Ace Pear Cider

Pear Cider
Originally uploaded by Pirate Alice

Ace Pear Cider California

Based in Sebastopol, Calif., The California Cider Company produces Ace Perry Cider that's vegan friendly and gluten-free. The company is apparently the first in California to commercially produce the premium perry.

Zambelli Mulimix apple grinder in operation

This is a Zambelli Mulimix fruit grinder. It's a 220V (european) grinder that reduces cider apples to a good workable pulp

http://www.zambellienotech.it/eng/altri_mulimix.htm

Cider Workshop

This is the time of year a lot of people seem to be very busy in the cider workshop, getting things ready or pressing cider apples already.

Some folk like use a makeshift outdoor cider workshop by erecting a large tent, gazebo or tarp, to keep the rain off. Then you can make as much mess as you like and at least it doesn't get trampled indoors so much.

There's no real need to spend a fortune on fancy equipment, nor labour for days and days making exact fit wooden racks with countersunk stainless steel screws and all that kind of nonsense either. In fact a good old basket press with an electric drill driven screw thread can get the job done in a fraction of the time, even if it isn't up to standard according to a quaint idea of tradition. The main thing is to get the apples crushed while they're in good condition, and fill up the fermentation vessels close to the top while the natural process slowly takes its time. Resist messing about with the cider, and that's just about it from the cider workshop for another year.

Cloudy Cider at Ealing Beer Festival

@llyrj tweeted a picture of the cloudy cider

Ribadeo, Galicia, Northern Spain

Ribadeo, Galicia, Northern Spain
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

It was in Ribadeo, Galicia that we saw people in a cafe drinking cider from ceramic bowls, like they do in Britanny.

Tardes de Verano cider

Tardes de Verano
Originally uploaded by Gusilú

Unas Sidras! Number one cider?

Craft Cider

Craft cider is real cider made by people who take a pride in keeping things small scale and just a little bit amateurish, which is fair enough I suppose. Craft cider making is said to be at about the same stage as craft ale brewing was 25 years ago, so that's an unfortunate situation to be in without great prospects really if you think about it. The crafty craft cider makers are going to have to up their act if they want to be taken seriously as small business owners with a duty to provide a consistent quality product, in the form of pleasant and drinkable real full juice cider and perry, not some quaintly eccentric and accident prone concoction that come out of somebody's airing cupboard.