The Almost Off Grid Mini Cider Making Kit is for you if you have a traditional glass demijohn and fancy making a batch of Cider from apple juice. Our other full starter kits include a brewing bucket and/or PET demijohn, campden tablets, sterilising powder and so on. Almost Off Grid mini kits are designed for people who already have the basics and want to turn their attention to making something new.
The Mini Cider Making Kit includes:
- 1 traditional cork bung, prebored with a hole, designed to fit in the neck of a standard 1 gallon (4.5 litre, the equivalent of 6 wine bottles in volume) glass demijohn
- 1 bubbler airlock with loose fitting cap to keep dust out, the neck of which fits exactly into the bored hole of the bung to create a seal
- 1 stick-on thermometer
- 1 pack of top quality Almost Off Grid Cider Yeast
- 6 reusable corks which will fit in the neck of recycled standard bottles previously fitted with corks (not screw caps)
- 1 kraft tag. We use these for recording each step and date when we make our cider, then keep it tied to the demijohn neck
- A glass hydrometer transported in a plastic tube which doubles as a trial jar, with hydrometer instructions included inside
- A basic guide to making cider from garden apples.
Please note the guide includes the use of Campden tablets to sterilise the apple juice before adding yeast. Many people skip this step and add commercial yeast to the naturally occurring yeasts in the juice, or don't add commercial yeast either and make a 'wild' natural cider without adding anything. If you prefer to use Campden tablets then they will need to be purchased separately as they are not included.
Shop bought apple juice can be used to make cider, provided it is pure, fresh apple juice.
If you want to know the alcohol content of your cider, you will need a hydrometer which is in the mini kit with instructions for use.
Please note that you will need to sterilise your equipment with either a proprietary homebrew cleaner/steriliser or Muntons steriliser also works. Fermenting vessel (such as bucket or demijohn), steriliser, ingredients, syphon and bottles are not included - this kit assumes you already have the demijohn, steriliser, Campden tablets (if you wish to use them) and apple juice.