Incredibly inspiring manual for making all types of "hard" ciders, with step-by-step instructions, gorgeous photographs, and interesting profiles of cider-makers worldwide. I liked the variety of recipes - from single apple to fruit blends to distilled to barrel-aged - but I would've liked some non-alcoholic recipes as well.

The authors of this book clearly have a love for cider. They cover almost every major aspect of cider in depth. I came into this looking for material on apple cider vinegar and it was pretty lackluster there.
Other than that, the only other thing missing would be more coverage of alternative ciders like perry.

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.