How much yeast should I add to my cider

[William]

I have created a cider following a video on youtube's "Craig Tube" and it has turned out really nice. It is sweet and very crisp. It is probably stronger than most cider and it about the strength of wine. The method is to use apple juice with no preservatives, sugar and yeast. I also added a homemade yeast nutrient.

3L Apple Juice (Keri)
1.5 Cups of sugar
5gm packet of Safbrew S-33 yeast
Hand full of raisins boiled into a yeast nutrient.

What I am wondering is how much yeast should I use if I want to make the following brew in larger quantities? If I want 21 Liters would I just times everything by 7? That seems to be a lot of yeast.

Any help would be appreciated. I would recommend that you try this also as it is a good brew. You can find the instructions here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La38oQjdyPw

[William]

Hi there, Does anyone have any help for me on this one?

[Hamish Jones]

I made a 15 litre cider with one pack of champagne yeast but it was a while ago, and it certainly was pretty alcoholic, best to just make a yeast starter with the one pack of yeast,

Also what sort of alcohol volume are you going for as that yeast may not cut the mustard it might be better to get a champagne yeast which will ferment to a higher ABV

[William]

Thanks for the reply Hamish,

I am not really too fussed on how high the alcohol content is so long as it is a respectable 5 :)

I am thinking of using Lalvin EC1118 Wine Yeast so this might do the trick.

Could you explain to me what a yeast started is?

Thanks Will

[Hamish Jones]

have a look at this basically all you are doing is getting the yeast going and growing before pitching so you get a much higher cell count

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/how-make-yeast-starter-pictorial-76...

if you are using a wine yeast I would just chuck it in and it should do it's thing, I made a few wines and always just pitched dry yeast and never had an issue so it should be all good, the wine yeast will allow sugar to be converted and give you a higher % alcohol, mine was about 7% and 3 750ml bottles wiped you out, good times were had

[William]

Sweet as thanks for this. I will give this a go. If you enjoy a good strong cider I will fully recommend a mighty "Cider Vodka". Similar to a red bull and vodka you get in pubs but better!!!

[Hamish Jones]

thats not a bad idea, I am running the still tonight so might have to do a cider brew myself as the neighbours apple tree is getting pretty full