Cider "Press"

Talk about your mead, cider, peary or anything else that doesn't fit in the other places!

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DaYooper
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Cider "Press"

Post by DaYooper »

Okay, I have a friend who moved and now has a whole bunch of apple trees in his back yard. After mowing over the apples several times and causing his yard to smell like a cider factory he decided he would make his enterance into brewing by starting with cider. Problem was, YouTube stepped in and got him thinking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj9z7NbO9mk

Being a mechanical engineer, no one else's idea - especially something put together by a bunch of "hillbilly kids" - can possibly be as good as your own so time to innovate and save some money as well. So, he found a stainless steel sink and garbage disposer on Craiglist for $20 and picks that up. Then he finds a small, portable washing machine for another $20. The apples go into the garbage disposer, get ground, the pulp gets ejected into a paint strainer bag, and the bag gets to take a spin cycle ride in the washing machine. I keep trying to get him to send me pictures but he refuses probably knowing they will go viral. But, he's got quite a bit fermenting right now so I guess it is working and a lot cheaper than a decent size apple press.

I did introduce him to OneStep and StarSan to keep his stuffs clean so at least he wont go blind or something.
Silverleaf Vineyard & Winery / Old Mission Hops Exchange / Porchside Vineyard / The North York Brewing Company
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BlackDuck
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Re: Cider "Press"

Post by BlackDuck »

That's awesome. Genius!!!
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RickBeer
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Re: Cider "Press"

Post by RickBeer »

I can't imagine how it's possible to sanitize either piece of equipment, especially a garbage disposer.
I have over 9,000 posts on "another forum", which means absolutely nothing. Mr. Beer January 2014 Brewer of the Month with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it...

Certificate in Brewing and Distillation Technology

Sites to find beer making supplies: Adventures in Homebrewing - Mr. Beer - MoreBeer
My Beer - click to reveal
Currently using 6 LBKs.

Beers I regularly brew:
Bell's Best Brown clone
Irish Hills Red - I call this "Ann Arbor Red"
Mackinac Island Red - I call this "Michigan Red"
Oatmeal Stout - I call this Not Fat, Stout - Oatmeal Stout

Bottled 5 gallons of Ann Arbor Red on 4/18/17. Bottled 5 gallons of Michigan Red on 5/8/17.

Brewed in 2017 - 22.13 gallons (19.91 in 2012, 48.06 in 2013, 61.39 in 2014, 84.26 in 2015,46.39 in 2016)
Brewed in lifetime - 282.14 gallons
Drinkable beer on hand -  13.58 cases, with 6.11 cases ready in May and early June.
Average cost per 12 pack through all beer brewed - $6.27(ingredients only)
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DaYooper
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Re: Cider "Press"

Post by DaYooper »

RickBeer wrote:I can't imagine how it's possible to sanitize either piece of equipment, especially a garbage disposer.
I believe for the washer he ran a "load" or three of bleach thru it, then a bunch more with water to clean it out. I didnt even think to ask about the disposer. As I mentioned, he too is a mechanical engineer and us MEs get pretty stubborn when we come up with a way of doing something. He did say it tasted like cider and there were no blue fuzzy things floating at the top and no one died from the soft cider so I have to say it probably worked.
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RickBeer
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Re: Cider "Press"

Post by RickBeer »

ME's... My son is one. His senior year, then a year of grad.
I have over 9,000 posts on "another forum", which means absolutely nothing. Mr. Beer January 2014 Brewer of the Month with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it...

Certificate in Brewing and Distillation Technology

Sites to find beer making supplies: Adventures in Homebrewing - Mr. Beer - MoreBeer
My Beer - click to reveal
Currently using 6 LBKs.

Beers I regularly brew:
Bell's Best Brown clone
Irish Hills Red - I call this "Ann Arbor Red"
Mackinac Island Red - I call this "Michigan Red"
Oatmeal Stout - I call this Not Fat, Stout - Oatmeal Stout

Bottled 5 gallons of Ann Arbor Red on 4/18/17. Bottled 5 gallons of Michigan Red on 5/8/17.

Brewed in 2017 - 22.13 gallons (19.91 in 2012, 48.06 in 2013, 61.39 in 2014, 84.26 in 2015,46.39 in 2016)
Brewed in lifetime - 282.14 gallons
Drinkable beer on hand -  13.58 cases, with 6.11 cases ready in May and early June.
Average cost per 12 pack through all beer brewed - $6.27(ingredients only)
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philm00x
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Re: Cider "Press"

Post by philm00x »

That is the most awesome repurposing of a washing machine ever!
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