cider in a keg

[puheen]

my neighbour has asked me could he use an empty beer keg to make cider in
i havent a clue and and said that i would check
any suggestions?

[Stonehead]

my neighbour has asked me could he use an empty beer keg to make cider in
i havent a clue and and said that i would check
any suggestions?

Best to make it in a fermenter for the primary fermentation, then rack it off into the keg for storage and/or secondary fermentation (if he wants fizz in his cider).

It's much easier to check the progress (including temperature) in a fermenter than in a steel barrel. You can also use standard bungs and airlocks in a fermenter - I'm not sure what would fit in a barrel.

[Muddypause]

I'm wondering if the acidity of cider would make it a bad idea to use an aluminium keg. It may taint the flavour.

[Stonehead]

I'm wondering if the acidity of cider would make it a bad idea to use an aluminium keg. It may taint the flavour.

Good point. I only thought in terms of a steel keg (which are a right pain to shift when full).

[puheen]

thanks for replies he is going to use a fermentation bin then transfer to the keg.
the keg previously held cider.
he is a dab hand at wine making and this is first go at cider he hopes to draw the cider from the keg using gas, a cooler and beertap that his son has given him
i live in hope and anticipation!

[Stonehead]

If he cask conditions the cider (ie secondary fermentation in the keg), then he will need little or no gas.

I make most of mine as still dry cider - fully fermented in vats then transferred to bottles/bottom draining kegs - but also do some sparkling, dry cider. With sparkling dry cider, you ferment out fully in vats then add a small amount of sugar syrup at bottling/kegging. This is just enough to give the cider a bit of fizz.

The OH, who's more of a beer and ale drinker, would like me to make a bit more sparkling sweet cider but as she drinks so little cider (even when it is sweet, ugh) I'm not indulging her on this one.

Anyway, I'm off to rack off my first batch of cider into a clean vat ready for another couple of weeks fermentation.

After that, I'll be bottling the stout.

[puheen]

thanks stonehead i shall pass that on
he has given me some hawthorn blossom wine which he thinks is eight years old it was like fino sherry delicious
do you make your stout from scratch or use a kit

[Stonehead]

tdo you make your stout from scratch or use a kit

Both. Mainly depends on available time at brewing time.