Hard Cider

Breakfast Cider, or A Cider A Day with Breezy Hill Orchard’s Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider

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Breakfast Cider. An American tradition in need of a revival.

As part of our A Cider A Day Policy and Cider365 Initiative we suggest cider for breakfast.

A morning mug of cider pairs well with most brunch foods. Bacon, sausage, ham – couldn’t be better. Eggs in all their forms – delightful. Oatmeal and cider – a solid start to the day. Almost any breakfast food is more enjoyable with a mug of hearty cider. For a particularly tasty start to your morning try a nice mug of Breezy Hill Orchard’s Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider. It’s fresh, lively, unfiltered, and full of apple cider goodness. It even carries a tag reminding you it’s alive – and to care for it accordingly.

Of course, cider for breakfast is a tradition best revived on days when attending work, driving a vehicle, or the operation of heavy machinery is not part of the plan.

But as a start to a leisurely day – nothing’s better than Breakfast Cider.

 

Cider Review: Harvest Moon Cidery Four Screw Hard Cider with Maple Syrup: Cider52

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Trained&PrunedAppleTree

 

Cider: HARVEST MOON CIDERY FOUR SCREW HARD CIDER with Maple Syrup

Maker: Harvest Moon Cidery  Origin: Critz Farms, Cazenovia, New York

website: harvestmooncidery.com

ABV: 6.25%   Bottle: 22 oz bottle, crown cap

Style Notes: Dessert apples, champagne yeasts, maple syrup added.

Fruit: Apples.

Makers Fruit Notes: “Our hard cider is crafted from a special blend of sweet and tart dessert apples pressed on our 1890′s rack and cloth Four Screw Press.”

Tasting Notes: In The Glass: Bright, clear, light gold. Big bubbles. Winey, culinary apple, hint of lime zest. Maple provides a light candied sugar flavor. Sweet, tart, balanced, with a slight warming finish.

Parings Suggestions & Flavor Compliments:

Our Pairings – The Tasting Lab: We tried Harvest Moon Cidery Four Screw with Belgian ginger cookies and gingerbread caramels. Tasty. Four Screw’s subtle nutty notes suggest it would pair well with roasted and caramelized foods, bitter greens, roast fruit.

Cheesemonger’s Notes: Any cheese with a nutty, caramel profile, some crunch, and a bit of age would pair well with Four Screw.

Overall Impressions:  This cider was a surprise, “with maple syrup” suggested a sugar bomb and darker color. The maple gave the cider just a hint of candied sweetness that balanced the tartness and acidity. Thanks Maple Syrup!

Note: According to their website Harvest Moon Cidery, Critz Farms “plans to establish a new orchard dedicated specifically to growing cider apples. A mix of European cider apple trees and other dessert apple trees will be planted in the spring of 2014”.

If you have tasting notes to add please leave a comment.

 

Cider Calendar: 2013 Seattle Wine and Food Experience – February 24th, 2013

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2013 Seattle Wine and Food Experience

“The Seattle Wine and Food Experience is the premier showcase for wine and food in the Northwest. Experience a world tour of wine, beer, spirits and all things culinary.”

This year five cider making brands will be pouring samples.

Where: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall,  300 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109

Date: February 24th, 2013

Time: 12 pm – 5 pm

General admission tickets: $55.00

Visit the website for more information.

Drinks: Ciders scheduled:
2 Towns Ciderhouse 
The Incider 
Pearadise 
The Bad Apple 
Cherry Poppin’ Cider 
Blue Mountain Cider Company  
Dry Creek
Winesap
Eden Ridge
Cherry 
Fish Brewing Company  
Spire Mountain Ciders Dark & Dry Apple Cider 
Tieton Cider Works 
Tieton Wind
Apricot
Wild Washington
Tieton Frost 
Woodchuck Hard Cider  
Amber
Granny Smith 
 

Cider52: Slyboro Cider House, Castañón Sidra Natural, Harvest Moon Cidery, and EM Emilio Martinez Signature Cider

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Cider52: A Cider A Week. The plan: 52 weeks, 52 cider tastings, pairings and postings.

More January 2013 ciders:

Slyboro Cider House Hidden Star Cider

Slyboro Cider House Old Sin Cider

EM Emilio Martinez Signature Cider 2011

Castañón Sidra Natural 2011

Harvest Moon Cidery Four Screw Cider with Maple Syrup

Tasting notes and pairings to follow.

Cider CSA – Community Supported Cider

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CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.

  • CSA allows members direct access to high quality agricultural products grown and crafted locally.
  • CSA members buy a “share” of regional producers goods.
  • Members get regular share allotments, usually via pick up or at drop-off location near by.
  • CSA members generally pay for the seasons produce upfront. This advance payment helps your local producer plan and prepare for the season, and as a member you directly support your local producer.
Read more about the concept and practice at Just Food.

Some US cider makers are adopting the CSA model, creating a new Community Supported Cider, an apt turn of phrase coined by Whitewood Cider, (though they opted to go with the more recognizable term – CSA).

A few Cider CSAs:

In the Northwest, Whitewood Cider of Olympia, Washington has a 2012-2013 Whitewood CSA Subscription. Check their site to see if shares are still available and to see what ciders are on offer.

Charlton Orchards Farm & Winery in Charlton, Massachusetts, offers several CSA options, including a Farm Winery CSA which includes ciders.

Redbyrd Orchard Cider in Burdett, New York is offering a Spring Cider Share for 2013. Check their site to see if shares are still available. Options include bottle shares and keg shares.

Check with your local cider maker to see if they are offering a Cider CSA option this year. Support Community Cider.

If you know of other Cider CSAs please leave a comment.

Cider Calendar: 2013 Vermont Ice Wine Festival – February 23rd, 2013

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2013 Vermont Ice Wine Festival

Celebrate the world-class Ice Wines and Ice Ciders of Vermont.

Where: Jay, Vermont

When: February 23rd, 2013

Advanced admission $30 includes wine tasting tickets good for all participating wineries, cheese and specialty food samples, and souvenir wine glass. $35 at the door.

Visit the website for more information.

Ice Ciders and Ice Wines attending:
Boyden Valley Winery
Champlain Orchards
East Shore Vineyard
Eden Ice Cider
Hall Home Place
Lincoln Peak Vineyards
Newhall Farm
Shelburne Vineyard
Snow Farm Vineyards
Windfall Orchard

North American Cider, Perry & Ice Wine Associations & Organizations

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A Listing of North American Cider, Perry & Ice Wine Associations & Organizations.

Last updated January 24, 2013.

Visit the websites for detailed information about members, membership, products, and events.

Cidre du Québec / Les Cidriculteurs artisans du Québec  CAQ “The goal of the Association of Independent Cider Producers of Québec (CAQ) is to defend the interests of cider producers and the Québec cider-producing sector. Visit our cider mills. The workers will be happy to let you in on the secret of how they bottle all that flavour.”                    
Province/Region: Québec, Canada                                                                                
Members: 47 makers listed

Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association GLCPA “The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association (GLCPA) is a nonprofit organization formed to showcase and promote fermented apple and pear beverages and to help educate consumers and producers about them. Our members include both commercial and non-commercial producers, as well as affiliate members located outside the region. Come join us at one of our events and discover some of the finest North American ciders and perries!”
State/Region: Great Lakes Region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario.
Members/Listings: Currently include 59 commercial cider makers listed in the GLCPA Directory

Hudson Valley Cider Alliance  “We are working to establish hard cider and apple spirits as signature products of this historic apple region. We are apple growers, cider makers, and distillers who believe that these products will fulfill the potential of the Hudson Valley as a cider region.”
State/Region: New York, Hudson Valley Region                                                                
Members: Currently includes: apple growers, cider makers, and distillers
 
Northwest Cider Association NWCA  “The Northwest Cider Association is a trade organization formed by cider producers throughout the Pacific Northwest in order to promote awareness of regional artisanal ciders among the public. The organization has sponsored classes and events, and created new cider-themed events, including an annual cider maker’s dinner, the Northwest Cider Festival, and Northwest Cider Week, a shared promotion of cider-themed menus, pairings and tasting events at numerous restaurants and retailers.
States/Region: Northwest: Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Canada                                        
Members: Currently includes 20 commercial cider makers
 
Ontario Craft Cider Association OCCA “We are in the midst of cider revolution and in 2012, Ontario`s cider producers formed the Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA) to ensure that local cider producers exceed consumers cider expectations and to educate the public about the incredible tastes, versatility and complexities of cider.  Membership is open to all Cider and Perry producers in Ontario and associate memberships are open to all.” 
Province/Region: Ontario, Canada                                                                                
Members: currently 13 makers listed
 
Rocky Mountain Cider Association  RMCA “The Rocky Mountain Cider Association (RMCA) is an organization of commercial producers of (hard) cider and perry in the Rocky Mountain region: Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Our goals are to promote the understanding and appreciation of quality cider in our region, to help producers and suppliers find one another and work together for common goals, and coördinate events to develop the craft cider industry in our region.”
State/Region: Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico
Members: Commercial cider makers list pending
 
Vermont Ice Cider Association  “Ice Cider is a delicious and sophisticated sweet wine made from apples using natural cold weather to concentrate the flavors and the sugars of the fruit before fermentation. Originally developed in Southern Quebec, it has a remarkable complexity and balance that is usually associated with fine dessert wines.  Ice Cider is becoming recognized as a premier North American specialty.”                                                        
State/Region: Vermont                                                                                  
Members: Currently includes 6 commercial ice cider makers
 
Descriptive information quoted is from the specific organization’s websites.

Please leave a comment if you have North American cider association resources to add.

 
 

Cider Conference 2013 & First Cider Summit Chicago 2013

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Chicago to host Cider Conference 2013 AND first Chicago Cider Summit.

Cider Conference 2013

“Cider Conference 2013 offers a mix of education and networking opportunities for commercial cider producers”
Where: Chicago, Illinois
When: February 7 & 8, 2013
See the full schedule here, list of sponsors here, and register here.
Registration open until January 30th.

AND

Cider Summit Chicago 2013

When: Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 11am‐7pm
Where: Lakeview Terrace Room at Navy Pier.
 
“Cider Summit Expands to Chicago. Region’s Largest Cider Tasting Comes to Navy Pier. SBS Imports and the Seattle Beer Collective are pleased to announce the expansion of their successful Cider Summit festival to Chicago, IL. The inaugural Chicago event will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 11am‐7pm in the Lakeview Terrace Room at Navy Pier. The event will benefit The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association, WBEZ Public Radio, and Heartland Alliance.”
 
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, ticket details here.

Scheduled producers listed below:

See full list here to see complete list of ciders to be poured.

Aeppeltreow Winery – WI 
Angry Orchard Hard Cider – OH 
Aspall Cyders – England
Black Star Farms – MI
B. United International pouring: Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut – France, and Sarasola Basque Cider 
California Cider Company – CA
Cider House of Wisconsin  – WI 
Citizen Cider – VT 
Colorado Cider Company – CO 
Crispin/Fox Barrel Cider – CA 
Doc’s Draft – NY 
Eden Ice Cider Company – VT 
E.Z. Orchards Cidre – OR 
Farnum Hill Ciders – NH 
Julian Hard Cider – CA 
Orchard Gate – MI also pouring: Thistly Cross Cider – Scotland
Original Sin Cider – OR  
Prima Cider – IL 
Samuel Smith – England 
Shelton Brothers pouring:L’Hermitiere – France, Oliver’s – England, and Zeffer – New Zealand
Tieton Cider Works – WA 
Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery & Distillery – MI 
Vander Mill – MI 
Virtue Cider – MI 
Wandering Aengus Ciderworks – OR 
Woodchuck Hard Cider – VT
 

Cider52: Shinn Estate Vinyards, Españar Sidra de Asturias, Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouché, Angry Orchard, Valverán 20 Manzanas

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Cider52: A Cider A Week. The plan: 52 weeks, 52 cider tastings, pairings and postings.

More January 2013 ciders:

Shinn Estate Vineyards Wickham’s Pear Cider 2011

Españar Sidra De Asturias

Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouché Brut de Normandie 2011

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, draft in a growler

Valverán 20 Manzanas Frost Cider

Tasting notes and pairings to follow.

Cider & Smoke

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The New York Times, After Crispy Pigs Ears, 10 Trends for 2013 cites Smoked Everything as a major food trend in 2013 because “smoke’s not just for meat anymore.” From smoked ice cream, to smoked Cherry Coke in Manhattan cocktails, smoke is everywhere.

Two of Seattle Magazine Favorite Dining Trends of 2012 are Smoke as a Flavor, and Cooking Over a Wood Fire.

A few US cider makers are exploring the world of smoke.

A post from 2011 notes Oregon’s Bushwhacker Cider released an extremely small batch of alderwood smoked apples-turned-cider, which sold out in less than an hour.

California’s Tilted Shed Ciderworks just released January Barbecue Smoked Cider. Their tasting notes: “This dry, aromatic cider is tart and bright, with a mellow smoky finish. Imagine drinking an extra brut champagne near a bonfire.”

Are other US cider makers crafting with smoke ?