Can you actually make 20% alcohol at home with zero professional equipment? Today at Rainford’s Brew Lab, we’re pushing Aldi’s 1L Apple Juice to the absolute limit. We’re bypassing the expensive airlocks and demijohns to show you how to brew a high-strength Apple Liquor for just £2.19 per litre.
In this episode of High-Alcohol Thursday, we break down the specific “Brew Lab” math for sugar, how to manage Alcotec 48 Turbo Yeast without it stalling, and our secret “volcanic clay” trick using Bentonite to get shop-bought clarity in a plastic bottle.
The Lab Stats for this Batch:
Base: 1L Aldi Apple Juice (11.2g sugar/100ml)
Added Sugar: 228g (Total 340g fermentable sugar)
Starting Gravity (SG): 1.140
Target Final Gravity (FG): 0.990
Final ABV: ~ 20%
Total Batch Cost: £2.19
🍺 More Budget Brews
The 22p Tea Wine: https://youtu.be/0_3dHrxUkGo
Hard Lemon Soda (Viral Hack): https://youtu.be/roJtSrDIJ1w
The 25p Kilju Guide: https://youtu.be/W5cYAGjcg-w
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Equipment & Consumables I Use
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. (This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click the links and make a purchase.)
Cameras
Canon PowerShot V10 Vlogging Starter Kit https://amzn.to/3K3ozMB
Gopro Hero 4K https://amzn.to/4nWNLCb
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra https://amzn.to/4pkrIH0
Sanitisation
ChemSan Self Foaming No Rinse Sanitiser 1 litre https://amzn.to/48iGh86
Starsan 16 oz https://amzn.to/3JCEMs4
Milton Tablets https://amzn.to/4oKvoll
Brewing Equipment
AMZCHEF Juicer Machine https://amzn.to/4sn0r8v
Glass Demijohn 5L with 2 Piece Airlock and Bung https://amzn.to/3K9D9SJ
2l Fermenter 2 Pack https://amzn.to/4uGOqwg
1.4l Fermenter https://amzn.to/3NlE4kO
Home Brew Hydrometer with 100ml Sampling Jar https://amzn.to/4r3NxvV
Mixing Spoon https://amzn.to/3JTzqZu
Auto Siphon Racking Cane https://amzn.to/3WXdDTH
TOPINCN Homebrew CO2 Injector https://amzn.to/4a6fqgL
2 Pack Handy Airlock (Silent) with Bung https://amzn.to/49pltNi
50W Heat Mat with Thermostat https://amzn.to/4oQribm
KitchenCraft Baster https://amzn.to/3K2OKmt
Consumables
Mangrove Jacks Cider Yeast https://amzn.to/3X3cDNP
Lalvin EC-1118 10 pack https://amzn.to/49TUCcf
Youngs Dried Active Yeast 100g https://amzn.to/3X1lEXC
Young’s yeast nutrient 100g https://amzn.to/3LMMvUT
Youngs Pectolase 400g https://amzn.to/49HH2sH
Wine Tannin 50g Youngs x 3 https://amzn.to/3XxkmDQ
Bentonite – 250 Gram Tub https://amzn.to/3JTBMaM
⚠️ Health, Safety & Legal Disclaimers
Health Warning:
This video is for viewers of legal drinking age only (18+ in the UK).
Drink Responsibly: Government guidelines recommend not regularly exceeding 14 units of alcohol per week. For support, visit Drinkaware.co.uk.
Pregnancy Warning: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause lifelong harm to the baby.
Safety & Liability Disclaimer:
Sanitation: When using fresh fruit, ensure they are washed and all equipment is thoroughly sanitized to avoid wild yeast spoilage or bacteria.
Personal Responsibility: These methods represent my personal process at Rainford’s Brew Lab. Follow these steps at your own risk. I am not liable for any outcomes or injuries resulting from home brewing.