Spice amounts for hard cider

[JayShaw91]

Ok, as far as the spice types, that's easy. Anything that goes with apple pie will work.

Now, I don't want something that tastes like apple pie when I am done. I just want extra character with the brew.

The cider is in primary right now. The plan is to add the spices while it is in about a 1 month secondary.

Thanks!

[zoom6zoom]

I'd say nutmeg and cinnamon, maybe a hint of clove, but can't help with quantities, I never add any spices to my cider.

[JayShaw91]

Well, maybe before I go and screw this up with spices, I'll taste it first :)

But that said, again, I' m looking for quantities, not types! I do appreciate the feedback, though. But since I have your attention, did you bother doing a secondary? If so, how long? How long did you bottle age your cider? I ask because I've read on here and on that newfangled Intraweb differing opinions from bottle right away/drink in a month all the way to 1 month in secondary and a year of bottle aging.

Yes, I just hijacked and diverted my own thread!

[MrNate]

I just did a wheat beer with grains of paradise. They suggested 1g per 5 gallons, but I found that to be a very faint flavor. For a cider with no hop flavor to compete against, I would say 1-2 grams of paradise or coriander would be a good place to start. Don't know about the others, though.

Edit: I've bottle aged my ciders up to a year. It doesn't seem to make a difference with the stuff I bought from the supermarket, but if you get fresh from the orchard I would let that sit for a few months. Really, you can drink it as soon as its carbed just like beer.

[fatboy570]

If you make a still cider, you might want to go ahead and age it a bit longer, I usually try to age for 2-3 months. This doesnt always happen, as I cant seem to keep out of it, and its a bit "hot" right after bottling. I use cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, never have really measured the amounts, just give some good sprinkles into secondary. Ive always checked progress with a hydrometer just like beer, and watch the airlock. When bubbling has subsided quite a bit, usually after a few weeks, I rack to secondary, then cherck readings starting 2 or 3 weeks later

[JayShaw91]

Originally posted by fatboy570
When bubbling has subsided quite a bit, usually after a few weeks,

Uh... it's going to take a few WEEKS to slow the bubbling? Wow, that's a big difference than beer. No wonder its been a week and still bubblin about once a second with no signs of slowing down.