Homemade hard cider is also called apple wine or Apfelwein (that is the German name for cider) Hard cider is cheap to produce, super easy to make and a really tasty drink that is a cool conversation piece to boot.
Just image that you were to take fall’s crisp blue skies, the red and gold sparkle of hardwood leaves, a subtle touch of wood smoke, and the earthy aroma of heaped baskets in the farm cellar; blend them together into a single sparkling liquid and you have fall’s brilliance and nature’s bounty concentrated in that mellow drink — homemade hard cider.
Making Hard Cider
Hard cider fermentation time usually takes only a few weeks depending on the room temperature, the type of yeast and the amount of extra sugar/ingredients added to the cider.
Most hard cider will at best be between 3 to 6 % alcohol content if you don’t add additional sugars. If you are want to try hard cider making to maximize alcohol content, you will need to add additional sugars and use a yeast that can withstand higher alcohol content levels.
If you are lucky enough to have some apple trees or access to free apples, then most likely you are only going to be making hard cider once a year in the fall.
You will need to have an apple grinder and cider press, both of which you can make easily yourself by following the plans on this site.
If you are making hard cider year round or in smaller batches by using store bought apple cider or apple juice, try following the recipes and procedures on this site.
