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mr beer
I'm just getting information about the possiblity of brewing my own hard cider. My wife will probably shoot this idea down, but I'm going to research it anyway. So my first post is about equipment.
What do I need to brew cider? I'm not interested in brewing beer. I found the Mr Beer website that actually includes some cider info. www.mrbeer.com Does this system look good? It sounds like I just need a bucket and vent, but the Mr Beer is only 10 dollars for a fermenter only. http://www.mrbeer.com/product-exec/prod … ermenter_1
Any comments?
Thanks,
Scott
You can get by with a 5 gallon bucket and lid and air lock. The Mr Beer would work but if I'm not mistaken it only makes 2 gallons at a time.
DC
So how far will 2 gallons get me?
A six pack lasts me about 1.5 weeks, so I figured starting off with one and buying another if neccessary. Space is also at a premium, so I don't want to go too big.
I was wondering if anybody had acutal experience with the Mr Beer who could say its great or crap.
Thanks,
scott
I think most of the brewers here will say it's crap. There's another thread here if you search for it...it actually got pretty heated until the webmaster calmed it down I think.....also, I know some people started with Mr. Beer, and then moved on to real brewing equipment.
Considering quantity, 5 gallons will usually net around 45-50 bottles, so 2 gallons would give maybe 15-20 bottles. A six pack every 10 days gives you about a month per batch of drinkable beverage. If you wanted more, you could get a regular brewers bucket(any food grade bucket, but not a pickle bucket!) will get you 5 gallons. The storage of one bucket isn't too bad at all really. It can sit in a closet, under the stairs, in the basement, wherever.....
Overall, I would recco getting the big bucket and an airlock, probably cost about $30 with shipping depending on where you buy from.....or go with the Mr. Beer and see how you like it........
So I read all seven pages of the Mr Beer post. Everything said about the system is related to beer. What about cider? Cider appears (in my limited reasearch) to be much more simple to brew. No tricky combinations of ingredients, just cider and yeast (maybe sugar). So if I'm getting my information right, cider does not require complicated equipment? Mr Beer being only 10 dollars seems be be a cheap way to start. Of cource my wife HAS shot my brewing idea down, so a 10 dollar solution is the only way I will be brewing anything any time soon (maybe).
Could someone please comment on the lack of complicated equipment required for making cider and not beer... Or tell me I'm wrong.
Thank you all for the information,
Scott
PS, no offence to beer drinkers/brewers, cider is my drink of choice.
With the cider, just like beer you need something to ferment it in. The Mr. beer keg should be fine. Check out youtube if you want to see some cider home brewing. I personally would go with a bucket w/ lid and airlock only because you can make bigger batches. From my understanding the process takes some time as far as aging the cider to mellow it out, so 2.5 gallons seems a little small.
Another inexpensive way is to get a 5 gal glass or plastic water carboy. I got a glass one from one of the local bottled water companies for $12. You will need an airlock, or failing that, you could put a large balloon on the top.
For yeast you will want a cider or mead yeast, if you want a modestly sweet cider. Champagne yeast will result in a very dry, close to champagne beverage.
Also, don't just buy any cider. Most of them have Potassium Sorbate or some other preservative, that prevents yeast growth. It works, I know, I tried.
I use a 3 gallon glass carboy with a rubber stopper and 3 peice airlock. a 3 gallon batch is perfect for me it gives me 12 liter bottles of cider. that setup cost around $20 total. I just pour 2 1/2 gallons of treetop three apple blend pasturized apple juice right in the carboy add wyeast sweet mead yeast and let it bubble around 3 weeks. Cider is just something I do occasionally for the people who dont like beer . It's so easy and it turns out pretty good, I have added peach nectar and pure cherry juice.
Do you prime & bottle to get a sparkling cider? I've been trying to make some of that for my lady.
I've run into problems with bottled cider that have YEAST KILLING 
preservatives. I gather that Tree Top does not.
I actually Made the Mr. Beer cider, and it was the worst kit they had. I didn't like it at all, it was just way to sugary. If you get the premium kits for beer those where great, I made alot of beer with the Mr beer kit before I got deeper into spending money with traditional equipment. If your looking for space however, one fermenter makes one case of beer, you just fill it about 1 inch more than they say to. I still use the fermenters for experimental batches, I just whip a batch up, and up on the fridge it goes, very convenient. I use my own ingredients now, but Mr. Beer is a great place to start.
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