Getting to Know Banter Cider
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Bold. Big. Unfiltered.
The mission at Banter’s Hard Cider is to be at the forefront of the American hard cider renaissance by combining traditional cider-making techniques with modern craft beer trends. Their aim is to create innovative, unique, and premium hard ciders by using only the finest ingredients and never compromising our commitment to quality.
Quality has always been the goal for owner “Uncle” Steve Brancato. Starting in a Stroudsburg, PA basement over 12 years ago, cider making began as a trial-and-error process for Steve. After several attempts, he finally found the perfect blend that his family and friends couldn’t resist. That’s when Banter’s Hard Cider was born, and Steve transformed his hobby into a business. Simple version, of course. If you want to learn about his journey in much richer detail, you can read about it here.
Steve sure did pick a great place for cider, too. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania is in the heart of the Pocono Mountains and is known for its small-town glamour, modern appeal, and beautiful, walkable downtown. This town, like many in Pennsylvania, is a great place for tourism, vacation, and, naturally, cider. Speaking of ciders, Steve has been honing his craft and making some good stuff!
With Banter’s mission of classic meets modern, they offer a constant variety of novel and uncommon ciders. They can fascinate even the most cultured of palates or experimental of drinkers. Let’s delve into some of these flavors, one by one. Here are some of the ciders that make up Banter’s cider business:
Overcast
6.9% ABV (higher ABV in taproom)
Available for online purchase
Hazy, unfiltered and unapologetic, Overcast is named for it’s cloudy appearance and balanced by six varieties of crushed & fermented Pennsylvania apples.
Bone
6.9% ABV (higher ABV in taproom)
Available for online purchase
Bone is an xxtra dry an unfiltered hard cider. This slightly sharp, full-bodied delight is tart, tannic and might even make you pucker a little! Made with 100% Pennsylvania apples, our driest blend boasts notes of green apple and earthiness.
Swamp Frog
6.9% ABV (higher ABV in taproom)
Available for online purchase
Sweet citrusy and refreshing, this green colossus is made by blending real limes with Pennsylvania apples.
Say New Norm Again Motherf****
6.9% ABV
Currently sold out but soon available for online purchase
Made with a blend of PA apples and blackberry puree, this fruit-forward cider is a delightful balance of tart and sweet. May 20201 brings us all health and good fortune and rids us of this awful, horrible catch-phrase.
Sun Thunder
7.1% ABV
Every spring we release a new cider to celebrate the changing of the season. 2020’s release is our Strawberry/Lemonade blend, Sun Thunder. This cider bursts with color and flavor and makes you want to peek your head out of your quarantine spot and let some rays hit your face!
Deez Coconuts
7% ABV
Inspired by the Mounds candy bar this semi sweet cider boasts a rich coconut flavor and features subtle notes of chocolate.
Green Drank
7.2% ABV
There’s A LOT going on in this cider. At first sip, your palate will be greeted by a citrusy sweetness from the kiwis. It’ll then finish with a tangy heat provided by the bell and jalapeño peppers.
Canadian Vacation
7.9% ABV
You can almost taste a brisk Ontario morning in this seasonal classic. “Vacation” is a rich, darker, semi-sweet cider made with maple syrup and cinnamon
Problem Golfer
7% ABV
Starting with an apple base and made with table sugar and massive amounts of lemon zest and tea leaves, PROBLEM GOLFER is an Arnold Palmer-esque concoction like you’ve never tasted before.
And Many, Many More…
For a full list of their offerings, visit their page with Banter’s cider list.
Not only do they have many great flavors, but Banter’s persistence in creating quality cider is clear to its customers, too. According to Untappd, out of over 60 cider makers in the state, Banter’s is currently the 2nd highest rated in Pennsylvania!
While making great products like those listed above certainly gets your business known, a successful business must mean something more for it to be truly successful. For Steve, it was paying tribute to his father.
“Both ‘Banter’s’ and our flagship blend ‘Overcast’, together, are an anagram for ‘Steve Brancato Sr.’, my late father. I knew from the beginning that I had to do something to honor and embed his memory into the company but I wanted to be inconspicuous about it. So this is what I came up with. My dad was a huge influence on me and I know he would’ve loved to have been part of what we’re doing now at the cidery. To me, this little tribute makes it feel like he is.“
– Steve Brancato
And that’s one of the many reasons Steve has turned Banter into what it is today with great passion, love, and experimentation. Interested in Banter Hard Cider? They ship to many, many states!
