Are there any reliable sources for apple juice that will make a decent cider? The only apple orchards that will part with cider don’t exactly grow the traditional Northern Spy, Kingston Black, Russet et al apples - more like Sweet Gala and Red Delicious. Most orchards around here (Front-Range Colorado) don’t say too much about cider to take home on their website.
It’s strange, I can have 5 gallons of honey shipped from Florida, I can have 55lbs of grain shipped from Germany, but I can’t get English cider-apple juice without having a place to grow a tree or knowing a good orchard.
I feel like I’m missing something - everything I read about cider says the critical aspect of good cider is good juice; however, I can’t find juice that can be shipped.
You need to keep looking in your area. The problem with fresh juice is that it can spoil during shipping, I think. I know it can go off in a hurry if not refridgerated.
There is one orchard around here that my club works with that has some of the heirlooms. That juice makes some good cider. On the west side of the state is the Hills Brothers orchard. That juice is a secret weapon for some! Might have to make a trip over there come October.
Here is a tool to search for varieties. Arkansas Black is a good one for cider, one orchard in CO.
I buy Louisburg Unfiltered 100% Apple Cider w/o preservatives from my local grocery store. A certain ubiquitous “W” bigbox store carries the same brand but it’s preserved, so check your labels. That makes a pretty good, reliable cider base, and its available year round.
The North American Cider Map project has three spots in CO selling cider, probably hard cider, but they might be willing to part with unfermented juice.
Down in Lakewood, we have Cider Days every year where you can press your own apples, or buy apples there and press them. It’s about as close to anything as I’ve found.
If you find somewhere (either around here or online) let us know.
edit: buying apples there to press gets pricey. I have 3 apple trees and have family/friends that let me pick their apples too, so I’ve never bought apples there, just utilized the access to the presses.