Which Makes Better Cider? Sourdough Starter vs Ale Yeast

by | Sep 10, 2025 | Doctors Blog | 0 comments

WILD vs SAFE cider experiment – sourdough starter vs ale yeast

Which Makes Better Cider? Sourdough Starter vs Ale Yeast

Which Makes Better Cider? Sourdough Starter vs Ale Yeast

Ever wondered what happens if you ferment cider with the same sourdough starter you use for baking bread? Or if you keep it “safe” with a trusty ale yeast? I brewed them side by side so you don’t have to — but trust me, you’ll want to.

This is the showdown: wild sourdough funk vs safe, crisp beer yeast. Which one makes the better cider?

👉 Big thanks to Angel Yeast, who kindly sponsored the experiment video this blog is based on. Don’t forget to check out their brewing products ->

Two glasses of cider – one brewed with sourdough, one with ale yeast

The Setup

For this experiment, I grabbed two 3-liter packs of fancy fresh-pressed apple juice (äppelmust if you’re Swedish like me) from Värmdö Musteri. Then I split them into two iGulu pressure fermenters:

  • One batch with my sourdough starter (yep, the same one I use for bread and pizza. It also brews amazing sour beers).

  • One batch with Angel Yeast A01 American Ale Yeast.

Both ciders fermented under pressure in the iGulu machines, which kept everything clean, tidy, and easy to monitor.

    DrHans pointing at iGulu fermenters with cider batches

    Fermentation Schedules

    The sourdough and ale yeast had very different journeys:

    Sourdough Starter Cider – iGulu F1 (pressurized)

    • 2 days at 23 °C / 73 °F

    • 2 days at 25 °C / 77 °F

    • 5 days at 27 °C / 78 °F

    • Cold crash

    • Final Gravity: 1.007 → ABV ~ 4.9%

    Angel Yeast A01 Cider – iGulu S1 (pressurized)

    • 2 days at 20 °C (68 °F) @ 15 PSI

    • 2 days at 22 °C (72 °F) @ 20 PSI

    • 4 days at 25 °C (77 °F) @ 22 PSI

    • Cold crash

    • Final Gravity: 1.010 → ABV ~ 4.5%

    Both started at OG 1.044. The sourdough chewed a little further down, but the difference in ABV was pretty minor.

    If you’re curious about the gear I use, you can get 20% off iGulu gear using the code DRHAN20 👉 https://igulu.com/?sca_ref=6679834.Gm6UfWKv2R

     

    cider fermentation schedule
    Pouring sourdough starter into fermenter jar

    Tasting the Results

    Here’s where things got interesting.

    Appearance:

    • The sourdough cider was hazier, with a surprising little head of foam.

    • The ale yeast cider cleared up more and looked cleaner in the glass.

    [Image: Close-up of two glasses with yeast pack + sourdough jar]

    Aroma:

    • Angel Yeast A01 gave me a crisp, appley nose with some subtle bread notes.

    • The sourdough cider had a touch of funk — not overpowering, but definitely different.

    Taste:

    • Ale yeast cider → light, crisp, refreshing, super sessionable. Almost soda-like (in the best way).

    • Sourdough cider → drier, slightly tart, a bit more “grown-up.” If the ale yeast version is a fresh apple soda, the sourdough is its big brother.

      pouring a glass of cider brewed in the iGulu F1 with Angel Yeast A01
      pouring a glass of cider brewed in the iGulu F1 with Sourdough starter

      Pros and Cons

      Sourdough Starter
      ✅ Unique character
      ✅ Fun experiment
      ❌ Unpredictable
      ❌ Hazy, less consistent

      Angel Yeast A01
      ✅ Reliable fermentation
      ✅ Clearer cider
      ✅ Crisp and food-friendly
      ❌ Less funky, less “wild” character

        drhans holding two glasses of cider

        Verdict — Wild vs Safe

        If I had to pick only one to brew again, I’d go with the Angel Yeast A01 cider. It was clean, drinkable, and super easy to enjoy with food. The sourdough batch was fun, but it felt more like a one-off experiment than something I’d brew on repeat.

        That said — if you love funky, artisanal vibes and don’t mind a bit of unpredictability, sourdough cider definitely has its charm.

        🎥 Want to see the full videoin action? Watch the video here.

        Final Thoughts

        At the end of the day, both ciders were tasty — just different styles.
        Both are worth brewing at least once.

        I’ll keep the exBEERiments going so you don’t have to — but seriously, you should.

        Until the next post — DrHans out! 🍏🍻

          DrHans tasting two glasses of cider

          Social Media and Contact Information:
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          Webpage: https://drhansbrewery.com
          Contact Email: drhansbrewery@gmail.com

           

          Support and Merchandise Links:

          🔥 Get 20% Off iGulu Gear (Code: DRHAN20) 👉 https://igulu.com/?sca_ref=6679834.Gm6UfWKv2R

           

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