Make Cider Sweet or Hard from Fresh Apples

Making Hard Cider

Hard cider was once the drink of choice in early America. Today, sweet cider is enjoyed at harvest time and the hard stuff is making a comeback. The secret to making sweet or hard cider is the blending of apples at pressing time.

A balanced blend of sweet and tart apples is needed. Hard or sweet, it's another great activity to enjoy at home. Unfortunately for the home cider and apple wine maker, the addition of stabilizers to fresh pressed apple cider is becoming common. This is being done to extend the products shelf life. Cider which has been treated in this way will spoil before it ferments.

LEARN TO MAKE HARD CIDER

CIDER SWEET & HARD $14.95 Discover the pleasure of making and drinking fresh cider with this complete guide to sweet or hard cider. 216 pg. by Proulx and Nichols

THE BEST APPLE CIDER $3.95
Instructions, recipes for sweet or hard cider. 32 pg. by A. Proulx

Cider Pressing Equipment
APPLE CRUSHER $219.95 PICTURED ON TOP
Made with heavy-duty cast iron construction, our new Vintners Best Apple Crusher includes a wooden mounting base that can be mounted horizontally on a table or vertically on a corner wall. The wood drum has stainless steel crushing blades and stainless steel chute. An easy-to-turn handle makes crushing large quantities of fruit quick and effortless. The crusher measures 16” x 12.8” x 18” and is backed with a limited one year manufacturer's warranty.

APPLE CRUSHER & FRUIT PRESS $499.95
This deal brings you a total package. The No.25 Fruit and Grape press is just the right size for pressing out 5 and 10 gallon batches of cider as well as any other fruits including grapes. Includes re-usable pressing bag. Basket is 10" x 14".

Hard Cider Making Equipment Kits
5 GAL. HARD CIDER EQUIPMENT KIT $119.95
Complete equipment package for making 5 gallons of your favorite hard cider from any concentrate or fresh fruit. Primary fermenter with lid, 5 gallon Better Bottle, airlock and #10 stopper, hydrometer, siphon hose, bottling bucket with spigot, bottle filling wand, bottle cleaning brush, sanitizer, bottle caps and capper, Campden, yeast and text book.

UBS 3 GALLON EQUIPMENT KIT $89.95
This system can make it all! The Universal Brewing System can produce a variety of fermented beverages by combining the common equipment needed along with the unique items specific to each recipe. The 3 Gallon UBS uses techniques and recipes developed over hundreds of years to produce 5 six-packs of homemade beer, wine, mead, or cider. An extensive instruction booklet is included providing recipes utilizing fresh ingredients available at any farmer’s market and most supermarkets. Instructions and recipes for the large variety of beer and winemaking ingredients available from Leeners.com are also included. You will find the convenience of these quality products, combined with their year-round availability, will make your new hobby enjoyable and rewarding.

4¼ gal. Pail with Lid

3 Gallon Better Bottle

Econo Lock Air Lock

#10 Drilled Stopper

Curved Racking Cane

4 ft. Siphon Hose

Jumbo Straining Bag

Bucket Clip

Shut Off Clamp

Bottle Filling Wand

8 oz. Sanitizer

Plunger Corker

1st Quality Corks

Bottle Capper

60 Carbonation Drops

60 Crown Bottle Caps

2 oz. Acid Blend

1 oz. Grape Tannin

1 oz. Potassium Sorbate

1 oz. Pectic Enzyme

1 oz. Yeast Energizer

1 oz. Campden Tablets

1 pk. Cote des Blanc Yeast

1 pk. Montrachet Yeast

1 pk. Cuvee Wine Yeast

1 pk. Champagne Yeast

Recipes and Instructions

VINTNER'S HARVEST APPLE WINE BASE 96 oz. $39.95
Unfortunately for the hard cider and apple winemaker, the addition of stabilizers to fresh pressed apple cider is becoming common. Vintner’s Harvest Apple Wine Base, made from choice Northwest apple varieties, maximizes flavor, aroma and tartness. Used in conjunction with the UBS 3 GALLON EQUIPMENT KIT, hard cider is as easy to make as it is to drink! Recipes for apple wine also included.

WINE MEAD & CIDER PACK $11.95
Individual bottles of acid blend, grape tannin, potassium sorbate, pectic enzyme, yeast energizer, campden tablets, and 1 each of Cote des Blanc, Montrachet, Cuvee and Champagne wine yeast.

BEER & CIDER BOTTLING PACK $6.95
UBS refill pack for bottling beer and hard cider. The package contains standard crown bottle caps and pre-measured priming sugar tablets for sixty 12 oz. or thirty 22 oz. beer bottles. A bottle capper is required.