One of the most simple home brewing recipes is that of hard apple cider. This sweet and slightly alcoholic cider is easy to make and is a refreshing drink to enjoy. So, if you’re bored of having the same kind of wine or beer at every dinner party, it’s time you make some sweet and bubbly hard apple cider at home.
It’s no secret that in the beverage industry, there has been a lot of hype about hard apple cider. Many breweries and pubs even make their own apple cider. Keep reading as we take you through the process of how to make hard apple cider at home.
Things You Need To Make A Hard Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 1 kg Ambri (Kashmiri) apples
- 100 gm sugar
- 3 gm of apple cider yeast
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
Equipment
- Carboy fermenting jug
- Airlock
- Strainer
- Airlock
- Siphon
Step-By-Step Process To Make A Hard Apple Cider
Step 1: Sterilize All Your Equipment
Before starting to make your apple cider, you first need to sterilize all your equipment. One of the most commonly used ingredients to sterilize kitchen equipment is bleach. But you need to remember that the bleach residue that is left behind on your kitchen equipment can actually affect the fermentation process of your apple cider. That’s why it’s important that you rinse your equipment thoroughly before using them.
Step 2: Make Apple Puree From Fresh Ambri Apples
For making the apple puree, we recommend using Ambri (Kashmiri) apples as they have a sweet and crisp sweet flavor. Make sure you clean and wash the apples before using them. Also, check out for any rotten or bruised apples as they can spoil your cider. Chop the apples into medium-sized pieces and put them in a blender to make the puree. This puree needs to be pasteurized so that it doesn’t get contaminated with the yeast you add later. You can boil the apple puree and then simmer it for 5-8 minutes. After the puree is ready, you need to pour it into a fermenting jug to let it cool down until it is a little above room temperature.
Step 3: Fermentation Of The Ingredients
Use a clean funnel to pour the apple puree into the carboy glass. After pouring it, add 3 gm of apple cider yeast to it. If you’re using store-bought apple juice, buy one that does not have any additional preservatives like potassium sulfate or sodium benzoate. That’s because these ingredients in the apple juice will not allow it to ferment after adding yeast. The best option, as we mentioned earlier, is making the apple juice or puree at home.
Step 4: Cover The Fermenter With A Paper Towel
After you’ve added the yeast to the apple puree, cover the carboy fermenter with a clean paper cloth. This will help the yeast establish in the cider. You need to keep the fermenter covered for 24 hours and after that comes the time to add other ingredients. Add 100 gm sugar to the cider and stir the liquid nicely. Keep in mind that this stirring needs to be done twice a day for an entire week. This will help the aeration process wherein the fermentation of the cider will happen easily as the yeast mixes with the apple puree. During this process, you can store the cider in a cool and dry place.
Step 5: Store The Cider In A Bottle
Don’t forget to check your carboy fermenter daily to see if the fermentation is taking place. The best way to understand it is to look out for bubbles in the cider. When the bubbles at the top of the cider have subsided, you should understand that the fermentation is done. After ensuring that the fermentation is done, you can pour the cider into a fermenter with a narrow mouth by attaching an airlock. That will help prevent oxidation of the cider.
Step 6: Add Simple Syrup To Your Cider
If you like a spicy taste to your drink, you can add some cinnamon and cloves to your cider depending on your taste. To increase the ABV and add more flavor to your cider, you can add simple syrup to it. After adding the syrup, make sure that you have removed the spices from the cider. To ensure that the syrup has dissolved completely, stir the cider and get rid of any globs of syrup in it.
Step 7: Bottle The Cider And Enjoy
Keep the cider in a clean carboy jug and see to it that you cap the jug. You can keep the cider in the refrigerator for two days. After two days, the cider will be chilled and ready to be consumed. You can then pour your drink and give it that final touch by garnishing it with some freshly chopped apples. There you have it, your homemade hard apple cider is ready to be relished!
Summing Up
Now that you know how to make hard apple cider at home, it’s time you give it a try. You can have a brunch party at home and surprise your family with your brewing skills. Happy brewing to you!
FAQs On How To Make Hard Apple Cider At Home
How Long Does It Take For Apple Cider To Turn Into Hard Cider?
It’ll take around 24 hours for your raw apple cider to turn into hard cider. But it can take around 3 weeks for the bubbling of the cider to subside and the fermentation process to be complete.
How Much Alcohol Is In Homemade Apple Cider?
The alcohol content in homemade apple cider can be around 6 to 10%. The cider yeast that you add in your apple cider will grow in it and increase its alcohol content. During the fermentation process, the sugars in your cider will turn into alcohol and carbon dioxide, thereby increasing the alcohol content of your cider.
Can Apple Cider Turn Alcohol?
The yeast that you add to the cider mixes with the natural sugars present inside it to form an acid. This leads to the fermentation of the cider and it turns into alcohol.
