Peach Ridge Cider NHC06
Category 27: Standard Cider and Perry
Gold Medal NHC 2006
Jeff Carlson, Grand Rapids, Mich., French Cider, PrimeTime Brewers
"Peach Ridge Cider"
French Cider, Sweet, Petillant
Ingredients for 5.5 U.S. gallons (20.8 liters)
5.5 gallons (20.8 L) unfiltered unpasteurized Hill Bros. Orchard cider
pectin methyl esterase (PME)
calcium chloride
Forced CO2 to carbonate
Original Specific Gravity: 1.054
Final Specific Gravity: 1.022
Primary Fermentation: 2 months at 45-50° F (7-10° C) in glass
Secondary Fermentation: 14 days at 34° F (1° C) in glass
Directions
Sulfite at the rate of two Camden tablets per gallon Add CaCl2 and PME 24 hours after sulfiting. After two weeks racked almost 4 gallons of very clear cider. Pitch a very small amount of Premier Cuvee yeast. Fermentation took about a week to start. Racked once after a month to get off yeast, racked once after that to secondary. Two weeks in secondary. Force carbonated to a petillant level.
Judges' Comments
"Moderately sweet. Full flavored body. Well-balanced (sugar, acid, alcohol & tannins). Nice complex flavor. Very pleasant cider."
"Very nice, clean cider. Complex and well balanced."