Classic Hard Apple Cider 🍎🍻 Crisp, Refreshing, and Naturally Fermented

— Real Apple Flavor With a Boozy Edge

Classic Hard Apple Cider is your ticket to clean, tart, slightly sweet refreshment — made with just a few ingredients and a little patience.

This DIY cider is light, crisp, and gently carbonated, capturing the essence of real apples without the syrupy sweetness of commercial brands.

Whether you want it dry, semi-sweet, or spiked with spice, this recipe gives you full control over the flavor and the buzz.

Ingredients (Yields ~1 gallon / 8 pints)

• 1 gallon fresh-pressed apple juice or cider (no preservatives like potassium sorbate)
• 1 packet cider yeast, champagne yeast, or wine yeast (or wild ferment if you’re adventurous)
• ½–1 cup sugar or honey (optional, for higher alcohol and sweetness)
• 1 Camden tablet (optional, to kill wild yeast before pitching)
• Optional: spices (cinnamon stick, clove, ginger) or juice blend (pear, cranberry)

Equipment Needed

• 1-gallon glass carboy or fermentation jug
• Airlock and stopper
• Sanitizer (very important!)
• Siphon or funnel
• Bottles (swing-tops, beer bottles, or plastic soda bottles)
• Optional: hydrometer for tracking sugar and alcohol content

Instructions

Step 1: Prep and Sanitize

1. Sanitize all equipment thoroughly — fermentation is friendly to yeast, not to bacteria.
2. If using unpasteurized juice, crush 1 Campden tablet into the juice and let sit covered for 24 hours to kill wild yeast.

Step 2: Add Sugar (Optional)

1. For stronger cider (above ~5% ABV), stir in ½ to 1 cup of sugar or honey until fully dissolved.
2. This step is optional — use less sugar for a drier, lighter cider.

Step 3: Pitch the Yeast

1. Add the yeast directly to the juice (no stirring needed).
2. Cap with an airlock and let it ferment in a cool, dark place for 7–14 days.

Step 4: Primary Fermentation

1. Within 24–48 hours, you should see bubbling in the airlock — fermentation has begun.
2. Let it ferment until bubbling slows or stops completely (usually 1–2 weeks).
3. Optional: Use a hydrometer to confirm fermentation is complete (1.000 or lower).

Step 5: Bottle and Condition

1. If you want carbonation, dissolve 1 tsp sugar per bottle before bottling.
2. Carefully siphon the cider into clean bottles, leaving sediment behind.
3. Cap tightly and let bottles sit at room temp for 7–10 days to carbonate.
4. Chill and enjoy! Store extras in the fridge once carbonated.

Flavor Variations

• Add a cinnamon stick or ginger during fermentation for spiced cider
• Blend in pear or cranberry juice (up to 25%) for a twist
• Use brown sugar or maple syrup for deeper flavor
• Back-sweeten with stevia, monk fruit, or pasteurized juice before bottling if you prefer it sweeter

Alcohol Content

• Without added sugar: ~4–5% ABV
• With 1 cup sugar: ~6–7% ABV
• Champagne yeast can go even higher (up to ~10%), but the cider will finish drier

Final Thoughts

Classic Hard Apple Cider is crisp, clean, and incredibly satisfying — made from just apples, yeast, and time. Whether you like it dry and sharp or soft and sweet, brewing your own puts the flavor (and fizz) in your hands.

Apples in the jug. Bubbles in the glass. Cheers to DIY refreshment. 🍎🍻✨

🍎 Apple Cider Recipes

Explore All Apple Cider Recipes → From cozy hot drinks to refreshing cocktails, these recipes highlight the crisp, sweet flavor of apple cider.

• 🥂 Apple Cider Mimosa – Bubbly brunch cocktail with a fall twist.
• 🍏 Classic Homemade Apple Cider – Fresh, spiced cider made from scratch.
• 🍺 Classic Hard Apple Cider – Naturally fermented for a crisp, boozy kick.
• 🍹 Apple Cider Cocktail – A simple, refreshing cider-based drink.
• 🍸 Apple Cider Margarita – A fall twist on the classic margarita.
• 🍷 Apple Cider Sangria – Fruity, spiced sangria perfect for parties.
• 🥂 Apple Cider Punch – Crowd-pleasing drink with a festive touch.
• 🔥 Hot Apple Cider – Warming, spiced comfort in a mug.
• 🥘 Crockpot Apple Cider – Slow-cooked cider for rich, deep flavor.
• 🍂 Mulled Apple Cider – Simmered with spices for a holiday favorite.