The first cider I tried was their flagship hard cider: Handlebar Hard Cider. You are greeted immediately with a full apple nose and only a hint of natural sweetness. The palette is unlike any I have experienced with hard cider due to the robust and fresh apples base; you feel as though you experiencing the meatiness of the apples themselves with hints of natural tannins from their skins. The taste remains extremely fresh and clean throughout due to there being very little added sugar and no additives. This is such a pure form of cider I am unsure I will ever find one quite as good.

What really blew me away however was Old Mine’s Hopped Up Handlebar Hard Cider. This is the same cider as above but dry hopped with all Citra hops. The nose is similar to the regular Handlebar, but this time you are treated to a full bouquet of floral notes due to the hops. The taste has no bitterness whatsoever from the hops, just the floral aspects that are first experienced on the nose. The added hop notes really balance the mild natural sweetness of the apples well creating a ridiculously balanced brew that I will enjoy for a long time to come. Hopped Up Handlebar Hard Cider is an exceptional bridge between craft brews and hard cider for beer enthusiasts.

Right now the best way to get Old Mine’s ciders is directly from their Cidery in downtown Erie Colorado, but more distribution is expected soon. I really recommend the trip if you are a craft beer lover who has not found a cider yet that speaks to your soul, you won’t be disappointed. In the meantime if you want to try both Handlebar and the Hopped Up variety be sure to check them out at Sesh Fest in Denver this Saturday, August 5th.

The post The Old Mine Cidery: Craft Cider for Beer Drinkers appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

To make my favorite winter beer cocktail I filled a stemmed cider glass with ice and added 1 part Canadian Club 100% Rye and topped with 3 parts hard cider, I decided to use ACE Joker Hard Cider. The resulting cocktail is refreshing yet dark and complex; the Canadian Club 100% Rye base creates a satisfying and strong winter drink with notes of vanilla and oak permeating every sip. The added ACE Joker lends a refreshing dryness that accents the more subtle whisky notes while the Champagne Yeast and effervescence really opens up the palate and creates an unmistakable refreshing yet heavy sipping cocktail.

As we we move in to winter and embrace the falling snow and plunging temperatures Canadian Club 100% Rye deserves a spot in the middle of your home bar. It is a versatile and extremely affordable superb Rye whisky that is great on its own for sipping and as the base of your favorite cocktails. Get creative and pair it with your favorite dry cider and you will have a new favorite go to drink.  

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As I poured Strongbow Cherry Blossom into a stemmed cider glass a pink-tinged white head formed vigorously yet not very dense. The head quickly dissipated into a barely noticeable thin layer on a vibrantly red cider that resembled a deep Rosé wine. Upon first impressions, the nose first revels deep cherry scents with dry apple notes on the fringe with notes of Rosé being apparent as well. The flavor profile is frontloaded with strong Cherry aspects that are predominant yet not too overwhelming or overly sweet, the first sip then finishes with dry apple notes that are so characteristic of the original Strongbow Hard Cider. Overall Cherry Blossom Hard Cider is extremely refreshing due to it not being too sweet and having a dry and crisp apple finish.  

Just as the blooming of the cherry blossoms welcome spring in Japan and Washington DC Strongbow’s Cherry Blossom Hard Apple Cider is the perfect brew-based parlay into the warming months to come. Cherry Blossom Hard Cider is crisp and refreshing with a subtle sweetness that beckons for more on warming spring days.  

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