FAQ for Retailers
On rare occasions you may have a customer come back with some concerns about our cider. If you have knowledge about our product you are better able to answer the customers questions. Here are a few questions or concerns that may come up. The customer says:
- “My cider has gone cloudy, what should I do?”
It has refermented. Tell them it is OK to drink, it is still good cider. It will be drier than when they bought it but it will have higher alcohol levels too. They may like it! But, warn them to be careful when opening the bottle because it will want to spray because of the increased pressure. This can only happen if the cider has refermented. If the temperature of the cider has been allowed to get over 55 degrees Fahrenheit, the dormant yeast can be awakened and begin to referment. The cloudiness comes from dead yeast cells (lees). A by-product of refermentation is that the carbonation will increase. On the cider in the plastic bottles, you can squeeze the bottle and determine that it is much harder than it should be because of the added pressure. - “I forgot to refrigerate my Merridale, what should I do?”
This is why we put most of our ciders in clear bottles. Not only can you see the beautiful colour, but you can also see if it has refermented. Without shaking the bottle, look closely at the bottom to see if there is any sediment (lees). On plastic bottles, squeeze it. If it is hard then it has likely refermented. See above. - “Why doesn’t the Scrumpy or Cyser come in bigger bottles?”
The Scrumpy and Cyser are both at higher alcohol levels and so each 341 ml bottle is roughly the equivalent of about one half bottle of wine. We find it is a good size for one person to enjoy by themselves. - “How long can I keep the cider in my fridge?”
They should drink it the day they buy it and come back tomorrow and get some more. Okay, it will keep about 3 months or more in the fridge. - “Once I open it, how long will it keep?”
If it is carbonated, it will go flat as with soda. The larger the air space on top of the cider the faster it will go flat. If you have a way of putting some nitrogen or CO2 on top, it will stay carbonated longer. - “How long will the Oh de Vie, Pomme Oh, Mure Oh, Winter Apple last once I open it?”
Brandies and port style products will oxidize over time. They should be kept cool and vacuumed if possible to preserve the freshness for a longer period of time. - “How long will the Oh de Vie, Pomme Oh, Mure Oh, Winter Apple keep without opening?”
Many years. - “Do I have to refrigerate the Oh de Vie, Pomme Oh, Mure Oh, Winter Apple?”
Nope. - “What is the best way to serve the Oh de Vie, Pomme Oh, Mure Oh, Winter Apple?”
They are all great served at room temperature, or refrigerated. The Oh de Vie’s are also nice warmed gently like a brandy. - “How long does a keg last once I have tapped it?”
That depends on a number of factors. It should be pushed with CO2, beer gas or nitrogen to avoid oxidation and it should last a few months. If it is pushed with Oxygen or compressed air it will oxidize fairly quickly. - “What pressure should it be pushed with?”
About 14-20 pounds works well. Make sure that the keg is kept in a cooler at a temperature around 32-38 degrees Fahrenheit. Less than 14 pounds of pressure, and the cider will start to go flatter as you work through the keg. More than 20 pounds and it will get more carbonated and start to foam more. - “The cider foams when I try to pour it. What should I do?”
Check the pressure and temperature of your cold room first. Cider and beer kegs tend to foam more if it is too warm or there is too much pressure. Also, make sure the line delivering the cider is refrigerated all the way to the tap. The good news is that the cider foam disappears fairly quickly, so you can come back in a minute and finish pouring the glass. - “What should I use to clean the lines?”
Standard beer line cleaners for your draft lines are fine. Make sure that you rinse the lines well after. Periodically, cleaning the line with a mild acid is a good idea. Please contact our sales representative if you need any help with this. - “Do I need anything different than I do for beer?”
Our kegs use the same Sankey fittings as most beers. A refrigerated line is important to avoid foaming.