Within the final seven years, our private lives have been intimately tied to the cider world. From engagements to holidays to weekend get-togethers, we’ve been to cideries all throughout the nation and made reminiscences round onerous cider. CiderScene was born out of a type of necessity. Trevor & I had been searching for a option to keep related once I moved states away. We had concepts for a beer weblog or a small enterprise however at all times had a delicate spot for onerous cider. It was then we determined to enterprise forth and produce consideration to the world of cider, particularly within the Midwest and southeastern components of the nation the place there wasn’t a lot protection. We scoured the native liquor shops for any new ciders on the cabinets. Blake’s Exhausting Cider, Stem Cider, Diskin Cider, Austin Eastciders, Advantage Cider, Gypsy Circus, and so many, many extra. We tasted and savored every alternative to find and have a good time these cidermakers, massive or small.
With such a journey, we have now seen the chapters of our lives flip over. We are actually each fathers with stunning child ladies, wives, and very busy lives. With a lot change and added accountability, we have now determined to maneuver on from CiderScene and we’re searching for a corporation or cider fanatic to take the reins.
For now, let’s revisit a few of our greatest cider reminiscences. These come from both Nolan’s or Trevor’s perspective.
Finnriver Farm & Cider (WA):
Finnriver is an natural farm and artisan cidery making nice onerous ciders and wines close to Seattle. Not solely was this one of many first ciders that we tried that was not Indignant Orchard or Woodchuck, it was additionally the place the place I, Trevor, acquired engaged to my spouse. On a visit to the Seattle space to go to my sister I deliberate on the engagement as it’s a stunning space with an unlimited farm panorama and rolling hills on the horizon. Their facility is each rustic and fashionable with their up to date seating space that’s out of doors with an unlimited view. We loved some drinks earlier than venturing out into the farm to pop the query, she was fairly shocked and we got here again to a bubbly bottle able to have a good time with. The group was accommodating with my request and it was an ideal place to take the following step whereas having fun with an important product. In case you are within the space it’s a must-stop and get a flight. This really is a spot that’s tied to our cider journey and pinnacle life moments. We even acquired the identical bottle to carry to our marriage ceremony down within the Dominican to have a good time the following step of our journey.
Woodchuck’s CiderStock (VT):
Our cider journey did actually begin with Woodchuck Cider like most different cider drinkers within the US. Nolan was the one to begin ingesting it in faculty and Trevor was not far behind. We had the chance to win a visit to CiderStock early on in CiderScene’s historical past after they had a Gumption contest. This was to have a good time the launch of their Gumption line and we needed to create a video entry exhibiting our gumption. We selected a cooking video that used the cider and we had been chosen as one of many winners whereas our good friend additionally entered and received. We had been capable of carry one other individual with us so Nolan, Trevor, Trevor’s then-GF Kim, and good friend Kyle went on an journey to Middlebury. The journey was full of beautiful Vermont surroundings, ciders, and meals. The weekend wrapped up with a big live performance that includes Cage the Elephant. We had been in a position to return to CiderStock two extra occasions, years later which was simply as entertaining. This was an important alternative to drink the product that acquired us into the cider world and see a large-scale cidery in operation.
NY Cider Journey:
In 2021, we determined to enterprise off on a cider-focused journey with our wives. Now we have been to numerous cider-central areas like Michigan, the PNW, and the Higher East Coast. With that in thoughts, we determined to see what New York needed to supply. We began in Buffalo and made our approach throughout the state hitting cideries and eating places on the best way. A number of the highlights from the journey included seeing Indignant Orchards taproom which has their small batch merchandise, visiting the Finger Lakes Cider Home, and attempting a ton extra cider. It was an important expertise taking an old-school highway journey and seeing the attractive surroundings of NY. This wine and cider had been high notch and the cities we visited had been stuffed with nice meals and stress-free time. We did additionally go to the Fingerlakes for some kayaking and wine tasting. Under is a listing of cideries we had been capable of attempt.
- Blackbird Cider Works
- Rootstock
- Redbird
- 1911
- Fingerlakes Cider Home
- Kite & String
- Indignant Orchards Innovation ciders
- Rockland Ciderworks
- Brooklyn Cider Home
We ended the journey by assembly with some cider of us in NYC and had just a few drinks to cap off the journey. General, that is one thing a cider lover must do, and ensure to seize some Duff’s wings and cease at Sojo Spa close to NYC.
Denver Journey:
I, Nolan, was planning an engagement journey however didn’t have a plan totally set. Because it was customary to take a number of small journeys a 12 months, I packed up the ring in a really hidden location and we set off to Denver for just a few days. This journey was put underneath the guise of a cider and meals extravaganza with some mountaineering and sightseeing in equal components. After a Mexican wrestling pageant, some native eats, and a visit to some cideries together with C Squared Cider and Stem Cider’s RHINO location, we went for a hike. After a protracted stroll in excessive elevations we weren’t used to, I requested Christine to marry me. I fortunately arrange a superb dinner at Stem Cider’s Acreage location in Lafayette, Colorado (North of Denver). We grabbed some ciders, took a non-public tour of their barrel room, and loved some glorious delicacies. The placement had an open kitchen the place flames and smells had been aplenty. After we loved our meal, we grabbed a cider and sat exterior with top-of-the-line sunsets in all of Colorado. A number of teams had been having fun with small speak in garden chairs whereas watching the solar fall behind the mountains. I’ve by no means loved a meal and cider in such an atmosphere and it was the right engagement dinner.
Indianapolis Cider Journey:
We at all times did our greatest to get associates into the world of cider. After a 12 months or two, we had been capable of finding the right occasion for our associates. In a brief journey to Indianapolis, a midway level between our group of associates in Chicago and our Nashville, TN group, we took on the cider throughout the area at New Day Craft’s Meadful Issues and Outciders Pageant. This was positively the biggest occasion we’ve been to exterior of Cider Summit in Chicago that was devoted particularly to cider and mead. We might have a gaggle of eight tasting, having fun with, and finally shopping for cider. This pageant was our first actual deep dive into the world of mead, but it surely additionally launched us to so many new cideries like New Day Craft, Ash & Elm, Misbeehavin Mead, Starcut Cider, and extra. We loved this occasion a lot that we’d return yearly we might and loved the sights and sounds of the town together with eating at The Eagle. Like many of the Midwest cideries, we had been capable of give some publicity to a number of the cidermakers that weren’t lined by different cider media shops. Simply top-of-the-line occasions with associates having fun with cider and appreciating every thing it has to supply.
Cider Collaborations:
We had two wonderful alternatives to make collaborative ciders with some gifted cidermakers. Our first collaboration was with Stowe Cider out of Vermont with our Newtown Twist. Newtown Twist was an ode to a basic apple-forward cider with a twist of lemon and lime for a extra fashionable enchantment. Trevor & I had been capable of go to the taproom and cidery, meet the workers, and study every step within the means of their cidermaking.
Our second collaboration was with Stormalong Cider. We launched a banger with POG Punch, a fruited cider. POG Punch was impressed by the basic Hawaiian beverage comprised of passionfruit, orange, and guava juice. Their group was an absolute delight to work with and this was a scrumptious, crushable cider!
