Topic Archives: Ciders
Colorado Cider Releases Two
Colorado Cider Company has just released two new ciders in their home state.
Pearsnickety a seasonal perry made with Colorado-grown pears, serves up fresh pear aromas, sweet pear flavors and a lingering, rain-washed finish. This extra-pale winter offering is made in the fall from tons of golden Bartlett pears produced by growers in Colorado’s famed Grand Valley.
Cherry Glider is a new version of Colorado Cider’s popular Glider Cider that’s made with Colorado apples and enhanced with (but not overtaken by) tart cherries.
“Like all of our ciders,” says founder Brad Page, “we ferment Pearsnickety to just-about dryness. This accents the fruit flavors, reins in the sugars, and conjures up Pearsnickety’s earthy finish and Western Slope terroir. “
Colorado Cider Company recently finished an expansion, allowing them to grow from 25,000 gallons to 75,000 gallons annually.
Style: Cider (w/ Pears, Cherries)
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Anheuser Busch Eyes The Cider Market
In case you thought hard apple cider was a fad, you might want to think again. A-B InBev will launch their own hard cider in 2014 called Johnny Appleseed.
Two Anheuser-Busch distributors have contacted Beer Street Journal in the past hour, mentioning that the mega brewer has a big brand launch that is separate from both their beer and “Rita” offerings.
It is long overdue too. Major competitor to A-B, Miller Coors, acquired Crispin Cider last year, running it through their Tenth & Blake Division. The only cider involvement by A-B can be traced to Stella Artois “Cidre” and Mich Ultra Cider.
An official announcement is coming some from A-B InBev.
Below – the planned logo for Johnny Appleseed Cider Brand.
Woodchuck Smoked Cider debuts
Woodchuck Hard Cider has just shipped their latest offering, Woodchuck Cellar Series Smoked Apple. This is the second release in the Cellar Series.
This edition is a bit of a collaboration with local business Vermont Smoke and Cure. Woodchuck cider maker John Matson filled their custom smokehouse with apple pomace (the pulpy residue left behind after the apples are press for juice). The pomace was smoked with maple and applewood chips, then brought back to the cidery.
The resulting flavor is described as having “strong crisp apple notes with hints of vanilla are balanced on an applewood smoked backdrop. A well-balanced, limited run cider that is perfect for the cooler days ahead.” Available in 22oz bottles only for a limited time. ERP $4.99
Style: Cider (Smoked)
Availability: 22oz bombers. Limited Release.
6.5% ABV
Woodchuck Introduces New Cider Series
Woodchuck Hard Cider has just introduced a new “Cellar Series.” Basically, each offering is an opportunity for the cider makers to experiment. First up – Woodchuck Cellar Series Dry Hop. On shelves now.
Style: Cider
Availability: 22oz bombers. Limited release.
Woodchuck Cider Starts Building New $30 Mil Facility [PIC]
Woodchuck Hard Cider has commenced construction on a new state-of-the-art cidery in Middlebury, Vermont. The new location is about a mile from the current spot, and will provide 100,000 square feet of production, warehouse, and office space.
“This is a new chapter for Woodchuck,” said President and CEO Bret Williams. “Hard cider in the United States is growing in popularity and this new cidery represents a brick and mortar commitment to continue to grow the cider category from Vermont. It’s an exciting step forward at this crucial time in our history.”
The cost of the location is in the neighborhood of $30 million, to be completed the Spring of 2014. The 62,000 square foot current facility will remain online.
Stella Artois Launches New “Cidre”
Stella Artois is launching Stella Artois Cidre into the U.S. market. It’s no secret that the cider market in the states is booming, and that’s why Stella is vying for a piece of the market.
Stella Artois Cidre is designed to be completely different from the sweeter U.S. ciders. Almost an alternative to white wine. This offering is drier, distinct offering. “Cider drinkers are now approaching cider with a sophistication similar to that of wine drinkers,” said Marc Stroobandt, a Belgian master sommelier. “To capture their interest, ciders certainly need to be refreshing and savory, but people also want something a little more complex and distinct, which Stella Artois Cidre offers.”
This dry cider is fermented at the Anheuser-Busch facility in Baldwinsville, New York. Look for it 12oz bottles, and 24 oz bottles in late May, 2013.
Style: Cider
Availability: 12oz bottles, 24 oz bottles
Arrival: 5/13/13
4.5% ABV
Angry Orchard Cider House Collection Goes National
Angry Orchard Ciders, a division of Boston Beer Company, is now taking a couple of special releases national. The Cider House Collection is available in big bottle format, each one a take on unique or ancient recipes.
Strawman (Pictured on left): For centuries Farmhouse Cider making has been a tradition celebrated by farmers in the English and French countryside. Strawman combines a distinct blend of juices from traditional culinary and bittersweet apples, which is then aged on oak. The result is a full-flavored, complex, and balanced cider with wine-like characteristics, rounded out by apple and citrus notes. Its lingering, earthy finish is an homage to the origins of this unique cider.
Iceman (On right): Inspired by the tradition of Ice Ciders in Quebec, Iceman uses the process of freezing the juice from culinary and bittersweet apples to produce a rich, complex and unique cider with a crisp apple taste and notes of caramel and toffee. This cider is sweet but not cloying. The addition of oak-aging yields a smooth and pleasing vanilla character. The result is a perfectly balanced, full-flavored cider that delights the palate with clean apple notes and a lingering toffee finish. 10% ABV
Style: Cider (Oak Aged)
Availability: 750 ml bottles
10% ABV
