Hard Cider

5 gallons apple juice – 2 ½ gallons Lucky Leaf 100% juice and 2 ½ Wal-Mart 100% not from concentrate (glass jug)
1 (12oz) can of frozen 100% Langers apple juice (you can use any brand as long as it is 100% juice)
4 pounds dark brown sugar
5 teaspoons yeast nutrient
2 packs Nottingham yeast OR 1 pack of the NEW large Nottingham 11gram yeast

Put a little juice into a pot with the brown sugar and heat until it begins to boil. Let boil about 2 minutes and add the frozen juice let it come back to a boil and continue to boil for about 2 more minutes, then remove from heat. Cool in an ice bath. Pour 2 gallons of juice into a sanitized carboy and then pour the contents of the pot into carboy. Top off with the rest of the juice. Add yeast and swirl around to mix and aerate. Put sanitized bubbler in place.

OG - 1.076
FG - 1.010

Note – this recipe used the full 5 gallons of juice after adding the other ingredients. This was because I used a 6 ½ gallon carboy. If you use a 5 gallon carboy you will use about 4 1/4 gallons of juice since you will need some headspace in the carboy for the fermentation.

After about 12-15 days, when the activity slows to about 1 bubble per 30 seconds, transfer to another carboy to clear and settle out for another week. Then transfer to bottling bucket and bottle.

Prime with 1/2 cup corn sugar and bottle just like beer.

I just want to mention that you can use any type of apple juice as long as it is 100% juice. I have had good luck with mixing different brands of juice together. I think this is because different brands use different apples to make their juice and the mixture gives a very good apple flavor.

If you want more of an apple taste and kick you can add one more 12oz can of frozen concentrate to the recipe. This will give you about 1.084 OG.