Hard Cider Brew

Hello HVFNers. I'm thinking of hosting a group cider brew on Sunday October 31 at 11:00 am. Yes I know it's Halloween, but I figure we'll be done by 1:00 or 2:00 so we can all go get our spook on. Come in costume, or not.

Hard cider is surprisingly easy to make, and I figure it's a great intro to homebrewing beer--a lot of the principles and techniques are the same. I'll probably be bottling a batch (or two) of beer I've already made on that day. Bottling is kind of tedious, but you can observe and be a part of the whole process in one day!

If you're a beginning homebrewer, an advanced one, or just are curious about the whole shebang, why not come on over and we'll swap ideas and, well, beer.

--Matt

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Permalink Reply by Meghan E. Murphy on October 21, 2010 at 9:33am

Can I bring cider and bottles and cook up some hard cider as well? I can get organic cider and I'd prefer to use that. But I would need some guidance on what kind of bottles and where to get them.

Permalink Reply by Matt Rettig on October 21, 2010 at 12:50pm

I'm thinking everyone could bring a few gallons of cider. I can't handle more than about 12 gallons total, but I figure that's plenty.

One important thing to realize about this process--you won't be going home with any cider at the end. It has to ferment for about 10-14 days in large buckets which I have, and then it gets bottled. I'd be happy to deliver the finished product to participants when it's ready so we don't have to organize another meetup. It should be ready to drink by Thanksgiving!

I am actually running low on bottles, so beer bottles of any size will be welcome, so long as they are NOT the twist-off variety. (You'll know this because the twist-offs have the screw threads on the mouth of the bottle.) If you can soak the labels off, so much the better, but it's not necessary. (A solution of OxiClean works the best.) I'm thinking wine bottles might work if we can jam the corks back in them after we fill them. Also, the swing-top bottles (Grolsch-type bottles) with the rubber gaskets are fine.

Hope this helps!

--Matt

Permalink Reply by Victoria Layton on October 22, 2010 at 11:43am

New to this group, but LOVE the idea of making hard cider. Where will this event take place?

Permalink Reply by Paul O'Hanlon on October 22, 2010 at 2:44pm

Matt, I'm hoping to make it to your cider brew. This year will be my 4th season brewing cider, and I'm always interested to meet other people doing it. It's sounds like yours is a bit different from what I do. I ferment in a bucket and then into glass... and I rack at least twice more and bottle in the spring. Is your yeast still alive enough to carbonate your cider in the bottle?

P. talk soon, hope to make it.

Permalink Reply by Matt Rettig on October 22, 2010 at 5:49pm

It'll be at my house--I'll message people my address and directions next week. I live in Marlboro, which is about 5 miles N of Newburgh, 15 SE of New Paltz, or 12 SW of Poughkeepsie.

--Matt

Permalink Reply by Betty Annn Robbins Greenwald on October 28, 2010 at 3:26pm

Ther is no mention as to where it is taking place????

Permalink Reply by Meghan E. Murphy on October 28, 2010 at 4:55pm

Send Matt a message and he will give you the address. The "send a message" link is under his picture in his profile: http://www.hvfoodnetwork.com/profile/MattRettig

Hard Cider Brew

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