Cider Review: Embark Craft Ciderworks' Strawberry Rhubarb

I try not to get ahead of myself and spend my time only looking toward the future, but that can happen in winter. I’m afraid I saw something springy on the grocery store shelves and just went for it. We’re having earlier mornings and sunsets after 5pm, so I’m allowed to think spring just a little. Today, I’m sharing my notes on Embark Ciderworks’ Strawberry Rhubarb.

Embark is a regionally local cider here in central New York. The company is based outside of Rochester, New York on a multiple-generation family farm and orchard. The cider is masterminded by Jake Lagoner and Chris Gowan. The cidery crafts both traditional apple-only ciders and innovative blends, including a seasonal range of ciders. 

I’ve had the chance to review several Embark ciders. Here’s the list.

Apple Pie Cider: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/01/cider-review-embark-ciderworks-apple.html

The Northerner: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/12/cider-review-silo-cider-semi-dry-and.html

Golden Russet Reserve: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/09/cider-review-embark-golden-russet.html

Crab Series #1: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/08/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

The American Hopped: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/01/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

Embark’s website is a great place to learn more about the ciders: https://embarkcraftciderworks.com/

Here’s the official description of the Strawberry Rhubarb. 

We ferment our farmhouse blend of apples and then age it on whole sweet juicy strawberries and tart rhubarb that we grow right on our farm. This cider is truly the first tastes of summer in a glass. 5.3% ABV.

Appearance: palest sunrise peach, transparent, bubbly

What a lovely cider! The Strawberry Rhubarb is transparent, showing off plenty of sparkle. The color reminds me of the gentles peach notes of sunrise.

Aromas: fresh strawberry, Strawberry Jam, sugared rhubarb

These smells do make me think of Spring. The Strawberry Rhubarb cider smells like fresh strawberry, shading into strawberry jam. And I get notes of sugared rhubarb. All in all, the aromas remind me of strawberry rhubarb pie, dry grass with a firm background of apple. My mouth waters after sniffing this cider!

Sweetness/dryness: semi-sweet cider

Embark’s Strawberry Rhubarb cider tastes semi-sweet and so jammy and fruity!

Flavors and drinking experience: high acid, medium tannins, apple, strawberry, peach, and  rhubarb notes

All fruits I smelled are totally evident in how this cider tastes. I am completely into it! This cider brings excitement with it’s high acid dance of apple, strawberry, rhubarb, and peach! I appreciate the minerality, acidity, and even some tannins. The cider tastes more tart than one expects from the aroma.

This cider is well balanced and fun! I love the spring fruit flavors. As for pairing, this brought out the nutmeg and spices in our pumpkin cheesecake. It was perhaps a bit strange to pair a fall dessert with a spring cider, but it tasted wonderful this way.

Cider Review: Embark Ciderworks' Apple Pie Cider and Woodchuck Cider's Kinda Cloudy

We’re making our way through January, with it’s long cold nights. I’ve been having a lot of exciting dry ciders, but I wanted to switch it up this week with two semi-sweet treats. I pair these differently, often with snacks rather than with full meals. You can absolutely make fabulous meal pairings with sweeter ciders, but I had each of these with little treats like after dinner cheese or spiced popcorn. How do you like your sweeter ciders?

Let’s start today’s review with Embark Craft Ciderwork’s Apple Pie Cider.

Embark Craft Ciderworks is based out of a small community outside of Rochester, New York. The cidery grew out of a family orchard that’s been operational since 1909. For more background, I encourage you to read backwards in my reviews. 

I’ve reviewed a few ciders by Embark before. Check out these earlier features of this neighboring cidery. 

The Northerner: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/12/cider-review-silo-cider-semi-dry-and.html

Golden Russet Reserve: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/09/cider-review-embark-golden-russet.html

Crab Series #1: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/08/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

The American Hopped: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/01/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

Visit Embark online and learn more about the ciders, the orchard, and the tasting room: https://embarkcraftciderworks.com/

Here’s how the folks at Embark describe this cider, "As American As Apple Pie" is what we are replicating with this cider. We are using a blend of American Heirloom apples and apple pie spices to create a semi-sweet cider using the best apples of the fall harvest. Cheers to Americana!” 5.2% ABV. 

Appearance: rich rose gold, brilliant, bubbly

This is such a warm color it reminds me more of a deeper rose gold than the tones of most ciders. It’s almost apricot in color. The clarity is brilliant, showing off lots of bubbles in the glass.  

Aromas: cinnamon, cooked apples, oats, vanilla

Wow! Embark really nailed the whole apple pie experience with this cider’s aromas. I can smell a strong cinnamon presence along with cooked apples, oats, and vanilla. They even captured the a la mode! I’m impressed.

Sweetness/dryness: semi-sweet

Exactly as described, this cider is semi-sweet. 

Flavors and drinking experience: spices, bubbly, honeyed finish

While it smells like apple pie a la mode, the Apple Pie Cider tastes more like a crisp! I get tons of mace, allspice, and clove notes in addition to the cinnamon. The cider just feels so full and texturally exciting. I love a rich creamy cider with plenty of bubbles and acid to keep things from veering too heavy. 

The Apple Pie Cider also brings some luscious honey notes on the finish.

Now for Woodchuck Cider’s 802 Collection Kinda Cloudy.

This cider sample was shared with me for review, but I’m sad to say that I made the notes wait several months before posting them. Apologies for the delay!

If you know cider at all, you know Woodchuck. The company has been around since the 1990s in Vermont. The ciders are varied, but they often fall on the sweeter cider. I’ve reviewed tons of Woodchuck ciders, so I’ll just list a few of the more recent and most interesting ones. Check out older posts for more background on the company that has been with this blog since the beginning. 

The Odd Crush collaboration with Farnum Hill: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/07/cider-review-woodchuck-farnum-hills-odd.html

Pearsecco: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/05/cider-review-very-perry-may-with.html

Bubbly Rose: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/08/cider-review-farnum-hill-extra-dry-and.html

Pear Ginger: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/05/very-perry-may-review-of-woodchucks.html

Smoked Apple: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/12/cider-review-woodchuck-cellar-series.html

June and Juice: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/10/cid10. er-review-woodchucks-june-and-juice.html

Local Nectar: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/07/cider-review-woodchucks-local-nectar.html

In August 2016, I visited Woodchuck as part of my cider tour of Vermont: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-great-vermont-cider-tour-day-3.html

Here’s a link to the Woodchuck site which has even more info on ciders, events, and more: http://www.woodchuck.com/

Read what Woodchuck says to introduce it. “A traditional cider made with only fresh pressed Vermont juice from our orchard partners. Give this unfiltered semi-sweet cider a slight shake and enjoy wherever friends gather!”5.1% ABV.

Appearance: cloudy, dark sweet cider color, hard to see bubbles in the cloudiness

This cider looks like soft cider in a gallon like you see at a farm stand. The color is a warm earthy brown with hints of orange and gold. It’s tough to see bubbles in a cider this cloudy, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be sparkling.

Aromas: fresh soft juice, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, bready

The Kinda Cloudy is just brimming over with tasty smells. It reminds me of half fermented sweet cider tastes straight from the tank. There are notes of cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, and plenty of yeast character. That part comes across as a little bready and zesty perhaps like a lemon glaze.

Sweetness/dryness: semi-sweet

This is a sweet to semi-sweet cider, exactly as promised! The sweetness that’s here tastes entirely natural.

Flavors and drinking experience: half fermented cider, bright, sweet, balanced

I am in awe. Somehow Woodchuck has stabilized a moment that I thought was purely ephemeral and fleeting. They have captured the sweetness, cloudiness, and body of half- fermented cider! I have no idea how they halted the fermentation at this point to keep it so naturally sweet and stable. I simply can’t get over it. 


The cider tastes bready, bubbly but with bigger bubbles. It’s super friendly and easy drinking. While a sweet cloudy cider is not for everyone, it’s an absolute winner at what it is aiming for. I love the full body and medium high acid. I has no tannins, but it doesn’t really need them for this experience. This cider is not watery or syrupy; it’s perfectly balanced and super apple-y.

Cider Review: Silo Cider's Semi-Dry and Embark Ciderworks' The Northerner

I’m so excited to be headed down to Pennsylvania to judge the cider competition that’s part of the Farm Show there. While that experience is not open to the public, you can go to Harrisburg in January to find out the results and check out a dizzying array of other awesome stuff. 

The details are all here: https://www.farmshow.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

And that’s not all that’s exciting. Two adorable little kitten fluffballs got adopted into the family week. Obviously this means I’ve been hanging out at home trying to keep them from jumping off of high furniture or provoking the big cats too much. This also means I finally allowed myself to drink and review my Silo Semi-Dry cider because I needed something trustworthy for relaxing with.

Here’s some info on Silo and the Semi Dry. This is my first review of anything By Silo Cidery which is a new branch forming from Silo Distillery in Windsor, Vermont. I know the cider maker Nicole Leibon from her years at Farnum Hill and from the tiny wonderful world of cider. She’s a delight, and I always look forward to seeing her. 

Visit the Distillery and learn about the spirits and cider on the website: https://www.silodistillery.com/semi-dry

The site includes lots of helpful information about the Semi-Dry cider. 

SEMI-DRY 

On the drier end of "semi-dry", this is the antithesis of sugary sweet.  Bright and tart apple flavors are balanced in this summer drink that will have you tempted by one more. 

Our flagship cider grown on North Pomfret apple trees--- each one lovingly pruned, picked, and pressed at Moore's Orchard. 

FLAVOR PROFILE 

Nose: Lemon zest, green apples 

Flavors: Clean and tart  

Finish: Just one more 

INGREDIENTSNorthern Spy, Golden Delicious, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Fuji, and Mac

Appearance: bright corn gold, brilliant

The color of this cider reminds me of ripe yellow corn. It’s a pure bright gold. The cider has no haze to it, and doesn’t show much in the way of visible bubbles.

Aromas: paper dust, asian pear and butter cream

Ooh. These smells are tantalizing and interesting. I’m surprised to smell paper dust, asian pear and butter cream all together. Each of those smells is so different and associated with a completely different spectrum of flavors.  

Sweetness: semi dry

I’ll say yes to calling this cider semi-dry but some would call it off dry. I think Silo is right to say that it lives at the dry end of semi-dry.

Flavors and drinking experience: dried apples, medium body, wild rice, nutty

This cider does exactly what I was hoping for. I wanted something enjoyable, relaxing, and low key to enjoy while I watch kittens. The kittens bring the excitement, so I wanted a cider that’s mellow enough to balance that out.

Silo’s Semi-dry is redolent with notes of dried apple, wild rice, and savory cooking herbs. There’s something almost savory even nutty in the flavors. The Semi-dry feels low in the mouth and aquatic to me.

More factually, the cider has a nicely medium-full body with pleasantly forward bubbles. This is a very approachable cider. I like and drink it, and I think I could give it to many people without a lot of cider experience and they would also enjoy it. 

Now for Embark Ciderworks’ The Northerner.

Embark feels like a neighboring cidery to me, even though they are just under 2 hours away. This Williamson, New York cidery is based in an orchard heavy area on the outskirts of Rochester. The cidery developed from a pre-existing apple farm, one of many in the vicinity. Jake Lagoner and Chris Gowan make the cider. You can check out my earlier coverage of Embark ciders to read more background on this near and dear cidery.

I have a few previous reviews for Embark. Here’s the list:

Golden Russet Reserve: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/09/cider-review-embark-golden-russet.html

Crab Series #1: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/08/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

The American Hopped: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/01/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

You can visit Embark Ciderworks on the web and discover more about Embark Ciderworks, the tasting room and events: https://embarkcraftciderworks.com/

Here’s how Embark describes The Northerner: 

The Northerner is a refreshing semisweet cider made of 100% Northern Spy apples. We derived our inspiration for the label artwork from the following history of the naming of the apple. 

One of the most famous of all American apples, Northern Spy originated in East Bloomfield, NY, around 1800. The apple was named for the 'hero' of that notorious dime store novel The Northern Spy. The book was written anonymously, published sub-rosa, and circulated among radical hard-core abolitionists circa 1830. The "Northern Spy" set up a series of safehouses from Virginia through Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York State for runaway slaves to escape to Canada. It was a blueprint for the underground railroad. 5% ABV

I tasted this as part of Finger Lakes Cider week at The Watershed. I was hosting a co-tasting with anyone who wanted to come in and try some local ciders. 

Appearance: butternut squash, brilliant, few visible bubbles

The color is a far warmer than the gold, yellow, or amber color of many ciders. It goes so far as to remind me of the ripe flesh of a roasted butternut squash. My cider poured clear with absolutely brilliant color and no visible bubbles. 

Aromas: raspberry, ripe apple, baking spices

This cider reminds me of a warm kitchen in terms of it’s aromas. There’s plenty of fruitiness that reminds me of ripe apples and raspberries, but I can also smell baking spices and brown sugar. 

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

Some would call The Northerner sweet, others would call it semi-sweet. I care more that it’s in balance because there’s acidity as well as sweetness.

Flavors and drinking experience: full mouthfeel, creamy, sweet, fruity

This cider has a leisurely lingering finish. I know that might ought to appear last if I’m describing this cider chronologically, but it stands out. This is a well-balanced and full bodied cider with lots of fruit and oomph that last until the very end. I am not usually a big drinker of sweet ciders, but everyone in our group found things they really liked about this one. 

Some folks loved the subtle baking spice notes. It’s not enough to quite remind one of baking an apple pie or mulling hot cider, but there’s a sense of warmth and depth there. Other folks like the hints of berry that were presence in both the aromas and flavors. For me, I like it when a sweet cider can counter-balance its sweetness with a zingy but not punishing acidity and be full bodied but firm rather than droopy. The Northerner managed all of that with ease and aplomb. It was a fun cider and a crowd pleaser!

Cider Review: Embark Golden Russet Reserve and Cider Week Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes Cider Week is almost here! It’s happening all over central New York from September 27th - October 6th, 2019. This year, not only will I be pouring samples, attending dinners, touring orchards, munching apples, and tasting new ciders, I’ll also be talking to folks about cider in three different ways! I cannot tell you how excited I am! In fact, I’m trimming the blog post for the week to only include on review, so I can spend more time sharing Cider Week love.

Check out the home page to learn a lot more about this wonderful cider celebration: https://ciderweekflx.com/flx/

But before I share some upcoming highlights, I do want to share a really fun cider review for the week.

Let’s take a look at Embark Ciderworks’ Golden Russet Reserve. Embark Craft Ciderworks is based out of Williamson, New York. This is just outside of Rochester. The cidery grew out of an apple farm. The cider makers are Jake Lagoner and Chris Gowan. Take a look at my earlier posts on Embark ciders to find out more background!

My previous review of Embark Ciders include fewer than they should:

Crab Series #1: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/08/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

The American Hopped: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/01/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

You can visit the website to learn more about Embark Ciderworks: https://embarkcraftciderworks.com/

The official description of this cider is short and factual, “2017 Golden Russets fermented dry and aged for 12 months then backsweetened with 2018 Golden Russet apples. 6.9%ABV”

Appearance: golden raspberry, cloudy, bubbly

Pretty pretty! I like the color on this cider. It reminds me of fall-ripening golden raspberries. The cider looks distinctly cloudy and bubbly.

Aromas: Lemon, melon, and minerals

I don’t get the most intensity of aroma from this cider, but I do get some pleasant nots of lemon, melon and stony minerality.

Sweetness/Dryness: Off dry

This cider brings more fruit, crispness, and bubble to the table than sweetness. It isn’t entirely dry, but it’s close.

Flavors and drinking experience: Bubbly, crisp, minerals

The Golden Russet Reserve brings lots of minerals to each sip. It’s wonderfully crisp, due to it’s high acidity and the intensity of bubbles. What I don’t know is how this cider also tastes creamy. The Golden Russet Reserve does a lot with it’s high level of acidity and medium tannins. It has a relatively light body and quick finish.

I appreciate how clean this cider tastes. Overall, I find it very refreshing and perfect with a last summery supper. I had mine with garlicy kale, sweet potato wedges and a sweetly smoky barbeque sauce.

Now for a few highlights of Cider Week Finger Lakes!

Events where you can find me:

9/26, Not Far From the Tree: An Evening Celebrating Apples & Cider- https://www.facebook.com/events/2322642131307274/

This is going to be a great event featuring Autumn Shosteck of Eve’s Cidery, Steve Selin of South Hill and me talking about orchards, apples, ciders, and food pairings. And we’ll get to enjoy great ciders and foods at the local farm-to-table place: Coltivare. Tickets are $50.

9/28, I’ll  be interviewing Jason Wilson about his new book at Buffalo Street Books at 4pm. Jason will also be reading sections from the book: Cider Revival: Dispatches from the Orchard. Grisamore Ciderworks will be pouring samples. And this event is totally free! It would be a gret time to pick up Jason’s book if you haven’t already.

10/3, Basics of Cider Tasting at The Watershed:
https://www.facebook.com/events/704691016703741/

At this event, you can go straight up to the bar at The Watershed (http://www.thewatershedithaca.com/) and pick up a glass of cider from their specially expanded cider week selection. It’s already one of the strongest cider lists in town! Then come back to the big table in the back, and I’ll be discussing the basics of cider tasting. No entry fee, just buy some cider! 

Here are a few other awesome Cider Week Events

9/29, Monks & Makers: A NYS Cider Tasting Salon
https://www.facebook.com/events/1166531960203947/

Both weekends, Tours and Tastings at Black Diamond Cidery
https://www.blackdiamondcider.com/upcoming-events/

10/1, The Emerging FLX Cider Region in the Cider Revival – Book Signing and Cider Maker Chat
https://www.southhillcider.com/events/2019/10/1/the-emerging-flx-cider-region-in-the-cider-revival-book-signing-amp-cider-maker-chat

10/ 3, Finger Lakes Cider Week Celebration at Mann Library on Cornell Campus: http://events.cornell.edu/event/finger_lakes_cider_week_celebration_mann_library

Cider Review: Embark Craft Ciderworks The Crab Series Vol 1

After a week of bright heat in Ithaca, I am welcoming the shelter of clouds and the possibility of rain. August brings an unpredictability to the weather that feels a bit less risky than the ups and downs of spring. I love it. Changes in weather allow me to switch up my cider routine while still choosing my beverages to suit the season.

Today that means skipping some of the extras I've been enjoying in my cider all summer and just highlighting apples. This time, I'm after some of my favorite apples, crab apples. I want to find out if these fruit consistently bring both acidic sharpness and depth of flavor. Today's review is Embark Craft Ciderworks Crab Series Volume 1.

But, before we get to the cider, I'd like to share a bit about Embark Craft Ciderworks. This cidery grew from Lagoner Farms, now in its 5^th generation of family ownership. The orchard was founded in 1909. Embark has two cidermakers: Jacob Lagoner and Chris Gowan. Their introduction talks a fair bit about apples, local food, and history, but also gives a nod to the cidery that inspired Embark: Farnum HillCiders. Their output looks to have expanded a bit beyond that inspiration though as Embark has released fruit blended and hopped ciders as well as a range of purely apple ciders.

You can read more about at their website:

https://embarkcraftciderworks.com/

I previously reviewed the American Hopped: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/01/cider-review-embark-craft-ciderworks.html

Now, The Crab Series Volume 1.

Here's Embark's official description:

The first release in The Crab Series, this is a unique dry cider. It expresses flavors from three different crabapple varieties, balanced out with the sweetness of Tolman Sweet and mildness of Rome Beauty apples. It has a dark golden color and a flavor that lingers as you drink it. A nice amount of tannins and balanced acidity make this the cider makers’ drink of choice.

Awards: Bronze, New World Cider - Heritage Category, The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition (2015)

Appearance: harvest gold, brilliant bubbly

This cider looks darkly sparkling. The bubbles glint with gold in a brilliant cider. Yes, this cider is inspiringly pretty.

Aromas: honey, red currants, fermentation, minerality

There's a lot happening in this cider when I bring my nose to it. At first the Crab Series smells honeyed but also red currants and ripe apples. Secondarily I can smell a bit of clean sourdough. Lastly, in the background, there's hints of funky minerality that almost remind me of a resting tractor on a summer afternoon.

Sweetness dryness: off dry to semi dry

The Crab Series' label indicates that the cider will be a semi-dry, but this feels on the dry end of semi-dry, even off dry.

Flavors and drinking experience: high acid, multiple kinds of fruit, some tannins

Wow! This is a fantastic cider. It tastes golden and rich but interesting and zippy. This is a lithe and active cider that reminds me of lots of summery white wines. It gives plentiful tropical fruit notes like pineapple, rich and yummy. I do so love what crab apples can do for cider.

As I hoped, the crab apples in this cider make themselves known with ongoing sharp zesty acidity and some tannic presence. As I drink this cider, there's spreading warmth and red fruit notes that just woo me. The tannins and acidity combine to great mouthfeel.

Let's keep the pairings seasonal, even knowing that with a cider like this, one has options. I'd happily serve this cider with tomato pie, corn and pepper chowder, or even just pita and homemade hummus (don't skimp on the olive oil, that's what makes it good). I had mine while watching an impressive thunderstorm from an attic window. 

Cider Review: Embark Craft Ciderworks' American Hopped Cider also CiderCon 2017 is coming!

Back to summer cider notes once more this week. I tasted this cider on my back porch in July, and I've had it several times again since then. My review is therefore overdue. I was reminded of this cider when I had it recent at The Watershed (http://www.thewatershedithaca.com/).

Embark has only appeared in this blog as the creators of Cider Fest 2016 which was part of Finger Lakes Cider Week last year. I guest poured there and had a fabulous time.  

http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/09/a-round-up-of-finger-lakes-cider-week.html

Embark Craft Ciderworks describes the people behind their company as, "As farmers first and foremost." The cidery has grown out of Lagoner Farms just outside of Rochester, New York. The cidermakers, Jake and Chris, both come from local agricultural backgrounds. They write about local food, the importance of apples, and their growing orchard filled with apple varieties chosen for the qualities they bring to cider. 

Theyalso have a taproom you can visit on the farm. 

You can read more about Embark Ciderworks on the website: https://embarkcraftciderworks.com

And keep up to date with events and recent developments on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/embarkcraftciderworks/

But for now, let's turn to the American Hopped Cider. This is how it is described by the folks at Embark:

Estate grown Autumn Crisp apples fermented and then dry-hopped with Cascade, Centennial, & Columbus hops that we sourced from a neighboring farm. A brillantly balanced cider with just a touch of sweetness and hop aromatics that add to the complexity of an already complex cider.

Appearance: brilliant, creamed honey color, lots of visible bubbles

The American Hopped pours with a head that doesn't vanish as quickly as some. I would describe the color as creamed honey. This cider has plenty of very fine visible bubbles. It makes my mouth water to look at it. This picture doesn't show how brilliant this cider is because of the condensation on the glass, but rest assured, you could read through it.

aromas: fresh apple, hops, mint

Immediately, I can smell fresh apples from the cider. Because it is often sold in cans, I'd recommend pouring it into a different vessel if you want to enjoy the full aroma. The particular type of hop smell that accompanies the apple is a clean and herby one with secondary citrus characteristics. The smells meld together such that my notes are cold apple and mint as well as hops. Very summery.

Sweetness/dryness: semi-sweet

The American Hopped Cider is unambiguously semi-sweet and accurately labelled as such on the back of the can. Great job, guys, accurate labelling is surprisingly rare.

Flavors and drinking experience: high acid, balanced, easy drinking

As strange as it sounds today, this cider is perfect for a hot day, but its also lovely when in a warm and bright place. The semi-sweetness is balanced by its high acid. The hops and apples work brilliantly in concert to make a unified taste experience that doesn't drown out either element. Cheers, this is my number one goal for a hopped cider! I did find the hop flavor to be piney, citrusy, and a little sweaty, but oh so pleasantly so. The citrus struck me in a particuarly lemony way.

As for pairing, I paired this with relaxing on the porch in summer and just watching my back yard. Most recently I paired it with local bakery bread, tomato garlic dipping oil, and unwinding with the best coworkers on the planet at The Watershed. Both worked brilliantly, and I predict it the cider would also work well with a corn and potato chowder and warm afternoon at home. 

Also, don't forget we are now less than a month away from Cider Con in Chicago!! 

There you will find multiple tracks of the best cider education, business planning, operations help, tasting, socializing and general cider merriment. I've attended twice, and I now look forward to it all year. Join us!

The link for registration is tinyurl.com/CiderCon2017

A Round Up of Finger Lakes Cider Week Round Ups! Cross Posted

Finger Lakes Cider Week offers many different ways to explore a love of cider. And we don't just do cider here, we have some of the best cider in the world. And during Cider Week, we can learn to make it, tour orchards, try new kinds of apples, pair it with fabulous foods and meet the talented cider makers that craft our favorite beverages.

But, if you're like me, one of the things I look forward to during cider week is going to one place and having multiple cider options! That's why I put together this little list. These are a few of the ways you can explore several cideries in one place during Finger Lakes Cider Week. And if you see me out and about at any of these events, come say hi!

Not to make things difficult, but I do have to share both of these events happening at the same date and time in different places. They are different events though, so read more about them to find out which format and location suits you best. Both of these will have a good number of excellent ciders.

September 30^th: Cider Fest 2015 by Embark Ciderworks at Lagoner Farms in Williamson, NY:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1076952362353422/

September 30: Meet the Cider Makers at Cellar d’Or Wine and Cider Shop in Ithaca, NY

https://www.facebook.com/events/1638937436416547/

Consider me very excited about this next event. It's a stroll from my house and its a pairing event with some world class cider from Bellwether Cidery, South Hill Cider, and Hazlitt. Plus the event only costs $5. Steals like these do not happen every day.

October 5: Tasting and Pairing event at Cornell University's Bear's Den in Ithaca, NY

https://www.facebook.com/events/1134536499959396/

Then we've got a little after work 5:00 – 7:00pm tasting featuring ciders by Black Diamond and South Hill Cider for the weekly Hang Time tasting at Red Feet Wine Market.

October 6:Tasting at Red Feet Wine Market & Spirit Provisions in Ithaca, NY

I admit I've not spent as much time in Geneva as I would like. Its an interesting town with some lovely architecture. Therefore, I'm aiming to drive up for their monthly downtown evening, featuring multiple cideries sharing samples.

October 7: FLX Cider Celebration during Geneva Night Out! 5:00 – 8:00pm in Geneva, NY

https://www.facebook.com/events/1773337879608171/

If you like cider and you like cheese, you're bound to know that they pair like nothing else. This event brings together all the Cider Week FLX cideries and Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance producers for a huge celebration of two of my favorite things in the world.

October 8: Cider and Cheese Saturday Finger Lakes Cider House in Interlaken, NY

https://www.facebook.com/events/1074042209359492/

This list is just the tip of the Finger Lakes Cider Week iceberg. There really is a world of cider to explore right here. This series of events brings together one of the strongest cider regions in the United States. Come out. Try some ciders you've never had before. Remind yourself of your favorites. Bring a friend. You won't regret it.

This blog post originally appeared on the FLX Cider Week blog at: http://www.ciderweekflx.com/a-round-up-of-finger-lakes-cider-week-round-ups/ Catch more information and events listings there!