Pear Cider

[metalspinner]

Nicholas came home with a few pears last night. so we pulled the press out of the shed and made cider. His plan is to make pear brandy. He made some last year and it turned out nice. 
The yield from the tree this year was waay down. so he ended up with just about 3 1/2 gallons.

Pear cider (Perry) - YouTube

BTW, the little blond headed boy in my avatar is the same person in the video. :D

[Southside]

That's a really nice press.  Did you build it?

[metalspinner]

Southside, Yes I did. I documented here on the forum. Let me look for it...

[metalspinner]

Here it is...
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=46067.0

[Southside]

Beautiful job!

[LeeB]

His plan is to make pear brandy.

Does he have a still? Can you share pictures of it too if he does?

[kantuckid]

No still= no brandy... ;D 

My antique cider press has sadly been idle for a couple of years from no apples to process. It came from a chicken house in Bath County, KY about 1978 from the farm where one of my fellow tech school teachers parents lived in retirement. It had deteriorated badly and I rebuilt it to it original configuration as a two basket press back then. At the time I lack the best choice of woods and re-did it as it came to me in mostly hard maple. I sandblasted all the metal and epoxy coated it and that finish remains in great condition to this day. The baskets have been redone using SS screws and osage orange slats for strength and durability. 
Few years back, I rebuilt it a 2nd time using white oak for all the main posts and juice contact wood. I also placed wheels and turned handles to make it more mobile. 
It's a dandy press which is ~ 150 years old per the teachers family I bought it from. She's also been dead for some years now along with her husband who was an ag teacher. 
As I'm ageing out it needs to go to a Kentucky orchard as a demonstration piece.  
FWIW, the squirrels eat most all my heirloom apples. I wish we had the plentiful wild apple trees seen in the northeastern USA where it's easy to make cheap cider and blend them in with sweeter varieties. 

[metalspinner]

LeeB
Yes he has a still. But I can't get pictures of it because it's in his dorm room. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Seriously, he built himself a still. He is a chemistry major and is all about the equipment. I think the still is here at the house, I'll go look when I get home. 
He also brews his own beer, but I believe that's with a different contraption. 

Kantuckid 

I have acquired an old cider press, finally! It sounds similar to yours and has a patent date of 1870 something.  I have it 95% restored and just need to fabricate one more thing, then I'll show it to y'all. 
I really like these old presses. But to find a functional, original one is near impossible. They are either basket cases or fully restored and very expensive. 

Here's a sneak peek...


 

[LeeB]

No still= no brandy

You can make a weaker brandy by freezing the wine, lightly defrosting, and pouring off the resulting liquids several times to remove the water and keep the alcohol which  freezes at a much lower temp. Time consuming.

[sawguy21]

My boss did that with a batch he didn't like and used the alcohol to fortify another batch. That stuff was some good but packed a punch, we had to go easy so we could drive home. Our fruit crops took a real beating this year due to the smoke and extreme heat but the vintners at least were reasonably pleased.

[LeeB]

I've got some peach wine I made years ago that I never have really cared for. I may try the freeze distilling method with it. I won't likely drink it as is.