Honey Crisp

We picked the Honey Crisp today (17th November) They are beautiful apples to look at, large and colorful, but they are slightly lacking in taste though they have plenty of juice.  They have held onto the tree well and are only just ready to pick. 

We also picked the last few Rubinett, I had picked over the tree taking the smallest for cider a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't take any pictures but take it from me they don't look good, nothing like the honey crisp but they taste fantastic so who cares about the looks.  We also picked the sweet society, they look good but are on the smaller side I haven't tasted them yet. We only have one sweet society tree and as yet I will make no judgement.  I picked the last of the Pinova yesterday and have just eaten one, most of this variety showed bitter pit so the worst were used in the cider.  The last few have ripened well and the one I have just eaten was good, sweet and crisp, on the bad side the skin is a bit on the thick side.  We only have our Breaburn  to pick, they are still well attached and I would like to give them as much time as possible.  We are a bit too far North for Breaburn but the tree bears well and the apples are a good size and color, they should keep well into the new year.  I will take some pictures before I pick them.  I have also pressed what I expect to by my last cider today.  The apples were all Bramley and were from a neighbors tree.  I say cider but actually they were pressed for Cyser which is a cross between cider and mead so the tartness of the Bramley should complement the honey well.  I took added enough honey to take the specific gravity to 1.102  and added dap and tronozymol to the must along with a measured amount of sodium metabisulphate. I will wait twenty four hours or more before pitching the yeast which will be Gervin GV11.  I am aiming for around 13% alcohol when fully fermented I am hoping the yeast will still have just enough vigor to convert the priming sugar to give it a good fizz.  I tried something similar last year and the results were okay but not great with a bit of luck and better management I hope to do better this time.