HOLIDAY HOME BREW: Sparkling Spiced Hard Cider

Make the holidays sparkle with this easy homemade Sparkling Spiced Hard Cider recipe. Made with apple juice, warm mulling spices, sugar, and Champagne yeast, this festive home brew is surprisingly simple, wonderfully delicious, and far more budget-friendly than buying specialty hard cider by the bottle. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, holiday gatherings, or cozy winter nights, this fizzy spiced cider is a fun homemade tradition worth raising a glass to. Cheers!

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Crisp, handpicked apples, transformed into liquid gold with a dash of creativity and a hint of spice. Our Sparkling Spiced Hard Cider is a testament to the art of homebrewing, where passion meets craftsmanship to create something truly extraordinary.

INGREDIENTS: 

1 Brew Kettle

5 gallons of room temperature Martinelli's Gold Medal Organic Apple Juice

1 – 5 oz package of Mulling Spices (or make your own: Cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, star anise, peppercorn, cardamom, dried apples, orange rind and raisins)

10 cups of white cane sugar

1 packet of French Champagne yeast

1 - 5 gallon glass Carboy

1 oz. Iodophor Iodine Sanitizer

1 - Airlock with rubber stopper

1 – Large Funnel

1 – Large mesh strainer

PREPARATION:

Clean your carboy well and fill with hot water and ad the sanitizer and set it aside.  Make sure to have a bucket or sink full of warm clean water and sanitizer and soak your airlock, spoon, funnel, fine mesh strainer to clean extra well.  Empty the clean sanitized water from the carboy, rinse once more with clean water.  Rinse until there are no suds left coming out.

In a large pot add one gallon of the apple juice to the pot and add all of the mulling spices.  Bring to a boil, and then turn down pot to low and let it simmer for 30 minutes covered.  Turn off heat and add 2 cups of sugar per gallon, 10 cups total. Stir until it is all dissolved well.

Using the funnel, add the 4 gallons of room temperature apple juice into the clean glass carboy, then using the strainer inside the funnel, pour the boiling hot 1 gallon of spiced sugary hot apple juice to the carboy.  This should end up being around 90 degrees F.  Add the packet of dried champagne yeast.  Place the sanitized cork on top with the airlock. 

Place carboy on a towel in a corner for 3 weeks.  I sometimes wrap a towel around it to keep it cozy. Within one day you will see the yeast actively eating all of the sugar in the carboy and will hear bubbles start to sound from the airlock.  This means it’s happy and alive!  Give it a big hug because it is going to love you back.

Because of the natural carbonation from the Champagne yeast, there is no need for a priming sugar to be added at racking.  Sanitize a long plastic tube and siphon the hard cider (Leave the thick sediment in the carboy at the bottom) into sanitized bottles or a 5 gallon soda keg.   You should render at least 4 ½ gallons of yummy holiday cheer. This is so easy and wonderful to share.  It tastes better when you make it yourself and with love. 

With every sip, you'll be greeted by the delightful effervescence that dances on your palate, awakening your senses like a sparkling celebration in a glass. The combination of sweet and tart apple flavors is enhanced by a secret blend of spices, adding a touch of warmth and complexity to this brew.

But here's the fun part: it's not just a drink; it's an experience. Whether you're sipping it by the fireside on a crisp autumn evening or sharing it with friends at a lively gathering, our Sparkling Spiced Hard Cider sets the stage for unforgettable moments.

Imagine the laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the joy that fills the air as you enjoy this effervescent elixir. It's like a party in every bottle, and you're the guest of honor.

So, if you're ready to elevate your cider game and dive into a world of flavor, fizz, and fun, our Sparkling Spiced Hard Cider is your ticket to a taste sensation that'll keep you coming back for more. Cheers to home brewing, creativity, and the sheer joy of indulging in something truly yummy!

Enjoy!