Apple Cider is the best drink in the world.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

When they dug the first wells at Jamestown, they hit stagnant water. Following this, the life expectancy was only 25 years of age, which is why indentured servitude 'worked' as a long-term strategy; servants were not generally expected to survive the duration of their contracts. The production of apple cider in the early colonial years played a large part in pushing the average life expectancy out to 35 years, a huge difference. General quality of life and health were improved overall as well. Traditionally cider was considered a healthy and sin-free drink.

I personally love apple cider. I love apple juice, and I love hard cider as well. The most important aspect to my enjoyment is purity of ingredients. It is not necessarily the taste that I love, but the vibrant, alive feeling I derive from properly made cider and juice.

In the hot toddie thread, I detailed how I enjoy heating Apple Juice and adding Single Malt Whiskey to it . . .

In this thread, I must confess my love for Real Apple Cider, as they would have made hundreds of years ago . . .

It is a drink which repairs and flushes the gallbladder. Most gallbladder cleanses on the internet involve drinking raw cider prior to the flush.

Cider can be made by anyone, and there are many different types. Right now I am drinking: J.K. Scrumpy's Seasonal Cider. It is cider, apples from michigan, with vanilla, cinnamon, and maple added.

96 points on ratebeer
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/jks-solstice-hard-cider/113726/54824/

http://www.ratebeer.com/beerimages/113726.jpg



http://www.alabev.com/images/JK_Scrumpy_.gif

http://www.beechhillartisans.com/cider%20press%20Grand%20alone%20BHA3.JPG

http://thefurniturejunction.com/images/Gallery/Build/Cider%20011.jpg


Cider saved the first pilgrims, restored their health, and contributed to a near revolution when the the government could no longer provide lands to freed indentured servants past the appalacian mountains due to the treaty with the indians. Cool part of American history, and easily the best drink I can think of!

[sirgonzo420]

I'm enjoying some apple cider right now. Not hard, but I do enjoy a good hard cider. As a matter of fact, I might just have to pick some up when I go out tomorrow.


good thread!

[Shorty Harris]

Yeah, I Love cider. I havent tried producing it myself yet, But, when in season, I get as much as we can from our Amish Neighbors. Nothing better!

[DMac]

I drink apple cider vinegar almost every day. I love hot cider on cold day!

[SLV^GLD]

Skrumpy's is the best hard cider I've found.

[Santa]

When I was young, my Grand dad had an apple orchard in Michigan and always made up an Oak barrel of
hard cider to ferment through the winter months in the big barn behind the house.

It was a family tradition at Christmas to make a few toasts using the freshly hardened cider.

Classic Americana in the 50's. Nothing better.

[milehi]

;D

[skid]

I love cider too! I would like to build a cider press in the next year or so, as I have about 15 apple trees.

[Kali]

What are some of the better apple ciders, non hard?

[hoarder]

If you buy cider in a grocery store, how do you know it doesn't have MSG and other poisons?

[SLV^GLD]

If you buy cider in a grocery store, how do you know it doesn't have MSG and other poisons?


Buy a reputable organic brand such as Bragg. A lot of the organic brands have been found to contain several heavy metals. Ideally, you would purchase from a local orchard where you can see their processes firsthand. The short answer really is that you do not know.

[basplaer]

Anybody have a rough ballpark estimate on how many pounds of apples it would take to yield a gallon of cider?

[SLV^GLD]

My uncle-in-law who has an orchard and makes cider annually has told me roughly 7-10lbs/gal. He is making it non-alcoholic. I suspect more is required for the hard variety.