fermentables:

2 gallons whole foods apple juice
1/2 gallon Trader Joe’s honeycrisp apple cider
4 lbs. frozen montmorency cherries

yeast:

  • Safale US-05 (1 envelope)

intermediate stats (before cherries):

OG: 1.050 (06/29/2023) (estimate, didn’t check gravity and tilt didn’t work)
FG: 0.999 (07/09/2023)
ABV: 6.1%

OG: 1.063 (estimate based on 4 lbs. of cherries adding 0.013)
FG: ??
ABV: ??

process:

  • no boil, just combine in sterilized 5-gallon fementing bucket and pitch yeast
  • seal with airlock and ferment until gravity stabilizes (never actually saw bubbling because we were out of town, but gravity and taste confirms fermentation)
  • cherries added after primary fermentation is complete:
    • heated from frozen over low heat until reaching 170°F
    • mashed with potato masher and held at 170°F for 20 minutes
    • covered and allowed to cool to room temperature before adding to cider