Book Review & Interview | The Beer Lover’s Guide to Cider by Beth Demmon

Esteemed beer writer Beth Demmon has written a book for beer lovers who are curious about the growing craft cider movement. The Beer Lover’s Guide to Cider: American Ciders for Craft Beer Fans to Explore (Mango Publishing, September 12) demystifies the potentially overwhelming variety of the modern cider scene through the lens of beer, relating cider varieties to major flavor groupings familiar to craft beer fans.

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California Will Now Allow Cider & Perry Production For Small Breweries

California takes an important step to level the playing field between large and small breweries. Small breweries will now be able to produce cider and perry under the same roof. Senate Bill 788 was signed by the Governor on July 21st. This was after both the State Assembly and State Senate unanimously approved earlier. Read More

Stem Ciders | Apricot Haze

For beer drinkers segueing into cider, cider lovers looking for something different, or anyone who loves high quality fruit-forward beverages made with fresh ingredients, Colorado’s Stem Ciders are fermenting up a storm with a range of dry and flavored ciders made with pressed juice from Pacific-Northwest apples and adjuncts ranging from chile-guava to lavender, salted cucumber to carrot-ginger-turmeric. Determined to win over new drinkers from outside the cider community, Stem have created their newest release, Apricot Haze, especially with beer lovers in mind, using an unusual technique to replicate the hop punch of a hazy IPA, paired with a bright, refreshing apricot base.

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Texas Keeper Cider | Harrison

Cider nerds and beer nerds have a lot in common, especially when it comes to appreciating, celebrating and recreating historic beverages. As the beer world grows in appreciation for heritage styles like Roggenbier, Lichtenhainer and Grodziskie, over in ciderland, heritage apple varietals are big news, and the Harrison, with its fortuitous origin-story and serendipitous rescue from extinction, is the rock star of heritage heirloom apples.

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Nevertheless, We Persist: Eden and Anxo Cideries Launch 5th Collaboration WHM Ciders Benefiting Women’s Rights Charities

“She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”

In February 2017, Mitch McConnell’s attempt to justify his silencing of Elizabeth Warren on the senate floor went viral, backfiring against the Republican party and transforming into a feminist rallying cry. His phrase sparked the hashtags #ShePersisted and #LetLizSpeak and became the theme for 2018’s Women’s History Month.

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Haykin Family Ciders Elevates Apples

In the rapidly-expanding cider market, Denver’s Haykin Family Ciders offers a fresh take on the beverage with its unique philosophy and focus. Haykin, owned by husband and wife Daniel and Talia Haykin, puts a premium on using boutique apples to make premium ciders that compete for space on the menus of prestigious restaurants.

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Waldschänke Ciders Celebrates Swiss National Day

In honor of Swiss National Day, Aug. 1, we’re taking a closer look at Denver’s Waldschänke Ciders, which blends family traditions of Swiss cider-making with modern and innovative flavor pairings. Waldschänke gives craft beverage lovers a reason to expand beyond typical malt-and-hops drinks with a whole range of sweet, tart and savory flavors. Read More

Bean to Barstool Podcast | Trust Your Dopeness: Hannah Ferguson of D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery

In this episode of Bean to Barstool, David Nilsen talks with Hannah Ferguson, a brewer of beer, a maker of cider and wine and the founder of D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery, which will open soon in Youngstown, Ohio. Hannah Ferguson was the first Black female professional brewer in the state of Ohio and only the second Black female cidery owner in the entire country. Her enthusiasm and positivity have helped her push through the challenges involved in following her dreams. I know you’ll find her story inspiring and encouraging.

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Texas Keeper Cider | Grafter Rosato 2022

Texas Keeper Cider is one of South Austin’s best kept secrets. A stunning 19 acre Hill Country ranch with a lovely rustic wood-paneled taproom just minutes away from the SoCo tourist bustle, the tight, dedicated team have been creating sophisticated small-batch hand-crafted cider since 2013. Blending career expertise in wine-making, brewing, fermentation and, of course, cider making, Texas Keeper offer a refreshing alternative to the sweet fruit-flavored canned fizz that is most commonly associated with both macro and craft ciders.

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What We’re Cooking | Curried Pork Chops & Dubbel Apple Chutney

This recipe comes from Scott Johnson’s recipe book and is a modern twist on the classic pairing of pork chops and applesauce.

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Women in Beer | The Women of Pink Barrel Cellars

There’s something about working alongside family that can make things a little easier. When you don’t have to put on a face, you can get things done, you can make things happen, and you can use that to be a success. Generations of farmers know this, embrace it, and pass it on to their children. And sometimes that can lead to new business, innovation and tasty beer. Or, maybe that’s just the case for Grand Rapids, Michigan-based farm brewery, Pink Barrel Cellars.

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Stem Ciders | Rosé Cider Release

Stem Ciders is excited to announce the rosiest addition to their lineup: Rosé Cider! Perfect to pair with just about anything, Stem will be releasing this addition on May 11. They’ll be hosting release events at both their RiNo Taproom, as well as at Acreage in Lafayette. The Rosé is a blend of off-dry cider made from fresh-pressed apples and red wine that’s made in Colorado.

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Event Preview | A Salted Cucumber Returns

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the only green-themed boozy celebration this month. Stem Ciders is feting the return of A Salted Cucumber, one of its most popular seasonal releases, with parties at both its RiNo taproom and its Acreage restaurant in Lafayette, Colorado.

Produced in collaboration with Denver-based The Real Dill, A Salted Cucumber is a Gose-style cider first created two years ago in honor of the pickle company’s five-year anniversary. Stem will be selling 10-ounce pours for $5 throughout the day and night on Saturday, March 16 at its RiNo location. Read More

Stem Ciders Acquires North Carolina’s Black Twig Cider House

Just weeks after Stem Ciders celebrated their 5th Anniversary, they’re about to embark on another major milestone. The Denver-based cidery announced yesterday that they have acquired Black Twig Cider House in Durham, N.C and will be re-branding the location as The Northern Spy, named after an apple varietal often used in Stem’s line of ciders.

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Stem Ciders | Chile Guava Apple Cider

“Cider is too sweet. Cider isn’t beer.” If that’s your thought on the matter of ciders, I would implore you first to refrain from comparing cider to beer. Beer is beer. Whiskey is whiskey. Wine is wine. And cider is cider. Yes, the packaging and crafted nature of the business has often allowed the two imbibe industries to converge, but they are not the same. I would then suggest next that you explore ciders as its own entity; you’ll find that the ciders of today are nothing like the jugged-cider sold at family pumpkin fests, and they differ greatly from the hard cider that first emerged fifteen to twenty years ago. Cider today is innovative, nuanced and balanced, demonstrated exquisitely by Stem Ciders‘ Chile Guava Apple Cider.

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Chicago Quick Sips | October 22 Chicago Beer News & Events

Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].

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Brothers Craft Brewing | Blonde Betty Imperial Blonde Ale

Autumn is the season of pies. Whether it’s pumpkin, sweet potato or pecan, we all know the colder months bring forth a nostalgic desire for those traditionally warming, sweet sensations. So when the wave of pumpkin-spiced everything (including beer) takes over, how do you stand out? Brothers Craft Brewery cuts to the core of this dilemma by releasing a specially brewed apple ale, Blonde Betty.

There is no beer scene in the Shenandoah Valley without the influence of Brothers Craft Brewery, formerly known as Three Brothers. These guys have been providing wonderful beers in the Appalachian Mountains since the Virginia beer boom in 2012 by catering to both sides of the craft beer spectrum. They recently won Best in Show at the Virginia Craft Beer Cup for their flagship Lil Hellion; their barrel-aged beers like Resolute and Drunken Mornings are loved by rare beer collectors.

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Ultimate 6er | 2018-19 NHL Players & Beer Pairings

Let’s break the ice already, hockey season is finally here! If the release of NHL ’19 and pre-season isn’t enough, you’re probably missing a beer. Luckily, we have six incredible beer pairings to pair with the players on the ice this season. Tons of trades have been announced and, as fans get ready to cheer on their favorite team and players, we will have the proper beer to cheer them on with. Every ABV matches the number of the player so you won’t lose track of them on the ice no matter how many beers you decide to drink!

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Ultimate 6er | The Annual Family Camping Trip

Ahh, summer! It brings the promise of fun moments in the sun and exciting new adventures. Embedded in every season are holidays we love to celebrate and traditions that will never die. Some folks schedule a week-long beach trip, others like to go lodging at the lake. But, there is one tradition I have entered into sheerly by association and that is the annual family camping trip To Knoebel’s. Read More

Schlafly Can Release Helps Beer Drinkers Love Cider

Are you enjoying the cider renaissance?

It is real, but up until now, I pretty much ignored ciders as nothing more than a decent option for those who wanted beer, but couldn’t have one due to gluten or sugar issues. Boy, was I wrong! After seeing the opening of St. Louis’ first cidery, I’m ready to give this ancient beverage a chance.
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