Batch 5-001: Southwestern Cyser

Tonight Nancy and I brewed our first batch together: a southwestern cyser. Here's the recipe:

5-001
1 gallon clover honey
3 pints prickly pear nectar
3+ gallon apple juice (to 5 gallon)
2 lbs dark brown sugar
5 tbsp yeast nutrient
2.5 tsp pectin enzyme
1 50gm EC-1118 (hydrated)

Secondary (planned)
4-6 cinnamon sticks
2-4 habenero peppers
2 vanilla beans?

OG: 1.170 (potential ABV: 22.31%)

-Safari Bob

Prickly Pear Nectar

Yesterday I collected about 5qt (dry) of prickly pears from which to brew a Southwestern Cyser for my next mead. I am not sure if I will do so ever again as I am still pulling fine needles from my hands and legs. Still, tonight I began to process the fruit for brewing.

I knew that I could not boil the fruit because the pectin could set up and I would have a tart jelly, so I instead purchased a blender and began to puree my way through the bag. Soon I had about 1 gallon of prickly pear "gloop". I stuck it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours and the mixture began to separate the solids from the juice.

I strained the mixture twice which resulted in about 2qts (liquid) prickly pear juice. I decided to not rinse the solids because I did not want to thin the final product. Soon I will begin the actual brewing!

-Safari Bob