Fantastic news!!

[bigdave]

Turns out the 2 trees that completely dominate my back garden are apple trees! Which means CIDER!!! Whoop! lol

Ok, now to start saving for a press.

[seymour]

That IS very cool, congrats. Pictures?

My new backyard is full of Trees-of-Heaven (hell?!) and Honey Locusts.

[bigdave]

[bigdave]

The view from my bedroom:

[fatbloke]

You might wanna do a bit of digging around as they'll likely need some TLC for best results. Just having half decent trees is no guarantee of good apples.

Oh and look for presses and other ideas sooner rather than later as the price does go up the closer we get to apple season.

There's some good home build ideas around the web that might be worth looking into.....

[TC2642]

A good book to buy which gives you a design for a cider press is this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Real-Cider-Maki ... der+making

[Linus]

The one on the right in the first pic,looks like a cherry tree to me.

Going by the smooth bark.

[seymour]

A kriek lambic tree, you say?!

[bigdave]

The one on the right in the first pic,looks like a cherry tree to me.

Going by the smooth bark.

I hope not. The bloke next door (he's been there for 15 years) is sure they're both apple trees.

Close-up...

[orlando]

My local HBS rents the press and scratter for £20 a day. More than enough for the amount you are likely to get. A decent press & scratter are horrendously expensive for something used once a year.

[DaveyT]

+1 for renting.
I know Alan at Elderberry in Whitley Bay rents his press out. He's quite a gold mine in terms of brewing knowledge too.
You're a bit of a drive from Whitley Bay (2 hours?) so I guess you have to calculate whether it's worth it or not. There may always be somewhere nearer,too, of course.
You're right: great news!

David

[phil55494]

Another book you might want to look at is Craft Cider Making by Andrew Lea written by a former researcher at the Long Ashton research station, his website is at http://www.cider.org.uk/ has pretty much the content of a previous version of Craft Cider Making

Those big trees might need a bit of management to get the best from them so a book on fruit trees might be worth a look as well.

[micmacmoc]

Convenient second set of goal posts there too!

[crafty john]

A good book to buy which gives you a design for a cider press is this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Real-Cider-Maki ... der+making

+1 on this book, I have it, it has a good design for making your own press. Plus lots of other good info. I am sure that with your DIY skills Dave it will be pretty simple.

[bigdave]

Was in my LHBS yesterday. He sells presses for £210!! I asked about renting but he doesn't do that. he did say that the monks at Ampleforth Abbey will juice apples for you if you take them!!