Apple Cherry Cider

This Recipe is in keeping with the theme to keep things simple and inexpensive and tasty. I noticed a frozen juice concentrate brand named Old Orchard, labeled 100% natural and no preservatives, the flavor was Apple Cherry. Sounded like a great base for a new Cider to me. I was right.

Instructions say each can makes 48 oz. that means to get make 5 gallons of cider you’ll need 13 and a third cans. I don’t know how to buy a 1/3 of a can so I used 15. At $1.47 each the cost of the juice concentrate is $22, I used my standard US05 ale yeast, $2.65, and 4 pounds of sugar $2 ( I buy 25lb bags). So total cost is less than $30 to make 5 gallons. Using juice concentrates causes a problem, they have to be diluted with water. Chlorine in your water will kill yeast and you’ll end up having trouble to start fermentation. The trick is to use un-chlorinated water. My water comes from a well and is naturally chlorine free. If your tap water is from the city, it contains chlorine. To remove the chlorine put 5 gallons in a carboy and set it in the sun for a few days, or get 5 gallons of “purified” water from your local store. Recipe makes 5+ gallons. 15 cans Old Orchard Apple Cherry frozen juice concentrate 4 pounds sugar 1 pkg US05 Ale Yeast 3.6 gallons Water Thaw your concentrate. Put about 2 gallons of water into your carboy or brewing bucket, add all concentrate, and sugar, then stir. Add remaining water to bring total volume to 5 gallons, pitch your yeast, and let it ferment for a week or so(until bubbling rate is down to 1 bubble every 8 to 10 seconds). Transfer to secondary fermentation container and let sit another week or two to let the yeast drop out then bottle. If you want it bubbly just bottle it without secondary and let it sit in a cool place for a few weeks. It’s a semi-dry cider with lots of aroma and flavor.