Greatings

[Shotgunwilly]

Greetings from the great white north.

With the working with the LCBO learning about about how products are made to help server my customers I got an idea that started to fermenting in the back of my head.

As I was walking the picket line during the strike that is just finishing the idea had finished fermenting and came to the front of my mind. I want to try to make my own cider. It just happenes that cider is what me and the wife like to drink.

So done some reading and window shopping to look at prices. I now have my Christmas list set so I can give it to people so they can figure out what to get me.

I hope to start fermenting my first gallon in early 2025

 

[TexasTea]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jschein]

Welcome!

 

[IslandLizard]

Welcome to our forums!

Just, so you know, apple season has already started, this is the best time of the year to make ciders, not March.

If you want to wait till Winter/Spring, you'll have to buy apple juice, making sure it doesn't have any sorbates or other preservatives in it that prevent fermentation.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Welcome!

Perhaps some light reading in the cider section you'll get more inspiration and get started now.

Good luck and happy cider making!

 

[Shotgunwilly]

Welcome to our forums!

Just, so you know, apple season has already started, this is the best time of the year to make ciders, not March.

If you want to wait till Winter/Spring, you'll have to buy apple juice, making sure it doesn't have any sorbates or other preservatives in it that prevent fermentation.

I wish I could start sooner but have to wait for Christmas to get my items

 

[T Murph]

Welcome @Shotgunwilly you have been give good advise above and I agree. This is the best time of year for ciders as apple harvest is underway in many parts of the country. Of course you can make decent ciders from juice but you must pay close attention to what juice you purchase. It must be raw apple juice with NO preservatives.

Good luck going forward and keep us informed with your progress.

 

[IslandLizard]

No need to wait.
You can ferment in pretty much any vessel you may already have or ask family and friends. Any container that can hold liquid, has a lid/cap or fits a rubber stopper, and can be sanitized (smooth inner surface).

For example, 2 and 3 liter soda bottles, large mason jars, 1 gallon wine jugs ($5-6), buckets (with lid) of any size (your bakery may have icing buckets, free for the asking) and various other containers such as those that held snack doodles, etc.

Drill a hole in the lid to stick a rubber grommet in and an airlock.

You may want a hydrometer (~$10) but that's not even always needed.

 

[MaxStout]

Gallon glass jug, a $2 airlock, $1 packet of wine yeast and you're in business. About $10 total.

Get apple cider from the orchards in the autumn when it's fresh, and no preservatives.

Of course, you can make hard cider from store juice any time, just read the label to make sure it has no sorbates (ascorbic acid is OK). Check out EdWort's Apfelwein recipe.

 

[Shotgunwilly]

You are all a bunch of bad influences and I am glad to be hear

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

You are all a bunch of bad influences and I am glad to be hear

Wait till you really start going, you'll be influenced even more!

Get fermenting!!

 

[Shotgunwilly]

Well after searching Facebook market place got a deal on a few items so. I now have a 1 gal carboy, auto syphon with hose, racking cain and a hydrometer

 

[T Murph]

Be careful @Shotgunwilly you are on that slippery slope into the insanity of homebrewing for which there is no known return. Enjoy your journey. Most of us will enjoy this hobby for life.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Well after searching Facebook market place got a deal on a few items so. I now have a 1 gal carboy, auto syphon with hose, racking cain and a hydrometer

Sweet! You won't go wrong collecting a few items to brew with. Make smart purchases then as you upgrade sell or give away what you don't need.

 

[Shotgunwilly]

Be careful @Shotgunwilly you are on that slippery slope into the insanity of homebrewing for which there is no known return. Enjoy your journey. Most of us will enjoy this hobby for life.

My wife thinks I am mad as it is and this has not help my case at all

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

My wife thinks I am mad as it is and this has not help my case at all

After you get a few brews going maybe your wife will come round and embrace your hobby, encouraging you to brew more.

Twenty seven years in and I'm waiting for my wife to get there . . . . but don't let that discourage you!