Inspiring and really easy to follow.
This book is specifically helpful for beginners. One of the better books out there.

As a cider-makers wife, there are always new tips to learn! Great book addition to the cider scene. Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

I can't wait to get my hands on a physical print copy of this book! This book was very informative DIY book on cidermaking.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Wow theyre not kidding when they say the big book eh? lol no really great book though, really makes me want to get into making cider!

Very in-depth walk through of the Cidermaking process, with enough personal story to make it relateable. Instagram-pretty pictures and an excellent job breaking up a large amount of information into short, useful sections that aid with comprehension. I particularly like their no-judgment approach to the process, where the authors really encourage following the processes that make you happy and catering to your own tastes. A great introduction for beginners, and probably an excellent handbook for jumping off into sophisticated experiments for more advanced makers. As a cider aficionado, it adds to my appreciation of the process and infinite factors that lead to creating something I enjoy.

An appealing, you-can-do-it guide to making cider. One great advantage is the author includes three different "levels" of cidermaking, depending on how much the prospective cider-maker wants to invest in materials, learning, and time. Also, the best breeds of apples (and some other fruits) and methods for various types of flavors, as well as how to make both sweet (non-alcoholic) and hard ciders is included. I started reading this just to review it for possible purchase and ended up tempted to try "level 1". Highly recommended for libraries where patrons have an interest in home brewing and/or homesteading and for anyone who wants to try making their own cider.

The Big Book of Cidermaking is a must-have for anyone who wants to get started making cider or expand beyond cider basics.

Filled with sections about the author's journey into cidermaking, various equipment and ingredient suggestions, the "Master Process," and recipes for six different types of ciders, this "Big Book" will certainly remain a valuable resource in my cidermaking journey.

The Big Book of Cidermaking is exactly that. It’s a huge tome full of any and all information anybody interested in cidermaking could ever need! The book had amazingly beautiful pictures and was an extremely interesting read. My husband has made cider in the past and there were many times I caught him reading over my shoulder. If you have an interest in cidermaking, this one is for you!

'Best-selling authors and acclaimed fermentation teachers Christopher Shockey and Kirsten K. Shockey turn their expertise to the world of fermented beverages in the most comprehensive guide to home cidermaking available. With expert advice and clear, step-by-step instructions, The Big Book of Cidermaking equips readers with the skills they need to make the cider they want: sweet, dry, fruity, farmhouse-style, hopped, barrel-aged, or fortified. The Shockeys’ years of experience cultivating an orchard and their experiments in producing their own ciders have led them to a master formula for cidermaking success, whether starting with apples fresh from the tree or working with store-bought juice. They explore in-depth the different phases of fermentation and the entire spectrum of complex flavor and style possibilities, with cider recipes ranging from cornelian cherry to ginger, and styles including New England, Spanish, and late-season ciders. For those invested in making use of every part of the apple, there’s even a recipe for vinegar made from the skins and cores leftover after pressing. This thorough, thoughtful handbook is an empowering guide for every cidermaker, from the beginner seeking foundational techniques and tips to the intermediate cider crafter who wants to expand their skills.'
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3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.

I have made cider in the past with varying levels of success and I love that this book can help me correct my mistakes and get consistent results. It will tell you literally everything you need to know if you are coming into it with no prior knowledge

The Big Book of Cidermaking: Expert Techniques for Fermenting and Flavoring Your Favorite Hard Cider by Christopher and Kirsten K Shockey is very detailed(from expaining mankind's imbibing of cider through history to go so far as to plant your very own orchard for cider making and everthing in beween) and so as result I think it would be more appropriate for those that are really serious about cider making. The photos are great and serve to visually detail the process and help to clarify the breakdown of steps. It also helps to ceate the least amount of waste possible by using what you can't for the cider in order to make vinegar and and composte.

I found the book to be a bit too long though. I was really inspired early on in the book to try experimenting making different ciders, but it was very long and provided so much information that it became overwhelming and left me feeling that I'm not prepared to expell quite so much effort right now. But I do know that I will do so at some point in the future and when I am ready to try making cider again, this will certainly be the book I'll use to guide me through the simplest method detailed in the book.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and Storey Publishing for sharing an eARC of The Big Book of Cidermaking: Expert Techniques for Fermenting and Flavoring Your Favorite Hard Cider by Christopher and Kirsten K Shockey with me. This is my honest review.

Christopher and Kirsten Shockey, authors of Fermented Vegetables, offer a cidermaking book with lovely photos, detailed instructions and tips, as well as recipes. In fact, the book sort of reads as an instructional part I, followed by recipes in part II.

The Shockeys readily admit there are plenty of cidermaking books out there, and unlike some authors who won't even acknowledge other authors writing about the same subject matter for fear of competition, the Shockeys acknowledge Claude Jolicoeur, who has written one of the seminal books on the subject, The New Cider Maker's Handbook. Jolicoeur's book is slightly more technical than this one, but I have to admit that I found this one to be at a similar level. The Big Book of Cidermaking is a little more approachable than Jolicoeur's, and as stated, features beautiful photography and an abundance of recipes.

Obviously, newer home brewers will find this helpful as there is plenty of technical advice packed into the first half of the book. However, this is a welcome addition to intermediate home brewers as well due to the wide variety of recipes. Ever wonder what chocolate cider would taste like? Yeah, me either, but if you did, you could test it based on a recipe in this book. The authors also include the most basic cider recipe for newbies to a range of more advanced techniques--using pine (something I'm not brave enough to do as a home brewer but have tasted and found surprisingly delicious) or making cider through Spanish (Sidra) or French methods.

I highly recommend The Big Book of Cidermaking by Christopher and Kirsten Shockey. It features a very hands-on approach--pictures for visual learners, profiles of several cider makers, explicit instructions for making cider, all capped off with a multitude of recipes.

In-depth Exploration of Home Cidermaking

I have enjoyed what we Americans typically call hard cider—by the way, the authors prefer just calling it "cider"—for quite a while. Living in Oregon, I have access to some fantastic local ciders as well as the national brands. Cider even shows up on restaurant menus. I had never considered making my own until I saw this book. If you ever considered making your own small-batch cider, this book is chock-full of techniques, photographs, information, and recipes. While, of course, they advocate working with juice that you press yourself or buy from a local farmer, they have a whole page discussing using apple juice from other sources to make your cider. I think that's a great idea if you want to test out to see if you enjoy doing this before you invest in more expensive equipment or purchase a large number of apples for cider making. Facebook goes into so much detail, completely demystifying the process. As I enjoy flavored ciders as well as straight-up ones, I loved that this book included techniques and recipes for those. Honestly, even if you only just enjoy cider with no interest in making it yourself, this book has so much information about the process that you might just enjoy the book to see how small-batch cider is made. The book is lushly photographed. Some pictures out in the authors’ orchard and of the apples are just beautiful. And, too, I also appreciate the practical photographs that help instruct how to do the different parts of the process. If you love cider or want to make it, I highly recommend this book.

This is a really good book for anyone interested in making great tasting cider! You get the options of a beginner and more economical, a more devoted, or a semi-professional cider maker when it comes to equipment and use of time. Naturally, many other factors have an impact like ingredients, where you get them from, do you press the apples and so many more things.

Great pictures, step-by-step stages of cider making, and lots of tips and suggestions. Very in-depth knowledge, and it’s clear that the authors have a real passion for cider making. I started dreaming about my own orchard and a small farm of my own. You don’t need it though, you can make cider in a small place at home.

Intriguing recipes I want to try immediately! Plentiful of apples, fruit, berries, herb etc hat can be used in the process. I want to try them all. I think my favorite thing about the book is that you can easily scope out the information you need at this particular moment, and always go back to the book for more information later. It’s a book you will turn back to many times over the years if you’ve decided to make your own cider.

Advanced copy received from NetGalley/Publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book and learned a few tricks that would help improve my cider making. The explanations and level of detail throughout this book were perfect. There were beautiful photos to help illustrate concepts and the author did a great job teaching how to make cider for both the novice with little equipment to the pros that have all they need. I like that simple recipes using store bought cider/juice were available along with those made from fresh apples. This made the book feel very accessible. There were a few recipes, namely in the Botanical Section that aren't practical for me, but there's enough in this book that is that I think it's well worth the read for anyone interested in learning more about (hard) Cider.

A wonderful book on how to make so many delicious ciders! I would definitely recommend this book to other novices or people who really enjoy drinking/making cider!

I’m inspired! I started this book curious about the process of making my own cider. This is a clearly written and accessible book and I’m excited to give this a try!

** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

The Big Book of Cidermaking has a good collection of different recipes. There are plenty of different inclusions in the recipes that you probably wouldn't think of. Lichen, medlars, resins and nettle. It includes a lot of great pictures that complements the content.

The books approaches cider making by introducing the basics first and then provides plenty of recipes. The book adds a lot of detail later on, which might be a bit much for people new to brewing. However, there's plenty of recipes that are easily achievable that should keep new brewers interested. The only thing I would've liked to see was a bit more discussion around getting a good balance in the apples, to ensure you have enough tannins to produce a nicely rounded cider.

The Big Book of Cidermaking is a technique and tutorial guide for making hard (alcoholic) ciders by Christopher and Kirsten Shockey. Due out 1st Sept 2020 from Storey, it's 272 pages (in the print verstion) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is an exhaustive and encyclopedic manual for the keen amateur homebrewer. Ciders have long lacked the same cachet as homebrew and artisanal beers, but are deservedly enjoying a renaissance amongst savvy brewers.

The layout is accessible and the text is understandable and well written. The authors explain each of the steps logically and well. The introduction includes some history, definitions of types of cider and terms, an overview of equipment, and the general process of moving from apples, to cider step by step.

The second section contains numerous recipes, both basic and advanced, including tutorials for different methods of fermentation (including a good solid introduction to wild fermentation) infusing, spiking with wine and other spirits, and finally enjoying the fruits of one's labors.

The recipes each contain an introduction, ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar, and step by step instructions. Measurements are given in American standard, with metric in parentheses (yay!). The ingredients are mostly relatively easily sourced, but some will obviously require access to mail order or a specialty brewing supplier (especially the equipment).

The book is not lavishly illustrated, but the included photography is clear and easy to follow and sufficient.

Five stars. This book would make a superlative selection for homebrewers, sustainable agriculture folks, smallholders, orchardists, gardeners, local food fans, adventuresome cooks, and other lifestyle readers. This is a passionately written, eminently reasonable, usable guide to making and enjoying good cider.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Big Book of Cidermaking by Christopher Shockey and Kirsten K. Shockey


Expert Techniques for Fermenting and Flavoring Your Favorite Hard Cider, from Sweet, Bubbly, Botanical, or Hopped to Barrel – Aged Apple Brandy and Pommeau


As my husband continues to bring in fruit from the garden, I truly wish that I had this book available to me in my house. Not only are the photographs gorgeous but the information is excellent and instructions easy to follow…well relatively easy to follow. That said, the book is not out till September 1 so perhaps I will be able to find it before next season’s harvest.


What I liked:
* The gorgeous photographs
* The section on making cider and what is needed to do so
* Information on the years used in fermentation, the differences in plain, infused, iced, drinking and spirited varieties of beverages
* The history portion and mention of the amazing Nick Botner – Ark Keeper of apple varieties
* The anecdotes
* The details included
* Some information on actual cider makers
* The inclusion of French, Welsh, Spanish and perhaps other foreign ciders and their makers
* Learning the types of wild yeasts that can be used
* Finding out that cider is not just made from apples
* The information on a few other fermented foods
* The Appendix that includes information with photos
* Everything except…


What I didn’t like:
* That the book is not already mine to use with the produce I have on hand :)


Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I recommend/buy this book? Definitely


Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.


5 Stars

If you plan to start making cider here is your guide! Comprehensive and beautifully photographed this guide will answer all your questions and get you ready to brew!

This book seems well detailed in the process but it’s definitely not for beginners. The specifics are geared towards someone more vast in the knowledge of cider naking.