Make your own homemade cider. Cider is cheap to make and very healthy. This is the original drink of the settlers and was made and enjoyed by all.
Step One
Forest Fruits Cider Recipe (about 4% to 12% alcohol by volume) Materials - 1 - 1 Gallon Glass Jug. 1 - Airlock with Cap. 1 - Package of Pasteur Champagne Yeast. 1 - Rubber Stopper with Hole. 1 - Funnel. 1 - 2qt or Larger Saucepan.
Step Two
Ingredients - 1 Gallon of 100% Juice of your choice. 1 Teaspoon of Pasteur Champagne Yeast. 1 to 5 cups of White Sugar.
Step Three
Wash your glass jug, airlock with cap, and rubber stopper with hot water and a little soap. Rinse all soap off thoroughly.
Step Four
Pour about 1 quart of juice into the sauce pan and dissolve the 1 to 5 cups of sugar. Heat the mixture slowly till lukewarm. Stir constantly to avoid burning. You do not want the mixture too hot or you will kill the yeast. Add and dissolve any extra ingredients such as maple syrup or cinnamon.
Step Five
Pour the sugar/juice mixture into the glass gallon jug using the funnel. Pour juice into the glass jug until the jug is about ¾ full. Add one teaspoon of yeast to the jug. Screw the cap on the jug and shake the heck out of it. After you have relieved your stress remove the cap and finish filling the jug with your juice. Do not overfill because you need room for the rubber stopper. It is best to stop right before the neck.
Step Six
Add a little water to the airlock fill it about half way and put on the red cap. Insert the airlock securely into the rubber stopper. Now push the rubber stopper into the top of the glass jug. By doing this step it keeps dust and other things from getting into your jug in addition it allows the carbon dioxide to escape. If you just place the cap on the jug and let it sit you run the risk of creating a 1 gallon juice bomb because the pressure may cause your jar to explode.
Step Seven
Place the jug with juice mixture in a quiet spot where the temperature will be no less then 60 degrees. The yeast needs it to be warm to convert the sugar to alcohol. Now let the gallon jug sit and work for about four weeks. After four weeks the bubbles should have almost stopped or be few and far between usually one bubble per minute. If the air bubbles are still coming up faster than this then it is best to wait as the juice is still converting the sugar to alcohol.
Step Eight
When the bubbles have ceased or slowed to one per minute pour yourself a glass and enjoy! I like to pour off a bit into a glass jar with a lid and put it in the fridge. Then I place the cap on loosely on the glass jug as well as my jar in the fridge. This is so the gas can still escape. If you do not, then you could end up with a big mess, exploded jugs and jars. So please do not ever put the caps and lids on tight! When you pour off your hard cider be careful not to pour off the old yeast. This is the thick stuff that is in your jug that has settled to the bottom. But do not worry if you get some into your cider it is actually really good for you. It is full of protein, vitamins and minerals.
Step Nine
Well that is about it, cheers to you and enjoy your hard cider!