I spent Saturday over at the Sonairte center outside Laytown in North County Dublin doing a cider course with @ DavidsOrchard.

It was a cracking information packed day learning everything there is to know about apple juice and cider making. There was also no shortage of cider & juice tasting too, I had to hold back because in the back of my mind I knew I had to drive home.

Here is David showing us the rack & cloth method for pressing the apples, apparently far more efficient at removing more juice than the basket presses.

My 3 batches of fermenting juice, 65 liters in all seems to be stuck at the moment, they have completely stopped fermenting but still have a SG of 1038 and 1042. So hopefully learned a few tips to try get it going again.

Unfortunately I came down this morning to find that the 5lt container of juice for fermenting that David gave me was on the floor and half of it had spilled out. I did have the cap loose but not loose enough I think. I have some pasteurized apple juice and I think I will chance topping it back. Was a little bit gutted seeing it...