Hey everyone! So, I managed about a week ago to transfer and re-rack my cider. My buddy Matt came over with an extra brew bucket, and after sanitizing we syphoned the cider out of Carboy #1 and into the brew bucket. The amount of yeast sediment on the bottom of the Carboy was astounding, and... a little gross but a good sign.
After the syphon did its job there was a small amount of cider at the bottom, I didn't want to tip the Carboy to syphon the last bit out because I wasn't keen on the idea of sucking up any of that yeast sediment. So, I tipped it and syphoned it into a glass for a first taste of what's to come. It was light in color, tangy with a yeasty quality but the apple flavor was there and there was no off flavors. GOOD NEWS!
After I cleaned out the Carboy and sanitized it it was time to move the cider back into the carboy. The transfer was complete and the airlock and plug were placed, I covered the carboy in a towel and moved it into my closet. Now it's a mere two-three more weeks until it's time to bottle. Hopefully I'll take some pictures then, we needed all 4 hands to do the syphoning so there were no photo ops.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Keeping Track of Time By Bubbles!
So, although I don't have any new pictures, I do have news to report. The bubbles caused by the fermentation seems to have hit its stride, she's bubbling constantly at a six second pace, "Blurp!" One. Two. Three. Four. Five. "Blurp!" On the six second mark, Your could set your watch by it!
The cider is also beginning to settle out, much of the heavy particles are settling to the bottom of the tank and the top inch is a distinctively lighter color. It's kinda parfait looking. I'll try to get a picture of it, although I'm not sure if it'll be easy to distinguish through the photo. It's only been what? A few days and I'm already obsessed with bubbles (although that could be a result of my rather slow nature) and I'm already counting down the days until bottling. It's gonna be a slow couple months.
The cider is also beginning to settle out, much of the heavy particles are settling to the bottom of the tank and the top inch is a distinctively lighter color. It's kinda parfait looking. I'll try to get a picture of it, although I'm not sure if it'll be easy to distinguish through the photo. It's only been what? A few days and I'm already obsessed with bubbles (although that could be a result of my rather slow nature) and I'm already counting down the days until bottling. It's gonna be a slow couple months.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
It's Alive
I returned home after work yesterday, went over to my cider and gave it a little once over. It seemed that nothing had changed and it seemed to be dormant. But, as they say, "A watched carboy never bubbles." So as soon as I turned I heard a "blurp!" I spun but not quickly enough to catch the action, so I waited, and some time later, "bulrp!" a pocket of air pushed past the water in the air-lock and burst forth with fermenting jubilance!
I tried not to let this small triumph go to my head, and I proceeded with my evening fully aware that if I were to listen for the tell tale sign I would surely drive myself insane! So as I turned my attentions to other events, like the Yankees loosing! YEAH! The evening quickly wasted away and it was time for bed.
It was there that I began to lay awake unable to sleep that I began to notice the "blurp!" in the still of the night amongst the breathing of my chubby Elkhound sleeping on the couch. I tried not to listen to it again fearing for my sanity when I noticed the noise much more frequently than before, the fermentation was really beginning to happen, "It's Alive!" I muttered in a Gene Wilder voice and slowly drifted off to sleep counting the "blurps!" in my head. So although it will be sometime before I'm singing "Puttin' On The Ritz" with my jug of cider, I was resting easily with the knowledge that I was creating something.
More to come soon, pictures of the Cider as the sediment begins to fall and the cider's future becomes clear!
I tried not to let this small triumph go to my head, and I proceeded with my evening fully aware that if I were to listen for the tell tale sign I would surely drive myself insane! So as I turned my attentions to other events, like the Yankees loosing! YEAH! The evening quickly wasted away and it was time for bed.
It was there that I began to lay awake unable to sleep that I began to notice the "blurp!" in the still of the night amongst the breathing of my chubby Elkhound sleeping on the couch. I tried not to listen to it again fearing for my sanity when I noticed the noise much more frequently than before, the fermentation was really beginning to happen, "It's Alive!" I muttered in a Gene Wilder voice and slowly drifted off to sleep counting the "blurps!" in my head. So although it will be sometime before I'm singing "Puttin' On The Ritz" with my jug of cider, I was resting easily with the knowledge that I was creating something.
More to come soon, pictures of the Cider as the sediment begins to fall and the cider's future becomes clear!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Ferment Me Baby!!!
So, I picked up my cider yesterday and oh how pretty she is! Rich delicious cider calling out, "Ferment Me Baby! Please Ferment Me!" to which I replied, "You Know I Will!" So this morning after bringing the cider up to room temp over night I mixed up a yeast starter and blended it into the cider inside the Carboy named EBISU!
Here's another pic of the Carboy, these aren't the best pics, I'll try to get a few good shots in some natural light later today. If it isn't dark by the time I get home. I clipped out the background so you can't see how messy my apartment is! HA! Marvel at the Cidery Goodness!!!
So I know you're all excited to taste it, but alas, it'll be near Christmas when I bottle it! So those of you lucky enough to taste it are going to have to be very patient! The Fox Hollow Cider Experiment has begun!!!
Here's another pic of the Carboy, these aren't the best pics, I'll try to get a few good shots in some natural light later today. If it isn't dark by the time I get home. I clipped out the background so you can't see how messy my apartment is! HA! Marvel at the Cidery Goodness!!!
So I know you're all excited to taste it, but alas, it'll be near Christmas when I bottle it! So those of you lucky enough to taste it are going to have to be very patient! The Fox Hollow Cider Experiment has begun!!!
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