How difficult is it to make alcoholic cider at home? Is the process basically the same as making beer?!
Has anyone ever done this, and how hard is it to do? Is it expensive?
Answers: I don't drink a lot of beer, but I do enjoy good cider (Woodchuck, Strongbow, etc.). I've seen those "brew your own beer" kits at various places, and thought about giving it a go, but I would be significantly more interested in brewing my own apple cider, blueberry cider, etc.
Has anyone ever done this, and how hard is it to do? Is it expensive?
As previously mentioned, it is actually easier than brewing beer at home. It's ALMOST as easy as "throw some yeast in a bottle of apple juice and let 'er rip!"...almost.
Here's another good recipe:
http://www.livefromarlington.com/article...
I've had good luck using the organic, unfiltered juice in the glass gallon jugs and a half packet of wine yeast. Above all else, cleanliness it the most important thing to maintain. Good ingredients is second thing, but without proper cleanliness and sanitizing of your equipment, even the best ingredients can be ruined.
If you start with the one gallon method, it's not expensive at all.
A gallon of apple juice in the glass jug, maybe as much as $8.00 (usually less). A packet of dry wine yeast (I usually use a red wine yeast) is around $1.00 and you only need half or less (one is good for up to 5 gallons). An airlock is a good idea for keeping track of the progress and for keeping contaminants out. A rubber stopper with a hole in it and some plastic tubing running into a jar of water works well and costs under $1.00 Some people will tell you to put a balloon on top of the bottle and poke one or two holes in it to relieve pressure...this will work in a pinch, but it's very prone falling off and allowing contamination. You will also need some form of sanitizing solution (since that's the most important part) for your airlock and the secondary container. You will also need some extra tubing to be able to siphon the clearing cider from the first container as the fermentation slows down. So maybe $5 for the sanitizer (I personally swear by Iodophor) and another $2 or 3 for the extra tubing.
So, you're in it for under $20 for your first batch. Then, you only need the apple juice for the next one, so the second batch is just the cost of the juice $8 or less.
Google "home brewing stores" in your local area where you can pick up all the bits that you need...yeast, stoppers, tubing, etc. After you do a couple batches, you'll get an idea if you want to go bigger or expand to beers, wines, meads, etc. Again, your local homebrew store will be handy for the next step.
my dad used to add brown sugar & raisans & let it work. He called it Apple Jack. was GOOD!!!
I don't know...just cut to the chase and get some good vanilla extract. The alcohol's already in it and everything.
I make cider at home. It is actually far easier than beer, no brewing needed. It is closer to wine making, just apple juice (or cider) rather than grape juice.