Cider, Hard and Sweet: History, Traditions, and Making Your Own

There was a windfall of apples this year. We purchased an old press and made gallons and gallons of cider. This book covers all the information, new and old, anyone could want. I've shared it with friends who agree. I'm glad I bought it and recommend it to anyone who loves a good apple!

As far as selecting apples, and actually creating cider from them, this book is abount as detailed as it gets. The tables in in that describe US and EU apple types as well as their traits is worth the price alone. However, if you're looking to make hard (alcoholic) cider the book only takes you half way. Anyone looking to do hard cider should buy a seperate homebrew book that goes into detail about the brew process. Combine it with the information from this book and you'll have some great hard cider.

This is a wonderful, inspiring book like few I have read recently. It opens a huge world that I never imagined existed. Cider isn't just the jugs in the grocery store and the 6-pack in the liquor store, its an important part of human and American history. The author has put a lot of time in researching this book, and is thick with fascinating information such as cider-only apple varieties, cider tasting terms, French vs English cider, etc etc etc.The book does describe cider making, but that is not the main focus of the book. Still, any self-respecting cider maker should have a copy.

Many of the books on cider making skim over the selection of apples, including English bittersweet and bittersharp varieties that are critical for outstanding cider production. Not Watson in this excellent book.Several great lists of varieties and a good description of the cider apple classification methods is represented more clearly than I've found elsewhere.A bit more clarification could have been given to the production process, as well as pressing details, but overall the book has been my favorite on the topic.

Ben Watson joins the good fight with this evocative call for real cider. Quality should matter in our lives. This definitive guide to cidermaking touches all the bases, from fascinating lore to the nitty-gritty details of sqeezing good juice and fermenting it to perfection. The 'down on the farm' photograph on the back cover of the book (circa 1900) clearly says it all: people who enjoy good cider know how to have fun in life! Lift up your own cup and enjoy "Cider, Hard and Sweet."