First, let me say that there are a variety of things that Trader Joe’s sells that I really like. That granola in the purple box, for example, is first-rate. I like those flatbreak pizza things too. However, “first-rate” is not the description I’m giving to the cider they sell. Still, I suppose the fact that Trader Joe’s does have their very own hard cider suggests something about the current market for cider in the United States. NEWTON’S FOLLY AUTHENTIC DRAFT…

Some of you will have noticed the proliferation of reviews of cider recently appearing at Fermentation. This is something new in a variety of ways that needs to be explained. My recent interest in cider was piqued upon sitting down and tasting through a number of different ciders shown to me by a colleague who is now representing a winery that has begun making cider. “Tom, you really need to taste this stuff. It’s fantastic, the cider category is growing,…

Those who know the history of Bonny Doon Vineyards and who appreciate the experimental, thoughtful and inquisitive nature of its founder Randall Grahm,won’t be surprised that a very interesting (and delicious) cider blend would be issued from that source. It’s also notable that a notable California winery has released a cider. Cider, as a category, is growing faster than beer, craft beer, distilled spirits and wine. I expect other wineries to take advantage of their fermentation expertise and start to…

Founded in 1993, The California Cider Company—the parent of the Ace Cider Brand—is one of if not the largest cider companies on the West Coast. It is located in Sebastopol, California where it maintains a tasting room. Six different types of cider are produced under the Ace brand. ACE JOKER CIDER   **/*** Fruit: Apple Juice (Varieties unknown) Production: Unknown (The second largest production type of cider made under the ACE brand Price: $5.00/12 oz bottle Rating: **/*** of 5…

While all the major beer companies have jumped on the growing cider bandwagon and will continue to create new converts to the drink based on their sweet, easy to drink concoctions, it’s going to be producers like Devoto Orchards with their east-facing, organic apple orchards in the Sebastopol Hills in Sebastopol, California that turn cider into something that gives discerning drinkers something to celebrate and hold up a model of artisan cidermaking. DEVOTO ORCHARDS “SAVE THE GRAVENSTEIN” CIDER Fruit: 95%…