Exploring Burlington’s Cider Scene
May 2, 2018
Get to Know USACM – Cider Makers Association
May 22, 2018
The Bay of Quinte in Ontario, Canada is our nation’s largest rural region for finding craft beer and cider. There are over two dozen breweries and cideries in the area and they are coming up with some amazing stuff that deserve to be showcased.
There is no better way to showcase what this region has to offer than to host a dedicated event. Launched last year in 2017 Hops on the Water is dedicated to celebrating the local craft beer and cider scene.
There was a huge turn out for this year’s Hops on the Water. I mean, how could you not gather to day drink and enjoy Quinte’s best local scene on a beautiful spring day?
That said, Mother Nature was an absolute gem and granted the event the most perfect weather. It was sunny and warm, with a cool breeze coming off the Bay of Quinte to ensure you never overheated. A picturesque setting to gather with your friends and try a variety of new craft drinks.
Cider Impressions
There were four cideries in attendance at the event. They were the following:
The first thing I did was meander over to the County Cider Company’s booth. These guys are veterans of the cider scene in Quinte. They’ve been around for over 2 decades and have perfected their art. They usually offer some unique flavours so I was excited to see what they had this year. A Blackberry Peach Cider and a Lavender Lemonade Cider – Brilliant! Both were excellent in their own way. The Blackberry Peach was definitely more geared towards lovers of fruit-forward flavour and crisp sweetness. The Lavender Lemonade offering was more dry, tart, and floral.
Next up I visited The Hard Way Cider Co. table. The Hard Way hails from Bath, ON. They have proven that a hobby can transform into something so much more. I love myself a clean dry cider so I immediately fell in love with The Hard Way Cider Co.’s Original Dry. But if you like something a little softer – their Rogue Apples cider is perfect.
After that, I stopped by the Apple Falls Cider Co. booth. I have had a chance to get to know the owners, Amelia and Matt, through work connections. I love their adventure in cider making. So, of course, they had some very unique offerings: Heritage, a blend that is infused with maple syrup and Hopped, a blend of raspberry, hops, and kombucha. I grabbed a sample of their Heritage and by this time… I was hungry!
The Local Food
This year, the event also focused on the local food scene. There were multiple food vendors from the area offering a variety of delectable eats. My friend and I decided to try the Japchae by IdleWild PEC. It was mind-blowingly tasty and paired excellently with Apple Fall’s Cider Co.’s Heritage cider.
Once my stomach was satisfied, I needed to check out Kings Mill Cider. They are the most recent addition to the #QuinteCraft scene, making their first public that weekend! I have been following their social media for quite some time now and have been looking forward to their big debut. What I found very cool about these guys is that they offer still cider. You know, sometimes I don’t need the bubbles – sometimes I want it still. Kings Mill knows what’s up. I tried all their offerings, but I am only going to talk about one: the ice cider. I’ve only tried a few in my life but this one had the perfect balance between tart and sweet. In the word’s of my dear friend, Tiffany, “Oh? Oh! Oh that’s goooood.”
Later on in the day, I had a chance to try The Port Bistro Pub’s Verde Chorizo Burger. The burger was moist, well seasoned, and had delightful creaminess from the garlic aoli. I munched on it happily while I sipped on Kings Mill’s Premium cider. By this time, the event was winding down and I was ready to go home.
Overall, this was a wonderful event. Local drink, Local food, and great company. I love opportunities to connect with my fellow cider drinkers and get to know the faces behind the operation. A special thanks to the folks at the City of Quinte West and the Empire Theatre for hosting a, once again, successful event. Can’t wait for next year!
Cheers!