Cider

[old keeper]

I spent some time at Seale Hayne so I remember it…..

I think quite a few Seale Hayne students studied at the Cider bar!

 

[Stevie/P]

I remember buying a flagon of cider at the royal show stoneleigh back in the early 90s was called head spinner remember drinking most of that afternoon fell asleep under a large oak tree friend said he had too move away from me as I was attracting a lot of wasps.

 

[25 Sharps]

I think quite a few Seale Hayne students studied at the Cider bar!

And suffered the after effects!

 

[co’den]

I’ve not made cider for a long time but I make a few gallon of apple wine every year along with other “stuff”.

 

[Klenchblaize]

A full report will follow:

K

 

[Klenchblaize]

Making headway as may determined by the part change in menu since last night:

K

 

[Essexsussex]

I did a good few with the kits and they were very nice and hassle free. The last 40 pints I made were probably more like mead than cider. I used honey instead of sugar and left it for about 11 weeks until it was flat. No bottling, no added sugar, drank from the tap, two pints and you're waking up on the couch.

I have a couple of trees planted that are only starting to produce and I know I could scrounge another 100-200kgs next year no bother, they'll be different types at different times but I might be have a go at making a press if anyone has any experience.

I knew I had a photo somewhere - If you want to make a simple press to see how you go this can be made out of scrap. I was experimenting many years ago!

 

[Fair Hill]

I knew I had a photo somewhere - If you want to make a simple press to see how you go this can be made out of scrap. I was experimenting many years ago!

Nice one.

 

[Border]

Some of the older Devon members may remember the Cider Bar in Newton Abbot that specialised in local ciders. At one time it had a bit of a reputation, as the rocket fuel they served caused a few "incidents". It's quieter now but it was certainly a place to take visitors to the area to sample their ciders, all it needed was a small quantity to let them know what cider is capable of!

I visited it when my Sis lived in Newton Abbot. Also had a great "posh" fish and chips there (NA), can’t remember the name of the place though.

 

[old keeper]

I visited it when my Sis lived in Newton Abbot. Also had a great "posh" fish and chips there (NA), can’t remember the name of the place though.

The fish and chip shop could have been Olivers, behind the market. But if you'd just left the Cider Bar it could have been anywhere!!!

 

[Craigsaun]

There's no limit on how much you can make. HMRC only get interested if you want to sell it (which I don't).
I've done roughly another 50kg since I first posted, so around 750kg altogether so far. Was hoping for about 400 litres of juice from that lot, but it won't be anywhere near that I don't think. The juice yield per kg is really low this year, probably due to lack of sunshine. Hopefully the later ripening varieties will do better, as the weather's pretty good now.

No, nothing particularly interesting, just a good blend of different varieties.

I think you may have a problem son

 

[VSS]

I think you may have a problem son

Yes. Not enough apples.

 

[Essexsussex]

I think you may have a problem son

There are only 2 problems in cider making. Not enough apples or too many cookers.

 

[VSS]

There are only 2 problems in cider making. Not enough apples or too many cookers.

I don't think you can have too many cookers. They juice much better than eaters. Too many eaters is indeed a problem.

 

[Essexsussex]

they mess with my ph when I have a bulk of good cider apples and people bring cookers round. Because exactly as you say they juice well it’s so hard to resist using them and then the ph hits the very low 3s and then I’m less excited by the outcome. But that’s working with the mix of apples I have. I made the kids drink the cooker juice this year and everyone was happy. And I have cider at 3.3/3.4 which for me is a winner.

If you had lots of bittersweets I suppose the cookers would be a good thing. So it was a very sweeping and silly statement of mine!

 

[VSS]

they mess with my ph when I have a bulk of good cider apples and people bring cookers round. Because exactly as you say they juice well it’s so hard to resist using them and then the ph hits the very low 3s and then I’m less excited by the outcome. But that’s working with the mix of apples I have. I made the kids drink the cooker juice this year and everyone was happy. And I have cider at 3.3/3.4 which for me is a winner.

If you had lots of bittersweets I suppose the cookers would be a good thing. So it was a very sweeping and silly statement of mine!

If you're fortunate enough to have a decent supply of genuine cider varieties then I get exactly what you're saying. But if, like me, you're relying on a random selection of varieties scrounged from all the backgarden trees in the neighbourhood then too many eaters is the problem. And as they ripen earlier, and don't keep so well, it's difficult to store them until the cookers are ripe. So we're always glad of as many early cookers as we can get our hands on to mix with the eaters and balance it out a bit.
The bulk of the cookers are only just ripening now. Hopefully we'll have another pressing session in the next week or so, which ought to take us up to around 600 litres, which should be enough.

 

[Essexsussex]

If you're fortunate enough to have a decent supply of genuine cider varieties then I get exactly what you're saying. But if, like me, you're relying on a random selection of varieties scrounged from all the backgarden trees in the neighbourhood then too many eaters is the problem. And as they ripen earlier, and don't keep so well, it's difficult to store them until the cookers are ripe. So we're always glad of as many early cookers as we can get our hands on to mix with the eaters and balance it out a bit.
The bulk of the cookers are only just ripening now. Hopefully we'll have another pressing session in the next week or so, which ought to take us up to around 600 litres, which should be enough.

That’ll do you well. Do you blend later or keep adding to a bulk tank?

 

[VSS]

That’ll do you well. Do you blend later or keep adding to a bulk tank?

As far as possible we're trying to blend the apples as they go through the scratter. Our fermentation containers hold 60 litres, so somewhat bigger than your average domestic brewing bucket, but not exactly what you'd call a bulk tank.
Some of the earlier stuff (mostly from eaters) has gone into 25 litre containers, to be transferred to larger containers later so we can blend with juice from the later ripening cookers at that time.

 

[Essexsussex]

As far as possible we're trying to blend the apples as they go through the scratter. Our fermentation containers hold 60 litres, so somewhat bigger than your average domestic brewing bucket, but not exactly what you'd call a bulk tank.

That’s quite handy you can blend back from 60l batches then. I hope you have a great fermentation! Mine’s on its way now and as ever I’m full of autumn hope! Then it’ll appear a bit funky at some point in the next month and I’ll panic, then it’ll be great a month after it goes into glass and then it’ll be even better this time next year!
Will be drinking a 54l carboys worth of last years batch tomorrow afternoon with the other rugby coaches and hope to keep
The u14s away from it this time…
Happy fermenting mate!

 

[shakey jake]

Made about 60L today, bloody hard work.
Mostly mixed apples but one demijon of pear and russet.
Im trying a natural one and three different bought yeast.
Compost heap smells lovely