Any cider lovers here?

[bixente]

Personally I don't like beer, well those I've tried, they've come off way too bitter. But I really like the Danish cider, Somerby's, especially the apple flavor. It's too sweet for some but I love it. Keen on trying some other ciders.

[Orrex]

1. I used to swap with a group of well connected friends in the industry

Until we were busted for our involvement in cider trading.

[redwitch]

4. I see what you did there.

[whistler162]

10. Were your parents also into that scheme... since we all know

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

[Orrex]

12. Of course.

They inspired my core values.

[whistler162]

17. That had to be very appealing!

[redwitch]

2. We have lots of local cider here in upstate NY.

Quite delicious, especially tsty to me when the weather dips down a bit.

[whistler162]

11. Will be interesting to see how this years

crop will be.

[TuxedoKat]

3. I just tried a new one last week

called McKenzie. It was pretty good. Only other one I've tried lately is Angry Orchard, which I wouldn't bother to buy again. I only tried their Black Cherry one but they have an apple one too (McKenzie). The best ciders are from northwest France (Brittany and Normandy) if you ever get to try some do. With the popularity of cider growing, maybe some places are importing them now. They leave American ciders in the dust. To describe the French ciders, the liquid is champagne-like, very bubbly, but heavier like a beer with a not-too-sweet delightful apple flavor. Just excellent.

http://www.winemag.com/2015/09/02/the-best-french-ciders-you-should-drink-this-fall/

[bixente]

5. Thanks for the tip

I live in Melbourne, Australia and the Dan Murphy's bottle shop stock many ciders from all over the world, including France. I'll check and see if they've got any of the ciders from that winemag link.

Btw do you know know any Aussie ciders? I like 5 Seeds Apple with a dash of vodka.

[PassingFair]

6. OMG... you have the best cider in the world RIGHT NEAR YOU!!

Henry of Harcourt!!!

My cousin took me to the cidery (is that a word?) when we visited a few years ago.
They serve an APPLE and PEAR blended cider that is the best cider I've ever had.
I think you can only purchase it on the spot.

http://www.harcourtcider.com.au/retail-outlets

http://www.maldoncastlemaine.com.au/ant/profile/henry-of-harcourt

A very pleasant drive from Melbourne and a wonderful stop. Drink the cider and watch the ducks!

Since I can't get it here, I drink Magner's Pear Cider, as I prefer the more delicate taste of the "Perries"...

[bixente]

18. That's on the way to Bendigo

Did you see Bendigo btw? Very charming place, my family have been there loads of times. Next time we go we'll have to stop off and try this cider you mentioned.

[PassingFair]

19. Yes, we visited Bendigo!

Beautiful little place.
Reminded me of the U.S. west.

We didn't do any prospecting, we mostly ATE!

Do visit Harcourt.... and don't forget to call first and ask if they have the apple/pear blend available.
They don't ship it to stores, its a private blend...

[bixente]

24. If you ever go back

Check out a place called The Woodhouse, well, if you haven't already. We went there on our last trip and they make these amazingly delicious wood fire pizzas with very unique ingredients.

[TuxedoKat]

7. Well

I'm a little embarrassed by the post following mine about Australian ciders! I didn't know Australia was known for cider, wine - yes, but not cider. I'll have to see if anyone is importing any from Australia. Thanks for the info on 5 Seeds Apple, would love to try it.

I planted some heirloom apple and other fruit trees so I've become interested in all things apple in recent years. It will be a few more years yet before I start having some decent crops though. Will have to check into what types of apples are popular in Australia.

[T_i_B]

9. The local cider near me is lethal

It's about 10.5%, but nobody really knows. Suffice to say that if you drink it you will go blind!

[Phentex]

25. I had a couple of those on a really hot day...

the black cherry and it was delicious.

I also like pear versions of cider and in general enjoy the flavor more than beer.

[Brother Buzz]

8. I enjoyed Apfelwein in Germany....

but grew to love scrumpy in England. Scrumpy is totally dry and still, and, well, it's definitely an acquired taste. For years, I could not find dry ciders in the states, but I've discovered a few lately that are not half bad, and only lightly effervescent. I can't recall the brands, but I always recognize the labels when I see them.

[geardaddy]

23. Scrumpy also has much more alcohol than regular cider I'm told

[Brother Buzz]

26. Scrumpy is only a little higher in alcohol....

Because it's made from a field blend of fully mature apples, but generally has a lot of robust flavors working in unison with a good tannin bite; something I grew to like.

[geardaddy]

27. I'd love to try it sometime.

I'd love to go to Cornwall or Somerset and get the real stuff they serve during their scrumpy fests. The stuff that still has bits of apple in it.

[T_i_B]

28. Depends

Scrumpy varies enormously from sessionable through to full on battery acid.

[jpak]

13. We make 20-30 gallons of hand-pressed hard cider each year.

Way better than the commercial stuff.

Dry, applely and sparkling like champagne.

yum

[OriginalGeek]

14. this post is useless

without a link to your online store.

[jpak]

16. It's our Family Secret

personal consumption only.

But seriously - we've perfected the process.

Let the ground up apples oxidize to a dark dark brown before pressing out the "cheese"

Use sulfites to cleanse the the sweet cider of nasty wild microbes.

Use French Champagne yeast.

Condition (carbonate) in bottle.

We have some heirloom eating apples - and some wild apples - that make great cider.

Every "vintage" is different.

yum

[Aristus]

15. A distiller in Washington State makes pear cider.

Pear cider! It's Heavenly...

[PassingFair]

20. Pear cider is my cider of choice.

Less acid than apple -- no reflux!

Most of my female friends don't drink beer, but they LOVE pear cider.

This is the best tasting pear cider I've found (so far):

[geardaddy]

22. According to my brother who has homebrewed for 40 years

the correct name for pear cider is "peary". Cider is exclusively for apples.

But I do love the pear stuff!

[T_i_B]

29. It's spelled "Perry"

Apologies for going all grammar nazi, but Perry enthusiasts can be very pedantic about Perry as opposed to pear cider.

[geardaddy]

31. Thanks!

I wasn't sure about the spelling. Thanks!

[geardaddy]

21. I love cider, but I'm also a beer drinker

Crispin Cider started here in Minneapolis, but moved when it got bought out.

Some other ciders are:
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery (they make a light one called Loon Juice, delicious)
Sociable Ciderwerks
Urban Forage Winery and Cider House
Wyndfall Artisan Cyder
Sweetland Orchard

[T_i_B]

30. One issue we have in our local CAMRA branch....

....is that we are meant to get involved in "real cider" campaigns, but it's difficult to dish out awards for the best cider pub when nobody in the branch actually drinks the stuff!

[geardaddy]

32. Well, that'd be difficult then!

I have a friend in Wales who is a member of the Cardiff branch of CAMRA, I'll have to ask him if they're getting involved in "real cider" campaigns.

[T_i_B]

34. Real Cider campaigns are linked very strongly with CAMRA

On the one hand, it does result in plenty of scrumpy being available at beer festivals. On the other hand, it does all too often result in cider being reduced to a campaigning afterthought.

In the part of the country where I live it's the pubs with a strong emphasis on cask ale who are the keenest on selling scrumpy.

[bigwillq]

33. Not I. I think it's gross.

Enjoy.

[catbyte]

35. Oh, yeah. Uncle John's Blueberry Hard Cider is awesome, as is Blake's Mango/Habanero.

Yum. Uncle John's cider mill is about 40 miles north of me, so it's pretty convenient to get good cider. My favorite cider, though, is to buy unpasturized cider and let it sit in my refrigerator until it starts to get fizzy. Nirvana.

[TexasBushwhacker]

36. I like Woodchuck Ginger Lovin' Cider if I can find it n/t