Total novice/idiot to brewing cider & wine

[Rob Morgan]

My sister has asked me to make some wine or cider from her apple tree, for her wedding, which is may 4th 2013.
i dont have a press, nor do i intend on spending any money on one.
i've read a bit about jelly/jam bags, which i think is my easiest solution.
how many apples do i need for a batch?

i've read that i need to chop them up, and boil in some water, then leave for a few days, before straining. but nothing has told me how many apples to how much water.

whatever i do, needs to be a fairy safe brew. i cant have 75% of the guests :sick: but i want them to go :thumb: :clap:

recipes welcome....

is there a general rule, i.e. 2kg apples = 1ltr of juice

 

[oldbloke]

A big ask on her part!
What variety of apples? They may not be suitable for cider anyway!

 

[Rob Morgan]

I KNOW! My sister is a cheeky mare!
I don't know what type of apples they are. Is there a list of suitable/non-suitable apples?
She wanted me to produce something for the wedding favours. Details have not been finalised, as to what or how much. What sort of volume of apples do you need? Or does that depend on what variety they are???

 

[oldbloke]

Duno mate, I only do TurboCider. I asnwered mainly so your post wouldn't get lost way down the list. An expert will be along shortly, I'm sure.

 

[Whiney-1]

For what its worth, I've made cider from (random) apples in the past with decent results.

Getting the juice: I used a juicer. You don't get as much as you would from a press, and it takes a while as you won't be able to run the juicer continually without burning motor out.
Then I added campden tablet to the juice. This to kill naturally occuring yeasts, spores, etc etc. And I added pectolase, though apples are low in pectin so this was probably overkill. leave in big bucket for couple days and stir 3-or-so times a day.
I then added to DJ's, along with yeast, yeast nutrient, and if they're sweet eating apples then add some tannin/tea and malic acid/lemon juice.
You need to be prepared for racking into fresh DJ's as their will be a lot of pulp settling to the bottom - again, this might just be becuase of using a juicer not a press.

I never had the same cider twice, but it was always nice.

How many apples? A LOT. Then some... Largely becuase juicers aren't that efficient, also because if all wedding guests are having cider and she has 75 guests, then....

 

[GeorgeSalt]

I'll make cider from whatever apples I can get hold of, but OH tends to take most of the juice for juice.

West Country cider seems to be a bit of a black art/science.. in the east of the country it seems that cider was just as likely to be made from just about any apple available. Doesn't mean it will turn out any good though.

Wedding favours.. any idea how much you'll require in terms of numbers? You can do yourself a favour by using small bottles, I use 200ml Nocturne bottles with a wood/cork top for gift bottles of liqueurs. That's an alternative, a liqueur that includes the apples as a flavouring but isn't dependent upon the apples to carry the entire success of the end result. It should be possible to make a decent liqueur with just about any type of apple. The cost will be increased (use the smallest bottles you can get away with), you'll need a middle of the road alcohol base - either vodka, gin or brandy depending on the recipe. Given it's a Spring wedding I think it should be a fresh tasting recipe, rather than an autumnal spiced recipe.


200ml bottles x2 for brides parents and grooms parents
100ml bottles x 40 for favours (or you could go for a 50ml miniature*)

Just under 4.5l, or 6 bottles of spirit - should be around the £100 mark including the base alcohol, ingredients, empty bottles and closures.


* a bit of research turns up a couple of suppliers of new empty 5cl miniature bottles and demijohns.

 

[Rob Morgan]

thanks for the replies! i'll have a word with my sister, and get back to you

 

[narmour]

I'm no expert but as far as I'm aware you really do need a press for the best results in getting the juice out of apples. There are home brew shops that rent them though.

 

[Rob Morgan]

I'm no expert but as far as I'm aware you really do need a press for the best results in getting the juice out of apples. There are home brew shops that rent them though.

never thought f that!
any idea what the going rate is?

 

[scott78]

hi
how much are you planning on making, and how many apples do you think you have?

 

[Rob Morgan]

hi
how much are you planning on making, and how many apples do you think you have?

have not got a clue! I've tried to ignore my sister, in the hope she will not ask again! :whistle:
however, i will see her tomorrow, so i may ask the question. i might discretely ask my brother-in-law to be though