CIDERCRAFT Magazine, CIDERCRAFT Volume 9 2017

BY ADAM H CALLAGHAN 84 CIDERCRAFTMAG COM k HANDPICKED EVERYTHING NICE T he usual suspects in seasonal baking think cinnamon nutmeg cardamom ginger and star anise are as well suited to cider as they are to apple pie Throughout North America plenty of producers infuse their cider year round or in limited batches perfect for picking apples taking hayrides and layering up as the sun goes down Whether as a rich complement to or replacement for dessert or a dry sparkler for the main course theres no time like a cool crisp fall night to break out a bottle of warmly spiced cider WITCHS BROOM Sea Cider Farm Ciderhouse kSaanichton BC Every fall organic orchard and ciderhouse Sea Cider dons a pointy hat and scares up a warming brew it for strolling through or lying over a pumpkin patch The process begins with a blend of cinnamon nutmeg orange peel and ginger steeped in cider eau de vie This batch of bitters is added to cold fermented cider which is then dosed with a touch of Oaken Gin from Sea Ciders neighbor Victoria Distillers The eau devie adds body while subtle botanical notes from the gin balance the fruit forward spice leading to a medium bodied o dry cider with depth SPICE AND Classic baking seasonings in cider NORUMBEGA SPICE HARD CIDER Norumbega Cider kNew Gloucester ME Named after a lost North American city told to be a land of Viking riches Norumbega evokes the kaleidoscopic colors of fall and the hearty meals of winter with its Spice Hard Cider The drink is available all year but cidermaker Noah Fralich thinks it shines as the leaves change served chilled with an orange slice or even a shot of bourbon He lets the spices carry the conversation highlighting the classic combination of allspice clove and citrus peel of mulled cider CINNAMON GIRL Left Foot Charley Wine Hard Cider kTraverse City MI When cidermaker Bryan Ulbrich saw craft brewers adding everything from chocolate to pigs heads to their beers in 2008 he was inspired to start making additions to his cider But he wanted subtlety to rule the day Hence Cinnamon Girl was born a cinnamon spiced blend of Northern Spy Golden Delicious and Ida Red apples that outsells his other drier products three or four times over year round Dont think Red Hots candy or Fireball whisky Ulbrich uses a delicate touch with Sumatran Korjinte cinnamon and an even lighter hand with potent Vietnamese cinnamon for its aromatics creating a mellow combination SPARROW SPICED CIDER ÆppelTreow Winery Distillery kBurlington WI Though the mace cinnamon star anise and cardamom in this Midwestern cider suggest holiday festivities and baked goods on the nose a sip of the semi dry tipple dispels the dessert impression Featuring Red Delicious Cortland McIntosh and Greening Sparrow is more tart and dry than sweet balancing the seasoning for those who prefer their beverages less cloying and more dry elegant and a touch savory WINTER ABBEY SPICE Reverend Nats Hard Cider kPortland OR Ever the audacious experimenters the team at Reverend Nats riffed on a New England style strong cider second fermented on an abundance of raisins dark muscovado sugar cinnamon and nutmeg Expect a touch of the companys characteristic funkiness to o set the warm spices and sweet notes from an aging period on toasted American oak Try this one gently warmed with a splash of rum a perfect forti ication against the dropping of mercury or visit the cidery itself and have a snakebite with equal parts Winter Abbey Spice and Lights Out Stout from Worthy Brewing