Make cider the apple of your eye. Monday — World Cider Day — is the perfect day to grab a glass of this classic beverage. While craft cider may be the new kid on the adult beverage block, it’s certain to tickle your tastebuds, with something different than the typical Strongbow or Somersby you can find on any bar menu.
Canada’s budding craft cider scene has taken off in the past decade, and the country now boasts more than 400 producers, across all provinces and two territories. Just like this country’s vast landscape, the cider producers use a variety of apples and flavours to craft their signature sips. Versatility is key to appealing to a broad audience.
“There’s really something for everyone,” said Barry Rooke, executive director of Cider Canada. “If you’re a beer drinking fan, you can find hopped ciders, or for wine drinkers, you’ll probably want to aim for what they call dry or extra dry ciders.” Most cider makers in Canada will have a few standards they create and keep on tap regularly.
“They’ll add maybe a hopped, they’ll maybe have a specialty alcoholic or higher alcohol level. They might also have a low-alcohol or non-alcoholic level,” said Rooke. “And producers range usually from three or four regular ciders and there’s a couple that are up to 10.
” Seasonal flavours are added regularly, and because cider apples can be stored in cold storage, meaning they don’t all need to be pressed at once like wine grapes, a new flavour can.
