Newmoon brewer 21 Posted January 27, 2016 To start off does anyone have any experience with this recipe? I brewed the MB Hard Cider and was a little disappointed in it. Is this recipe more along the lines of a Leinenkeugel's Apple Spice, that they made a few years back? Secondly since it's so pricey I was thinking of just buying the MB Bav. Weiss, and using some store bought cider for the recipe(this is ok I assume?) But with that thought when you look at the picture on the recipe page http://www.mrbeer.com/refills/recipes/kt-s-caramel-apple-graff-recipe It shows 3 bottles, two of the cider and 1 of something else, does anyone know what that is, or is it a third cider bottle? Thanks in advance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoshR 4,702 Posted January 27, 2016 It's a 3rd cider bottle. All of our cider kits have recently been upgraded to 3 bottles instead of 2. This adds more body and flavor. Of course, it costs a few more dollars, but it's much better than the old formulation of 2 bottles. One tip is to replace a gallon of the water used in the recipe with apple juice. It really kicks it up a notch. Just don't use juice that isn't pasteurized or contains preservatives. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cowboykyle 312 Posted January 27, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, MRB Josh R said: It's a 3rd cider bottle. All of our cider kits have recently been upgraded to 3 bottles instead of 2. This adds more body and flavor. Of course, it costs a few more dollars, but it's much better than the old formulation of 2 bottles. as per usual, about a month after I get and make a recipe, it gets 'upgraded'.... the worst is, I won't be able to see how my outdated recipe tastes until the 28th of March (3 mos conditioning). LBK 2 OG: 1.066 FG: 1.010 (12/21/15) ABV ->. 7.4% Apparent attenuation: 84 % Actual attenuation: 68 % Carb: target: 2.6 CO2 volumes Batch prime: 1.9 oz per 2.2 gallons Edited January 27, 2016 by cowboykyle can't spelt 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted January 27, 2016 1 hour ago, cowboykyle said: as per usual, about a month after I get and make a recipe, it gets 'upgraded'.... the worst is, I won't be able to see how my outdated recipe tastes until the 28th of March (3 mos conditioning). LBK 2 OG: 1.066 FG: 1.010 (12/21/15) ABV ->. 7.4% Apparent attenuation: 84 % Actual attenuation: 68 % Carb: target: 2.6 CO2 volumes Batch prime: 1.9 oz per 2.2 gallons I feel your pain. I bought the cider kit in November. Initially I wasn't impressed, hence why I'm curious about the apple graff. After about a month of conditioning the cider taste improved, but I felt it still missed the mark for what I was wanting. Hopefully the Graff will be awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cowboykyle 312 Posted January 28, 2016 19 hours ago, Newmoon brewer said: I feel your pain. I bought the cider kit in November. Initially I wasn't impressed, hence why I'm curious about the apple graff. After about a month of conditioning the cider taste improved, but I felt it still missed the mark for what I was wanting. Hopefully the Graff will be awesome! I made the Sparkling Cerise cider in late august 2014. First few bottles were ok, once you realize it is a dry cider. It actually has gotten noticeably better with age. I think I have four swing tops left. My wife is the usual consumer, but I sample each bottle opened just to see how the aging is going. This is largely the reason I am giving the graff a full three months before opening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stroomer420 1,048 Posted January 29, 2016 On January 27, 2016 at 10:42 AM, MRB Josh R said: It's a 3rd cider bottle. All of our cider kits have recently been upgraded to 3 bottles instead of 2. This adds more body and flavor. Of course, it costs a few more dollars, but it's much better than the old formulation of 2 bottles. One tip is to replace a gallon of the water used in the recipe with apple juice. It really kicks it up a notch. Just don't use juice that isn't pasteurized or contains preservatives. I'm making the apple brown beery Saturday can i use the gallon of juice instead of water in this recipe as well ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stroomer420 1,048 Posted January 30, 2016 Im just gonna use the juice,,,,,,,,, its brewing time!!!!! ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walt_felix 122 Posted January 31, 2016 On 1/27/2016 at 10:42 AM, MRB Josh R said: One tip is to replace a gallon of the water used in the recipe with apple juice. It really kicks it up a notch. Just don't use juice that isn't pasteurized or contains preservatives. Josh, This has intrigued me. I have the ingredients for the Apple Brown Beery as well and was thinking about ways to "Kick it up a Notch". So by doing this, what can I expect? I noticed that recipe didn't come with a booster, will using apple juice kind of boost this a little because of the extra sugars? Just trying to figure it out, this would be my 3rd batch and first time going off script. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoshR 4,702 Posted February 1, 2016 Yes, apple juice will ferment, making it stronger. It will also add more body and flavor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bpgreen 209 Posted February 1, 2016 3 hours ago, MRB Josh R said: Yes, apple juice will ferment, making it stronger. It will also add more body and flavor. Aren't nearly all of the sugars in apple juice simple sugars that will ferment pretty completely? Is so, wouldn't that thin rather than add body? I've never used apple juice, so I could well be wrong. I just thought that the sugars in most juices are almost completely fermentable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoshR 4,702 Posted February 1, 2016 No. It will, in fact, leave some residual sugars, too, depending on the type of apples in the juice and the yeast used. Also, the extra addition of malic acid in the juice will help balance the flavor. What do you think cider is made of anyway? Why would using apple juice make the cider more thin than using water? Keep in mind, there's a lot more that makes up apple juice than just sugar. And not all of the sugars in fruit are completely fermentable. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bpgreen 209 Posted February 1, 2016 I guess I sound have read more of the thread. For some reason, I thought this was for a beer and was comparing the sugars in juice with the sugars in malt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted February 21, 2016 Hey guys tomorrow is brew day for this recipe. I've purchased some store bought cider I plan to use and I have the mulling spice, but it is whole mulling spice. The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of the spice. So my question is do I crush it up to get the necessary amount or use it as is? Secondly since I believe MB's cider is a concentrate should I use more cider than originally? I think per the recipe they are three 10oz bottles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyC 3,804 Posted February 21, 2016 I would crush it. That way you are sure to get the right amount. Not really sure about your 2nd question, so you'll have to stand by on that one. Good luck with this recipe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bighead beer 289 Posted February 21, 2016 On 1/29/2016 at 8:01 PM, Stroomer420 said: I'm making the apple brown beery Saturday can i use the gallon of juice instead of water in this recipe as well ? Let me know how that turns out,the wife wants me to brew that up for her next Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stroomer420 1,048 Posted February 21, 2016 Just bottled last nite ,will do, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted February 21, 2016 KT recipe vs brown beery why does one use the S-04 yeast and the other not? Is it because of the different extracts used? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broox 175 Posted February 21, 2016 5 hours ago, Newmoon brewer said: KT recipe vs brown beery why does one use the S-04 yeast and the other not? Is it because of the different extracts used? I am also very interested in this knowledge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted February 22, 2016 Just finished up with KT's caramel Apple Graff. Like I mentioned earlier I was using apple cider from the store, pasteurized and no preservative. My OG was only 1.045, the recipe approximates it at 1.072. Is it correct to assume the differences are because of my cider vs MB cider concentrates sugar content? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted February 23, 2016 Mrb Tim thanks for the info on the concentrate being 70 brix of sugar which is a lot more sugar than my cider. So with that info, could I have just used table sugar along with the brown sugar to increase the abv, or would booster have been a better option? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnp 23 Posted March 8, 2016 I have KT to brew very soon so any updates will help. I am brewing the straight up two bottle version. I would like to decrease the ABV. Just back off of the brown sugar? 1/2 cup instead of one full cup? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted March 8, 2016 Why on earth would you want to reduce the abv!? ? that's no fun. Reducing the sugar a tad is what I'd do but im sure rickbeer or mrbjosh have some helpful advice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnp 23 Posted March 11, 2016 I have yet to get to the ABV of the labels but 7% is too high for me. Plus this is for my wife. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted March 11, 2016 I agree on the approx. Abv mine are always a little lower. Maybe MRBjosh can have some input. But I would guess the two bottle vs three bottle cider recipe's abv would differ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnp 23 Posted March 11, 2016 I did not think about that. Two bottles will be lower right off the bat. Probably just brew it straight up. THX! I just want to start this now for the fall. It took AWHILE for my Perry Cider to condition out. How's your Rhapsody on Blue? It's in line for me to brew as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted March 12, 2016 Rhap blue is going well. One week inside the fermenter. It got close to the top of the lbk when it had high krausen. My kt Apple Graff might be ready this weekend to bottle. But then I have the long wait of conditioning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cowboykyle 312 Posted March 23, 2016 The wife commented again on liking the graf (even with only two cider bottles!). In fact she went as far as to say she liked it more than the Cerise cider, as it 'warmed' better. She is rather pokey when finishing beers! perhaps i'll utilize one of my newly acquired BW's for another batch ! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted March 23, 2016 Nice job! I wasn't a big fan of the hard cider but I was unaware it was supposed to be like a cerise. What is your opinion of it, too fruity, not enough Apple or just the right balance if your into an apple beer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoshR 4,702 Posted March 23, 2016 19 minutes ago, Newmoon brewer said: Nice job! I wasn't a big fan of the hard cider but I was unaware it was supposed to be like a cerise. What is your opinion of it, too fruity, not enough Apple or just the right balance if your into an apple beer? The Cerise cider is more apple flavored with a subtle cherry finish and light pink color. It's not too bad, especially now that we've added the extra bottle of cider with our kits. You can use cherry extract instead, if you want more cherry flavor, but I personally prefer it to be subtle, otherwise it can end up tasting like cough medicine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cowboykyle 312 Posted March 23, 2016 30 minutes ago, Newmoon brewer said: Nice job! I wasn't a big fan of the hard cider but I was unaware it was supposed to be like a cerise. What is your opinion of it, too fruity, not enough Apple or just the right balance if your into an apple beer? I like it, it has a nice balance and it is easy to drink. I thought the cerise was ok. i would consider doing 3 bottles just to see the difference.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newmoon brewer 21 Posted March 23, 2016 Ok good deal. I bottled my graf last week or the one before, now it's just the long waiting game! ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites