Another CO2 question...

[JezH]

As I come to bottling (finally) 2008's batch of cider, I have been
eyeing up the family Sodastream. This hasn't been used for ages, but I
plan to make it vanish out to my cider garage fairly soon.

By simply attaching a small tube to the long pointy nozzle, I think I
could inject the tanks via the large spiedel airlocks fairly easily -
although I accept that this isn't ideal. But my curiosity goes
further:

If I were to inject a 500ml bottle with CO2 and then crown cp it, do
you think it would retain sparkle? I don't want huge amounts of fiz -
just enough to keep it fresh and give off a small hiss at opening.

I am going to try the experiment, but wondered if anyone had used this
as a means of lighlty carbo0nating cider, and are there any risks to
it?

All the best

Jez

[Andrew Lea]

JezH wrote:
>
>
> If I were to inject a 500ml bottle with CO2 and then crown cp it, do
> you think it would retain sparkle? I don't want huge amounts of fiz -
> just enough to keep it fresh and give off a small hiss at opening.
>
> I am going to try the experiment, but wondered if anyone had used this
> as a means of lighlty carbo0nating cider, and are there any risks to
> it?

I have used the Sodstream 1L bottles for this and they are fine, though
with some tendency to foam and it invalidates the guarantee. I do it for
small scale testing before I send my bulk to Pershore. My SS would not
take a bottle with a CC though. You need the counterpressure or it
won't work. All you will do is saturate, not supersaturate.

Andrew

--
Wittenham Hill Cider Page
http://www.cider.org.uk

[JezH]

Thanks for that advice Andrew - thogh I found out the hard way this
evening while testing a bottle!It needs the screw top of the purpose
made bottle or else you get cider fizzing out the top!

Can you give any idea of cost for Pershore to carbonate a batch of
cider, and what is there minimum quantity?

Having said that, I am determined to get my traditional cider 'out
there' first. I think the 2008 cider is pretty good (if I say so
myself),

Jez

[Andrew Lea]

JezH wrote:
> Thanks for that advice Andrew - thogh I found out the hard way this
> evening while testing a bottle!It needs the screw top of the purpose
> made bottle or else you get cider fizzing out the top!

It's more than that. To carbonate a cider it must be filled *under
pressure* to drive excess CO2 into solution. That's the only way you can
get bubbles. Also the cider should be as cold as possible because gas
solubility increases markedly as the temperature drops.

>
> Can you give any idea of cost for Pershore to carbonate a batch of
> cider, and what is there minimum quantity?

I don't have the breakdown but for full service i.e. filtering
carbonating, sweetening and pasteurising it's just under £1 per 75 cl
bottle. I would think simple carbonation may account for about half that
cost but I'd guess filtration would still be required to prevent
'fobbing'. I think the minimum quantity is about 200 L or so. You would
need to contact Richard Toft at Pershore College see
http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/college_centres/pershore_college/commercial_units/avonbank_fruit/index.htm

You can also buy small carbonators from Vigo which might be useful
http://www.vigoltd.com/in-bottle-carbonator.php Though if you only
wanted it dry you could as well just bottle condition to get the fizz
and let the yeasts do the job?

I usually have about 600 L done at a time. It suits me to do this so I
have it 'in the bag' for friends and family (I don't sell) over a 2 year
period. It is a cost, but I cannot be faffed to try to keep most stuff
in good nick as draught all that time - far too difficult! But I do also
make about 100L naturally conditioned / draught or whatever for my own
personal amusement.