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Farm Kitchen:  Hard cider makers, tell me what.  |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 16 2011 : 05:24:33 AM
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I got a blue, 5 gallon, glass, carboy for $10 on craigslist. I've been stealing apples like crazy, off of forclosures. The yeast and the topper stopper thing is ordered.
I love your input. Every You Tube video and recipe sight is different.
Trish
Make cupcakes not war!
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2011 : 09:00:54 AM
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My husband mostly brews beer, but he has made a couple of batches of hard cider before. The first one was a bust because they used cider that had preservatives in it, and it killed all of the yeast!!
His advice to anyone getting into brewing is to make sure everything is sanitized.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2011 : 1:23:29 PM
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I make apple and pear cider along with several types of wine. There are many recipes but really all you need is fresh pressed apples or pears, your carboy and an airlock. You really dont even need yeast because there should be enough on the fruit. I will add yeast if I want to make sure the cider gets off to a quick start. Other than that, the recipes are things to tweak the taste. The best cider is made from a mixture of different types of apples, which you should have if your getting them from different trees. Do you have a way to press them? It really is simple and once you get the basic recipe down you will find your making your own tweaks. Happy brewing.
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 06:37:05 AM
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Have you gotten any books from your library? I just started making wine in my basement, and I got my library to get me some books so I could learn exactly what to do. I've made it twice at one of those winemaking stores, and figured I could cut costs and do it myself. I got a bunch of equipment from Kijiji from an old lady who was having to clear out her surplus--it was hilarious, like going into one of those "hoarders" shows, but I got quite a bit of equipment for $75 (5 glass carboys, 15 airlocks, bottle washer, bottle filler, spoons, hydrometer, cylinders, and more). I did buy new tubing for the siphon, though, and a big brush to clean out the carboys.
I bought one of those kits, and it's (Cabernet Sauvignon) coming along nicely, racked it into the glass last night so I'm into secondary fermentation now. My house is quite cool at the moment, so I have a heating pad on low under the wine to keep it slightly warm, and it's wrapped in a blanket.
When I get good at this, I'll start experimenting with real fruit to do it right from scratch. I'd love to try making cider, too!
Yes, sanitation is crucial! Good luck.
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
Edited by - Canadian farmgirl on Oct 22 2011 06:39:25 AM |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 08:31:13 AM
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Thank you all.
Make cupcakes not war!
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Naked on a Mountain Top
Farmgirl in Training
43 Posts
Seana
Durango
CO
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 6:30:19 PM
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Two years ago I got a crazy "garage" recipe from a crusty old Texan I worked with, just spewed out the basics between puffs on his cigarette. It was pretty basic: a 5 gal. plastic bucket, apples, water, yeast, raisins, sugar and a vanilla bean or two (if ya had it). Two monthes later I had what tasted like apple juice with a yeasty after taste. I thought it didn't work ....until I got up to walk down the hall to pee. WOW! It may have tasted a bit yeasty but it packed a punch. It mellowed in flavor over time. I still have about a quart in the back of my fridge.
Good luck ... and don't under estimate the % until you've had a glass or two.
www.durangodream.blogspot.com |
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Farm Kitchen: Hard cider makers, tell me what. |
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Hard cider makers, tell me what.
