Bottling, not tossing

[KaptainKarl]

After abandoning a simple cider for four months in a primary bucket, I think I'm going to bottle. Anyone want to talk me out of it?

The recipe is just cheap grocery store juice and Safale 04. I made it once before and back sweetened with cranberry cocktail, then stovetop pasteurized. Resulted in a sweet fizzy booze that went over very well.

I pitched back in July. On the same day I brewed a Porter. Then, in quick succession we got a chaotic new boss, my gall bladder came out, and my Mom died. So I wasn't able to look at these buckets for a while. They've been in a darkish room, sitting at about 67 degrees, air locks functioning.

The porter developed quite a cap of mold, but I was able to draw the beer off from beneath (spigot, not siphon). After three weeks in the bottle, it seems just fine.

I assumed the cider would be a loss - not much time or money invested. I finally got around to tossing it today, but figured I'd taste a drop first. Nothing gross appeared in the cup. Peering through the airlock, I see nothing but cider. Tasted about right.

So partly I have the newbie-ish question about whether or not to bottle. Partly I just want an audience in case it goes wrong.

Any thought?

 

[Maylar]

As long as there's no funky floating things in it... why not. 4 months in primary is a long time, but if it hasn't found new friends (bacteria) and spoiled, I figure it's worth a shot.

There are certainly potential taste issues having been in primary that long, so evaluate what you've got carefully before committing.

And, sorry about your mom.

 

[SomersetRedstreak]

By my reckoning, if it tastes fine, go right ahead and bottle it!
After all, on a basic level, our sense of taste is an instrument to measure if something is safe to eat or drink. It will do you no harm.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[KaptainKarl]

Thanks for the sympathy guys. I'd say this was a brew in her memory, but she never cared much for the stuff.