Recent content by reebok

Dunno about the query but the TV show was 'Dixon of Dock Green'... :)

I love autumn and especially look forward to that most special time - the start of cider making! My cider day was last Saturday and the sun shone on our work, as it always seems to do. As everybody seems to be finding, this has been a pretty poor year. Really struggled to find apples in any...

10kg of pears to what weight of apples?

Okay guys,I'll update you with where I am. The earlier comments confirmed quinces don't ripen to softness so I attacked the problem from another direction. Chopped up the 75lbs of quinces into small pieces then put half in a beer boiler I hired from my local homebrew shop. Added 3 gallons of...

Spread the word amongst family, friends and work colleagues that you want their empty glass beer and cider bottles. You'll be amazed how many you accumulate for free over only a few months!

Currently fermenting my first batch (14 gallons) of perry made from the fruit of two garden trees (see my posting under 'Brew Days'). Apart from leaving the scratted pulp to sit overnight before pressing (not really sure why, but that's the wisdom) I've treated it just like cider. Added...

What a coincidence, I'm currently researching/experimenting into this. It certainly ought to be possible and there are vague references to it being made in antiquity. Quinces are in the same family as apples and pears and the latter certainly perform well! I have just got hold of about 70lbs of...

Yes, the hydraulic bearing press is borrowed from my brother's motor repair workshop at this time of year and adapted to a quite different purpose! And it works just great. Will exert up to 10 tons force but anything much above 3 starts to destroy the oak stiffeners at the bottom! But that's...

After gaining experience with cider making I wanted this year to extend myself and have a go at making perry. It took a bit of time to source the fruit but eventually I was offered the pears from 2 garden trees. In total there was about 200lbs of which three quarters were soft, the remaining...

What size and quantity are these white spots? Could you describe them better? As you've not added Camden tablets it could be just be bubbles/froth from the start of natural fermentation arising from wild yeasts that are all around. Not really necessary to let it stand to let lees settle right...

Velkommen Rukula, I was lucky enough to visit your beautiful country earlier this year so I've seen at first hand Norwegian alcohol prices. I'm still traumatised! And upland roads still full of snow at the end of May - it's enough to turn anyone to drink! Seriously though, - welcome kiddo!

Thanks to all for your cordial welcomes - looking forward to a good time here!

Welcome - from a native Boltonian newbie!

As a broad rule of thumb, I get 1 gallon of juice from about 20-25lbs of apples so your 50lb should yeald about 2.5 gallons or so.

Hi everyone, Found this forum a couple of weeks ago and it looks great so I've just joined the family! I'm based on the Manchester/Bolton border and and relatively new to homebrew. Started last year by making cider from apples of wild-growing trees (all free!). Made my own cider press and the...