Best Kit Cider

[mikey]

Black Rock worked out well for me.

Just dont do what the can says, dont make 23L, make 18 or 20.
Add apples, lactose or apple juice.
Can taste very dry if you just add granny smith apples, but the longer you leave it, the better it will taste.
Use malt for an interesting change

Cider, like Ginger Beer is perfect to entertain the ladies who might not like your Lagers or Ales.

Coopers should release a kit for cider. Black Rock is good but you cant get the kit for less than $20 at a brewshop

I made it to whatever the can says and it's the poxiest, weak as pus cider I've ever tasted. The Brigalow kit at least has a little flavour to it when you follow their instructions.

[Chris]

Yep. That's why you do it to 18L.

[DavidP]

I did a brigalow that I added 6 liters of apple juice to and that is really bad! I have a hard time drinking it!

and I've got a black rock thats underway now..that has 2 liters of apple juice and 5 cut up apples in the fermenter and that has been going for almost a month!! from the test samples I've had..it tastes better but not great! maybe cider isn't my drink.

I reckon I'll stick to ginger beer once I can get this cider out of my fermenter!!!

[Chris]

Most people think that it'll be sweeter than it is.

[mikey]

Yep. That's why you do it to 18L.

You'd think from a marketing point of view they would be better off telling people the truth about their product.

[Chris]

Nope, they want people to think about the quantity only.

Quantity over quality... another product brought to you by Lion Nathans!

[mikey]

Nope, they want people to think about the quantity only.

Quantity over quality... another product brought to you by Lion Nathans!

I sent them a little email yesterday pointing out my disappointment with their instructions.

Do I expect a response? No.

[mikey]

While on the cider topic, my HBS told me to boost the cider by adding the apple juice concentrates you can buy in the supermarket.

I had a look but could only find ones with preservatives 202 and 211. 202 is an anti-fungal preservative and 211 is some other crud (highly technical description I know but I couldn't find out what it does). IOf 202 is antifungal I can't see this being not only bad for me but also not good for the yeast.

Any thoughts? Or is there a preservative-free brand that people know of?

[blandy]

Forget the juice if you can't find a crap-free one. Rack the cider on to a few chopped up apples (or quinces like I did once with great results). Really gives it a fresher taste.


(not that Black Rock k&k made to 18L isn't a great dry cider or anything)

[mikey]

I've done kits with chopped up apples and fresh juice etc and am still yet to be convinced.

[Chris]

Try it without. That should convince you.

[mikey]

Try it without. That should convince you.

I have and found them too sweet - people have said they will still be very dry but my expereince is the opposite. Maybe it's just me but I can't stand sweet cider - I'd rather drink my own puke.

[dragonphoenix73]

1 can Black Rock cider
500g lactose
1.5kg white sugar
1.5kg, 12 granny smith apples cored, peeled, chopped and put in a stocking
4L apple juice no preservatives, no vitamin C (club brand apple juice)
Kit yeast

What would happen if you added honey instead of white sugar? How much honey would anyone recommend?

cheers....
P