A pressing question (Apples = homebrew)

Hey fruity, do I get to taste some when it's done???

[yorkie_chris]

Build a press, you know you need a welder.

[keith_d]

Proper way is to run the apples through a mincer, pile them on muslin sheets in big 'cheeses' and use a press to extract the juice.

Hands up any geeks who thought this was about programming your own software on a Mac.

Tried making some last year - we hired/borrowed a brilliant press for a day from a local allotment or climate change group thing(?). Heavy duty contraption that pulped the apples, a box at a time, with a screw down press. You just stuck a bucket underneath with muslin on top and out the juice poured. Well worth seeing if you can track one down - quite good fun too.

Opened our inaugural bottle from last year's harvest last week and....bloody awful! Smelled great, nice fizz, good appley flavour but not enough sugar added so it's like liquid heartburn in a bottle. Makes a good marinade for various things though so not a total waste but I'd rather have drunk it.

The blender method worked but the suspended bag with the plate/weight didn't strain as well as I'd hoped.
After developing Popeye sized forearms from squeezing the remaining juice from the pulp I think I'll try to hunt down a press as you all advised.

Just picked a load more apples from the nearby school trees (the caretaker is my mate, i wasn't scrumping) so I might try blender/dads juicer combo before I scour the local hire shops.

Originally Posted by lx_online

Good luck with the cider - do you use the naturally occuring yeast?

I know you can but I might chuck in campden tablets & a champagne yeast for a more controlled brew.

Originally Posted by specialone

Hey fruity, do I get to taste some when it's done???

Sure why not, sounds like a plan. I'll test it on my brother & if his teeth don't fall out we'll have to sort out a session.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Build a press, you know you need a welder.

Already scheming, borrowed my uncles rod welder on an unrelated job and haven't returned it yet (rubs hands together and cackles in a Bond villain stylee).

Ive probably got enough bits and bobs to make one in my garage, ive got large threaded handles, 2 inch box section etc

When i get back from france, tell me what bits your short and ill see what i can find.