A Suprise batch for my wife. As she gets older she can't handle the sweet reds anymore because they give her terrible headaches. So I am looking at trying to come up with some ideas to make a cider or mead flavored up with some dark or sweet berries for her. So I was thinking up a blackberry cider, or a strawberry cider with some wine yeast, or possibly beer yeast. But I don't know the first thing about what to buy to make some cider. But I am hoping to come up with a recipe that is as strong as wine. so anything from 11-15%. Any possibilities or recipe ideas? She does not like dry whites she likes the sweet medium body wines, even cheap catawabas [I love her for looking like a high $ woman but with low upkeep... lol] or dark bitter reds (headaches again). Plus as an additional question, I thought that the store bought apple cider (non-Alcoholic) have ingredients that hinder or stop the fermentation process going on within the product on the shelf.
Another thought is what would happen if I used the juicer to make up some apple juice, and use the junk side as a boil component in a BDSA or Sweet Stout... Would probably add to the body but if it added any fermentable sugar would only dry out the alcohol finish right? Maybe? Too far probably...