Future Brews  
Second Cider attempt: Plan to get 50 gallons cider from the orchard that was made with a sweeter mix of cider apples. I will add sugar to the primary increasing the SG to 1.065 - 1.075 and attempt to stop the fermentation by cold crashing and adding campden tablets once the SG gets down to 1.015. I will then age it in an oak whisky barrel for 3-6 months and test to see if I need to back sweeten at that time.

Primary  
- 1 gallon test batch of Cider w/clover honey, molases, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and dried cranberries. - 1/2 gallon test batch oc Cider w/clover honey, cloves and cinnamon.

Secondary  
First Cider Attempt: 23 gallons of Hard Cider (cortland apples) aging in a 53 gallon whiskey barrel. SG: 1.040 ;: Sat in primary for 3 weeks and fermented with natural yeasts and Lavin 71B-1122. Cider tasted dry with a sweet aftertaste leaving you wanting more when I tested it during transfer to the secondary. Will back sweeten with fresh cider...will test adding 1.5 gallons of fresh cider to 14 gallons of hard cider when I keg.

Bottled  
Just ran out...

Kegged  
Chocolate Irish Stout

I started brewing beer in 2007 with
extract kits. I like bocks, stouts, reds,
high octane brews and IPA's. I enjoy
modifying kits and giving away my home
brew for the holidays. I am new to cider
brewing but love hard cider and with an
orchard only five minutes away now and new
found access to cheap used Jim Beam whisky
barrels I think there will be a lot more
of that going on now. I'm interested in
meads and plan to make my own maple surup
this winter for use in my first mead
attempt.

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