A Hard Cider Tasting - Episode #424

March 10, 2008

Today Gary Vaynerchuk tries something new, hard cider.

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Comments on this episode(133) Leave a comment ›

“The only time I tried hard cider was in the 1980’s. At the time I w…” by Oakmon’s BF
“Only tried a Woodpecker at a craft beer fest. It was nice to rotate i…” by Keith
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Wines tasted in this episode:

Farnum Hill Kingston Black Cider Reserve
Farnum Hill Farmhouse Cider
Farnum Hill Extra-Dry Cider

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Farnum Hill Ciders

133 Responses

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about a month ago

Oakmon's BF
The only time I tried hard cider was in the 1980’s. At the time I was drinking wine. My favorite wines had a distinct taste that I couldn’t identify. It wasn’t until I started watching WLTV that I realized the taste that I’ve loved for so many years was oak. Anyway back in the ‘80s I got a variety pack of Woodchuck: Amber, Colonial, Granny Smith and Dark. I definitely preferred the Colonial. When I went back and tried to get a case of the Colonial I was told that that’s the only one I can’t get a case of. It was the least popular and was only available in the variety pack. They also told me that it was probably going to be discontinued altogether. That bummed be out and pretty much ended my hard cider samplings. After seeing episode #424 I did a little investigating and discovered that Colonial is the only one that no longer exists. I also discovered that it was the only one that claims to have been aged in oak for two years. Apparently I’ve been loving oak for over two decades but only found out about it this year. So now I know what to look for. Someday I’ll probably check out the ciders and look for “oak aged”.
about 3 months ago

Keith
Only tried a Woodpecker at a craft beer fest. It was nice to rotate it into the beer tastings.
about 3 months ago

AVP
QOTD: I love good cider. Asturian cider Mayador (massive sheep butt action on the nose) and Old Rosie - as well as other scrumpys - are my favorites.
about 3 months ago

YoungDave
QOTD: Only Magners (or Bulmers if you’re in Ireland), Strongbow, and Cider Jack.
about 3 months ago

medo
QOTD:
Had some Cider a few years ago - but that wasn’t that quality stuff you taste along.
about 3 months ago

Cephalopunk
I’m a cider fan, although there is a lot of junk out there - a lot tastes ‘wooly” like a bad sparkler, or just has an awkward sweetness. Overall, though, I think it’s great stuff, and can be an excellent food pairing - Gary’s right.

The show seemed a little rushed today, GV.

I mixed up a really nice cocktail with Sommerset Apple Cider, Apple Brandy, Gin, Lemon, and Bitters. It was called ‘Edo no Hana” on account of it’s color (a nice red) and my location. I was working in Tokyo, which was once called Edo. Because the buildings were traditionally wood and paper, and because they were so close to each other, they would often catch on fire and burn down entire districts. This was called “Edo no Hana” or the Flowers of Edo (Tokyo) on account of their crimson colors.
about 3 months ago

Rhonda
I am a craft beer geek, and ciders usually get lumped in with that genre so I have had a few, the ones from England are my faves.
about 3 months ago

Ivan C.
qotd - One of my usual drinks at my local pub, when I’m not in the mood for beer or wine is Strongbow hard cider; very nice refreshing stuff. I’ve also had some GREAT ice ciders from Ontario and Quebec: nice sweet desert wines with good acidity, but I can’t recall the names of the producers at the moment.
about 3 months ago

The Adam Bomb
MOTT?! Where the hell’s the link? You’re slipping! Here, I’ll give you a hand…

http://www.farnumhillciders.com/
about 3 months ago

thefanjestic
Qotd: None but now I’m curious!
about 3 months ago

Fred
QOTD: New to cider. Why not?:) I will try.:)
about 3 months ago

EvanR
I’ve only had hornsby’s and woodchuck. They’re okay, my girlfriend loves them though.
about 3 months ago

Joshua E.
Had some great ones in Nantes in the Brittany region of France, though can’t remember the exact names. Pair up a hard cider with a nice crepe and you’re in heaven…mmmm
about 3 months ago

NathanN
QOTD: Have only had Woodchuck but that was about 10 years ago. Love the regular cider though. Look forward to it every fall
about 3 months ago

J Crazy
QOTD: Cider brings back memories of college. And hence why I can’t remember what brand I liked. I remember I liked it enough to drink so much I couldn’t remember what it was I drank.
about 3 months ago

tuscanbob
Our local paper ran a great series on how important cider was in western NY around the turn of the 18th century. It was like currency. Without refrigeration, pretty much all cider was hard cider and everyone got loaded…here’s an interesting excerpt:

From the transcript of an 1833 case in Wayne County Court, in which a farmer is testifying against a member of a “family of drunkards” who were his neighbors: “He one day while at work in my father’s field, got quite drunk on a composition of cider, molasses and water. Finding his legs to refuse their office he leaned upon the fence and hung for sometime; at length recovering again, he fell to scuffling with one of the workmen, who tore his shirt nearly off from him. His wife who was at our house on a visit, appeared very much grieved at his conduct, and to protect his back from the rays of the sun, and conceal his nakedness, threw her shawl over his shoulders …”

The allegedly drunken young man was Joseph Smith Jr., who achieved fame for his prophecies that would lead to the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and who, throughout his adult life, until his lynching while jailed, faced a variety of character allegations that are debated to this day. The testimony by the Manchester farmer may have been tempered by religious bias, but, at the least, he presented a generic picture of a blight of the times.

Entire story is here: http://netcool.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/wines-new-partner/
about 3 months ago

David L
There is a very nice french producer of both pear and apple ciders. It’s not going to replace wine, but it’s fun for a change.
about 3 months ago

tuscanbob
I used to knock back a few ‘Snakebites’ (half Guinness & half cider) at a British pub in Rochester called the Old Toad. Those were good. Those were really good…I want one right now! I have no idea what cider they served then but they had it right on tap and it was damn tasty. I’ve also had some Spanish sidras that my Puerto Rican inlaws always pop on New Years…those bottles are like $3 a piece and they taste like it.
about 3 months ago

BobMac
Love love love the ciders. Don’t have a favorite, though. Gary, you should distribute these.
about 3 months ago

Karl of Packer Nation
etienne dupont from Normandy, great stuff
about 3 months ago

D. Gil
Gary,

I grew up drinking sidra from Spain, El Gaitero was the favor, as a matter of fact I have two bottles in the fridge that my parents gave me for the holidays, next time my girlfriend is over we’ll have to open it up instead of cava…good show..
about 3 months ago

J vandersloot
blue mtn cider co. has the best cider i have ever had…. made in milton-freewater, or.
about 3 months ago

laposte
Gary,
The memory of a baked apple…I am making some tomorrow night. Little brown sugar and a few currants…maybe a splash of calvados. WLTV just keeps getting better.
about 3 months ago

Mike S,
Did the whole Woodchuck thing, but got some at a small winery in VT (by Burlington) that was really good. I think that the cider was called Cider Jack or something like that. The wine / cider maker was a really nice guy.
about 3 months ago

DirtWineKen
Up until now my reaction to several widely available ciders is:

PAAH–TOOEEEEEEEEY!!!!!!

Maybe this one?