Craft Series Apple Cider Starter Kit

Inside your kit you'll find:

1. First, set up your fermenter by screwing the tap into the drilled hole, then stick the thermometer strip on lengthways just above the 5 L mark. Fill the fermenter with water just past the tap line to check for leaks.
2. Next, you’ll need to sanitise your equipment by following the mixing and usage instructions on the sanitiser included with your kit. This step is crucial in giving your brew the best chance of success.

1. Remove the sachets from the ‘dry’ compartment of the pouch and set aside for now. Add 3 L of boiling water to the fermenter followed by the extract from the cider kit and the Cider Enhancer. Stir well.
2. Top up the fermenter with cold drinking water until it reaches 23 L. Check that the liquid temperature is between 18-24°C, if not then stand the fermenter in a bath of icy water to cool it down. 

1. Take a sample of the brew, making sure you fill the sample tube enough for the hydrometer to float, and measure the specific gravity. You may want to write down the starting gravity reading in the notes section of your Starter Kit Instructions. See how to measure SG here.

1. Add the cider yeast and cider sweetener sachets to the brew surface and stir. Note: Consider your sweetness preference before adding the cider sweetener - add the whole sachet for a sweet cider, add half the sachet for an off dry cider, and do not add any sweetener for a dry cider.
2. Secure the fermenter with its lid, then fit the airlock half filled with previously boiled and cooled water or sanitiser solution.
3. Leave to ferment for 6 days between 18-24°C. 
   
4. After 6 days or once the airlock has stopped bubbling, take an SG reading. Make sure the reading is at or below the 1.006 for 2 consecutive days. If not, leave it for a few more days and check again. Once the SG reading is stable, it’s time to bottle your brew.

1. First, sanitise your bottles and brew bottler as per the instructions on the sanitiser included with your kit.
2. Next, fit brew bottler to your tap and open the tap, allowing the brew bottler to fill.
3. Stick the brew bottler into the bottle and press it against the base of the bottle to start filling, stopping when you have approximately 3 cm of headspace.
4. Before sealing your bottles, add your priming sugar or carbonation drops. Refer to your starter kit instructions for how much to add.
5. Seal your bottles and store them in a warm place for about 2 weeks before moving them to a cool, dark place to clear for a further 7 days. Your brew is ready once it’s clear, but you can leave it for a couple more weeks for a smoother drop.
6. Serve chilled and enjoy!