Basic Skills - Food Prep - Applie Cider

[osan]

A good site on cider making. Source for plans for building a pretty decent press and apply crusher of very low cost and requiring no special tools or skills. Good treatment of rack and cloth pressing technique.

http://www.whizbangcider.com/

This is a good and very simple procedure for making hard cider. I currently have 15 gallons fermenting, with perhaps another 30 yet to be prepped. I believe in the value of hard cider for t hree reasons - it lasts whereas plain cider does not without preservatives, it retains nutritional properties, and it represents comfortable living - it reminds us of good things and perhaps better days and in that, hope for the future. Yeah, it's corny, but that's how I choose to look at it.

If you are so inclined, and especially if you have apple trees, buy or build yourself a press. IMO it is a good investment.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Home-Brew-Hard-Cider-from-Scratch/

 

[Icymudpuppy]

I built a press 3 years ago. Working great. About 2000 gallons worth over the last few years.

I only ferment a little for personal use, the rest I freeze. Frozen cider preserves very well without artificial. Since I have 3 large freezers for game meat, furs, and cider, I have plenty or room to store it.

 

[Cowlesy]

Good hard cider is an extremely old American tradition -- glad to see you guys carry it on!

 

[XNavyNuke]

FDA says if you drink homemade cider you may die.

FDA Encourages Juice Safety This Fall

Juices provide many essential nutrients, but consuming certain types of juice can pose health risks to your family. When fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed to produce juice, bacteria that may be present on the inside or the outside of the produce can become part of the finished product. Unless the produce or juice has been processed to destroy any harmful bacteria, the juice could be contaminated. While most people's immune systems can usually fight off the effects of foodborne illness, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems risk serious illnesses or even death from drinking juice that has not been processed to ensure its safety.

Best to stick solely to the fine products that agribusiness puts on your store shelves.

XNN

 

[amy31416]

The awesome thing about cider is that I had about half a gallon just naturally start to ferment. That was a nifty little surprise.

Almost all the stuff today is pasteurized or treated with chemicals to prevent that. Bleh.

 

[klamath]

The awesome thing about cider is that I had about half a gallon just naturally start to ferment. That was a nifty little surprise.

Almost all the stuff today is pasteurized or treated with chemicals to prevent that. Bleh.

I have pressed many a gallon and the stuff will start to ferment over night.

 

[amy31416]

I have pressed many a gallon and the stuff will start to ferment over night.

A press is in the future for the likes of me.

Must have a decent amount of naturally-occurring yeast, like grapes, plums, blueberries, etc....always a bonus.

 

[klamath]

A press is in the future for the likes of me.

Must have a decent amount of naturally-occurring yeast, like grapes, plums, blueberries, etc....always a bonus.

We built ours out of a round of cedar log, four pieces of steel square tubing, half of a car torque converter case and a large vise screw. the press bucket was made from slats of cedar bound together with steel bands. Worked great. Still have it here.

 

[keh10]

I've brewed quite a bit of hard apple cider from hand picked apples that we grow. In fact, late August this year, we opened a bottle of two year old cider from our very first batch and I can tell you, it only gets better with age.

I was lucky enough to inherit an old apple press which I recently renovated with new wood and finish. I don't really recommend buying or making a press unless you have apple trees of your own or have good access to cheap apples. Between the cost of a press and paying for apples at the store, home brewed apple cider does not sound all that appealing.

I got into brewing beer right after apple cider and I also highly recommend that to any and everyone. The capital investment is high, but you can make some really high quality beer at competitive prices.

 

[Ninja Homer]

Just because I posted this link earlier today on another thread... how to make your own apple cider vinegar (from Dr. 3D, 2008): http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showpost.php?p=1437620&postcount=50

Not as fun as hard cider, but apple cider vinegar is pretty damn useful.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

I was coming down with a mild cold.

I decided to crack a 16oz bottle of homemade hard cider. Fermented 3 weeks, and live bottled for about 4 months now.

Let me just say that I feel GREAT!!!! The cold discomfort is gone, and I'm a bit buzzed.. 16oz of appx 9% alcohol does wonders. Now we'll see how I feel when the buzz wears off.

 

[oyarde]

I was coming down with a mild cold.

I decided to crack a 16oz bottle of homemade hard cider. Fermented 3 weeks, and live bottled for about 4 months now.

Let me just say that I feel GREAT!!!! The cold discomfort is gone, and I'm a bit buzzed.. 16oz of appx 9% alcohol does wonders. Now we'll see how I feel when the buzz wears off.

Ahh , homemade hard cider , tasty .

 

[XNavyNuke]

VicHealth in Australia calls for low alcohol cider mandate in response to reports of binging.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/health/cider-bringe-drinking-on-the-rise/story-fni0dgux-1226807858942

. New research by Victoria's peak health group VicHealth has found that cider drinkers are also more likely to binge drink than consumers of other types of alcohol.

VicHealth is now calling for low alcohol versions of cider to reduce problem drinking.

XNN

 

[Wallrat]

Nice to see this thread, as just today I bottled my first-ever home brew...hard cider. Can't wait to see how it tastes in a few weeks!

 

[jbauer]

A good site on cider making. Source for plans for building a pretty decent press and apply crusher of very low cost and requiring no special tools or skills. Good treatment of rack and cloth pressing technique.

http://www.whizbangcider.com/

This is a good and very simple procedure for making hard cider. I currently have 15 gallons fermenting, with perhaps another 30 yet to be prepped. I believe in the value of hard cider for t hree reasons - it lasts whereas plain cider does not without preservatives, it retains nutritional properties, and it represents comfortable living - it reminds us of good things and perhaps better days and in that, hope for the future. Yeah, it's corny, but that's how I choose to look at it.

If you are so inclined, and especially if you have apple trees, buy or build yourself a press. IMO it is a good investment.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Home-Brew-Hard-Cider-from-Scratch/

I am so building one of those!!! I've been looking high and low for a decent idea on how to chew up the apples. The garbage disposal idea is the best idea I've seen yet!!

Thanks Rep+

 

[Wallrat]

I tried one of my first bottles and it is great! The taste is strong apples, honey, enough alcohol to give it authority without being like Koolaid. So simple, I can't believe I waited so long to try this..

 

[enoch150]

I was lucky enough to inherit an old apple press which I recently renovated with new wood and finish. I don't really recommend buying or making a press unless you have apple trees of your own or have good access to cheap apples. Between the cost of a press and paying for apples at the store, home brewed apple cider does not sound all that appealing.

I've gotten them for free at a pick-your-own place. Ask if they have "deer apples." Apparently, it's illegal (at least in Connecticut) to sell them if they fall and touch the ground because the government is afraid they might get contaminated from pesticides. So these kinds of places just throw them out or give them away to hunters for use as deer bait. I'm sure they're fine if they're rinsed off.

I've also gotten them at a very steep discount from grocery stores by asking them to set aside bruised apples. Those are normally just thrown away, also.