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Cider Digest #1683
Subject: Cider Digest #1683, 4 January 2012
From: cider-request@talisman.com
Cider Digest #1683 4 January 2012
Cider and Perry Discussion Forum
Contents:
Cider Digest 2011 stats (Cider Digest)
pH testing (Andrew Lea)
Acetic smell and taste (Jack O Feil)
pH Meters (jejanicke)
NOTE: Digest appears whenever there is enough material to send one.
Send ONLY articles for the digest to cider@talisman.com.
Use cider-request@talisman.com for subscribe/unsubscribe/admin requests.
Archives of the Digest are available at www.talisman.com/cider#Archives
Digest Janitor: Dick Dunn
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Subject: Cider Digest 2011 stats
From: cider-request@talisman.com (Cider Digest)
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 13:11:18 -0700 (MST)
2011 was a notably busy year for the Cider Digest.
As mentioned back in August, the Digest is now 20 years old.
The subscriber list topped 1000--on 1 January 2012 it stood at 1010.
This is about 5% above where I'd projected it as recently as August--
11% growth for the year. Subscriptions really picked up during the
cider-making season.
There were 77 digests in the year, up from 60 the preceding year. These
numbers are somewhat fuzzy because they depend on when your ever-erratic
janitor decides it's time to put out a digest. Nevertheless, the increase
is significant. I'll do the figures on total content soon, but I wanted
to get this much into the digest before it goes out today.
- ---
Cider Digest cider-request@talisman.com
Dick Dunn, Digest Janitor Boulder County, Colorado USA
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Subject: pH testing
From: Andrew Lea <andrew@harphill.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:00:36 +0000
On 30/12/2011 22:31, Tarzan wrote:
>
> Can anyone recommend some less expensive meters? Tarzan thinks maybe the WSU
> research station tested the ColorPHast strips against a meter with good
> results but memory is foggy?
The Merck strips I used in my little study
http://www.cider.org.uk/pH_measurement_comparisons.html also go by the
name Colorphast in some markets, because they are plastic strips (not
paper) and the dye is covalently bonded so it cannot bleed out. My data
show they were possibly the best of a poor bunch. Their main problem I
think is that the shades of orange to brown which they display makes
discrimination between pH values quite difficult (at least to my old
eyes!). I would be interested to see any WSU data for comparison. I do
not see anything inherently wrong in using strips if they are
sufficiently discriminatory and accurate for the purpose required, given
that the major use of a pH measurement in cider making is to adjust the
correct sulphite levels and that is error-prone enough in itself!
As for buying a pH meter, it would be nonsense to spend $2500 for cider
use. That kind of spend is for a professional analytical lab with a
serious capex budget (I know - I used to run one!). My experience is
that Hanna is a good make for simple dipstick pH meters and as far as I
know they are primary manufacturers not re-branders of uncertain Chinese
imports as so many are.
The Hanna model I used in my study is the HI-98128 known also as pHep5.
http://www.hannainst.co.uk/index.php?cPath=1204_4929 (UK) also
http://www.hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=040003 (US). I chose it for
its higher accuracy and its auto-calibration function but Hanna also
offer cheaper models in the range £37 - £80 (they are significantly
cheaper in the US at only $30 - $90). There should be no need to pay
more than that for cider use. They are made and sold in large quantities
principally for swimming pool use so far as I can see (which is maybe
why they are so cheap in the US compared to the UK).
However, in addition to the meter you *must* also buy
- - calibration buffer tablets (you can get away with single point
calibration at pH4 for cider)
- - cleaning solution
- - storage solution.
Because although these meters are marketed as 'dipsticks' they are not
just 'dip and read' like a thermometer, and they do need proper
calibration and maintenance if they are to serve you well.
Andrew Lea
nr Oxford UK
www.cider.org.uk
------------------------------
Subject: Acetic smell and taste
From: Jack O Feil <feilorchards@juno.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 13:22:41 -0800
I believe there was something about this in a previous digest, but don't
recall if there was a solution or not. I fermented forty gallons of juice
last year, added Campden tablets before fermentation, got distracted so
nothing done to it since. I checked it out several weeks ago, it had a
distinct acetic smell and taste but not turned to vinegar. Is there
something I can do to salvage this batch?
Thanks, Jack of Feil(1908)Family Orchard
------------------------------
Subject: pH Meters
From: jejanicke <jejanicke@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:38:09 -0700
I am no expert on this but here is my experience.
Paper test strips were irregular and not accurate enough to suit me. I
looked real hard and came up with an ISFET tester. Translated ISFET
means ion-specific field effect transistor. The advertised benefit is
that the sensor is stainless steel that does not have to be kept moist
during storage. The down side is that the sensor is filled with a gel
that will be depleted with use. They claim 2-5 year life expectancy. I
am still skeptical since I have not used mine that much and will surely
use it sparingly. To learn more go to: www.phmeters.com/isfet-faq.htm
I ordered one from Cole-Parmer 800-323-4340 on October 1 with expected
delivery in one week. Time went by so I started calling them every
Monday morning for a updated delivery. I got every excuse conceivable.
Later I surmised that Hach had bought IQScientific and sent production
to China. Finally after 10 weeks I got it. It is a little instrument
that looks like an electric swizzel stick. I am now learning to trust
it. Here is the rest of the bad news, ColeParmer #95941 is about $250
plus taxes and shipping. Direct from Hach is same price but with
considerably longer delivery time. Since it is to be calibrated for
cider one should use the pH 4 solution like S-55200-00 at $33.
Next cider season I will be a lot more comfortable determining the
amount of SO2 I need.
Joe Janicke
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End of Cider Digest #1683
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