The Cider Men with Laughter in their Hearts...

[stovie]

...And what a day for it...30 degrees (give or take) ensured we had to start drinking early to stay hydrated in all that heat...

Apples; lots and lots of apples...

First things first, a drink from the bar...

And anoint the press

Juice runs freely...approx 5 gallons from each pressing

Most of it went in the barrels...

Flowing like molten amber in that late summer sun

As the hot day wore on, the breaks between pressings grew longer, for some reason...

But Ollie battled on in the heat...Well he is a lot younger than the rest of us...and he came late...

So, 55 gallons from last year ageing nicely to the left, and 110 gallons fresh today...not bad, and very cheap...

Me and Gray, bushed but happy

 

[Toddy]

Excellent that's the kind of productive hard work that's well worth doing
How long does it set in the barrels before it's really drinkable ?

cheers,
Toddy

 

[British Red]

I'm always impressed by this - year after year!

Nice to see new traditions forming

 

[stovie]

Excellent that's the kind of productive hard work that's well worth doing
How long does it set in the barrels before it's really drinkable ?

cheers,
Toddy

By April you have a very palatable drink, by which time there are two options...bottle or rack into another barrel and leave to age. Either way, 6 months is the minimum.

 

[stovie]

I'm always impressed by this - year after year!

Nice to see new traditions forming

And a new base for the brewing ReD...first time at the new house

 

[markphelan]

Fantastic! I'm off to visit friends in a couple of weeks time to help produce some cider from their apples - apparently they've had a bumper crop this year.

Need to build a scratter this year and do some maintenance on our "press" - a truly "Heath Robinson" affair!

 

[British Red]

And a new base for the brewing ReD...first time at the new house

...very beautiful it is too. Looks like a place with some proper character!

 

[morch]

Great post mate, and a very worthwhile day at the office

Dave

 

[FGYT]

Much smaller scale but we where given by the Sister in-law when they moved house this year one of those little posh presses

so yester day was spent squshin Apples

now have 30ltrs of juice in a plastic barrel

we had a wizzy thing on the end of a drill in a bucket to pulp them which is a PITA and slow

think one of thjese is in order next year

http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Homemade_Scratter

but will need to feed a bigger press

we had an Apple spaniel on guard to to round up any escaping fruit

ATB

Duncan

 

[markphelan]

Completed my scratter mk1 yesterday, seems to work fairly well. Definitely need to get some pulleys and a belt to try and take out some of the vibration from it - difficult to center the holes for the spindle without a lathe!

I used a bit of old fence post and some external ply to encase it. Going to make a lid for it to keep hands out and prevent fruit from being flung back upwards.

 

[Tadpole]

Must, be the season.
I spent most of Saturday/Sunday converting 20kg of apples in to Apple wine (1 gallon), apple sauce (about three pounds), apple and grape Jelly 8 large jars and 6 small jars. All by hand well Mora 760, and a saucepan.
looking at your mountain of apples make be feel quite tired.
my hat is off to you all

 

[stovie]

Completed my scratter mk1 yesterday, seems to work fairly well. Definitely need to get some pulleys and a belt to try and take out some of the vibration from it - difficult to center the holes for the spindle without a lathe!

I used a bit of old fence post and some external ply to encase it. Going to make a lid for it to keep hands out and prevent fruit from being flung back upwards.

I admire your technical skill, and while I feel that WE should be a little more traditional with our Scratting, I have to say, with the quantities we are using I don't feel too guilty about mechanising that aspect of the process...and the garden shredder takes some beating....

 

[GordonM]

Very neat stuff, Stovie!

Gordy

 

[British Red]

but will need to feed a bigger press

Duncan

I'll put a bid on the old one when the time comes!

 

[stovie]

I'll put a bid on the old one when the time comes!

All you need is a couple of fence posts and a trailer screw, Red...

 

[British Red]

Hmmmm

Fence posts I have.......talent at making stuff, I lack!

 

[stovie]

Hmmmm

Fence posts I have.......talent at making stuff, I lack!

You do yourself down, my friend...you have many skills, and I'msure a press would not be beyond you...

The new barrels are fermenting like crazy...first hurdle cleared...It's always worry, thgat first 24-48hrs, waiting on the fermentation kicking off...

 

[hedgesparrow]

i have a brand new wood chipper is this ok to chop up the apples or will the steel react with the apples. like the press was looking at making one do you mind if i copy your press to make one of my own

 

[stovie]

i have a brand new wood chipper is this ok to chop up the apples or will the steel react with the apples. like the press was looking at making one do you mind if i copy your press to make one of my own

The steel has minimal, if any effect on the apples, its more a case of the effect the apples have on the steel. Make sure you wash the chipper down thoroughly and coat with DW40 after use. And you are more than welcome to copy the press. If I can help, let me know...

Ps. Mods, since when were we advertising escort agencies??? Check post above Gone...