Making Apple Cider: The Beginning

raoul — Fri, 08 May 2015 20:59:15 +0000

A while back I decided I wanted to try my hand at making hard apple cider. I've been talking about it for quite a few months now, and I finally got the opportunity to go and get my first piece of equipment, a glass carboy fermenter.

This is the first cement step toward actually doing what I said, so this means I need to commit to see it through to the end.

Fermenting Apples and Making Cider

At this stage, I have a fair idea of what I need to do, but I'm going to be doing a whole lot more reading up on the actual process of crushing, pressing, fermenting and bottling the cider. I know I'm going to need to make a cider press if I really want to get as much juice out of the apples as possible, so I've been researching how to make a cheap but effective cider press. I've come across a couple of blog posts of seemingly easy-to-make presses, and some actual instructions supposedly by Jamie Oliver. I also found a nice video of a fairly simple press.

I also need to figure out how to crush the apples. In one of the above blog posts, they use a sledge hammer (!!), but another site that details the process suggests using a juicer or other more commercial tools. I'm pretty sure Hannah would love a juicer, so I think that's probably going to be my best bet.

Of course, the cider forums on Homebrewtalk.com is a mine of information and advice, which I aim to make extensive use of.

For now, however, I have lots of reading to do. And a cider press to build.

[ apples image credit: Apples by Steve P2008 ]

Tags:

The Snyman Blog - apple cider

Making Apple Cider: The Beginning

Fermenting Apples and Making Cider