Cider

[Droppey]

Hi there

Has anyone ever made cider successfully? Am potentially thinking about it

[janeyo]

We made 4 different batches last year, all of them fine. This year we are going to mix different apples as I heard from the local cider man (pickled pig cider) that it's better to blend.

It's easy to do (if fiddly to get the juice out) and ours took 3 days to finish fermenting. Ended up with cider about 7%, still drinking it a year on.

Good luck

[SarzWix]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...uice_3886.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ipe_24692.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...der_20956.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...cipe_2366.html
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ress_6770.html

Basically, get your apples, chop them, crush them them, press them, put the juice in a(fermenting) bucket, add a pinch of yeast and leave it to ferment. Then bottle it. All the basics of brewing need to be observed - sterilisation of containers etc.
If you don't have enough apples you can use shop bought juice, or add some pears

[bobleponge]

Hmmm clearly I am more rubbish than I originally thought.
I tried to make it last year, ended up with 3 big sized bottles of the stuff. One bottle exploded, which made me hopeful of fizziness. flipped open one of the other bottles and .... absolutely nothing. Flat as a pancake. Tasted apple juice ish, and may even have had a bit of alcoholicness but rubbish.
Will try again this year though!!

[janeyo]

Hmmm clearly I am more rubbish than I originally thought.
I tried to make it last year, ended up with 3 big sized bottles of the stuff. One bottle exploded, which made me hopeful of fizziness. flipped open one of the other bottles and .... absolutely nothing. Flat as a pancake. Tasted apple juice ish, and may even have had a bit of alcoholicness but rubbish.
Will try again this year though!!

Bob, If I can do it mate, your dog can do it! You are clearly doing something wrong!

We have just bought 2 recommended books... will post the titles when I fnd where OH has hidden them!

[bobleponge]

I'm glad you have such confidence in my dog.
Alcoholic stuff, sloe gin, blackberry brandy,vodka rhubarb schnapps all work for me but wines and ciders .... pah. Just cant get the hang of em.

[SarzWix]

Real Cider Making on a Small Scale: Amazon.co.uk: Michael J. Pooley, John Lomax: Books

This is the one we bought, it's great

[janeyo]

These are the ones we bought:

Real Cider Making on a Small Scale

Craft Cider Making

[bobleponge]

Thank you laydeez, a quick trip to Amazon has hopefully given me cider for when I get home.