Amherst Historical Society to present talk on Traditional New England Cider Making

On Sunday, October 20th, the Amherst Historical Society & Museum will be presenting a “A Drink When We Want It and a Cup for the Thirsty Traveler,” a lecture and slide presentation on traditional New England cider making, history and techniques.

What is understood today as “apple cider” is not the same as cider during 18th and 19th century. The closest product to what we now think of as apple cider was sweet cider or the “must” of the mill.  What was meant by “cider” is what is usually referred to today as hard cider. Cider was considered the normal drink in New England, to be consumed at every meal. The basic method of making cider is relatively simple and because it is, as one writer in the Early 1800s pointed out, so much could go wrong. Come learn about the mills, machinery, and products of New England’s cider making tradition.

Presented by Dennis Picard, the event will be held 2:00 – 3:00pm in the Woodbury Room at the Jones Library, 43 Amity Street in Amherst.  The event is free and open to the public.