Ciderfest - 2011

One of TRASH’s annual events is our Ciderfest. Trash members and friends gather at Sally’s Cider Press in Zelionople for a custom press of some of finest apples available. While it’s more than OK to take some home to enjoy right away, most of this freshly pressed nectar is fermented into a delicious beverage with a history as long as our nation itself.

What makes TRASH Ciderfest cider so special? We select our apples from one of the finest orchards in the area, Soergel’s in Wexford. By having them custom pressed at Sally’s we can be assured that our cider is all natural. Most store bought ciders have been heat pasteurized and have potassium sorbate added to resist fermentation. They also tend to be more to the sweet side and sometimes that imbalance affects a finished hard cider.

Never made cider? No problem!. Cider is one of the easiest of fermented beverages to produce. One can simply get a measure of fresh juice and let the natural yeasts already present on the apple skins to ferment their cider. Others use a store bought yeast culture to bring out characteristics from the yeast that they would like to taste in a cider. A champagne yeast will yield a drier, more alcoholic cider while an ale yeast might bring more of the fruit flavor to the front. Basically if a yeast would make a good beer, wine, or mead it will make a very drinkable cider.

This year’s CiderFest will be held on Saturday October 22nd. If you would like to participate, please come to the September 'Oktoberfest' meeting at the Houle's and sign up. I’ll need your contact information and how many gallons of juice you would like to order. As in years past we are charging $4.00 per gallon of juice. Earlybirds and helpers can meet me for breakfast at King’s in Wexford around 8:00 AM for some eggs and cider talk. Those ordering juice can assemble at Sally’s cider Press in Zelionople at 10:00 AM. As always I really need the help of TRASH members or friends of TRASH with trucks and/or trailers to help me transport the apples from the orchard to Sally’s. Please let me know as soon as possible if you can help.

CiderFest directions:
For breakfast take I-79 North to the Wexford Exit. Make a right and King’s will be on your left. We usually sit in the back and our vehicles will be conspicuously filled with apples!

For Sally’s Cider Press take I-79 to Exit 87 (Zelionople). At the end of the ramp turn left onto PA-68. Travel approximately one mile and turn right onto US-19. Travel approximately 3.2 miles north and Sally’s will be on the right.

Please contact me at tim.mihalek@gmail.com or by phone at 724-579-9369 by Saturday October 15th with your cider order.