Cider is becoming more and more relevant in the craft beverage scene by the minute. Think about it. A year ago, finding a cider on tap was likely, but now it’s expected. This is a major milestone for craft cider.
New York is the second-largest apple producing state in the country. That’s no secret. A booming cider industry seems like a given, but hard cider’s popularity is a more recent development for NYS.
THE PAST
A little history here. Countless apple orchards were burnt to the ground during Prohibition by die-hard temperance advocates, and that’s why cider making apples disappeared for years. After Prohibition ended, breweries could resume production rather quickly, but the apple-reliant hard cider industry never fully recovered.
A well-crafted cider always starts with the apples. Without the right apples, cider is just plain lousy. Certain apples are better for eating, and others are better for cider making. As people realized that not all apples are created equal, an important shift occurred. Cider makers started planting again with fermentation characteristics in mind, and soon enough a craft cider movement was born.
THE PRESENT
The industry’s current growth starts to make much more sense with all these facts considered. The overall hard cider category is continuing to exceed its own sale records.
So where does New York State fit in? Hard cider popularity has been on the rise for years in the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, and New York City, and the New York Cider Association was created to support the community of apple growers and cider makers across the state.
The cider scene in Western New York is finally catching up. 2018 was a major year. Cider Week WNY was celebrated for the very first time ever in August, and this 10-day celebration highlighted 12 local cideries from Buffalo to Rochester and beyond.
Range is everything in the craft beverage industry, and that’s exactly what makes WNY’s cider scene so successful. Each of the participating cideries has its own style and tasting audience.
- Nine Pin’s off-dry ciders are complex, crisp, and creative. From Blueberry, Strawberry, and Raspberry to Cider Rosé, Peach Tea, and Earl Grey, New York’s first farm cidery has mastered variety, and that’s exactly what they showcased during a 9-tap takeover at Colter Bay.
- Blackman Cider Company focuses on ciders with dry, smooth taste profiles. This cidery gets creative, too with hoppy cider and sparkling rosé cider.
- Blue Toad Cider is known for blends. Each cider features a few different apple varieties, and they have distinct varieties like the Orange Crush, ToaDally Tea, Flower City Lilac, and Harvest Festy to name a few.
- Rootstock Ciderworks focuses on heritage apples, and they even have an annual small batch project specifically dedicated to this variety.
And that’s not to mention BlackBird Cider Works, Blue Barn Cidery, Embark Ciderworks, Kite & String, Orchard Hill Cider Mill, Seed + Stone Cidery, South Hill Cider, and Steampunk Cider. Each of these cider makers brings different styles and its own unique flair to the table. Visit their tasting rooms or try a new brand and you’ll discover why each one is so special.
From cider pairings to parties, the WNY community came together to celebrate. Highlights included cider festivals, farm-to-table pairings, cider and cheese tastings, tap takeovers, and cider brunches. The variety and volume of events speaks for itself. Cider is here to stay.
The cider celebration is far from over. In fact, cider drinking season is here! Spiced, amber, and barrel-aged ciders are arriving. With seasonal drink menus debuting left and right, there’s no better time to start exploring the world of craft cider. Think apple pie, cinnamon, pumpkin, pear, and anything harvest-related.
THE FUTURE
Cider Week Finger Lakes is almost here. The celebration kicks off with a Cider Fest at Embark Craft Ciderworks and an Apple Harvest Festival in Downtown Ithaca on September 28.
Cider Week FLX runs through October 8 and there are various meet-the-maker events, orchard tours, and themed dinners planned at the participating cideries. And of course, a sunset cruise along Cayuga Lake is only fitting especially since it’s a cider-themed sail.
The list of participating companies includes Black Diamond Farm & Cidery, Embark Craft Ciderworks, Empire Cider, Eve’s Cidery, Kite & String, Lake Drum Brewing, New York Cider Company, Phonograph Cider, Redbyrd Orchard Cider, South Hill Cider, and Three Brothers Winery.
The bigger takeaway? Cider is everywhere now. Beyond cideries, you can find local ciders at bars, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and bottle shops. If you prefer delivery to your doorstep, look to Cider in Love. This online curator discovers hard-to-find heritage ciders and connects the makers with the consumers.
Fall means apples. Apples mean cider. Fall and cider go together, always have always will. Naturally, more people reach for a seasonal beverage that’s crisp. Plus by this time, a new batch of cider is ready for tasting.
MY STORY & YOURS
Fall is my favorite season, always has been. As a kid, I looked forward to trips to the local apple orchard in Hilton, mostly because of the fresh-pressed cider and of course, the donuts. When I think about drinking cider, the red barn at Kelly’s still comes to mind. Fast forward to today, and my love for cider has evolved into an appreciation for the hard cider industry.
My instincts tell me cider’s story in WNY is just getting started, and that’s exciting news for cider enthusiasts, like myself, as well cideries. With this resurgence comes a challenge. Connecting with consumers is not easy, especially if they have written off cider. Categorizing all ciders as “too sweet” is a major misconception, but it’s common. Yes, some ciders are sweet, but others are dry, semi-dry, or semi-sweet and that’s only the beginning. For the first time, there are style guidelines for ciders, created by the United States Association of Cider Makers.
Educating your consumers and telling your story is more important than ever because listening leads to tasting. Once they fall in love, you’ll have them for life.