Craft Cider Making

by Andrew G.H. Lea

This book is for anyone who wants to grow and to make good cider or even simple apple juice. Whether you have a back garden with a couple of apple trees, several acres of orchard deep in the countryside, or you're just 'getting apples from friends and neighbors every autumn, this book is for you. Here you can learn about the equipment you need, the techniques to use and just how they work as they do. You'll also learn what to do when things go wrong, and how to put them right! Packed with a wealth of practical experience and understanding, "Craft Cidermaking" is for beginners and old hands alike

Genres: Brewing, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Andrew Lea, Ph.D., is a retired food biochemist, specializing in the chemistry of apples and cider. He spent more than a decade working at the Long Ashton Research Station near Bristol (UK). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Reviews

[Allen Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great starter book for anyone looking to get into making cider. While I’d recommend getting the newer third edition (some bits are a little dated in this printing), this book will get you through your first few batches and also help you find more resources to keep learning and developing.

[Justin K. Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential addition to the library of a more advanced cidermaker.

It's not a beginner's book and there are no recipes. I recommend the Ben Watson book and the Annie Proulx book instead if you are just starting out.

Andrew Lea worked at the Long Ashton research station and is clearly versed in food chemistry. This book discusses some of the more nuanced and technical aspects of cider production, with references to larger scale production techniques, which for me was particularly useful.

It is also UK-centric, so it does not discuss North American apple growing issues, nor does it detail many apple varieties.

If you are interested in growing apples as well, I recommend reading Michael Phillips' books "The Apple Grower" and "The Holistic Orchard".

[Alex Filatau · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good. Really good. Has all the necessary instructions and tables. On the negative side for me - it's oriented mostly for "real amount" cider making, at least 5 gallons and so on. Well, all the steps and tips are working for first time cider maker "1 gallon top" as well, but there would be more practical recommendations on internet then in this book for this case.
So, if my 1st gallon is good, I feel like scanning this book again to find path for increasing the batches.