Monitor Fermentation and Aging
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How to make old timey apple cider, apple jack and Apple Cider Vinegar
What happens here
After adding yeast and pectic enzyme, fermentation will begin. Monitor the airlock for bubbling, which indicates active fermentation. The cider will appear cloudy initially, but over several weeks, the yeast will convert sugars into alcohol and CO2, and sediment (lees) will settle at the bottom of the carboy. The goal is to allow sufficient time for fermentation to complete, indicated by a cessation of bubbling in the airlock and a clearer liquid above the sediment. Some variations may involve 'racking' the cider to a new carboy to separate it from the initial lees.
Goal: Allow cider to ferment and clarify.
Tools and materials
- Airlock — Monitoring fermentation activity and preventing contamination
- Flashlight — Checking clarity and sediment levels in the carboys
- Glass Carboy — Containing the fermenting cider
- Temperature Strip — Monitoring the fermentation temperature