Notes:
Apfel Wein II
1 Ga 365 Organic unfiltered AJ
6oz sugar, pinch nutrient, D47 yest
4/9/11 - Started OG=1.060
5/13/11 - Bottled 9 G=1.011 ABV=6.7%
+ 1 Sugar cube/bottle
Lots of dissolved co2...
Cloudy + Brett smell?
Cider (Apfelwein) 3:
7/31/11 - Started. vOG=1.058
2xMotts, 3xShoprite AJ, 2# Cane sugar, D47.
Started separate w/ 1/2G AJ + Pinch yeast nutrient. Did not measure G
9/17/11 - Keg G=1.000 ABV=7.5%
Good clarity. apply smell/taste. warming but not harsh. Some residual carb. head fades quick.
Not much trub
9/30/11 - Taste - No head, but medium carbonation. A little cidery, but not bad.
ApfelWein IV
11/4/11 - Start OG=1.060
3Gal Shoprite juice, 2 gal shoprite cider, 1# brown sugar, 1/2# sugar, US-05 from ESB slurry
1/7/12 Secondary G=.0996 vOBR=14.7 BR=5.1 ABV=8.3%
Great clarity. Not bad, but slight plastic? taste? Left on yeast too long?
3/10/12 - Tasting + G=.0996
Aroma and flavor off. rubber? Yeast autalosys?
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