The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Home brewing => Topic started by: Mel on November 01, 2012, 12:41:30 pm

Title: Re Specific Gravity of home made cider?
Post by: Mel on November 01, 2012, 12:41:30 pm

 :wave:
I have a batch of cider which is in demijohns,has been fermenting away for about a fortnight or so and has just about ceased bubbling.

My hydrometer has arrived today-never used one,it shows a specific gravity of 1.000 - 1.005.

mmm,does not seem to be very alcoholic,I have not added any sugar at all.I pressed my apples,that all went in a bucket for around a fortnight when I then strained it into the demijohns.Am I missing something,should I bottle now but add some sugar or,help,what do I do?!!!Please?! :-\

Title: Re: Re Specific Gravity of home made cider?
Post by: SteveHants on November 01, 2012, 09:45:59 pm

Its not quite as simple as that..Take a look at this:
http://dd26943.com/davesdreaded/tools/convert.htm (http://dd26943.com/davesdreaded/tools/convert.htm)

Title: Re: Re Specific Gravity of home made cider?
Post by: MAK on November 02, 2012, 06:09:27 am

I have no read Steve's link but I assume that the first phase in a bucket included an air lock and good thermentation. We racked ours with a sp g of 1000 then added a sugar solution to kick start a second thermentation. It is now back in the bucket and bubbling away again. We have not used any clearing chemicals or added a yeast and are happy with its progress.
plan is to put it into plastic lemonade bottles soon ( like last year).

Title: Re: Re Specific Gravity of home made cider?
Post by: Mel on November 02, 2012, 09:29:55 am

Thanks,I have also now started with a second fermentation,mine are in their johns bubbling away merrily,I have not used any pectolase either,as I understand it,original is best with all the bits and a little cloudy!?!

Title: Re: Re Specific Gravity of home made cider?
Post by: SteveHants on November 03, 2012, 07:18:30 pm

The point is, if it is colder now than when you measured your OG (and it will be) this has a bearing on the SG,, and therefore your abv.

Title: Re: Re Specific Gravity of home made cider?
Post by: Olly398 on November 18, 2012, 07:23:45 pm

Steve, I don't think Mel actually measured the OG. Mel, you would have needed to have measured the "original gravity" of the apple juice - as pressed - as well as the final gravity to get an alcohol estimate. As your hydrometer made its virgin appearance 2 weeks in, it was measuring probably close to the final gravity. So you can do no better than guesswork. Unless your apple juice was naturally unusually sweet, you will probably be limited to about 6% ABV, and it could easily be less. If you want more, add sugar solution. The end result will likely be delicious and you can make a more informed decision next year. Olly