Anyone make hard apple cider at home?

[Orange Jennyslipper]

SIL and I are thinking about giving it a shot. No late frost and too much rain produced a nice crop of green apples. No idea what variety. Also have a ton of small peaches so we may try our hand at some wine as well while we've already got the women in the family riled up.

Any recommendations for buying wine and cider brewing equipment, bottles and yeast and whatnot in OKC or Tulsa? About equidistant for us.

Any thoughts about online sources?

 

[Cowguy]

SIL and I are thinking about giving it a shot. No late frost and too much rain produced a nice crop of green apples. No idea what variety. Also have a ton of small peaches so we may try our hand at some wine as well while we've already got the women in the family riled up.

Any recommendations for buying wine and cider brewing equipment, bottles and yeast and whatnot in OKC or Tulsa? About equidistant for us.

Any thoughts about online sources?

Sounds like a great thing to serve at a tailgate (ahem)

I know there are home brewers here that can help. I think @CarrolltonPoke home brews.

I don't know how it would work with apples or peaches, but any year we get a decent amount of sand plums, dad makes sand plum vodka. Fill a half gallon mason jar with washed plums. Add some sugar (not sure how much). Fill with cheap vodka to the top, and seal with the lid. Turn 180 degrees every week for six weeks. Strain .. Plum vodka. Really tasty and will flat kick your butt.

 

[ThorOdinson13]

If you find something please share. I've been hesitant to try making a cider.

 

[hollywood]

A few weeks back the Walls Discount Center over in Del City was selling Cider making kits, but went by yesterday and noticed that they were all gone. (about half a dozen or so).

Looked to be nearly identical to just about every home beer brewing kit I've ever seen, but I wasn't really getting deep into the details.

Seems to be quite a few on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Beer-Arc...7a2fd0&pid=100011&rk=3&rkt=10&sd=111683542397

 

[CarrolltonPoke]

I haven't made cider myself but it is a fairly simple process relative to making beer. If you are in Tulsa I would recommend High Gravity Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies. They are at the SW corner of 71st and Memorial. I am not familiar with the OKC area homebrew supply shops but any of them should be able to set you up.

 

[JonnyVito]

Ya I don't home brew but actually watched a show on cider brewing on PBS the other morning and they said it isn't hard to brew cider but it is hard to make a good tasting cider. I would just make sure you do all your research on the brewing processes and I would think you would be fine.

 

[Orange Jennyslipper]

It does look like a very dimple process. Turns out there's a home brewing store in OKC and Tulsa and lots online. Quite a few youtube instructions as well.

We've got books coming next week. Going to read up before we buy any equipment. We'd be interested in any tried and true recipes. Hate to waste apples and time with too much experimenting.

Our neighbor puts a green Jolly Rancher in each batch and swears that's the secret. How much sugar and the kind of yeast make a difference, too.

Kinda like to try mead. Oldest brew ever. Fermented honey.

 

[CowboyJD]

It does look like a very dimple process. Turns out there's a home brewing store in OKC and Tulsa and lots online. Quite a few youtube instructions as well.

We've got books coming next week. Going to read up before we buy any equipment. We'd be interested in any tried and true recipes. Hate to waste apples and time with too much experimenting.

Our neighbor puts a green Jolly Rancher in each batch and swears that's the secret. How much sugar and the kind of yeast make a difference, too.

Kinda like to try mead. Oldest brew ever. Fermented honey.

Big bottle of mead in my fridge right now......commercially brewed, though.

 

[Orange Jennyslipper]

Big bottle of mead in my fridge right now......commercially brewed, though.

If it was good enough for Beowulf, it's good enough for me.

 

[EvilPOKES]

High Gravity is the place to go imo. Those people are awesome and will answer any question!