Morning All.
I was talking to a few other allotment owners the other day and discussion turned to making cider communally from all the different varieties people have spare. We have a bit of cash left over from fundraising and want to buy a cider press between us.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a set-up and basic rules for varieties that would make a decent basic cider? Bear in mind none of us have tried this before, but I have access to all the essentials for beer-making (hydrometer, fermenters, sanitisers, cappers etc.)
what sort of budget would we be looking at?
Many thanks
T
Cider making for idiots / beginners
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
There are plans on the net on how to make simple press using a hydraulic bottle jack, I built one but didn't use it, cuz given a proper one.
We washed the apples in water with some crushed campdrn tablets, then quartered the apples puy them thru a scratter, loaded into muslin bags n pressed.
We used wild yeast for fermentation n had good results!
We washed the apples in water with some crushed campdrn tablets, then quartered the apples puy them thru a scratter, loaded into muslin bags n pressed.
We used wild yeast for fermentation n had good results!
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
Try Vigo a good firm in the cider industry they do a good basket press (Vigo are in honiton ) good luck
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
Mine is a vigo press and the scratter too, however the are expensivesteambrew wrote:Try Vigo a good firm in the cider industry they do a good basket press (Vigo are in honiton ) good luck
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
Probably will go for the Vigo gear as there seems to be a consensus here. I've spotted a few crab apples around the place, would these go well and what sort of mix are you looking for as regards apples?
- jmc
- Even further under the Table
- Posts: 2486
- Joined: Thu May 13, 2010 11:43 pm
- Location: Swaledale, North Yorkshire
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
Recommend you get a copy of this (short) book
Its aimed at starters like you and has sections of all the questions you've asked
Real Cider Making on a Small Scale
I have a small press and have just made a scratter so I re-read it recently.
Very useful.
Its aimed at starters like you and has sections of all the questions you've asked
Real Cider Making on a Small Scale
I have a small press and have just made a scratter so I re-read it recently.
Very useful.
- Pinto
- Falling off the Barstool
- Posts: 3443
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:09 pm
- Location: Rye, East Sussex
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
I have a homemade bottle jack press and use a well cleaned and sanitised garden shredder to scrat my apples Sadly, Its going to be a light season for me as the old gent who supplied me with a lot of my apples passed away earlier in the year and the new owners arent so friendly
Primary 1: Nonthing
Primary 2 : Nothing
Primary 3 : None
Secondary 1 : Empty
Secondary 1 : None
DJ(1) : Nowt
DJ(2) : N'otin....
In the Keg : Nada
Conditioning : Nowt
In the bottle : Cinnamonator TC, Apple Boost Cider, Apple & Strawberry Cider
Planning : AG #5 - Galaxy Pale (re-brew) / #6 - Alco-Brau (Special Brew Clone) / #7 Something belgian...
Projects : Mini-brew (12l brew length kit) nearly ready
Join the BrewChat - open minds and adults only - Click here
Primary 2 : Nothing
Primary 3 : None
Secondary 1 : Empty
Secondary 1 : None
DJ(1) : Nowt
DJ(2) : N'otin....
In the Keg : Nada
Conditioning : Nowt
In the bottle : Cinnamonator TC, Apple Boost Cider, Apple & Strawberry Cider
Planning : AG #5 - Galaxy Pale (re-brew) / #6 - Alco-Brau (Special Brew Clone) / #7 Something belgian...
Projects : Mini-brew (12l brew length kit) nearly ready
Join the BrewChat - open minds and adults only - Click here
Re: Cider making for idiots / beginners
Nice idea, but there's no electrics to run the shredder off. Homemade?....sounds up my alley. Any photos?