Bramley Apple Cider

[BobS]

Hi All - Newbie here, and newbie cider brewer too looking for some guidance!

I have a large Bramley apple tree that always produces too much fruit so have bought a press and am now looking for good recipes for making cider with the juice - both apple and flavoured such as strawberry/lime

I also would appreciate a list of what kit I'll need and any recommendations for good suppliers around Northampton to buy it from.

Thanks
Bob

 

[Robin54]

I MAY BE TOTALLY WRONG-but you can't make cider from bramleys alone. If you have no other apples available you may have to add some sweetened apple juice as well. Im sure some real experts will be along shortly

 

[scott78]

you should be ok with Bramleys, once they drop leave them for a few weeks until they start to soften. wasp damage or bruised fruit is still OK but remove any moldy or squishy fruit. used Lalvin 71b yeast to reduce the acidity and you should have an OK cider especially if you intend to mix it with other flavors.

 

[Graz]

Always wondered about using cooking apples for cider as we have a tree that when it does crop can produce huge amounts of fruit. It hasn't the last few years though as we've been pruning it quite a bit to reduce it's height. Will give it a go next time we have fruit.

 

[Jaffa91]

Always wondered about using cooking apples for cider as we have a tree that when it does crop can produce huge amounts of fruit. It hasn't the last few years though as we've been pruning it quite a bit to reduce it's height. Will give it a go next time we have fruit.

I have just attempted with the apple trees in my Garden.

I assumed that they were all producing cooking apples, however after picking a random selection from each tree and pressed them, the juice is more on the sweet side rather than the acidic.

I am now in the fermentation stages so keep an eye out for the Brewdays section and I'll post up the results.


If you are know they are all cooking apples, I was recommended by a few members here to add a variety of apples with the cookers to produce a better tasting cider.

Regards,

J

 

[user 4004]

You will get a sweet juice from what ever apples you crush, apple juice is quite high in sugar, you can normally expect around 7% vol from juice alone, do not add any sugar you will just kill the apple flavour, the only juice which will not seem sweet is from bitter cider apples because of the high tannin levels in it.
From Bramleys alone you will end up with quite a sharp cider with not much body, my advice would be to collect some crab apples and add to the mix, this will add the tannin that you require.

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