Hello,
I hope this is okay to post here, I understand making cider is closer to making fruit wine than it is to brewing beer.
BACKGROUND:
First time posting, third time making cider. I just started several batches of cider (17 gallons total) and I realized hours after starting the primary fermentation that my cheap PH meter was not even close to being accurate, when I went to wash it I noticed that in water it was reading 5.0, even in new distilled water. Unfortunately I had already adjusted the PH of my juice based on this reading. So I ordered strips, they just came about 48 hours after starting primary fermentation.
MY QUESTION:
Right now my cider is at about 4.5 PH, I was hoping for about 3.7. The fermentation seems to be going strong. I have some malic acid I could add, should I add it now, wait till after primary is done, or just not add it. Also on 2 of the 5 batches I am planning on adding some malolactic bacteria, I feel like I should definitely add some to those batches so that the bacteria has something to convert but when is the best time to add it (obviously the best time would have been before starting primary ferm, but its too late for that). Also in general I like melow dry ciders.
Thanks in advance,
Pat
I hope this is okay to post here, I understand making cider is closer to making fruit wine than it is to brewing beer.
BACKGROUND:
First time posting, third time making cider. I just started several batches of cider (17 gallons total) and I realized hours after starting the primary fermentation that my cheap PH meter was not even close to being accurate, when I went to wash it I noticed that in water it was reading 5.0, even in new distilled water. Unfortunately I had already adjusted the PH of my juice based on this reading. So I ordered strips, they just came about 48 hours after starting primary fermentation.
MY QUESTION:
Right now my cider is at about 4.5 PH, I was hoping for about 3.7. The fermentation seems to be going strong. I have some malic acid I could add, should I add it now, wait till after primary is done, or just not add it. Also on 2 of the 5 batches I am planning on adding some malolactic bacteria, I feel like I should definitely add some to those batches so that the bacteria has something to convert but when is the best time to add it (obviously the best time would have been before starting primary ferm, but its too late for that). Also in general I like melow dry ciders.
Thanks in advance,
Pat