Pumpkin Cider.

[liampenn]

I have a large apple tree in my garden. And this year I was hoping to pick them all and juice (with a cheap juicer from argos) them and make them into cider. I will add tannin and malic acid to the apple juice as I don't think they are cider apples.
I also grow pumpkin which is also ready at the same time and I was hopping to add it to my cider.
To do this I would boil the pumpkin in the apple juice. Then squeeze all the juices out of the pumpkin (+ leaving it to drip drain).
I got the idea from a Pumpkin Wine recipe where they boil the pumpkin in water. But I thought if I boiled it in my apple juice it will give it more body (plus making it a 'Pumpkin and Apple Cider').

However my only worry is it I loose all the pumpkin flavour in the fermentation?

Any help would be much appreciated!
Cheers,
Liam.

 

[Proper English Brew]

Im bumping this thread. As none has answered this mans question.
Good Luck with it, Mike.

 

[shearclass]

made wine with pumpkin and apples, can't comment on cider though. Not drank wine yet, keeping it for halloween onwards.

 

[liampenn]

Hmm, Thanks anyway.
Anybody else?

 

[RobWalker]

As far as ale goes, most people cube it, bake it and then either strain it, or ferment it on the pulp. Pumpkin has a pretty uninteresting raw flavour, but baking brings out all those veggie pie-like flavours you're probably after.

I would also add bacon to it.

 

[liampenn]

Hahh, :lol:
Wouldnt baking the pumpkin mean adding oil to it?
Wont that spoil the brew?

 

[RobWalker]

Naw, you just cube it and put it in the oven until its soft and flavoursome :)

 

[liampenn]

Thats great news! Thanks
:

 

[Ken L]

I once tried marrow wine and the burning question for me is "Why would you want to ruin perfectly good cider?"

 

[liampenn]

"Why would you want to ruin perfectly good cider?"

Why would I not want to make a perfectly unique cider. That could in turn be better than a plain apple cider?

Your logic is flawed... :nono:
:lol:

 

[Ken L]

Why would you go for an entire tree's worth of apples on the hunch that adding pumpkin will improve it when pumpkin isn't exactly anyone's choice of "go to" winemaking ingredients ?

Non flawed logic would suggest that before you throw caution to the wind, you pop down to your nearest Caribbean food outlet, buy a pumpkin and do three one gallon trial batches of cider from supermarket juice (with the usual additives) as testers.
One with pumpkin, one with baked pumpkin and a control with just apple.
You should just have time to get them brewed and taste tested before the fruit are ready.

 

[liampenn]

True points, true points :lol:


I have searched for somewhere that sells pumpkin out of season and I cant find anywhere locally.
However on second thoughts I think your right about just using supermarket juice for the pumpkin and not ruining the real apple from the tree juice.

Thanks for your help,
Liam

 

[Ken L]

As said, try a Caribbean foods outlet which given your location might have to be Bristol.
In Birmingham, these places (both the Caribbean supermarkets and the stalls in the city markets) sell imported pumpkin all year around and are happy to cut whatever weight you fancy experimenting with.
Their pumpkins are a little different to the usual Halloween variety as they are a little flatter in shape and a little dryer in the flesh but have a very similar but slightly more intense flavour.
If you can't find a Caribbean outlet, butternut squash would probably be your best alternative.

 

[RobWalker]

Butternut squash :sick: sounds rough, hahah.

Tried the canned/baking sections of your supermarket? They might sell pie filler.

Yanks tend to add pumpkin pie spice to their beers/ciders too, i've had pumpkin ale and it's almost normal, so maybe you'd benefit from making it a bit more obvious.

Also, on this arguement - experimenting = good.

 

[Casey76]

I'd imagien that butternut would make a fairly good wine actually. I can't see how it would be any different to say, carrot or peapod wine.

If my vine every produces anything I might give it a go actually lol.

They are to rare in the shops to waste one on though

 

[liampenn]

I dont fancy butternut squash wine! :sick:
Or in fact butternut squash cider!
I looked down the tinned fruit section today and there was nothing similar. Im going to keep an eye at Lidl's they might have an american week.
Thanks again Liam.