Hard Cider

I’m planning on making a batch of hard cider this year, but I’ve never done it before. I’m going to use this old barrel I got from my grandma (seen in the picture).

I checked to see if it held water, and it did for the most part. The inside of the barrel is mostly coated with wax. I read in one place that this was done because certain woods give off bad flavor. I figure it doubles as a sealant.

If I wanted to reapply some wax to the top and bottom for sealant purposes, would I just heat it up in a pan, dump it in, and swirl it around?

As this is my first attempt at anything like this, any suggestions would be helpful… Thanks..

-Mike

you’ll want to use glass or plastic for making any beer or cider. Sterilization is absolutely necessary and wood can’t be cleaned thoroughly.

Get a 5 gallon water jug to make it in. Beer or cider only takes a couple of weeks to make. If you need more capacity, get more jugs. Seperating your batches will help if you happen to get some contamination in 1 batch, it will only affect 5 gallons, not the entire batch.

Do a quick Google search to find supplies and some simple instructions. Brewing beer or cider is fairly simple, but sanitation is the key.

I agree with PowerFred. You may think that barrel is airtight, but there is no way to really tell without pressure testing it. I have never worked with wax and have no idea if it can even be sterilized, which is the single most important step in fermenting anything.

I homebrew a lot and make cider from time to time, and if you are going to get into it, it really does pay to invest a little money into the hobby. I’d say to check at Northern Brewer (St. Paul) or Midwest Homebrew Supply (Minneapolis) for some basic equipment.

Alright, I’ll look into some new equipment. Thanks for the suggestions.

-Mike

Hey! I thought people from Wisconsin were born knowing how to brew?

dd

Hello,

Not sure what recipe your using or if you have one. This is what I do.
(Apple pie shots)
Ingredient-

1- gallon apple cider
1- gallon apple juice
4- cups sugar
7- cinnamon sticks
1- 180proof bottle of everclear. 100proof will work.

Combine the apple cider the apple juice, sugar and cinnamon sticks in a large pot bring to a boil until the sugar is desolved and the cinnamon sticks start to get soft. Now let this cool off to around room temp and then add the everclear. You can either enjoy this chilled or warm, don’t warm to much or the alcohol will evaporate. Drink in moderation because you can’t taste the alcohol and you will be buzzed before you know it.

Take care!
Kevin

Absolutely use glass or plastic. People have been using it for centurys.

Three days in a new job and college and Mallory’s already looking for the hard stuff?

That would be cool to brew some ale, wine or cider in that barrel, but it sure would be a waste of them if the brew went south because it couldn’t get cleaned well enough.

Wonder if you could make a “tapper” dispenser out of it?

Quote:

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1- gallon apple cider

1- gallon apple juice

4- cups sugar

7- cinnamon sticks

1- 180proof bottle of everclear. 100proof will work.

---

Actually I make quite a bit of apple pie… I’m trying to make hard cider from scratch by adding sugar and possibly yeast to unpasteurized cider and letting it ferment…

-mike

Quote:

---

Hello,

Not sure what recipe your using or if you have one. This is what I do.
(Apple pie shots)
Ingredient-

1- gallon apple cider
1- gallon apple juice
4- cups sugar
7- cinnamon sticks
1- 180proof bottle of everclear. 100proof will work.

---

Who ever invented this combo should
Be slapped in the face.

BTW, I forgot to mention that my Grandma always put wax or parrafin on the top of her jelly and jam once it was poured into jars to seal them.