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Author Topic: Secondary for cider?  (Read 1346 times)

Offline kgs

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Secondary for cider?
« on: August 10, 2019, 10:09:03 am »
The AHA cider tutorial describes using a secondary:

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/intro-to-cider/

And from the former wiki, so does this recipe:

https://web.archive.org/web/20171105040811/http://wiki.homebrewersassociation.org/WestsideCider

If I'm moving the cider from fermenter (in a temp-controlled fridge) to a keg, is the secondary necessary? (From this recipe, the answer would appear to be "no": https://web.archive.org/web/20171105064511/http://wiki.homebrewersassociation.org/AppleCider)
K.G. Schneider
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Offline Bob357

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Re: Secondary for cider?
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2019, 02:39:11 pm »
I keg my ciders and have found absolutely no difference whether using a secondary of only primary. All of my ciders are made with processed apple juice that is clear from the start.
Beer is my bucket list,

Bob357
Fallon, NV

Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: Secondary for cider?
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2019, 05:23:36 am »
I don’t use a secondary either.  My cider is also made from processed apple juice and is a little cloudy when I bottle, but clears after I pasteurize and cold crash for a few days.  While I’m not the most experienced at making ciders, I can tell you my ciders are crystal clear when finished without the use of a secondary vessel of any kind.
Joliet, IL

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Offline denny

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Re: Secondary for cider?
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2019, 08:36:55 am »
I make cider from apples I press myself from my own trees.  In that situation, I have found a secondary helps.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline kgs

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Re: Secondary for cider?
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2019, 07:21:40 am »
I make cider from apples I press myself from my own trees.  In that situation, I have found a secondary helps.

Thanks -- I may be buying locally-pressed juice, so this scenario may apply.
K.G. Schneider
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Offline kgs

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Re: Secondary for cider?
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2019, 09:20:44 am »
I make cider from apples I press myself from my own trees.  In that situation, I have found a secondary helps.

Thanks -- I may be buying locally-pressed juice, so this scenario may apply.

I ended up using 2 gallons of locally-pressed Gravenstein apple juice (and used Fresco yeast) but did not do a secondary. I was like "ehhhhhhh, who is this for, except me" and I'm now using floating dip tubes in my kegs. It turned out the cider cleared up quite a bit anyway. It was absolutely delicious and very pretty as well. I loved the combo of Gravenstein flavor, dryness, and carbonation, and did not backsweeten.

I meant to get Pink Lady cider to make a subsequent (and possibly even prettier) batch, but I was traveling for work and then evacuating due to the Kincade fire and then catching up afterwards... gather ye ciders why you may! The orchard I purchased this from freezes its pressings so I may yet be able to make another batch this fall.

After brewing beer for over a decade, my overall experience of making cider was "wait, I'm done?" 
K.G. Schneider
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Offline denny

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Re: Secondary for cider?
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2019, 10:01:32 am »
Yeah, cider is pretty much "set and forget".
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell