The American Cider Book

by Vrest Orton

Book Overview

'There are three natural intoxicating beverages as old as man: wine, beer, and cider.'Thus Vrest Orton begins this highly entertaining book about apple cider. In a single volume, Mr. Orton captures the history, customs, and folklore surrounding America's most natural drink and the best techniques for making it today. The book's one hundred twenty delightful recipes demonstrate the versatile and historic uses of cider in punches, nogs, and nightcaps,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374510768
• ISBN13: 9780374510763
• Release Date: January 1973
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Opinionated but Fun

This book is an excellent concise reference for cider making and enjoyment. It begins with a short article on the history of cider, particularly in North America and New England. This is followed by a substantial chapter on methods of making cider in the past and in the present. This section also describes tools and machinery, as well as bottling and preserving cider. There is also a shorter chapter on methods and tools needed for small-scale home cider production. The last part of the book consists of a collection of various recipes that call for cider, from soup to main dishes, to pie. The book is amply illustrated with high-quality black-and-white drawings and photographs. End material includes a short appendix of suppliers for cider making equipment and an index. This book is fun to read as well as informative. Certainly, the quality of the historical research is excellent, and the facts are presently very coherently. A wide variety of information is included, from types of apples to use for cider making, to characteristics of the ideal pomace, to bottling and preservation methods for both sweet cider and hard cider, and even methods for making apple cider vinegar. Orton bases his comments not only on his historical research, but also on his own experience, growing up and making cider on a traditional family farm. On certain topics, he has some very firm opinions, which he shares with readers. For example, he observes, "One of the most outlandish, and to me shocking, habits of the times we live in is that of swilling down drinks from up-lifted bottles. No civilized person guzzles from a bottle if a glass or mug is available. For American advertisers to condone and actually promote such a habit is a good comment on these times when manners have been abandoned and social customs of gentlemen and ladies decried." Such comments yield clues to Orton's personality-I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of this guy, so when I make my cider, I'm going to follow his rules.