Apple Cider

I have been toying with the idea of making some hard cider for quite some time after tasting some on a trip to Oregon a few years back.  During our visit this past September, I look high and low for some fresh pressed cider that did not contain preservatives but that seemingly is hard to find anymore.

We did find that Smileys just above Hood River is making their own hard cider and we sampled it and found it to be quite refreshing and good.  Since I couldn't lay my hands on any raw product, I did what comes natural....punt.

We decided to use all natural juice from concentrate and make some with a good ale yeast and here she is:

It is really not too bad for a first run and we learned from this adventure.  Another batch is currently in the fermentation carboy with a tweek here and a few tweeks there, we are going to get this the way "we" like it.  On the first batch, I added a cup of honey.  This boosted the "jet fuel" (sugar) ratio and made more of a apple/honey wine and I would guess the alcohol content to be about 10-12%.  The reason I say I am guessing is that I did not take a beginning gravity reading so I don't know where it ended up.  On the batch I just started, I am omitting the honey and the gravity reading says that it will end up at about 6-7% which is more in keeping with what is the norm.  I will let you know how it turns out.