Anyone made Scrumpy/Cider?

[Hugo a Gogo]

I've two apple trees, I'm not sure what sort - slightly sour but good eaters - and I fancy making something alcoholic

Any experts?

[Plotloss]

We did it earlier in the year, using my mate's cider press.

It's far far far more trouble than its worth.

[Simpo Two]

They may be cooking apples - try making a pie with them.

[mattdaniels]

Friend of mine swears by this technique:

1. Only harvest apples that have fallen from the tree and been on the ground for a week.
2. Reject any that have been attacked by creepy crawleys.
3. Do not wash them or do anything else to them apart from press them and bottle it.
4. Leave for 12 months then drink.

[Hugo a Gogo]

on the ground a week .... yet not been attacked by creepy crawlies?

[otolith]

We made some the other year - we've got a mixture of Cox and Bramley. Wasn't that impressed with the straight cider, but some of the cyser (fermented apple juice & honey) was very good.

[Hugo a Gogo]

could I just use a good juicer instead of a press? one that takes whole single apples
I appreciate I'd get a bit less juice

[otolith]

We used a juicer. It's fine, but slow, and you need to be careful not to overheat it. I think next time we will hire a press and a scratter.

[tobeee]

Mate and I made some a couple of years back. We have three apple trees and a pear tree, and he has a couple of apple trees, so we had a lot of stock! Chopped and put in bins with a bit of water and sugar for a week to ferment a bit, then blitzed it with a hand blender (and killed that!). Left another week or so (can't remember) then passed through muslin and into demi-johns to ferment. A few weeks later we bottled 200 pints of the stuff! Our quality control wasn't great, and some of it is bloody awful, but at least half is lovely. Strong too! Lot of work, but worth it!