One of the coolest parts of craft cider is that it’s ever-growing — we are not a static entity, but one that is alive and evolving. For instance, the American Cider Association recently added mistelles to the dessert cider family. This category of cider isn’t well-known to us, and prompted us to ask (as any curious cider-lover might): What is mistelle?

The long and short of it is that a mistelle is a drink made from unfermented or just slightly fermented fruit juice that has been fortified with a distilled spirit, typically one made from the same kind of fruit. Very often (at least with apples) the spirit has been aged in oak for some period of time before fortifying the juice, and the combination is also often aged further. They are sweet and have higher alcohol than your typical cider (16% to 20% ABV) and are most commonly made from apples or grapes, though really any fruit can be made into a mistelle.

In the cider world, pommeau is one of the most well known mistelles. Pommeau de Normandie, Pommeau de Bretagne, and Pommeau de Maine hold Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status, a certification of authenticity granted to certain geographical indications. They are made under strictly controlled conditions from a list of particular apple varieties grown only in the area of the AOC. Other similar products in France have names like ratafia and apéritif de cidre as well as mistelle such as Eric Bordelet’s gorgeous Mistelle de Pomme. Cidermakers outside of France also sometimes call their products pommeau, but more are beginning to give them other names.

Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider and Perry, based in Herefordshire, England, explains a bit more: “Pommeau, being both a French word and also a drink so clearly connected with France, particularly Normandy,” he notes. “It seems mistelle is a cover-all term for any drink made by using part distillate and part fresh juice or fermented juice to create a drink about 18% ABV and multiple variations on that theme.”

Apple-based mistelles can be found in many parts of the world such as Australia (Carmel Cider Mistelle and Small Acres Cyder Mistelle), Canada (Michel Jodoin’s Golden Mistelle and Mistelle Rosée) and elsewhere in Europe (Germany-based 1785 Cider Mistelle. 

While the word mistelle is less commonly used in the US, Alpenfire Cider in Port Townsend, Washington, began releasing a dessert cider called Apple Mistelle in 2018. Nancy Bishop, owner of Alpenfirer, credits a sense of whimsy to her choice to label that particular fortified cider as mistelle versus pommeau.

“The simple reason is that I have always liked the word mistelle — it makes me think of mistral, the wind that blows over the Mediterranean sea,” she says. “I knew that mistelle was a fortified wine but I wasn’t sure the TTB would allow it for a cider. But they did, and gave us a COLA (Certificate of Label Approval/Exemption) for it in 2019, as a fanciful name.”

Have you seen mistelles out there in the wild? We’re curious to see if this term becomes incorporated into more packaging, as it is a looser umbrella term and less tied to Normandy than pommeau!

• Feature photo: Bigstock

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Spring is riiiiiight around the corner! And wow, are we ready for it. While, at first, we were grateful for winter’s chill and the many excuses it gave us to stay inside and make comfort-food snacks (hello, pretzels with cider cheese sauce) and sip warm winter ciders, now we crave sunshine! Short sleeves! Berries by the barrel-full!

Happily, there are ciders for every season, and we’ve gathered seven ciders that feel just right for the blossoming of glorious spring:

Castle Hill Cider Celestial 2021

It might seem funny to kick off this list with a cider that’s not pretty in pink or packed with spring fruit, but some of the strongest signifiers of spring sipping for us are light, easy, breezy ciders that balance complexity and pure refreshment. Find all of that in Castle Hill Cider’s Celestial, a subtly tannic cider with notes of citrus, floral and spice. A combination of 100% estate-grown heirloom and bittersweet apples (Harrison, Albemarle Pippin and Gold Rush) yield a truly pretty cider that’s perfect with vegetable-forward seasonal fare. Shop online. 6065 Turkey Sag Rd., Keswick, VA; (434) 296-0047.

Golden State Gingergrass Cider

Just as our lawns start to grow back and bring some much-needed green to the color palette of the world, Cali-based Golden State Cider‘s Gingergrass Cider offers a dose of freshness and life. We love how lemongrass, ginger and apples play together, an earthy, herbal experience that’s kind of like putting your face to a patch of sunshine-warmed grass and taking a sniff. This refreshing cider offers big notes of lemon and grapefruit on the nose, with a tart, balanced finish. Shop online or head to Golden State’s taproom. 180 Morris St., Ste. 150, ​Sebastopol, CA; (707) 827-3765. 

Graft Cider Native Oranje

Graft Cider‘s recently launched a line of wine/cider hybrids, Native, which come in a variety of flavors. Perfect for spring? Native Oranje, a hyper-local co-fermented blend of spontaneously fermented Finger Lake Riesling grape skins and Hudson Valley apples. Native Oranje is like a spring love affair between cider and orange wine: light-bodied and fresh, with notes of rose petals, lychee and little bit of funk. Shop online, or find some near you with the Graft finder tool. Newburg, NY

Stargazer Cider Gemini

Give us ALL of the strawberries! Gemini is a perky seasonal from Stargazer Cider, blending Southern apples with strawberries and rhubarb for a light-hearted, berry-forward situation. Look for it, for a limited time only (just like strawberry season), on Stargazer’s online shop or at the James Creek Cider House tasting room in Cameron, North Carolina. 172 US-1 Highway, Cameron, NC; (910) 245-9901

Portland Cider Co. Pineapple Rosé

Rosé ciders are here to stay, and we expect we’ll be seeing updated varieties and spin-offs from cidermakers as we progress through spring and summer. Case in point: the seasonal cider, Pineapple Rosé, from Portland Cider Co., made with real pineapples and a blend of culinary apples, and a hit of blueberry for color. Tasting notes include pineapple and strawberries and cream nose, with flavors of jammy pineapple, blueberry, marionberry pie and cotton candy in the juice. Use Portland Cider’s finder tool or check out its cider pubs in Clackamus, Beaverton and Portland, Oregon. 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR; (971) 888-5054; 8925 SE Jannsen Rd., Bldg. F, Clackamas, OR; (503) 744-4213; 4005 SW Orbit St., Beaverton, OR; (503) 626-6246.

Wildcraft Cider Works Elderflower Quince Cider

We love the subtle elegance of elderflower and wonder, quite frankly, why we don’t see more ciders made with it. WildCraft Cider Works Elderflower Quince Cider blends this botanical’s best qualities with Jonagold apples, and three hand-picked quince varieties that are planted, grown and harvested at the biodynamic WildCraft Orchard at Meadowview Farm. The quince are shredded and lightly fermented on skin for two weeks prior to pressing, then naturally aged for six months, which turns them into wine, which is then blended with cider and then cold-conditioned with elderflowers. Wildly floral and elegant, this is a knockout at your next picnic. Shop online for this and more WildCraft ciders, or go to its Cider Mill Market to shop for these and other locally made products. 232 Lincoln St., Eugene, OR; (541) 735-3506

Wayside Cider Skinny Dip

Not all spring ciders must be redolent of blooming gardens and berry brambles — sometimes you just want something zesty, juicy and clean. Our pick for that is Wayside Cider‘s Skinny Dip, made almost exclusively with slow-fermented dessert apples. A touch of quince lends subtle fruitiness and crisp acidity. Serve this natural sparkler nicely chilled, and enjoy refreshing tasting notes of pear and wet stone. This is also a good cider to impress your natural-wine-loving friends! Find Wayside Cider at better bottle shops and restaurants throughout New York City and state, or at its dreamy tap room in a restored barn in the Catskills. 55 Redden Ln., Andes, NY; (845) 676-6002

What ciders scream “SPRINGTIME!!” to you? Let us know!

• Feature photo: Dish Works

The post 7 Ciders to Put You in a Springtime State-of-Mind appeared first on Cider Culture.

Tea-infused ciders are so nice on a chilly night, sipped from beneath a fluffy blanket, or maybe sitting around a Scrabble board. Schilling Cider Chaider Spiced Chai cider is a great example of the category: The chai spice blend, which is custom-made for them by fellow Portland-based small biz, Kinglet Tea, is perfectly balanced, with just the tiniest hint of sweetness.

The warming spices in Schilling’s Chaider made us think of tropical tiki drinks, so we developed a loose riff on a classic Mai Tai. Instead of coconut rum we stick with traditional spiced rum, and included pineapple and lime (no orgeat syrup or amaretto is called for, because do people actually have that stuff at home?), along with the cider. Cheers!

Tropical Spiced Tea Party

Ready in: 5 minutes

Makes: 1 cocktail

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. spiced rum
• 1 oz. pineapple juice
• 0.5 oz. lime juice
• 6 oz. (1/2 can) Schilling Chaider

Method

1. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the rum, pineapple and lime juices. Shake.
2. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with spiced chai cider and garnish with a lime wheel.

• Recipe and photo: Emily Kovach for Cider Culture

The post Recipe: Tropical Spiced Tea Party Cider Cocktail appeared first on Cider Culture.

Is your cider cellar packed with bottles you’ve been saving for the perfect occasion? Well, in our opinion, life is too short to wait!

Saturday, February 24, 2024, is the 3rd annual Open That Cider Bottle night, an off-shoot of Open That Bottle Night, an event founded in 2000 by two Wall Street Journal columnists, Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher. This worldwide celebration was originally meant to encourage wine drinkers to open a special bottle from the cellar, basically just for funzies.

The American Cider Association joined the festivities in 2022 by designating the last Saturday in February as a day for cider fans to open and share something special!

In 2024, the ACA is bringing the tradition back! This year, they’ll be offering prizes for various categories and everyone who participates will be entered to win a wine/cider suitcase.

Here’s how to participate:

• Pick out a special cider to open on Saturday, February 24. Maybe it’s a homemade cider a friend gave you, or a limited release or one-off from a cider club you belong to. Perhaps it’s a bottle you picked up on a special trip, or a gift you’ve been hanging on to. Or, head to your local bottle shop and splurge on that bottle you’ve been eyeing all year!
• Either way, pick a cider with a great backstory and share a photo or Reel of it on Instagram anytime on Saturday, February 24, using the hashtag #openthatciderbottle. Don’t forget to also tag @pickcider!

Then, the ACA will award prizes to their favorite post in the following categories:

• Best Cider Bottle Story: Share what makes the cider you chose so special to you.
• Best Cider Adventure Story: Capture your cider bottle with an image that embodies the spirit of adventure in the world of cider.
• Best Cider/Food Pairing Suggestion: Explore the world of culinary delights that pair well with your chosen cider.
• Best Cider Artistry: Showcase the artistic side of cider whether it be a beautiful label or a beautiful setting for your cider bottle.

Everyone who posts will be entered into a drawing for the wine suitcase. You’ve got nothing to lose, so start considering which cider you’re going to enjoy, and get ready for Open that Cider Bottle on February 24!

• Photo: Pexels

The post Pop a Special Cider on ‘Open that Cider Bottle Night’ on February 24, 2024 appeared first on Cider Culture.

Nope, we’re not gonna do it — we’re not going to give in to either side of the Valentine’s Day debate. We’re not going to say that “love sucks” because, in fact, we love love and think that the world could use a whole lot more of it. But we’re also not going to lean too far into the over-the-top romance, because there are infinite types of love beyond the soulmate kind of love. If you are in love, it’s probably something you should celebrate way more often than just on February 14.

That said, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that can be really fun, sometimes in conventional ways, like with a fancy dinner or with chocolates and roses (wait … does anyone actually do that?), and sometimes in more modern ways, like a Galentine’s brunch, or a cozy night mixing up cocktails and eating pizza and too much candy with a sibling. Whatever type of vibe feels right for you, there is a cider that’s just right for the occasion.

Here are 13 ciders you should be cracking open this Valentine’s Day, no matter how you celebrate:

Look at this little cutie from Austin Eastciders! This Texas-based brand always keeps it fun and casual, which is what staying in on Valentine’s Day is all about. Austin Eastciders’ Dry Rosé is firmly on the dry side, and at 5% ABV, you can sip it all the way through Kill Bill (or whatever your Valentine’s Day movie of choice is), no problem. The rosé has tasting notes of crisp apple, rose petals, black currant and hibiscus, and it would make a great pairing with takeout sushi.

If your idea of the perfect date night includes homemade cheese fondue (very MCC fabulous) and goblets of cider, pair your Gruyere dipping with SpaceTime Mead & Cider’s Les Terriens Soltaires. This natural-style cider is this producer’s third in a series of releases inspired by traditional ciders from Brittany and Normandy, France. Made from fresh-pressed apples from Ayer’s Orchards in Ransom Township, PA, this keeved cider is dry and a pleasantly funky.

Instead of a bouquet of flowers (which are totally out of season in most parts of the country right now anyway) try a floral, herbal cider! One of the best-selling offerings from City Orchard, also from Texas, is its Lavender Royale, made with a blend of culinary apples, steeped with lavender from the Texas Hill Country and balanced with local honey. Though it is fresh and botanical, you won’t have that unfortunate “Am I drinking body wash?” experience that sometimes happens with other floral beverages. Find City Orchard’s products at its tasting room in Houston or shop online.

Planning to destroy a box of chocolates with your BFF? Pair all of those super-rich bon-bons with a fresh, fruity cider, like Stem Cider‘s Raspberry Cider. This dry cider is a juicy, balanced sipper with enough tartness to stand up to dark chocolate, milk chocolate and caramel, alike.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKU0Ki_Ft0_/?igshid=6h5cj6pjl7bj

Ciders made from red-fleshed apples are practically meant for this narrow color-schemed holiday. Snowdrift Cider Co.‘s Red Cider, which comes in a cute 500-ml bottle, channels the loving feelings with a beautiful hue and complex profile of bright acidity and nuanced fruit flavors. Tasting notes include: cranberries, watermelon, rhubarb and strawberries (all the red things!), with soft toffee tones on the finish.

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If you can get your hands on anything from Fable Farm Fermentory, we highly suggest you do! The quiet elegance and complex flavors of its ciders and wines are perfect for a special occasion. If you have a few to choose from, try Fluxion, a sparkling apple wine made from the merging of multiple vintages of cider aged in an assortment of wood barrels.

This dry, refreshing cider was made in the traditional method, with maple syrup used to start a secondary fermentation in bottle. According to Fable Farm, “Fluxion is defined as ‘the act of flowing; the matter that flows.'” Isn’t that what we’re all hoping for when it comes to love? Shop online, head to its tasting room in Barnard, Vermont, or peruse one of Fable Farm’s stockists, which are mostly in Vermont, but a few other places, as well.

Reuby True is a fun, collaborative release from Philly’s Hale & True Cider Co. along with Chef Reuben R. Asaram, a local chef specializing in wildly creative tacos. This co-fermentation of red dragonfruit and Asian pears has Galentine’s written all over it. The charming ruby-red color, plus the tasting notes of tangy fruit, flowers and cream, is meant for living room dance parties, preferably with a very Robyn-heavy playlist.

Hoping to spice things up? Ginger ciders bring a real sassy kick to the party and make incredible pairings with some of our favorite takeout options, like Thai and Vietnamese food. Ginger and apples are also cozy companions, as apple’s sweet-tart nature and ginger’s cool heat create a good kind of tension — know what we mean? Hudson North Cider Ginger Citrus is an special extra-spicy ginger cider with notes of orange and grapefruit that’s a real winner for a casual date night.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all pinks and reds — but sometimes it’s fun to just lean all the way into it. The special Bouquet of Rosé gift set from Finnriver Farm & Cidery, is a love letter to the land, the magic of fermentation and the community surrounding Finnriver! Meant to uplift love and spark joy, this fun collection plays on the stereotypical V-Day gift of floral bouquets but in cider form: the trio includes bright and tart Autumn’s Blush, lush botanical Cranberry Rosehip and the delightfully sweet Raspberry Brandywine.

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If it is pink cider that you’re after, and you want a large-format bottle for your cozy dinner in or out, one of the best of the bunch is Scarlett from Ethic Ciders. This seasonal cider release is a blend of dry farmed heirloom apples (57% Gravenstein, 38% Jonathan and 5% Northern Spy) from its orchard in Sebastopol, CA, with local, organic blackberries and raspberries picked at peak ripeness. The name is a tribute to the cider makers’ young niece, Scarlett, who they say is, “beautiful, playful and wildly charismatic.” Effervescent and dry, with a lush berry finish, it’s a really pretty, really delicious cider. Shop online or use Ethic’s cider finder to locate a shop near you that carries its ciders.

In most parts of the US, February really isn’t berry season. Skip the sad, pale grocery store berries and sip a raspberry cider instead! Nine Pin Cider’s Raspberry is a co- ferment made from a blend of early apple varieties and late season raspberries. It’s tart, balanced and the most charming pink color (break out the coupe glasses for the full effect). For bonus romance points, pick up the Nine Pin Valentine’s Day Gift Box, which includes a collaboration candle between Nine Pin and Collar City Candles and a dozen red roses. This is available only for local pick-up on Wednesday, February 14, in Nine Pin’s tasting room located on Broadway in Albany, NY.

Are you anti-Valentine’s Day, all about it, or ambivalent? Either way, let us know what you’ll be cracking open this year on February 14! Tell us in the comments here, or on the Cider Culture Facebook page.

• Feature photo: Virtue Cider
• Hereford Gold photo: Anxo Cider

The post 13 Perfect Ciders for Valentine’s Day (No Matter How You Celebrate) appeared first on Cider Culture.

There’s something so luxurious about champagne cocktails, often served in sleek glassware and redolent of citrus, flowers or herbal spirits. These sparkling bevs can lend a air of “partying on a boat” or “date with a hot Frenchman” or “cheers, darling” to one’s night.

Despite their glamorous vibes, champagne cocktails are no biggie to throw together, and are actually usually easier to make than more spirit-forward concoctions. And the best part is that in nearly all champagne cocktails, you can swap out the sparkling wine for sparkling cider, which lends even more complexity and brightness to the glass!

Want to take these chic cocktails for a spin? We’ve got five classic champagne cocktails where cider effortlessly steps in to make things more delicious and interesting.

Mimosa & Bellini

Famously a breezy hair-of-the-dog drink at brunch, mimosas (sparkling wine + orange juice) and bellinis (sparkling wine + peach nectar) can truly be enjoyed any time of the day. Instead of using sub-par Prosecco, reach for your favorite citrus or peach cider to craft these sunny, bright orange cocktails. Some good ones include Jack’s Hard Cider Peach, Bauman’s Cider Peach Bellini, Starcut Ciders Mosa and ACE SpACE Blood Orange Cider. A crisp, dryish all-apple cider of your choice can also work beautifully!

Cider Mimosa or Cider Bellini

Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients

•  8-10 ounces hard cider of your choice, chilled
• 4 ounces orange juice or peach nectar, chilled

Method

1. Fill 2 chilled champagne flutes with 4 or 5 ounces of craft cider.
2. Top each glass with 2 ounces each of juice or nectar.

Aperol Spritz

The Aperol Spritz is literally the perfect drink for happy hour (or aperitivo, if you want to be fancy about it). It’s fruity, bitter, pleasantly fizzy and not too boozy, and it can go toe-to-toe with all the salty snacks, like olives, charcuterie, popcorn and potato chips. Substituting hard cider here is a no-brainer and makes for a wildly refreshing experience. To most closely mimic a classic Aperol Spritz, choose a cider that’s very dry and crisp with no adjunct flavors, perhaps made with wine yeast, like Golden State Cider Brut, Alpenfire Traditional Cuvée or Minneapolis Cider Brut.

Cider Aperol Spritz

Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients

• 6 ounces hard cider, chilled
• 3 ounces Aperol
• Soda water or seltzer
• Two orange slices, for garnish

Method

1. Fill 2 wine glasses with ice. To each glass, add 3 ounces of cider and 1.5 ounces of Aperol. Stir.
2. Top with about 1 ounce of soda water or seltzer, stir again, and garnish with an orange slice.

French 75

The French 75 is a true classic — its roots can be traced all the way back to 1915 (to Paris, of course). Usually, this elegant cocktail is made with a combination of gin, lemon juice, sparkling wine and simple syrup. Use a lemon or sour cider instead for a bold, tangy, palate-cleansing cocktail! Try Dressler Estate Cider Dolores, Wild Cider Lemon Basil, Under the Bridge Cider Lemon Crush or Brooklyn Cider House Half-Sour.

Cider French 75

Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients

• 6 ounces hard cider, chilled
• 2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• Lemon peel, for garnish

Method

1. Add all ingredients except cider into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake hard, and strain evenly into 2 champagne flutes.
2. Top each glass with 3 ounces of hard cider. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Kir Royale

The Kir Royale is another French cocktail (they sure know how to party in style, eh?), often enjoyed as an aperitif before a meal. It’s just two ingredients: champagne and crème de cassis, a black currant liqueur. To make a cider-ified version, leave out the champers, and instead use either a dry cider, or, if you prefer an extra dash of fruity sweetness, a rosé cider! You probably already have your favorite rosé cider on lock, but if you want to try something new, use Bryant Cider’s Unicorn Fuel, Eden Cider Brut Rosé or ANXO Rosé. Or, dial up the black currant flavors with Meriweather Cider Black Currant Crush or Finn River Farm & Cider Black Currant Cider!

Cider Kir Royale

Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients

• 10 ounces hard cider, chilled
• 1 ounce crème de cassis
• Fresh berries, for garnish

Method

1. Pour 0.5 ounce crème de cassis into the bottom of 2 champagne flutes.
2. Slowly pour 5 ounces of the cider into each glass. Garnish with a fresh blackberries or raspberries.

Party Punch

Who doesn’t love a big glass bowl full of fruity, fizzy punch at the center of a party spread? Our only complaint is that sometimes, they’re too cloyingly sweet, or too sneakily boozy. Lots of punch recipes call for sparkling wine and a spirit and sometimes even a sugary soda. Using cider in place of sparkling wine takes care of all of those potential issues: it brings a natural, juicy sweetness; it has lower ABV than wine; and it totally eliminates the needs for any kind of soda. To maximize the punchiness factor, if you will, crack open a few cans of your favorite luscious, fruity cider, like Big Hill Ciderworks Farmhouse Cherry, La Familia Jamaica Hibiscus Cider, Swift Cider Pomegranate or Blake’s Hard Cider Triple Jam.

Cider Party Punch

Serves lots of your friends

Ingredients

• 40 ounces of your choice hard cider, chilled (about 3.5 12-oz. cans or 1.5 750-ml bottles)
• 4 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
• 1 cup vodka, gin or white rum, chilled
• 1/2 cup lime juice, chilled
• 1/2 cup pomegranate arils (seeds) and 1 lime, sliced into wheels, for garnish

Method

1. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients, except garnish, and stir thoroughly. Taste and adjust to your liking.
2. Add the pomegranate arils and lime slices as garnish and serve. On a hot day, you may need to add some ice cubes to keep the punch cold!

What are your favorite cider champagne cocktails? Let us know!

• Photos: Dish Works

The post 5 Fresh, Fizzy Cider Champagne Cocktails to Try appeared first on Cider Culture.

Feeling a little stir-crazy? Every winter brings with it a housebound lifestyle, especially in northern locales, and sometimes it feels like hibernation-mode won’t ever end. The urge for a change of scenery can be strong, even if the weather isn’t especially accommodating to spending time outdoors!

If every weekend brings an intense longing for cider adventures, you’re in luck: Craft cider goes hand-in-hand with outdoorsy lifestyles, and plenty of cideries have been hard at work creating safe outdoor spaces to keep guests comfy, even in the depths of winter. Before you head out, make sure you’ve thoroughly read through the cidery’s guidelines/rules, and don’t forget a blanket!

Here are seven rad outdoor cidery spaces to visit while we wait for warmer temps to come:

*Just a quick note to say that if you have accessibility issues that make outdoor hangs uncomfortable or impossible, there are still plenty of ways to support your favorite cideries! Consider buying cider online or joining your local cidery’s cider club! 

Midwesterners famously aren’t afraid of a little cold standing in the way of outdoor fun! For example, at Thor’s Hard Cider‘s farm and tasting room in Minnesota, you’ll find a full-on ice skating rink ready for action! Open Friday through Sunday, the rink is open to any guests (just bring your own skates!) and features benches for taking skates on and off, and a bonfire to stay warm. When you’re done skating, grab a cider in the taproom! 6428 Manning Ave. N., Stillwater, MN; (651) 278-8666.

Smack in the middle of Pennsylvania’s beautiful apple country, find Big Hill Ciderworks Taphouse. The rustic farm environment is complete with incredible views, cozy fire pits and plenty of Big Hill’s cider on draft. There is plenty of indoor space, but if you want to enjoy a brisk evening by the fire pit, guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets for increased comfort. You can even bring your own telescope for stargazing after dark! An outdoor screen projects sports games and movies, and on specific weekends, local food trucks and live music enhance the festive atmosphere. 338 Georgetown Rd., Gardners, PA.

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Ironbound Hard Cider‘s Outdoor Cider Garden provides multiple “zones” for socializing. There are a number of fire pits, surrounded by custom-made Adirondack chairs or tree stumps, which can accommodate up to eight guests. The Woodshed is a covered pavilion that allows guests to watch Ironbound’s chefs work around the Mother Fire, 30-foot Argentinian-inspired open-fire grills!

The tasting room menu includes plentiful cider, of course, as well as cocktails, wine, warm drinks and non-alcoholic drinks. The food is eclectic, with snacky appetizers, salads, sandwiches, hearty mains and sweet treats. While you’re there, don’t forget to shop at the Ironbound Farm Market! 360 County Road 579, Asbury, NJ; (908) 940-4115.

Upstate New Yorkers are no strangers to making the best of long, cold winters. The Nine Pin Cider Tasting Room rewards those who are willing to brave the cold with epic fire pit hangs. You can rent out its campfire space for private events (email cara@ninepincider.com to make it happen), or stop by on the last Friday of the month for public campfire nights, which run from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy Nine Pin’s great menu, which includes tasty ciders and locally sourced sourdough pizzas around an expertly built wood campfire! This fun option is available all winter long. 929 Broadway, Albany, NY; (518) 449-9999.

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Sociable Cider Werks is embracing winter to its fullest with its excellently appointed outdoor patio. There is an actual outdoor ice skating rink on site at the cidery, so after you enjoy some hot cider, food truck grub and s’mores around the fire pits, strap on some skates for an open skate session (on Fridays only), or join a curling league! Bring a blanket or folding chair and get ready for a rad cider experience, Midwest-style! Note: Outdoor patio and ice rink hours may close due to inclement weather. You can also rent a private curling lane for groups up to 8 people. 1500 Fillmore St NE, Minneapolis, MN; (612) 758-0105.

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You can hang with your pod in a literal pod in the intimate igloos at the Two K Farms tasting room. Each geodesic dome-shaped structure includes comfy seating and twinkly lights for magical feels during nighttime hours. Reservations are suggested for the igloos, though technically they are first come, first served! There are also fire pits available on a patio overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay, as well as the opportunity to snowshoe throughout the breathtaking property, including rows of grape vines and apple trees. 3872 SW Bay Shore Dr., Suttons Bay, MI; (231) 866-4265.

Last year, Botanist & Barre unveiled its new private heated igloos at its farm in Cedar Grove, North Carolina, just about 30 minutes outside of Durham. Guests may reserve an igloo for 90 minutes, with cider and snack packages, for parties of up to 2-3 or 5-6 people. The comfy spaces are set up like an outdoor living room, with carpet, a heated table, plants and party lights. It sounds to us like a lovely place to sip through the cidery’s wild and experimental pet-nat ciders. Reservations are offered Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. 105 Persimmon Hill Lane, Cedar Grove, NC.

Where have you been enjoying cozy cidery visits this winter? Let us know in the comments!

• Feature Photo: Sociable Cider Werks
• Big Hill photo: Big Hill Ciderworks
• Nine Pin fire pit photo: Nine Pin Cider

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It’s absolutely wild to think that CiderCon 2024 is going down in less than a week in Portland, Oregon (exact dates are January 16 through 19). We know many of you are coming from across the country — and even the world! — to attend this industry-leading conference, and though your CiderCon schedule will surely be packed with workshops, speakers and hobnobbing through the Trade Show, we encourage you to get out and experience a bit of the magic PDX is known for! For our all-cider guide to Portland, head here.

Though there will be plenty of locals on hand to offer suggestions, recommendations and advice about Portland’s finest offerings, here’s a handy little cheat sheet to help you on your explorations:

Neighborhoods

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PDX, which is shaped a bit like a smushed rectangle bisected by the Willamette River, is made up of six sections: North, Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast and Southwest. Each of these quadrants (yes, we know there are more than four) is divided into over 90 formally recognized neighborhoods, each with its own personality. 

If you’re coming in from out of town, you’re probably staying at the Hyatt Regency, which is just a block away from the Oregon Convention Center, where the bulk of CiderCon is taking place. The hotel is situated on the East side of the Willamette River in the Lloyd District neighborhood.  

One fun way to get out into the city could be to check out the Oregon Cider Week schedule (taking place January 13-21), pick an event that catches your eye in PDX and go! A few to consider are:

• 2 Towns Ciderhouse & Westward Whiskey Collaboration Event on Tues., Jan. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. 
• Michigan Cider Night at Schilling Ciderhouse on Wed., Jan. 17, from 4-9 p.m.
• Bauman’s Cider X Lawless Barbecue Magic collab at Little Beast Brewing Beer Garden on Thurs., Jan. 18, from 2 to 9 p.m.

Some of the more hip neighborhoods in Portland are:

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• Division/Clinton: A vibrant, dense pair of adjacent neighborhoods known for an abundance of cafes and coffee shops, some of the city’s hottest restaurants, and cool shops.
  • Just 3.5 miles away from the Hyatt. 
  • Highlights include Bar Norman and Division Wines for natural wine, Books With Pictures for radically inclusive comics, Clinton Street Record and Stereo for vinyl digging, Salt & Straw Ice Cream for stellar scoops, Good Coffee for locally roasted beans, and Tight Tacos for tacos on hand-pressed tortillas.

• Hawthorne: An artsy ‘hood, also in SE Portland, with plenty of thrift stores, cafes and shops.
  • About 3 miles from the Hyatt.
  • Highlights include: Harlow for gluten-free eats, Upper Left Roasters for pour over coffees and fancy toast, Apizza Scholls Pizza for killer ‘za and classic arcade games, Quarterworld for more arcade fun, and House of Vintage for retro treasures. You can also find Portland Cider Co.’s Portland Cider House here, as well as a Powell’s Books satellite store, for those who don’t want to venture downtown to visit the famous institution.  

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• Alberta Arts District: Located in Northeast PDX, this colorful district boasts plenty of galleries, restaurants and bars, and connects the Concordia, King and Vernon neighborhoods.
  • Just 2.5 miles away from the Hyatt.
  • Highlights include: The Radio Room for mid-century vibes and cocktails, Alberta Co-Op for healthy room snacks, Bye and Bye for vegan Southern food, and Citizen Ruth for feminist art, gifts and books.

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• Alphabet District/Nob Hill: This posh area in the Northwestern quadrant is dripping with Portland quirkiness and seriously great views of the city!
  • About 2 miles away from the Hyatt.
  • Highlights include: Pizza Thief for great pizza (including gluten-free options), Freeland Spirits tasting room for cocktails and flights, Cafe Mingo for fancy Italian cuisine, Bing Mi Dumpling and Noodle Bar for wildly good, quick Chinese food, and the 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop featuring over 800 rare and local bottles. 

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No matter where you wander, make a point to sample the cuisine PDX is best-known for: donuts, ice cream and pizza (that’s a tough assignment, right?). Some local gems to sample are Salt & Straw Ice Cream, Ice Queen Popsicles, Virtuous Pie, Scottie’s Pizza Parlor, Sesame Donuts and Blue Star Donuts. 

Of course, there are also so many (SO many) coffee shops. Avoid the chains and get your caffeine at any of the seemingly infinite cafes, like Saint Simon Coffee Co., Cafe United, Courier Coffee Roasters, Heart Coffee Roasters … and hundreds more. 

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You may be asking: What’s the best way to get around Portland? The public transportation in PDX comes in a few different flavors:

• TriMet Buses, with over 80 routes across the city. Pay your fare with contactless payment through your phone or credit card, with a Hop Fastpass®, ticket or with cash. Fare is $2.80 per ride.
• MAX Light Rail, which connects PDX with nearby Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie and North/Northeast Portland. To pay your fare, tap your Hop Fastpass or contactless phone/credit card payment at the station to pay your fare before boarding.
• Portland Streetcar, another option with multiple routes throughout downtown Portland (the Hyatt and Convention Center are right off the B Line!). The cars run every 15-20 minutes; see here for fare info.

Fun fact: The first 1,000 CiderCon attendees will get a Trimet pass good for buses, MAX or Streetcar rides!

Before you go, there is one more important thing we have to cover, and that is a pronunciation guide for words that are oft-misspoken:

• Oregon is pronounced Or-i-ginn, not Or-ee-gon or Or-a-gon
• Willamette, as in the river and the Valley, is Will-a-mitt (rhymes with “dammit”), not Willmett, Williamette, Will-a-met… or any of the other ways people try to say it!   
• Couch Street, which runs through Old Town, is pronounced Kooch! 
• Glisan Street is pronounced like Gleeson.

We hope this has been a helpful primer to the weird, wonderful place that is Portland, Oregon. Have an educational, safe and fun CiderCon 2024!

• Feature photo: Pexels

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CiderCon 2024 is right around the corner, and just ahead of this industry-leading conference and gathering (held this year in Portland, OR), the American Cider Association (ACA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Cider is for Everyone Scholarship. The scholarship, which was conceived of by the ACA’s Antiracism, Equity and Inclusion Committee, is meant to “bring individuals from historically marginalized populations within the beverage industry to CiderCon to increase the accessibility of cider education and catalyze the careers and ownership-pathways of these burgeoning cider professionals.”

“This scholarship is one of our best tools for fostering a more diverse cider industry,” says Michelle McGrath, CEO of the ACA. “The scholarship needs to work in lock step with our efforts to create a more inclusive industry so that, as we have more diverse CiderCon attendees, they are surrounded by a welcoming community and equitable environment.”

This is the third year that the Cider is for Everyone scholarship has been offered, and there were four times the number of applications than in the previous two years combined. Each scholarship includes registration, travel and lodging to attend CiderCon 2024, as well as a year of ACA membership and study materials and waived exam fees to pursue recognition through the Certified Cider Professional and Certified Pommelier education and certification program offered by the ACA. The 10 (!) recipients this year were made possible with support from: Yonder Cider, Seattle Cider Co, Nine Pin Ciderworks, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Alma Cider, the Great Little Box Company, John’s Marketplace, Beer Kulture and Lifting Lucy.

The recipients are:

Recipients are Genevieve Regalado (Benny Boy Brewing), Robert Freeman (EsoTerra Ciderworks), Britt Evans, Javier Naranjo (Oklawaha Brewing Company), Tasmine Fraser (Girl with a Cider Review, Cider Canada), Rae Adams (Wehrloom Honey & Meadery), Emily Ptasinski (Republic of Cider), William Santiago (Crafted Concoctions), Jonathan Osei (Artisanal Brewing Ventures), and José Sabas (Grape Ape). Head to the ACA’s recent blog post for full bios of all these folks.

The Cider is for Everyone scholarship can have an effect that lasts long after CiderCon wraps up for the year.

“There is a stark difference between being invited to an event and actually belonging in a space. The American Cider Association is doing the difficult and meaningful work of building a culture within the organization and the industry at-large that fosters true belonging by challenging itself to thoughtfully and carefully evolve and expand,” says ACA Scholarship Coordinator Olivia Pener, a recipient of the scholarship in 2023. “The rapid growth and development of this scholarship program is both a testament to that thoughtfulness and indicative of the program’s importance. Its transformative impact on the lives of not just the individuals who receive it, but also the industry professionals who interact with recipients, spans far beyond the CiderCon® experience. This program, its participants, its sponsors, and its supporters collectively demonstrate that cider is, indeed, for everyone.”

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Ready to say goodbye to the past year and usher in a fresh start? We are, too! There is no better way, in our book, to ring in the New Year than with a glass of special cider — save the cans of everyday session cider for brunch the next day, and break out the good stuff at midnight. It’s all too easy to hoard the “special” ciders, assuming that a more fabulous occasion can always arise.

But we say: That occasion is now! Life is short, exhume a bottle or two from your cellar, or splurge a few extra bucks at your local bottle shop or cidery, and pick up a cider that truly calls to you. Here are seven extra-dope ciders to consider for this New Year’s Eve!

Big Hill Kriek: Kriek usually refers to a type of sour Belgian ale made with Morello cherries. Big Hill captures the profound flavor and depth of this style in this wild-fermented cider. The sour cherries it uses are wild-fermented, too, and the combination of those punchy flavors with eye-opening sour apple cider is a one-two punch of brightness and funk. Shop online. 338 Georgetown Rd., Gardners, PA; (717) 677-0250.

Botanist & Barrel Basque in the Glory: If 2024 is your year to finally take a deep-dive into Spanish sidra, or domestic ciders made in the Basque style, we fully support you. Botanist & Barrel’s Basque in the Glory is a great place to start: it’s dry, raw, hazy, funky and sour. It’s a slightly fizzy, spontaneously fermented pet-nat that’s an extreme delight with cheese, charcuterie or your favorite Spanish tapas. Shop online. 105 Persimmon Hill Ln., Cedar Grove, NC; (919) 644-7777.

Metal House Cider 2020 Chinchinette: This Hudson Valley cidery produces a number of 750-ml format bottles that feel as exciting and precious as the most coveted champagne. But Chinchinette feels especially relevant for a big celebration: It’s a bottle conditioned, undisgorged blend of Northern Spy, Catskill wild crab and Metal House’s Esopus blend that’s exceptionally food-friendly, with bright acidity, a long finish and vivacious effervescence. Shop online.

Stormalong Cider Happy Holidays: Not ready to let go of the comfy, warming flavors of Christmas yet? Hang on to them a little longer with Stormalong’s Happy Holidays, easy-drinking (just over 5% AVB) and spiced nicely with allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg, with a touch of organic brown sugar. It’s like if apple pie met mulled cider and had a wild love affair! Shop online.

WildCraft Cider Works Unfiltered Sparkling Apple Juice: If you’re taking it easy on drinking, or you have some sober guests coming for NYE, you’re in luck! There have never been more fun, unique non-alcoholic beverages to explore! Par exemple: the super-juicy, hazy fizzy apple juice from WildCraft in Eugene, Oregon. Just because it doesn’t have booze doesn’t mean it’s not special! This beautiful cider is made with wild foraged, dry cropped or biodynamically farmed heirloom apples. Shop online. 232 Lincoln St., Eugene, OR; (541) 735-3506.

Virtue Cider Golden Hour: If you prefer your special-occasion ciders a bit more on the juicy, fruity cider, Golden Hour from Virtue has you covered. Meant to channel the gorgeous sunsets at Virtue Farm in Fennville, MI, this beauty offers up notes of stone fruit, honeysuckle and golden honey. This is a great one to share with cider newbies, or to open alongside whatever luxurious dessert you’ve made for you and your friends. Shop online. 2170 62nd St., Fennville, MI; (269) 722-3232.

Stoic Cider Javelina Rosé: If rosé cider is your preferred “cheers-ing” bevvie, look no further than this rad cider/wine hybrid from Stoic Cider. Newtown Pippin apples are blended with Merlot wine, for a delicate and balanced sipper, that’s a pretty raspberry hue with a lightly sweet, fruity character. Tasting notes include tart cranberry, grape skin, green apple and cherries. Shop online. 11500 W. Fair Oaks Rd., Prescott, AZ; (701) 361-7480.

What’s in your glass this New Year’s Eve? Whatever you’re drinking, and however you’re celebrating, we wish you a safe, healthy and cider-full new year!

• All photos: Courtesy of their respective cideries

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