Davis Square Apple Cider fair?

[jmaynardg.livejournal.com]

Hey,

I recently heard that Davis Square hosts a yearly Apple Cider fair in the autumn. Does anyone know when / if this will take place this year? I'd like to buy cider in bulk for brewing. Thanks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

This isn't something I've ever seen, but maybe I've missed it. It sounds like a better fit for the Community Growing Center on Vinal Avenue, and they have a Harvest Festival scheduled for October 6.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I think they had some kind of a fall festival as part of the Union Sq Farmers Market last year. I'm quite sure there's never been an Apple Cider fair in Davis.

[jmaynardg.livejournal.com]

Union is close enough. I'll do that too! I just want the cider.

mmmmm hard apple cider mmmmm

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

It's relatively easy to brew, if you're interested. Over on Mass Ave there's even a brewshop that's been there long enough that once upon a time they had on display some bottles of l0pht heavy industries r00t b33r.

[jmaynardg.livejournal.com]

They're the folks who recommended the phantom Davis Square Cider Fair. They're who I've been buying my beer supplies from. :)

[ron_newman]

Do they have a poster or leaflet, maybe from a past year's event?

[jmaynardg.livejournal.com]

Nope. If they did that would have been 'problem solved'. I don't own a car so going out to one of the western MA orchards is problematic. Worst case I have it delivered, I guess. Though I want ~25 gal so that could be expensive.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

Some of the farmers market folks sell cider (It might be too early in the season) Perhaps you could work out a bulk discount.

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

I shudder to think what they used to give it that "r00t access" flavor.

[davelew.livejournal.com]

Beer & Wine hobby in Woburn (www.beer-wine.com) is getting some juice November 1st and 2nd. You have to reserve it ahead of time and pick it up during those two days, though.

Now for some general notes on brewing with cider. I have no idea how experienced you are, so I apologize in advance if I insult your intelligence or your brewing experience. Any apple juice without preservatives (like benzoates and sorbates) will ferment, the problem is that most of them end up bone-dry and with nothing to balance the acidity. Getting a mix optimized for hard cider will result in a sweeter and more balanced final product. However, if you can't get the right mix, you still have a few options:

1) keep track of the specific gravity, and when you hit 80% to 90% apparent attenuation (sugars converted to alcohol), add sulfites to inhibit the yeast, then chill to make sure the yeast stay inhibited. Don't bottle this cider, warm temperatures might re-awaken the yeast and create bottle-bombs.

2) Ferment it completely and add nutrasweet or another artificial, unfermentabe sweetener

3) (my favorite) make a cyser. Add honey to the apple juice, and let it ferment until the yeast get too drunk to ferment any more, about 15% alcohol-by-volume, then add a tiny bit more honey to add sweetness. You can add other things to cysers as well. The recipe at http://www.applebuttercyser.com/ is highly regarded.

[charlwoo.livejournal.com]

They may have been recommending Cider Day (www.ciderday.org), which is out in Franklin County in Western Massachusetts. If you are into cider, or apples, it is a remarkable experience.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

They might be talking about the Harvest Fair at the Growing Center on Vinal Ave, Oct. 6.

Harvest Fair
1:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Harvest finale, games, juice and/or cider making, harvest treats, the Butter Dance, pumpkin decorating, contests, music. Also, from 2-3pm, Holistic Nutrition 101 discussion with Samantha Witman. Call Lisa at 617-666-2969. Raindate Sunday October 7.

In the past, the folks from Gaining Ground Farm have made cider at this event (or other events?).

http://www.gainingground.org/contactus.html

Their farm is in Concord. It is a nonprofit and gives most of its food to charities. I don't know if you can buy cider from them or not. It's worth contacting them, however, because they are very nice people, and they live in Somerville, even if the farm is in Concord.