Topic: Cider
Build a Cider Press
Digital and Plus Members OnlyA small cider press can cost hundreds of dollars. It is not difficult, however, to build your own press using inexpensive materials. The design of the press is flexible, to take into account the variation in the materials you can find. To get an idea of the trade-offs you can make, it is useful to
Tracking Sugar Content of a Cider
Digital and Plus Members OnlyMost homemade ciders, unless specially handled, ferment out completely and contain very little residual sugars. This is because apple juice mainly contains fermentable sugars (fructose, sucrose, and glucose), and smaller amounts of non-digestible carbohydrate (e.g., pectin), organic acids, especially malic acid, amino acids, and minerals. This is very different from wort that contains a significant
Making Hard Cider with Brett: Tips from the Pros
FREEWith the ever-increasing popularity of Brettanomyces in the craft and homebrewing worlds, it’s a wonder that cider makers haven’t caught the “bug.” That may soon change, and with advice from these two
Experimenting with Cider
Digital and Plus Members OnlyAs every devoted homebrewer knows, hard cider can be boring to make. You need only two ingredients for cider — apples and yeast — and starting a batch requires just five minutes and a fermenter. Where’s the creativity? Where’s the excitement without a six-hour brew day and hundreds of dollars of stainless steel? Luckily, a
Making Your Own Hard Cider
Digital and Plus Members OnlyYou might remember a time when a jug of cider that sat around in the fridge too long started to get fizzy. When you removed the cap there was a little spurt of pressure released and, sadly, the cider was deemed too old and sent down the drain. If you only knew then what you
Barrel Aged Cider
Digital and Plus Members OnlyCider certainly has become quite popular in recent years and with the popularity has come many very nice ciders on the market. In my opinion this is all the more reason to make cider at home to share with friends and family and to play around with ways to further explore the complexity and
Yeast Selection for Cider
FREEWhen you decide how to turn your apples (or apple juice) into this time-honored but also trendy beverage, you are faced with more choices than ever before. Explore the world of yeast possibilities before you ferment your next batch of cider.
Cider for Beer Lovers
FREEFall means apples, and apples mean hard cider. But don’t skip using hops, spices, and your favorite yeast strains!
Back Sweetening Hard Cider
Digital and Plus Members OnlyUse these techniques for adding sugar back to your hard cider after it ferments to dryness.
Single-Varietal Cider: Tips from the Pros
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThree cidermakers discuss single-varietal hard ciders.
Hopped Cider
FREEHop heads can take a break from drinking IPAs as more and more cidermakers are adding hops to their beverages.
Making Ice Cider
Digital and Plus Members OnlyIf you like making hard cider, you might enjoy making ice cider. Try fermenting this delicious dessert beverage that hails from the cool climate of Québec.