Cider - will it or won't it....?

[Chris]

Vegemite is just autolysed yeast with some additives.

As well as the world's richest known source of vitamin B. It puts a rose in every cheek too.

Apparently.

[big dave]

Is it possible your hydro is out of whack?

How does it taste? Does it have a slight sweetness or is it bone dry?

Dicky hydrometer.... I thought of this once, but it must have been fleeting, because I could pretty easily check it in a glass of water.... and I didn't! The whole kit belongs to a mate who churned out a heap of brews about 10 years ago, and hasn't brewed for ages. So the gear has sat about for ages, until I 'borrowed' it acouple of months ago. The mate is a good bloke, and says to hang onto it while I am using it, and every so often he will take a sample or two. Fair deal.

The cider was very dry. Without even measuring gravity, I should have realised from the drying taste that it was fermenting. Anyways, it's in the bottles now, lets see how it goes.

I did add a nutrient. Possibly too much; after I had pitched the entire sachet and the dry yeast, I read the instructions - add about 20% of the sachet.... And there is no way I am putting vegemite into a brew

While we are on about marginal additions to a brew, did I read here somewhere that Milo was a goer for adding to an ale?

[bullfrog]

Some people have experimented adding Milo to brews, but the problem is that it contains oils and milk solids, so it can hinder your head retention. Its desirable ingredients (from a brewing perspective) are malt and cocoa powder, so you'd do better to just be using those ingredients (should already have malt in there...it is beer, after all) or, for a better chocolate flavour, throw in some ground cacao nibs. I've tasted a stout that had the nibs thrown in and it was the best chocolate flavour that I've ever tasted in a beer. I'm told that you want to agitate the fermenter daily, when using the nibs, just to keep them in suspension, so it's a little more effort but my taste-buds definitely think it's worth it!

[big dave]

Was cleaning out the cupboard and found a half tin of milo, somewhat solidified. I thought that instead of ditching it with the inedible green tomato pickles from 2004, I might whack it into a brew.... or not! The dogs will love it

[big dave]

Having a rough trot at the moment. First the loss of a good brew onto the shed floor. Now I open a cider, and it has a decided vinegar twang to it

Opened a second.... same deal. Bum!

Is this at all redeemable? Should I pour it over the compost heap? What is the best place to dispose of it?

[Chris]

Let it do it's thing and you'll have great cider vinegar- good for cooking/
marinading meat.

[big dave]

Cheers Chris

I might hang onto a couple of bottles for cooking and all that, but I reckon I will just empty most of it so I can re-fill the bottles with beer. They will need a good sterilising after this I imagine.

BD

[Chris]

Yeah- clean them THOROUGHLY.