Trend to try: Vancouver’s new craft ciders
Photo from Left Field Cider Co. website
There’s a new trend in craft beer in British Columbia and it’s not beer—it’s cider.
Two brand-new B.C. ciders will hit Vancouver liquor store shelves in April. As the interest in craft cider gains traction, expect more options in bars and restaurants throughout the summer.
Here are a few that are new to the market, plus a fun event on March 21 where you can sample not only ciders but an array of gluten-free beer.
The new cider from Central City Brewers + Distillers
Surrey’s Central City Brewers + Distillers—which is well known for its flagship Red Racer brand–has just released its Hopping Mad Dry Hopped Apple Cider. The dry-sweet, cold-fermented cider blends Yakima valley hops with apples from the Pacific Northwest.
Light and crisp, this cider would be refreshing on a hot day but still packs a punch at 6.5 percent alcohol by volume. It’s available on draught now at Central City and will be available in six-packs of 355 ml cans at private liquor stores in early April.
Also in April, look for Broken Ladder, a new cider made from a blend of six local apples picked from Okanagan orchards. It’s made by BC Tree Fruits Cider Co., which is an offshoot of BC Tree Fruits, a cooperative of over 500 fruit growers in the British Columbia interior.
Made in Kelowna, Broken Ladder will be sold at BC Liquor Stores as well as private liquor stores. The cider has 5.5-percent alcohol by volume.
Photo from Sea Cider’s website
The Vancouver branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) has been following the cider trend and is hosting a tasting event on Saturday, March 21. CiderWISE will feature both ciders and gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers. The latter have improved tremendously in recent years, so this is a good opportunity to sample them and find something that works for you.
Both local and US import brands will be on offer. Participating B.C. cideries include Merridale Estate Cidery from Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley, Left Field Cider Co. from the interior near Logan Lake, and Sea Cider from Saanichton north of Victoria.
CiderWISE happens from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Wise Hall (1882 Adanac Street) in Vancouver. Tickets cost $25 for non-CAMRA members and include three tokens and a tasting glass. There will also be an education stage, where you can learn about the brewing process for cider and gluten-free beer, and the differences between that and traditional brewing.
CAMRA events tend to sell out quickly, so jump on tickets here.
Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2015/03/07/trend-alert-try-vancouver-s-new-craft-ciders/
