kosher apple cider

[schneurroth]

Does anyone know of any apple ciders that are kosher?

[schneurroth]

Sorry about not clarifying originally, I'm asking about kosher HARD (alcoholic) cider.

[DeisCane]

Does that need a hechscher? Isn't it just yeast, sugar and apple juice?

[ganeden]

It could. Especially if it were produced at a winery. Mainly due to use of nonkosher keilim and inadequately washed equipment. But certainly as far a Pesach is concerned. There's a place called Ace Hard Cider in Sebastopol (my old stomping grounds), and the place was dedicated to hard cider and perry, and I would certainly drink its product except on Pesach (not that I have drunk it, just that I would have no hesitation at all to do so). And the same for British hard ciders, and Norman hard ciders.

[DeisCane]

I get the winery thing, C, but if the maker is dedicated to hard cider, it seems to be self-evident.

[hanistor]

I don't know if this applies to cider, but I know that apple juice requires a hechsher because grape skins are sometimes used in the filtering process (believe it or not!).

Interesting story. A friend of mine went to some farm in Vermont where they make "Pure' maple syrup and he saw them using lard to reduce the foam from the syrup.

Bottom line. NEVER assume, when it comes to Kashrus.

[ganeden]

Grape skins are not used in any filtering process. Many hold that so little lard actually finds its way into the syrup as an antifoaming agent that it is also not a problem.

[zsero]

On the other hand, a Jewish maple farmer who spoke at my shul said that it was absolutely standard practise among his neighbours to cook hot dogs, hams, etc. in the boiler with the syrup.

[chicago maven]

As I understand it, Apple juice presents a kashrus issue due to the pasteurization process on equipment shared with other juices, possibly not kosher. the filling process may also present a problem.
as far as the maple syrup is concerned, the large factories that produce maple syrup do not use lard or other non-kosher sustances to de-foam their syrup. Therefore, many kashrus organizations allow its use without a hashgacha. However, the maple syrup from the farmer could deffiently pose a problem as they do indeed use things like lard to de-foam the syrup while it is cooking.

[cappucino]

Zieglers is a good brand. We buy a couple of gallons before Succos and make a hot, mulled, spiked variation for our Simchat Beit Hashoevah (Sukkah party at night). People love it.

[queenscook]

Yes, Zieglers was the brand I couldn't remember. The spiced version is particularly good.

[ganeden]

Since when do you need a kosher symbol on (unflavored) apple cider? Evern when aplle juices were routinely fined with gelatin, very few held that it was a problem- the gelatin falls to the bottom of the tank and the clear juice is racked from on top. Thus, no real halachic problem (as you don't want the gelatin to remain in the juice). The only other real problem is bottling equipment that might be used for something else, which is a very minor problem if at all- most apple processing lines are dedicated.

[queenscook]

There are a number of brands, but the one in my fridge right now is Golden Flow. I've had far better, but I needed some for a recipe for Rosh Hashana and it's what they had available locally. Can't think of the better brands I've had right now, though. Sorry.