New England Cider Company Visit

There is something special about this small cidery in Wallingford. I love hard cider. His place does an outstanding job sourcing apples from a number of orchards in Connecticut as well as some other surrounding states.

I like the cider company so much, I spent my birthday here
sipping cider and hanging with my wife and friends

On my first visit, I tried what they called a CranBarrel Cider. This was a hard cider mixed with cranberry juice, and aged in whiskey barrels. This whiskey barrel aging is not like that normal, “Oh I guess it's kind of whiskey-esque.” This tasted like a border line mixed drink. It smelled like spirits and sweet apple and tart cranberry. It finished like there was a splash of whiskey in the glass. They also have made a mint cider, which might be the most fragrant beverage I have ever consumed. The mint aroma is so powerful that straight from the tap it smells like a handful of mint has been muddled in my glass.  

Sumac on the left
Fresh blend on the right

On my last visit to the cider company I tasted 2 ciders that were so great on their own but even better together. The first was their fresh blend. A balanced cider that is back sweetened with some non fermented cider. The other is called their Sumac which is a slightly sour and tart cider that is much more dry. Each are very different but yummy in their own rights. However, when blended in a glass they are out of this world. The dry, sour, and tart of the sumac which can be a bit strong, are all subdued by the sweetness of the fresh blend, which can be a little too ‘applejuicy’ for some. I purchased a swing top growler of each and spent an evening experimenting with blends.

I found that an even balance of both was really good, but I favored a glass with a little bit more sumac then fresh blend. If you go, do a tasting and do some mixing of your own. It is worth the trip.