Fresh Apple Cider

On saturday my brother Dan had his annual birthday party which entails the following:

• 10 AM: Press Cider
• 2 PM: Walk to the Elysian for the 5th Annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival
• 6 PM: Stagger home with Cider in hand for hot apple cider, and more importantly, Hard Apple Cider.

This is the first year I have had the pleasure of partaking in the event, and I must say, I am jealous that my birthday is not in mid-October (although it is my half birthday in a few days…)

The cider pressing is so much fun, because you just hack up apples and then press them until they give up all their tasty juices. Pristine, organic juice is all that comes out. If it had a label, it would read, “Apples.” I always love those 1 ingredient foods, like Libby’s.

So I snagged about 2 gallons of cider and I am planning on making a sweet Cyser with it, sort of like the Redstone Version.

Here’s what the pressing looks like, featuring me with my sister and dad on either side:

What you missed if you weren’t at the Elysian today…

Dick posing with his gourd

Tapping the Pumpkin. I totally snuck to the front of the line and got mine before most people. It really was something!