{"id":3895,"date":"2020-10-05T10:00:21","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T15:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foell.org\/justin\/?p=3895"},"modified":"2020-10-05T10:09:20","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T15:09:20","slug":"super-simple-hard-cider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foell.org\/justin\/super-simple-hard-cider\/","title":{"rendered":"Super Simple Hard Cider"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My wife got me this hard cider kit from Brooklyn BrewShop<\/a> for Christmas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unfortunately apple cider was very out of season at the time. As we get back into the height of cider season, I want to tell you how easy it is to make hard cider with three (3!) ingredients and have it ready to drink in about a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Brooklyn BrewShop kit<\/a> is an easy single fermentation kit that contains a gallon jug, airlock, siphon, sanitizer, and enough yeast to make three batches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only other thing you’ll need are bottles. I like the swing-top E-Z Cap bottles<\/a>. You can get them at your local brew shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like I said, this is super-simple, there are only three ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Apple Cider with no preservatives<\/em> (no potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate)<\/li>
  2. Champagne Yeast – the kit includes 3 packets of Red Star Premier Cuvee yeast<\/li>
  3. Honey or Fizz Drops<\/a> from your local brew store<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The Cider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Finding apple cider with no preservatives can be tricky. I’ve noticed that almost all ciders use it. Luckily, the SugarBee brand, which is available at my local grocery store, contains no preservatives<\/em>. And it makes fantastic hard cider!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Brewing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Brewing is as simple as pouring in room-temperature cider and adding yeast. You should follow the kit instructions<\/a> to make sure your equipment is sanitized. But it’s really as easy as pouring in a gallon of cider and a packet of yeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Put the airlock on and set a reminder for two weeks later. Maybe give the bottle a light shake after a week to re-activate any live yeasts that have settled to the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bottling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    After two to three weeks of fermentation, we’re ready to bottle. During bottling, we want to make sure a majority of the yeast stays on the bottom and doesn’t get transferred during the bottling process. You should be carefully moving around your fermenter to keep things settled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before bottling, we need to decide how you’re going to add the priming sugar – are you using honey or fizz drops? If you’re using honey, follow the instructions<\/a> and heat it with water. Then you need to combine it with the cider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since you don’t want to stir the cider in the fermenting vessel and get all the yeast off the bottom, you either have to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Siphon the cider into a sanitized bucket or pot and combine with the priming sugar OR<\/li>
    2. Put equal amounts of priming sugar into your bottles.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      If you’re using fizz drops, just add a drop to each bottle for 12-16oz bottles – the E-Z Cap bottles I like are 16oz, and a gallon of cider fills eight (8) of these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Either way, watch this video on How to Bottle to get used to their simple (but effective) siphon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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