This book was so cool I had no idea this much information about cider-making could be packed into such a beautifully presented book.  This was a subject I had very little education in till now.  I feel like my eyes are opened to how fun and interesting cider can be.

All your curiosities (and some you didn't know you had) are addressed in this book.
Gorgeous photos accompany you through your cider comprehension.
In reading this I realize that I am far too lazy to make cider and will continue to enjoy the fruits of other folks labours.
Definitely something I recommend to more energetic individuals!
And to such energetic individuals...
Call me ;)
Much love to NetGalley & Storey Publishing for my DRC.

The Big Book of Cidermaking is a neat book for those who are clueless about cidermaking. It's easy to follow with instructions in addition to a great variety of actual ciders one can make and lots of information. I think I'll purchase a physical copy of this book, as it was so neat.

I picked up The Big Book of Cidermaking for sheer curiosity. I've no experience or foreknowledge of the process and as a newbie, found myself intrigued by both the content and layout of the book. The steps are picked (something I greatly appreciated as everything in the book was foreign to my eyes) and I liked that the authors took care to explore and explain the various parts of the process in ways that are easy to absorb.

This book is dangerous to those of us that have flights of fancy to run off and buy an orchard and live off the land! 

"If beer is Country music and wine is Classical, then cider is a playlist of your favorite tunes at the moment.
It's an Adventure, and it starts with finding a flavor worthy of your quest."

I am gluten intolerant. I probably have Celiac BUT who wants to actually get their gut biopsied?!? So, I live my life gluten-free, which makes me feel tons better, BUT beer. Yeah, yeah... there are gluten-free beers but most of them are like bad renditions of watery 'ol 'lite' pilsners that are popular among the taste challenged members of society. So, I usually drink "gluten filtered" beers but sometimes I have a reaction. Don't even get me started on the ins and outs of wine and liquor, just KNOW that, Yes! they can have gluten in them and, No! they never label if they do. It's like Russian roulette every time you try a new drink. Given all this loveliness... a few years ago my husband and I went on our first us trip since we got married (10-years people!) to New Orleans. Now to say I was nervous about getting 'glutened', is a vast understatement.  We went, and just up the street from our Inn was a pub with so much craft beer and top-shelf liquor your eyes would cross. Now, I had never thought much of cider because I thought it was like sweet apple juice with alcohol in it. I don't like sweet drinks. BUT, the highly knowledgeable bartendress suggested a cider that was on tap after hearing what I was looking for in a beverage and double-checking that it would be safe for me to drink... and OMG, it was awesome! She explained the history of Ciders and their differences, like 'dry', not sweet varieties. I was so hooked from then on out!

Now, my husband brews his own beer and has for about 15 years. I have been brewing my own kombucha for about 2 years now. And after my most recent trip back to New Orleans I am also obsessed with Ginger Brew and have started making my own ginger bug (look it up). So the idea of culturing my own wild yeasts from nearby plants and flowers!!! OMG, I'm so in! (there are also recommendations for purchasing your own yeast strains if that idea is too off the wall for you)

This book is chock-full of history, ideas, and recipes that can head you in the right direction with the only limits being your own imagination. I cannot wait to start on some of these recipes during the winter break!

I highly recommend this book to those who are curious about ciders, their history, and may be looking into gathering the basics to start making your own brews at home.

Every fall when the abundance of apples hits my kitchen, I'm looking for new and different ways to preserve them and expand my family's use of this table staple.  When I saw this book, I thought, Why have I never tried cider making?  The answer of course was it always seemed complicated and too much hassle.  Now I know how wrong I was.  The Shockey's have given us the steps needed and the wonderfully easy methods to make our own ciders.  As a trend, cider has never died out.  Find out why when you make your first batch then you too will become an avid maker of all things cider.

Ever wanted to know how to make your own apple cider? This is the book for you. It is an awesome how to and resource book rolled into one. You will find detailed steps as well as pictures for the visual learners and recipes. The book is not limited to apples, the authors also delve into other fruits and many flavors,. If the cider tastes sour, not to worry they also cover pomace vinegars. Happy reading and cider making.

When it is snowy and cold outside, superspeed readers like me can read 150 - 200+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today. LOL

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.  

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.

The best-selling authors Christopher Shockey and Kirsten K. Shockey turn their expertise to the world of fermented beverages in the most comprehensive guide to home cidermaking available. With expert advice and clear, step-by-step instructions, The Big Book of Cidermaking equips readers with the skills they need to make the cider they want — whether sweet, dry, fruity, farmhouse-style, hopped, barrel-aged, or fortified. The Shockeys’ years of experience cultivating an orchard and their experiments in producing their own ciders have led them to a master formula for cidermaking success, whether starting with apples fresh from the tree or working with store-bought juice. 

Readers explore in-depth the different phases of fermentation and the entire spectrum of complex flavour and style possibilities, with cider recipes ranging from cornelian cherry to ginger, and styles including New England, Spanish, and late-season ciders. For those invested in making use of every part of the apple, there’s even a recipe for vinegar made from the skins and cores that re left over after pressing. This thorough, thoughtful handbook is an empowering guide for every cidermaker, from the beginner seeking foundational techniques and tips to the intermediate cider crafter who wants to expand their skills.

If you have ever wanted to make cider, this is the book for you to learn from. There is so much information here that it would good for you to buy the book vs. taking it out from a public library and planning on making notes.  Everything you ever needed to know about making cider. The instructions are clear and concise and the recipes make one dream of differing upcoming yummy homemade libations.

The shockeys have written some amazing books on fermented foods and I HIGHLY recommend:
---Fiery Ferments: 70 Stimulating Recipes for Hot Sauces, Spicy Chutneys, Kimchis with Kick, and Other Blazing Fermented Condiments
:---Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64 Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes
---Miso, Tempeh, Natto & Other Tasty Ferments: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fermenting Grains and Beans

I would have loved to have bought this book for our library but we cannot have anything alcohol, CBD or THC-related as it does not fit with our mission statement. However, I can see the Polousineau family making their own cider and vinegar shortly as I have the ARC in my hot little hands and feel adventurous. (I want Peach Cider ... can I even make that work so it's not sickly sweet?) 

As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I love emojis (outside of their incessant use by "🙏-ed Social Influencer Millennials/#BachelorNation survivors/etc. " on Instagram and Twitter... Get a real job, people!) so let's give it 🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏 🍏