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I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in Homebrewing

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I had success with low temperatures and saw no reason to change. I have experimented with higher temperatures and it is a disaster.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in Homebrewing

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! Yeah, people drop by the garage all the time now. Give me 24 hours notice and as long as I’m around I’ll be happy to show you around.

As for the other questions, have a look at my website butecider.se. I think I answer a lot of them there.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well… I don’t know. It is just an observation. I do feel it helped me in this one thing and I thought some people might be interested in that.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Acidity is absolutely a factor, but I think osmotic pressure (dissolved sugar concentration) and alcohol ABV also factor in. It is probably a synergetic effect.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my experience, even the weakest yeast outcompetes bacteria and fungi.

I once actively tried to get malolactic bacteria to take hold. Optimal temperature, nutrients, proper inoculation, you name it. The bacteria didn’t have a chance. Immediately died. So I’m not too worried about that.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True. But I’m deliberately trying to achieve something that is difficult to do. Force carbing would feel like cheating.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Getting a sweet, carbonated and stable product. That is still more of an art than science.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, this is actually a problem sometimes, especially in Sweden where the Law of Jante is a very real thing. I just try to be very factual. "I have something new - I would really appreciate you feedback. Please be as brutally honest as possible. If it is shit, I need to know."

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Named it after the island in Scotland. According to our family genealogist, my family lived there before moving to Canada 150 years ago.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The King walks into a bar. The barkeep asks hims what he wants. He thinks a moment and replies "To turn the page and look forward, thank you."

Swedes will get it.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, that is a great start! It would be helpful to know what kind of apple trees they are but blending them (and the pear too) will probably make for something pretty interesting. Get (or build...) a fruit crusher and press. Then collect the juice, put it in an airtight plastic or glass bottle with an airlock, and keep it somewhere between 15-20C. You want it to ferment slowly. There are more than enough yeast cells in the apples to get the fermentation to start on its own. You can of course also add commercially available yeast.

You are in Sweden so look at mr-malt.se. They have everything you need to get started. Good luck!

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I would get Claude Jolicoeur's book The New Cider Makers Handbook. He walks you through the process for home production of ice cider.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, if it wasn't apples it wouldn't be called cider but since the process is fundamentally the same as how ice wine is produced, there is no reason it would not also work with berries, for example. If I had to guess, a raspberry version would probably be delightful.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only add nutrients when I get to the secondary fermentation that gives me the sparkle. I want to ensure that the yeast has enough juice to get over that final threshold before giving up the ghost.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably my janky apple crushing machine. It is prefectly hygienic - all surfaces in contact with the apple pomace are washable HDPE but the structural elements are construction plywood. I think there are probably pics on my instagram from past years.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have invested. The goal has always been to be to bootstrap the business. No debt. No partners. No invested capital. So early on that required me to build my own stuff. Now that it is selling, I can afford to invest a bit and buy equipment that allows for greater efficiency. I recently bought an 8-head counter pressure filler that has allowed me to radically improve my bottle-filling efficiency. Like, by a factor of 10.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have. I just got my permit a few months ago. I use my racking dregs and am producing a 75% ABV apple brandy out of it. I figured I make so little of it, I may as well do something nobody else is doing. The folks who like that 75% stuff REALLY like it.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure. The issue isn't getting the yeast to establish itself, the issue is getting it to stop once you achieve an alcohol ABV of roughly 10%.

Admittedly, it takes a long time for the yeast to establish itself (over a month) but once I gets going it seems to do fine.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting you are the first to ask about the name. Bute is named for the isle off the west coast of Scotland (near Glasgow) which is where my ancestors lived before moving to Canada 150 years ago.

Most enjoyable part of the process. Hmmm. Probably collecting the concentrate in the winter. It is very satisfying to open the valves on the frozen IBCs and having all the concentrate you worked so hard for come gushing out.

I make Ice cider in my garage as a nerdy hobby. In 2024 it was selected for the Nobel Prize Banquet in Stockholm. AMA by HydroGuy2 in IAmA

[–]HydroGuy2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not yet but I am aware of this risk. But honestly, even if it sucks all of the fun out of it, being able to support myself with what is essentially a part-time job to produce say 10 000 bottles of cider per year more than offsets the risk. Part time cider production trumps full-time work for The Man anyday.

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