Hard cider is basically fermented apple juice, and I used to not really like it. However, about six months ago, a friend shared a recipe with me, and it totally changed my mind - it’s actually super refreshing, smooth and has a nice hint of sweetness.

The best thing is that brewing hard cider at home is pretty easy. All you need are some apples or fresh apple juice, a few basic tools, and a bit of patience. Along the way, I also learned some tips on how to make hard cider that can definitely help you create your own delicious hard apple cider. Let’s get started!

What is Hard Cider?

As its core, cider is fermented apple juice, but like wine, its taste and texture can be customized in countless ways. For example, while apples are the most commonly used fruits, strawberries, peaches, plums, and others can also be used to make cider. The difference between cider and hard cider is the alcohol level, with hard cider typically sitting 2%-7%. Its taste, sweetness, and fizz can change based on the apple varieties, the fermentation process, and any other ingredients that may be added.

 

What Do You Need to Brew Hard Cider at Home?

To make hard cider at home, you’ll need a few essential equipment and ingredients. Here’s a basic list to get you started.

Ingredients:

• Apple juice or cider, without preservatives which can inhibit fermentation
• Cider yeast, not bread yeast
• Corn sugar for fermenting and carbonating
• Cinnamon stick
• Whole cloves

Equipment:

• A glass carboy or plastic fermenter with an airlock
• Transfer siphon and tube
• Temperature controller
• Funnel
• Sanitizer

How to Make Hard Cider?

I’ve already listed the necessary ingredients and equipment you’ll need to make hard apple cider at home, one of my favorite ways to preserve apples, and now I’m going to show you how to brew it step by step.

Step 1: Cleaning and sanitation. The first step is to sterilize all your equipment. Whether you are making cider, mead, wine, beer, or New England IPA, this step is important to prevent any bacterial from entering your brew besides yeast.

Step 2: Heat the cider. Heat 3/4 of the cider on medium-high, making sure it doesn’t boil. If you’re using fresh apples, wash them thoroughly, core them, and juice them with a cider press or juicer. If you’re using pasteurized cider, you can skip this step.

 

Step 3: Add corn sugar. Once heated, add the corn sugar and stir until dissolved, then remove the pot from the heat.

Step 4: Cool down the cider. Mix in desired amount of cinnamon and cloves and let them soak in the warm cider for about 20 minutes, or until it cools down to 80 degrees F.

Step 5: Add yeast. Transfer the cider into your fermentation container, leaving some space at the top. Then, sprinkle the yeast directly on top. Cover the jar and shake to mix everything.

 

Step 6: Start to ferment. Seal the fermentation vessel with the airlock, filling the airlock with sanitized water to let gases escape while preventing oxygen from entering. Store the vessel in a cool, dark place, ideally around 60-75°F (15-24°C). You can use a temperature controller like ITC-308 to maintain the temperature range. The primary fermentation usually takes about one to three weeks, but just monitor the bubbling in your airlock to stay on top of things.

 

Step 7: Siphoning and secondary fermentation. When the foaming has slowed down significantly, indicating that fermentation is almost done, you can transfer the cider into a clean secondary fermentation container, leaving the sediment behind. Then, mix in the last quarter of the cider, which can serve as carbonated sugar or sweetener. After that, let it ferment for another two weeks to enhance its flavor and clarity.

Step 8: Bottling and aging. After secondary fermentation, when you cider reaches the flavor and clarity you want, it’s time to bottle it up. After bottling, store your hard cider for at least a few weeks to let the flavors meld and enhance the taste. But if you’re eager, feel free to chill it and enjoy right away!

Wrap Up

See, making hard apple cider at home is very easy, and you only need a few basic tools and ingredients to enjoy this refreshing apple beverage. I’ve shared the most essential way to brew hard cider, but feel free to make your own variations by adding cherries or peaches for nice fruity hint. If you’ve got the tools ready, go ahead and make some so you can impress your friends at the next barbecue party!