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With fall in full swing and winter right around the bend, the thought of hard cider alone is enough to warm my belly. And while there are a number of fine organic hard ciders to choose from on the market, making your own is all the more satisfying. So when I stumbled upon this guide to making your own hard cider on Mother Earth News, I realized I had myself an autumn DIY project on my hands.
It's a fairly involved process, and it helps (though it's not necessary) to have some previous brewing experience. That should certainly help you in acquiring the required tools. Here's what you'll need:
- Fresh, organic apple cider. MOE recommends buying it in season, and preservative free, from an orchard. But if that's not an option, make sure your commercial cider is "cold pasteurized"—so that no microorganisms can make their way into your brew.
- Get some yeast. Though any kind will work, MOE recommends using the exceptionally affordable dry organic wine yeast as opposed to specialized cider yeast.
- A bucket. One food-grade plastic bucket with a spigot, lid and an airlock should do the trick.
- Plastic Tubing. 5 feet of 5/16-inch food-grade comes recommended.
- A spoon. Stainless steel or plastic works best. Use a Viking-style spoon at your own risk.
- Empty bottles or jars, should you decide to package up your spoils.
Now you're ready to cider. Follow the simple instructions put forward by MOE, and you'll have yourself a delicious, homemade seasonal treat before you know it.
More on Organic Spirits:
New Grist Organic Beer
How Green Is Your Beer?
TreeHugger TV: Organic and Biodynamic Wines
Salivating over sustainable eats? Learn how to make your own with help from Emeril Lagasse in Planet Green TV's organic cooking show, Emeril Green.
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