I make apple pie-- the drink. I use everclear. The flavor is awesome though, so I decided to see what it would taste like if I just ferment it, and it was awesome!
Now I did have to change the juices up a bit because in the everclear drink I used half gal store bought cider and half gal apple juice, and both had preservatives.... So I went with the kroger brand 100% juice in The amber plastic half gal jugs... But here is what I did
1 gal kroger brand 100% apple juice
2tbsp vanilla extract
1tsp ground nutmeg
1tsp ground cinnamon
2cups brown sugar (packed)
Basically... Put juice, vanilla, and brown sugar in a put and simmer... Not boil... And I don't like grounds floating in my drink and I have read about a snot like mucus occurring when fermenting, so I bought an infuser... Basically at my LHBS I saw what looks like a tennis-ball sized tea infuser for like $3... I put the grounds in a coffee filter, fold it so it looks like a pouch, and pin the with the closing infuser.
I then place it in the simmering pot for about 20 min, stirring occasionally. I taste the solution, and dunk the infuser like a tea bag until I can barely taste the cinnamon... Cause it will taste stronger as it cools. Remove the infuser (DO NOT SQUEEZE THE COFFEE FILTER LIKE A TEA BAG... You'll never taste anything other than cinnamon if u do)
Let cool to room temp and pitch yeast. I used red star Montrachet.
I don't remember my gravity readings, but it was about 10% and I let ferment dry, racked to another jug, and because i like it sweet, back sweetened with an old orchard apple cherry concentrate, and an old orchard apple concentrate. And cold crashes for two weeks in the fridge.
Was awesome... The only sad thing is, it took so long to make and me and my friend killed it in a night :-(
Gonna start a 5gal batch this weekend!
Now I did have to change the juices up a bit because in the everclear drink I used half gal store bought cider and half gal apple juice, and both had preservatives.... So I went with the kroger brand 100% juice in The amber plastic half gal jugs... But here is what I did
1 gal kroger brand 100% apple juice
2tbsp vanilla extract
1tsp ground nutmeg
1tsp ground cinnamon
2cups brown sugar (packed)
Basically... Put juice, vanilla, and brown sugar in a put and simmer... Not boil... And I don't like grounds floating in my drink and I have read about a snot like mucus occurring when fermenting, so I bought an infuser... Basically at my LHBS I saw what looks like a tennis-ball sized tea infuser for like $3... I put the grounds in a coffee filter, fold it so it looks like a pouch, and pin the with the closing infuser.
I then place it in the simmering pot for about 20 min, stirring occasionally. I taste the solution, and dunk the infuser like a tea bag until I can barely taste the cinnamon... Cause it will taste stronger as it cools. Remove the infuser (DO NOT SQUEEZE THE COFFEE FILTER LIKE A TEA BAG... You'll never taste anything other than cinnamon if u do)
Let cool to room temp and pitch yeast. I used red star Montrachet.
I don't remember my gravity readings, but it was about 10% and I let ferment dry, racked to another jug, and because i like it sweet, back sweetened with an old orchard apple cherry concentrate, and an old orchard apple concentrate. And cold crashes for two weeks in the fridge.
Was awesome... The only sad thing is, it took so long to make and me and my friend killed it in a night :-(
Gonna start a 5gal batch this weekend!