Cider makers, what do you want for Christmas?

[specialsomeone]

What do you want for Christmas this year? Anything equipment you wish someone had given you when you started out making cider?

 

[MarkKF]

Floor corker to do cork & cages.

 

[bembel]

This book is by FAR the best guide I have read. I wish I had a copy when I started out. Many many batches would have been better.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobil...d=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP4732&k_clickid=3x4732

 

[dmtaylor]

I wish I could get a peck each of 20 different kinds of apples so I could learn more about which varieties are best for cider. I have several favorites already, but more knowledge is more knowledge! And the best knowledge comes from real life experience, not from books or equipment!

 

[derrabe]

If we are making a wishlist, I would like a kegerator, some kegs and maybe a fastfermentor or other conical fermentor

 

[stella_tigre]

Floor corker is wonderful - I used the hand plunger for exactly one bottle, and anything that takes two people to do is OUT. Claude's book is good, it's my main reference.

We've been talking about a keezer setup for kegging (with room for a lagering keg or two.) Hmmm probably a better scratter setup - we aren't loving the rotary type, leaves things a bit too chunky, and we probably could get better yields.

 

[madscientist451]

A used (white wine) barrel to age cider in.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

About 10 acres of good land & enough cider apple cultivars to plant a 5 acre orchard. That would be a good start.
Regards, GF.

 

[JimRausch]

A cider press. There's hundreds of trees with millions of apples just going to waste.......
At $5-$6 per gallon of fresh cider, I limit myself to making 1 batch per year.