Cider making

Cassiepod · Cider making

I have a friend with overloaded apple trees and he's willing to give me as many as I'd like. I'd love to try my hand at cider making. The only problem is I don't have a press, I've got the idea to use 4 G clamps and 2 pieces of wood, but was just going to ask, Does anyone have a press that I could borrow/visit and use of a weekend? I'll happily share the spoils!

It feels cheeky to ask but, if you don't ask you don't get either....

Many thanks, Cassie

wildgarlic

Nothing wrong with asking... unfortunately I don't have one, otherwise I'd lend it to you.

We've got a fair few apples on our trees and we're thinking that we might make cider with them this year. If anyone does have a press that they are happy to lend out then perhaps could I please go on the list after Cassie

IainC

I don't have a press either, but I'll happily do any tasting you require?

Always fancied having a go at it myself but we got hardly any apples this year, although my folks tree had heaps.

Cassiepod

I can see the need for a cider making party....

I also have two demijohns of Stoney's treacle ale on the go and I am amazed at the rate at which they are bubbling inside they look like a bottle fo fizzy pop. It's amazing! Hope it tastes good too

Ina

And if anybody has more apples than they can use in their cider, I'd happily take some off them...

I had three trees last year; one died, and the other two didn't have a single apple between them.

(Ok, one of them was only just planted...)

IainC

wildgarlic

If mine are ready you can take some on Sat Ina

Ina

Oooh - thank you! I don't want a lot - just for a bit of stewed apple, or apple puree... Or eating, of course!

Stonehead

Unfortunately I only just saw this post. If you need a press in future, PM me and I'll lend you mine. It's only a little one but we've managed to produce enough juice to make 30 gallons of cider with it. I also have a gadget for smashing the apples to bits first.

As for the treacle ale, you'll either love it or loathe it. It's a not a half measure brew. I love it. The OH loathes it.

IainC

Have seen the rough guide to making scrumpy in the SS-ish book which came from yourself (think I seen it on the old neeps site too). What kind of stuff do you use for cleaning all your implements, etc to start with?

Stonehead

Bruclean. Very effective, alkaline but not caustic and safe with plastics/aluminium as well as steel and glass. It actually lifts crud off and sanitises making it extremely effective. Just don't leave it in contact with stainless steel for long periods (ie more than 5-10 minutes) as it can pit the surface.

I also use boiling water to scald metal, wood and heat-proof plastics.

If you don't like a chlorine-based sanitant, the other possibilty is an iodine-based one (ie iodophor under one its brand names). It's not a cleaner though, so you have to thoroughly scrub vessels and utensils first. At proper dilutions, though, it sanitises with just 60 seconds of contact.

Chlorine-based sanitants need to be rinsed, while theoretically iodine-based ones don't. I rinse both with clean water and leave to air dry.

Brupaks also make iodophor, but there are other brands.

Cassiepod

Well I got a wee bit excited and have built myself a press, thankyou very much for the offer.... however mushing up the apples has become my next puzzler because I know it's going to take ages in my kitchen mixer... I was hoping to do my first press this Saturday though - all welcome if you want to make it an afternoon at ours

(outside Banchory)

Stoney - I don't think I can find time to pop up to borrow your apple musher befroe tomorrow, but do you have any bright ideas on improvised ways to mush the apples enough to press them? I've got about 3 or 4 stone of apples to play with. The other question is also how mush juice might they produce?

Cassie

Stonehead

A food processor will do the job, but don't overdo it. You want lots of small fragments in a sloppy mess. You don't want a puree.

I have a food-grade bucket with a lid that has a hole in it. A metal shaft passes through the hole and has a blade at one end. The other end goes into a drill chuck. You fill the bucket with quartered apples (it takes longer with whole ones), pop the lid and fire up the drill, gradually forcing the blade down into the apples. It's very effective.

Another method, which I've used, is to chop them with a stainless steel spade and then bash them with a clean piece of 4x4 (oak is ideal as its heavy and doesn't taint the apples; if you have to use pine or other resinous wood pop a strong plastic bag over the smashing end). Put the apples in a large, clean bucket or half cask, then mash and chop madly with the spade. When you have lots of small bits, switch to the piece of wood.

IainC

Thought you weren't meant to use anything metal?

IainC

Stonehead

Stainless steel is fine. It doesn't taint the apples as mild steel or cast iron would.

And you can use a Land Rover Defender to extract the juice. I've done it myself. Put a cleaned, cut-down 44-gallon drum on the ground, lay several hard wood blocks in the "bucket", put a hardwood chopping board on the blocks, and then a wrapped cake of pomace on the board. Place another chopping board on top of that.

Then roll your Land Rover forward so the front axle is over the centre of the top board. Put a bottle jack between the board and the axle, then jack away until the tyres almost clear the ground and the juice will pour out. It's a very effective two-ton apple press.

Lord_Azrael

IainC

Lord_Azrael

I'd need to consume a fair bit of the stuff before I start singing anything!