So what's going on here???

[squerly]

I took 2.5 gallons of juiced apples from the yard, mixed 8 lbs. of white sugar in and topped it off with spring water for a total of 5 gallons. SG is 1.170 and I've been trying to decide whether to bring the SG down and use a brewers yeast or leave the SG where it is and use a turbo. This evening I looked at the mash and it's bubbling like crazy! I haven't added any yeast nor have I given it any nutrients. I'm guessing the mash has been infiltrated by natural yeast and perhaps the apples have given them the nutrients necessary to maintain good health?

[pfshine]

I say leave it and run it if it is good save the yeast colony and use it on other batches.

[steve2md]

No nutes needed because of the fruit juice. It's a ferment kicked off by the yeast present on the apples. 2 options now. stop the ferment (boil it ) and add your selected yeast, or let it do its thing. I'd let it ride. you may really love the result, and can collect the yeast to re use after the ferment!

[Halfbaked]

Most people here won't put over 2 lb of sugar per gal of water. You are putting 8lb in 2.5 gal (3.2 lbs per gal)in a sugary substance. Over 20%

[squerly]

Most people here won't put over 2 lb of sugar per gal of water. You are putting 8lb in 2.5 gal (3.2 lbs per gal)in a sugary substance. Over 20%

2.5 gallons of apple juice and 2.5 gallons of spring water. If I ignore the sugar value derived from the apples I'm left with 8 lbs of sugar in 5 gallons of liquid for 1.8 lbs per gallon.

[Halfbaked]

duh!!!!! I can't read 1.17 what do you figure that at? I get almost 22%. Is that where you are aiming for?

[squerly]

duh!!!!! I can't read 1.17 what do you figure that at? I get almost 22%. Is that where you are aiming for?

I really wasn't aiming at anything, this was more/less an experiment and a use for all the apples that were falling off the tree. After I juiced them I thought it best to give them some sugar (not sure what my mindset was at the time) so that's what I did. 8 lbs was the magic number...

Meanwhile, the damn things are crawling out the bottle and running around the kitchen floor.

[steve2md]

ooh! Let it go how it is. the natural yeast should kick out between 6 and 12% since they are not bred for tolerance. You'll end up with a sweet hard cider above the standard level. That could rock on its own!!

[Halfbaked]

There are some good receipts on here. There also some good reading here also. Most people don't put sugar in apple juice. It usually 6-10% with no sugar. I would do some readin. Look at tried and true and the new distillers reading lounge. When I first started out I wanted to make 20-25% washes. Why would I waste my time with low % its more bang, right. Yea it didn't work to good for me. Just me and Im not tryn to squash squerly. Sorry I couldn't help my self. I would say the best thing you could do is read, read, read. If you don't get what I am saying its all the more reason to read. Sweet hard cider might be good if stops. Never done apples just sugar.

[squerly]

There are some good receipts on here. There also some good reading here also. Most people don't put sugar in apple juice. It usually 6-10% with no sugar. I would do some readin. Look at tried and true and the new distillers reading lounge. When I first started out I wanted to make 20-25% washes. Why would I waste my time with low % its more bang, right. Yea it didn't work to good for me. Just me and Im not tryn to squash squerly. Sorry I couldn't help my self. I would say the best thing you could do is read, read, read. If you don't get what I am saying its all the more reason to read. Sweet hard cider might be good if stops. Never done apples just sugar.

Yep, I agree on the reading, that's why I'm here. But I created this concoction before becoming a member and in the course of "reading" I was suddenly presented with an energetic bunch of beastly yeasts. Just trying to get a handle on what yanked their chain and made them decide to invade my kitchen.

[steve2md]

they were on the apples to begin with

[rad14701]

Dilute it in half and make two batches of reasonable %ABV wash...