Cider is a deliciously intoxicating beverage, and although the steps for making this home brew may seem complicated at first, once you get started you’ll undoubtedly see just how simple the process really is. The following describes the 4 short and easy steps for getting started as a cider brewer from home.

The first step in making cider is selecting the ingredients, and no ingredient is more important than the fresh apple cider. As you probably know, the juice in apples is squeezed out using a contraption called an apple press, but since you probably don’t have access to one of these machines you can purchase the cider instead. Check with a local grower or even your grocery store for raw apple cider that has been cold pasteurized and has not been chemically preserved in any way. This type of cider will almost always produce the best results.

To make fermentation of your cider possible, you will need to pick up some brewing yeast. This yeast will be added to the juice to initiate the fermentation process. Fortunately, yeast is rather inexpensive—sometimes as low as two packets for a dollar—and can usually be found either at the grocery store or through online companies specializing in home brewing.

After you have both the cider and the yeast, the best strategy to follow is to put the cider on the stove at a very low heat. Allow it to simmer for about 45 minutes to kill any bacteria or wild yeasts which may be present. Many experienced home brewers will skip this step and elect to pour their sweet cider directly into the fermenting bucket, but keep in mind that in this scenario wild yeast will be present in the cider and may alter the final taste.

After the cider has brewed for 45 minutes to an hour, pour it into the clean, fermentation bucket and allow it to cool for about 30 minutes. When cooled, slowly stir in the yeast until every bit of it has dissolved, and then seal the air-tight lid onto the top of the bucket. You won’t notice anything right away so be patient. Store the mixture inside, away from the elements, and take a peek at it in a few days. Those bubbles rising to the top are carbon dioxide gas bubbles escaping the bucket during fermentation. Return the bucket to its storage place and wait about 14 days for fermentation to be completed and another 7 days to allow the yeast to settle out. Congratulations, your cider is now ready to enjoy.

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