Of course, I thought I might branch into the mead/cider arenas when I first visited this site, but I never thought it would happen so soon! Brown’s Lane Cider by Crispin Cider hitting the scene today on I Taste Your Beer, the first of four ciders by Crispin Cider.
It’s Groundhog Day! A uniquely American tradition on this day where we profile a supremely English drink. Let’s see what Phil has to say:
Punxsutawney Phil emerged about dawn today when his handlers announced the animal could not “see” his shadow and therefore predicting an early end to wintry weather.
The forecasts are concocted by Phil’s handlers, the 15 members of of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle.
I totally think it’s in the club’s best interest to predict an early spring, since they clearly wanna make you sweat. Perhaps the Post Gazette meant “the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s inner circle?” How will we ever know?
Regardless, Hard apple cider, while a very strong presence in Colonial America, had been around for centuries before America was discovered and colonized. Now, the love for species of American apple species has permeated the UK market, with many ciders blended exclusively with strains found in America and brought back to England. The United Kingdom has the largest per capita cider consumption in the world, and as this is a traditional english cider, it wears the Union Jack proudly.
Here’s an interesting fact about American cider consumption that I remember well – From Essortment:
Although apple cider is nowhere close to the popularity it enjoyed in the Colonial Era, the consumption of apple cider did double in just one year from 1995 to 1996 with renewed public interest in this brewing process considered to be so much a part of Americana.
Cider Jack was something oft requested back in high school – of course, we harangued it as a girl’s drink back then (because we were such tough 17 year-olds. These days, I substitute cider for beer pretty often, but always over ice!
Just The Facts
Appearance: Clear pale yellow
Smell: Chardonnay Grapey
Taste: Sweet champagne, granny smith apple, woody
Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation, light bodied
Drinkability: As with most ciders, this stuff goes down like water
If you like this, you might like:
Pear cider, Lambic, Saison
