5 ms·

Not true, cider is the new deal. ;-) After becoming a homeowner, I throttled back on my beer brewing hobby and focused on brewing hard cider from my own fruit.

by pwenzel 13y ago

Not true, cider is the new deal. ;-) After becoming a homeowner, I throttled back on my beer brewing hobby and focused on brewing hard cider from my own fruit. Part of my stockpile: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/10919772826_8b39ab55de.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/10919772826_8b39ab55de.jp... Few things are as satisfying as tapping a homebrew cider that chilled in a snow drift on your roof.

quaffapint 13y ago
How many months does it take until the cider's ready from fruit to drink?
- jffry 13y ago
  Depends on how obsessive you are about clarity. I've made apple cider and drank it after only a month in primary. It was still a little cloudy but otherwise fine. I also have ciders that I've aged for 1/2/3 years, which have gotten crystal clear and taken on an even more wonderful flavor with time. Some years, apple harvests where I live are good, and other years not so great. Not so great apples = not so great cider = benefits more from aging.
- pwenzel 13y ago
  I began harvesting fruit for my 2013 batch around Labor Day, and drank some for New Years. It improves with every month of aging. Carbonation takes time and helps to build character.
winslow 13y ago
Have you tried making any graff? If not I highly suggest it! I made a batch and it turned out to be arguably my best homebrew yet. Currently making a blueberry graff now and mead kit should be delivered today. Any recipes you have shared on brewtoad/elsewhere of your cider? [1] - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f81/graff-malty-slightly-hopped-cider-117117/ http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f81/graff-malty-slightly-hopped-... [2] - http://mnbeer.com/2012/09/21/brewing-tv-68-how-to-make-graf/ http://mnbeer.com/2012/09/21/brewing-tv-68-how-to-make-graf/
mynameishere 13y ago
Mead will be the next big thing. (It originates from insects. What's not to love?)
- marvin 13y ago
  Second this. My roommates go to an annual swordfighting festival and always bring back as much homebrewed mead as they are allowed to buy. It's the nectar of the gods.
- puzzlingcaptcha 13y ago
  Isn't honey crazy expensive as compared to grain and hops? Anyone with mead-making experience?
dageshi 13y ago
Given the massive ramp up in popularity in cider in the UK over the past 10 years I wouldn't be at all surprised at that being a good bet in the USA. In the UK we went from the cider section in the local supermarket having a handful of generic brands to being the same size as the "non generic beer" section.

by pwenzel 13y ago

quaffapint 13y ago

How many months does it take until the cider's ready from fruit to drink?

jffry 13y ago
Depends on how obsessive you are about clarity. I've made apple cider and drank it after only a month in primary. It was still a little cloudy but otherwise fine. I also have ciders that I've aged for 1/2/3 years, which have gotten crystal clear and taken on an even more wonderful flavor with time. Some years, apple harvests where I live are good, and other years not so great. Not so great apples = not so great cider = benefits more from aging.
pwenzel 13y ago
I began harvesting fruit for my 2013 batch around Labor Day, and drank some for New Years. It improves with every month of aging. Carbonation takes time and helps to build character.

winslow 13y ago

Have you tried making any graff? If not I highly suggest it! I made a batch and it turned out to be arguably my best homebrew yet. Currently making a blueberry graff now and mead kit should be delivered today. Any recipes you have shared on brewtoad/elsewhere of your cider? [1] - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f81/graff-malty-slightly-hopped-cider-117117/ http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f81/graff-malty-slightly-hopped-... [2] - http://mnbeer.com/2012/09/21/brewing-tv-68-how-to-make-graf/ http://mnbeer.com/2012/09/21/brewing-tv-68-how-to-make-graf/

mynameishere 13y ago

Mead will be the next big thing. (It originates from insects. What's not to love?)

marvin 13y ago
Second this. My roommates go to an annual swordfighting festival and always bring back as much homebrewed mead as they are allowed to buy. It's the nectar of the gods.
puzzlingcaptcha 13y ago
Isn't honey crazy expensive as compared to grain and hops? Anyone with mead-making experience?

dageshi 13y ago

Given the massive ramp up in popularity in cider in the UK over the past 10 years I wouldn't be at all surprised at that being a good bet in the USA. In the UK we went from the cider section in the local supermarket having a handful of generic brands to being the same size as the "non generic beer" section.