Cider Musings: Wild or Natural

Wild or Natural

We have probably all heard the idiom "You say toe-mah-toe, I say toe-may-toe". Is that like saying a wild ferment and a natural ferment? Are they the same or do they mean different things? What about commercial yeast? As these errant thoughts started swirling in my head, I thought this is the perfect topic for a Cider Musing. I can … Continue reading Cider Musings: Wild or Natural

What is cider yeast?

What is cider yeast?

It seems like a simple question and yet it’s actually a very complex one. For one thing, yeast are found about everywhere and there are thousands of different types of yeast. Should we therefore consider the yeast found on the apple as true cider yeast? What about the yeast found on the equipment used to … Continue reading What is cider yeast?

The 3-Phases of Natural Fermentation

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The phases of a wild/natural cider fermentation Apple juice fermented using its native microflora (yeast and bacteria) or what is sometimes called a wild fermentation, normally goes through three natural phases(1). Note that the length of each phase is impacted by temperature. The chart reflects a fermentation at temperatures of 14-22C (60-72F). The first phase … Continue reading The 3-Phases of Natural Fermentation