Lemon Cider the hard way

[BamaProud]

An uncle of mine in Mobile has a pretty productive Lemon tree. He wanted me to make a cider from scratch. I've done it from Juice before, but this is my first attempt from fresh fruit.

About 55 lemons yielded just over 1 gal of juice (and cramped hands)

With 7 pounds of sugar and enough water to reach 5.5 gals the OG hit ~1.077. If if ferments dry is should be about 11% ABV in about 3-4 weeks. However, due to their acidity lemons are particularly hard to ferment...so its gonna require a little TLC.

 

[BamaProud]

If all goes well, I should have 11 more like this in about 6 weeks.

 

[edtcase]

Bet that's good. Hope it turns out well!


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[AT Hiker]

Very [emoji41] keep us posted.


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[TAFKAP]

Interesting.......

 

[TN Song Dog]

Lemon Shine! Different from the generic furniture polish...

 

[Forvols]

Does that end up something like a Mikes hard lemonade?

 

[BamaProud]

Does that end up something like a Mikes hard lemonade?

Not at all....the commercial stuff is a carbonated malt liquor at about 5% ABV, this is uncarbed, about 10-12% ABV mildly sweet and tart. Much closer to the taste of actual lemonade than Mikes.

 

[Forvols]

Does that end up something like a Mikes hard lemonade?

Not at all....the commercial stuff is a carbonated malt liquor at about 5% ABV, this is uncarbed, about 10-12% ABV mildly sweet and tart. Much closer to the taste of actual lemonade than Mikes.

Nice, I have a old time granny smith apple tree(not your pretty commercial granny smith apple at the store, but way more flavor tree is probably 30-50 yrs old) got me thinking about next year making some apple cider. Tree is usually loaded made apple butter and apple pies, fried pies etc from it...nice apple cider would be good or some apple brandy.

 

[bigtex]

Looks interesting. How you liking that big mouth bubbler? I bet it's a lot easier to clean than a regular carboy.

 

[BamaProud]

I like it, its only my second time using it.

 

[BamaProud]

Testing a video
...well that didn't work.

 

[BamaProud]

20 days later its fermented dry...gonna give it another few days to see if it drops a little more, then stabilize. It should be ready to bottle early February.

 

[DaveB]

I don't understand how it fermented, even with 7 pounds of sugar. So acidic, whadyado?

What is the TLC you were going to apply?


I could never be a moonshiner I am just too impatient

 

[BamaProud]

I use Yeast Nutrient an Yeast energizer about 1/3 of the way through fermentation (SG~1.050) and then another dose of Nutrient when the SG hist around 1.025). I also use a wine whip once a day for the first week or so to keep the must oxygenated. Out of about 10 batches(only one starting with actual lemons) only one didn't ferment dry.

 

[BamaProud]

38 days later its crystal clear, stabilized and ready to backsweeten a little and bottle.

...I dropped my wine whip drill attachment in there when I was degassing it. Figured better to just leave it in there rather than fish it out. :mrgreen:

 

[RobbyW]

Do I need to PM you my address for quality control?


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[BamaProud]

I don't mind sharing...but I ain't shipping.

 

[BamaProud]

Done. I have 30 of these. A dozen are going to my uncle for supplying the lemons.

 

[DaveB]

So what did it taste like?

You even have your own corks?

 

[FTG-05]

I make that stuff all the time, well at least a version of it called Skeeter Pee. http://skeeterpee.com/ I make 7 gallon batches at a time. I use frozen fruit juice and usually mix it up: lemon with orange, orange with pineapple, pineapple with limeade and so forth.

Getting it to ferment is easier with the right yeast, I use Red Star Cuvee and EC-1118, both are a little more tolerant to high acidic juices plus will survive and thrive at the higher ABVs of 10% and above.

The stuff is potent: I usually mix one beer with my SP and after three of them, I'm done. It is very easy to drink and it can and will put you on your butt if you're not careful.

Good luck!

 

[TAFKAP]

Are you interested in bartering for a bottle?

I know a dude that makes some kickass bacon

 

[BamaProud]

So what did it taste like?

You even have your own corks?

Its great, tart and slightly sweet.

I buy corks from a homebrew supply website.

 

[BamaProud]

Are you interested in bartering for a bottle?

I know a dude that makes some kickass bacon

Absolutely! I'd love to try the bacon.

 

[BamaProud]

I make that stuff all the time, well at least a version of it called Skeeter Pee. http://skeeterpee.com/ I make 7 gallon batches at a time. I use frozen fruit juice and usually mix it up: lemon with orange, orange with pineapple, pineapple with limeade and so forth.

Getting it to ferment is easier with the right yeast, I use Red Star Cuvee and EC-1118, both are a little more tolerant to high acidic juices plus will survive and thrive at the higher ABVs of 10% and above.

The stuff is potent: I usually mix one beer with my SP and after, I'm done. It is very easy to drink and it can and will put you on your butt if you're not careful.

Good luck!

Yep, I've made that before too.

 

[PeteSon]

looks beautiful really would like to try something of the kind

 

[Teacher]

I see where you also make wine by looking at your label on the bottles. I have inherited a grape vineyard a few years ago that was used to grow the grapes for a master wine maker. I know absolutely nothing about making wine, but thought about giving it a shot this year. If you can lend me some expertise along the way, I would surely appreciate it. There are over 100 vines in one section that are "blue". My favorites to eat are the muscadine....... I have kept these vines in good shape by pruning them, etc.

If it is ok I will get back with you on a later date to get an idea of what I need to do. Just let me know. I will need all the insight I can get.

Thanks.
B

 

[DaveB]

Can't wait to see the thread for muscadine grapes.


Everyone remember I Love Lucy and her grape stomping episode?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUxjOS3g6Uc

 

[BamaProud]

I see where you also make wine by looking at your label on the bottles. I have inherited a grape vineyard a few years ago that was used to grow the grapes for a master wine maker. I know absolutely nothing about making wine, but thought about giving it a shot this year. If you can lend me some expertise along the way, I would surely appreciate it. There are over 100 vines in one section that are "blue". My favorites to eat are the muscadine....... I have kept these vines in good shape by pruning them, etc.

If it is ok I will get back with you on a later date to get an idea of what I need to do. Just let me know. I will need all the insight I can get.

Thanks.
B

Wine making is pretty dang easy. Its probably a good thing that I didn't know how to do it as a teenager. It does take a little patience though.

 

[TAFKAP]

I see where you also make wine by looking at your label on the bottles. I have inherited a grape vineyard a few years ago that was used to grow the grapes for a master wine maker. I know absolutely nothing about making wine, but thought about giving it a shot this year. If you can lend me some expertise along the way, I would surely appreciate it. There are over 100 vines in one section that are "blue". My favorites to eat are the muscadine....... I have kept these vines in good shape by pruning them, etc.

If it is ok I will get back with you on a later date to get an idea of what I need to do. Just let me know. I will need all the insight I can get.

Thanks.
B

Wine making is pretty dang easy. Its probably a good thing that I didn't know how to do it as a teenager. It does take a little patience though.

Probably why most teenagers drink MadDog instead