Lakeybloke's Sansburys Apple And Pear Cider

Lakeybloke's RAG (Raspberry, Apple And Grape)

This is not really a cider as such as the apple content is equal to the rest of the contents, but the only reason I knocked this brew up was because Waitrose had a special on "Welch's" Grape juices (other juices are also available, folks). I think they were around 70-80p a litre on special offer, and are usually around £1.29.

ABV: 6.6%

Date Bottled: 17/03/13

Recipe: 1 4.5ltr Demijohn, 3 litres of Welch's Grape & Raspberry Juice, 1 litre of Welch's Grape, Pear & Apple Juice, 200g brewing sugar or granulated sugar, 1tsp Pectolase, 1tsp Yeast Nutrient

Yeast: Champagne Yeast

Presentation (Colour): Being as this is more of a Raspberry drink than an apple juice, the colour is as to be expected. A rather nice purple coloiur. The picture below gives the impression that it is slightly cloudy, but it really isn't. It's crystal clear.

Score: [8.5/10]

Aroma: The smell of raspberries is immediately apparent, but also rather alcoholic.

Score: [5.5/10]

Taste: Much like my earlier brews, this one has dried out a fair amount, but the raspberry flavour has remained. there certainly is no hint of apples or grapes though.

Score: [4.5/10]

Fizz: This brew has a slight to medium fizz, which is perfectly adequate for this type of brew. I can't imagine that any additional fizziness would give any additional benefit to the brew,

Score: [5.5/10]

Verdict: I did taste this brew about 2 months into ageing and it wasn't very nice. I was, in fact, in two minds as to whether to throw it or not. 4 months down the line has certainly improved it, though you you would find it difficult to taste any hint of grape or apples in there. I blame the juice myself, as Welch's juice straight out of the carton isn't one of my favourites. If pushed on it, i would say that I probably wouldn't do this one again.

Lakeybloke's RAG - 6.6%

Weapons Grave VIM - Revisited

Weapons Grade VIM

It's been 2 and bit months since I last sampled this brew, and as it is now 6 months since I bottled it, I felt it was as good a time as any to revisit the brew and see if my opinions have changed since my last review, and after an additional 8 or so weeks of ageing.

ABV: 6.6%

Date Bottled: 19/03/13

Recipe: 19ltrs Tesco Value Apple Juice, 2ltrs Red Grape Juice, 5 Bramley cooking apples, tannin, pectolase, yeast nutrient, Malic Acid, 1kg demerera sugar

Yeast: Nottingham Ale Yeast

Presentation (Colour): The slight murkyness hasn't really dissipated in 2 months It's still a light golden colour that one would expect from brewing a scrumpy type cider. 

Original Score: [8/10] Revised Score: [8/10]

Aroma: The brew has a crisp and sharp appley aroma that is not unpleasant at all. You can really smell the REAL apples in there. With the addition ageing time, it has improved a little.

Original Score: [6/10] Revised Score: [6.5/10]

Taste: Unsurprisingly, this is where the improvement is a little more noticeable. you can really taste the Bramleys in it, It goes down very smoothly with an immediate appley aftertaste that isn't unpleasant at all. It's quite dry though, and would benefit a little from back-sweetening I think 

Original Score: [7/10] Revised Score: [7.5/10]

Fizz: Still has a very low fizz - which works quite well with it's scrumpy-like taste. I think I was perhaps a little mean scoring as low as I did initially with this one, but as this brew is quite close to what one would expect from a traditional "Scrumpy", It really is all that is required.

Original Score: [4/10] Revised Score: [5/10]

Overall Score (Original): 6.5/10, Revised Score: 7/10

Verdict: The flavour has certainly improved since my initial taste test in June, but not significantly. It's not a bad experimental brew really, but can easily see it dividing tastes in cider-drinkers. The real flavour of the apples has given what may have been a slightly dull brew a bit more of a "kick" which is not unplesant, but the ageing hasn't worked wonders to make an average brew anything other than a JUST above average brew. Would I make it again? Probably not, but it was certainly worth trying the addition of REAL apples into the juice.

Weapons Grade "VIM" Brew - 6.6%

Liver Cleanse!

OK, so it's been nearly 2 weeks off the beer to give my liver a little rest and cleanse! 

Later today, I will be testing my previously brewed ciders including:

Turbo Weapons Grade VIM - 6.7% (Bottled 19th March 2013)
Turbo "RAG" (Raspberry, Apple & Grape) - 6.8% (Bottled 20th March 2013) 
Lakeyblokes Turbo Pear Cider - 5.8% (Bottled 18th May 2013)

I have to say, the bottles are all looking crystal clear, so looking forward to sampling them!

Reviews, brewing methods, pics & more info up on the TC group and blog later this afternoon...

Turbo Cider 17/18

Date Bottled: 10/06/13

ABV: 5.5%

Recipe: 4 litres of Tesco Value Juice from concentrate, 200g Caster Sugar, 2 tsp Malic Acid, 1 tsp Pectolase, 1 strong cup of tea (made from 2 tea bags)

Yeast: Wheat Yeast

Presentation (Colour): Nice and fairly clear light cider, with a slight scrumpy "look" to it. Very little sediment, but managed to pour some into the glass, giving off the "tornado" haze that is seen in the picture, making it seem more scrumpy-like than it is. In the bottle, it looks fantastic. [8/10]

Aroma: No evidence of yeast at all, a nice subtle apple aroma that is akin to the original juice [7/10] 

Taste: Not too far away from the original apple juice flavour, with the Wheat yeast giving a more stronger taste I feel than traditional cider yeasts do. Rather nice. [7.5/10]

Fizz: Slight fizz initially, enough to dance on the tongue and keep it interested when drinking. [7/10]

Overall Score: 7.5/10

Verdict: Quite a successful attempt this one. The alcohol % is just about right for the strong juice flavour, as the wheat yeast seems to bring out more flavour than traditional cider yeasts. Need to be careful though when pouring (as with all homebrews) to ensure sediment is kept in the bottle as this will affect the flavour and appearance in the glass.

Turbo Cider 17/18 - 5.5%

Turbo Cider 5

"Turbo Cider 5"

SG: 1.044
FG: 1.015

ABV: 3.8%

Date Bottled: 23/03/13

Recipe: 1/2 litre of Cranberry Juice, 4 litres of Waitrose Apple Juice, 1tsp Wine tannin, 1tsp Yeast Nutrient

Yeast: Youngs Cider Yeast

Presentation (Colour): Slightly murky, but very much a nice cider colour. [8/10]

Aroma: No evidence of yeast at all, but a very slight hint of tannin [6/10]

Taste: At this stage, it's not undrinkable, but has been overpowered by the tannin. There is still a slight apple "hit" in there, but quite disappointing overall. Will revisit in a month or so. [5/10]

Fizz: More of a scrumpy really with only a slight initial fizz. [6/10]

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Verdict: At 4 months old at the time of testing, by now this brew should be quite drinkable. It is, however overpowered by the Wine tannin and is perhaps TOO low in alcohol content to take that tannin taste away. I would do it again, but make it a more stronger brew next time at around 5.5% to 6% and maybe add some Malic Acid into the mix, as the more successful apple cider brews seem to be those with added Malic Acid. I DO very much like the slightly orange colour though, and I put this down to the added Cranberry Juice.

Turbo Cider 6

"Turbo Cider 6"

ABV: 4.7%

Date Bottled: 23/03/13

Recipe: 1/2 litre of Cranberry Juice, 4 litres of ALDI Apple Juice, 1tsp Pectolase, 1tsp Wine tannin, 1tsp Yeast Nutrient

Yeast: Youngs Cider Yeast

Presentation (Colour): Slightly murky, but light cider colour. Very pleasant [8/10]

Aroma: No evidence of yeast at all, and no hint of tannin, unlike it predecessor, TC5. A sharp smell, but not appley. [7/10] 

Taste: This cider was created at the same time as "Turbo Cider 5" (reviewed earlier), but with a different apple juice that had more sugar content, hence the slightly higher end ABV. Not really much of an apple taste, but quite dry and drinkable nonetheless. Again, with no Malic Acid added (that is actually in REAL cider apples) to help recreate the flavours released from those apples, not a big surprise it has ended up as it has. [6/10]

Fizz: Again, more of a scrumpy really with only a slight initial fizz. [6/10]

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Verdict: This brew is SLIGHTLY more drinkable than "Turbo Cider 5". This, I suspect, is most likely down to the end gravity, producing a higher alcohol content. What is missing is that "tang" that you get from using REAL cider apples. lessons have been learned that Malic (or citric) Acid should be added to ALL home brew Turbo Ciders to bring out more of the flavours in the brew.

"Jammin' Juice" Turbo Brew

"Jammin' Juice"

ABV: 4.5%

Date Bottled: 22/03/13

Recipe: 4 litres of Tropical Jammin' Fruit Juice, 1tsp Pectolase, 2tsp Malic Acid, 1tsp Wine Tannin, 1tsp Yeast Nutrient

Yeast: Youngs Super Wine Yeast

Presentation (Colour): Very similar to the original colour - "orangey" tropical fruit juice. Very little sediment [7/10]

Aroma: No evidence of yeast at all, smells very much like the original tropical fruit juice [7/10] 

Taste: This has essentially come out exactly as I would expect it to. it is basically alcoholic fruit juice and there is only evidence of a very slight alcohol taste. [7/10]

Fizz: An initial hit of fizz, but not overpowering. [7/10]

Overall Score: 7/10

Verdict: This was VERY much an attempt to do something different, other than the usual bog-standard apple brews. There is no evidence AT ALL of yeast flavours within the brew itself, which is most likely down to the type of yeast used. A refreshing summer drink though, which I quite like, but not what I would consider a "session" brew.

"Jammin' Juice" - 4.5%