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CyserIntermediateDevelopment

Spiced Cyser

A warming autumnal cyser built on wildflower honey and apple juice with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Bridges the worlds of cider, mead, and mulled wine. Targets 9% ABV with a semi-sweet finish. 5-gallon batch.

By Modern MazerPublished Version 1.0.0

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Batch size

5 gallons

Target ABV

9%

Fermentation

3–5 weeks

Conditioning

2–4 months

Responsible use: These recipes produce alcoholic beverages. Ferment and consume responsibly. Verify all quantities, equipment, and safety procedures before beginning. Consult local regulations regarding home fermentation.

Ingredients

  • 7 lbsWildflower honey
  • 3 gallonsFresh-pressed apple juice (no preservatives)

    Must be preservative-free.

  • 1.5 gallonsFiltered water
  • 3 eachCeylon cinnamon sticks

    Add in secondary.

  • 3 eachWhole cloves

    Add in secondary. Taste daily — cloves extract very quickly.

  • 0.5 tspWhole nutmeg, grated(optional)

    Add in secondary.

  • 8 gFermaid-O

Yeast

Lalvin Lalvin 71B — 1 packets

Partially metabolizes malic acid from apple juice.

Nutrient schedule

TimingNutrientQtyNotes
Day 0 (pitch)Fermaid-O2 g
24 hoursFermaid-O2 g
48 hoursFermaid-O2 g
1/3 sugar breakFermaid-O2 g

Process

  1. Sanitize all equipment

    Prepare no-rinse sanitizer. Sanitize all vessels and tools.

  2. Build must

    Dissolve honey in 1 gallon of warm water. Cool. Add to fermenter with apple juice and remaining water to 5.5 gallons.

  3. Take OG reading

    Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.068.

  4. Pitch yeast and nutrients

    Pitch Lalvin 71B. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 60–65°F.

  5. Staggered nutrient additions

    Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.

  6. Monitor fermentation

    Check gravity every few days. Fermentation typically completes in 3–5 weeks.

  7. Add spices in secondary

    Rack. Add spices in a sanitized muslin bag. Taste daily — cloves extract very quickly.

  8. Remove spices and condition

    Remove spice bag. Condition for 2–4 months.

  9. Carbonate and package

    Carbonate to approximately 1.5–2.0 volumes CO2. Package into pressure-rated bottles.

Packaging

Ensure fermentation is fully complete before carbonating. Use vessels rated for carbonation pressure.

Safety notes

  • Never seal a bottle of mead that has not fully finished fermenting.
  • Apple juice must be preservative-free.
  • Cloves extract very quickly — taste daily and remove promptly.
  • This recipe produces a carbonated beverage. Use only bottles or kegs rated for carbonation pressure.
  • Sanitize all equipment that contacts the must or finished mead.

Scaling notes

Honey, apple juice, and water scale linearly. Spice additions do NOT scale linearly. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly.

Batch Scaling Calculator

Enter your desired finished batch size to scale ingredient quantities. Press Enter or tap away to apply.

Target ABV

9%

Original gravity

1.068

Final gravity

1.004

Sweetness

semi sweet

Finished volume

5 gallons

Gross starting volume

5.5 gallons

Expected loss

0.5 gallons(9%)

Ingredient quantities at original batch size
IngredientQuantityUnitScaling notes
Wildflower honey7lbs
Fresh-pressed apple juice (no preservatives)3gallons
Filtered water1.5gallons
Ceylon cinnamon sticks3each⚠ review
Whole cloves3each⚠ review
Whole nutmeg, grated(optional)0.5tsp⚠ review
Fermaid-O8g⚠ review

⚠ Ingredients requiring review

  • Ceylon cinnamon sticks: Ingredient "Ceylon cinnamon sticks" (id: cinnamon) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Whole cloves: Ingredient "Whole cloves" (id: cloves) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Whole nutmeg, grated: Ingredient "Whole nutmeg, grated" (id: nutmeg) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
  • Fermaid-O: Ingredient "Fermaid-O" (id: fermaid-o) requires manual review before scaling. The original quantity is shown — do not use without recalculating.
Scaled quantities are mathematical estimates. Fermentation performance, yeast requirements, nutrient schedules, vessel headspace, temperature control, and legal requirements must be reviewed for the target batch size.

References & sources

Version history

  • v1.0.0— Modern Mazer

    Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 8.