Can't Find Your Answer?
If you're unable to find the answer to your specific question here, please visit our Knowledge Center located on the MR.BEER® Community website.
1. Can I brew beer in my cider keg (or cider in my beer keg)?
Yes, you can brew beer in your cider keg, and cider in your beer keg. If you brew beer in your cider keg, be extra sure to keep your fermenter away from direct sunlight, as exposure to U.V. light can cause 'skunky' off-flavors in your beer. Don't worry though, cider is unaffected by light.
2. Can I use Booster™ in my cider?
Yes, you can use a pouch of Booster™ as a substitute for 1 1/2 cups of sugar in any recipe. Because it is slightly less fermentable than regular sugar, your cider brewed with Booster™ will be just a little bit sweeter (with slightly less alcohol) than if you used regular table sugar.
3. Can I use regular apple juice to make my cider?
Some apple juices make excellent cider, others not so much. Do so at your own risk. If you want to try, be sure to use pasteurized, preservative-free juice (all natural is best). Keep in mind that cider brewed from pure juice will have more or less alcohol by volume than MR.BEER® cider.
4. Is the cider gluten free?
Yes.
5. How long will the cider last?
It depends on how strong you make it. Generally, it will keep for about 6 months. Stronger ciders will keep a little longer.
6. Can I make a pear (or other fruit) cider?
Flavoring your cider with other fruit is fun and easy. Use whole or pureed fruit, and be sure that it doesn't contain preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Canned fruit is usually best, since it has been pasteurized. Raw or fresh fruit is not recommended, as there are wild yeast and bacteria in the flesh that may cause your cider to spoil.
7. My cider is still cloudy after 2 weeks. Can I bottle it now?
Taste the cider. If it is tart and dry (like dry white wine) it is ready to bottle. It will clear up in the bottle, once you put it in the fridge. If your cider is still sweet, allow it to ferment for another week before tasting it again.
8. Do I have to bottle my cider, or can I just drink it out of the keg?
Even if you want to drink uncarbonated cider, we recommend bottling it. If the cider sits on the sediment for too long (more than about 4 weeks), it will begin to pick up off flavors.
9. Can I use fresh fruit in my cider?
We don't recommend using fresh fruit to flavor your cider, since the flesh of fresh fruit contains bacteria and wild yeast that may cause your cider to spoil.
10. Is there a cider yeast that works at lower temperatures?
There is not another cider brewing yeast available, but you may want to try an ale yeast strain (such as the dry brewing yeast or liquid ale yeast). These yeast strains will work at slightly lower temperatures, and will produce a cider that is a bit sweeter, with less fruity flavor than cider yeast strain. We don't recommend using a lager yeast strain for cider.
