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Fall is the time of year that apples truly shine. And that means diving into caramel apples, cider donuts, and all the fresh apple cider you can handle. But when we’re looking for something a little more adult-friendly to get us in the fall mood, Hard Cider is what we reach for. A naturally bubbly alcoholic beverage made from fresh apple cider, Hard Cider is similar to beer but with the delicious fruity essence of apple. And there’s one 5th generation apple farm in upstate New York that is taking their decades of apple expertise and crafting hard cider in a variety of unique flavors. And they’re seriously delicious.
Voted Reader’s Choice for “Best Apple Orchard” in 2020 by USA Today, Beak & Skiff began its apple-growing journey back in 1911 Lafayette, NY. Today, over a century later they’re still caring for, picking, and pressing apples from the same historic orchards and have grown to now be home to over 300,000 apple trees. Around 2001, Beak & Skiff realized that the only way to make their apple cider even better is to turn it into hard cider. Building on their line of premium spirits under their 1911 Established brand that includes apple brandy and pommeau (a French apple liqueur), Beak & Skiff’s small-batch hard ciders currently come in 21 incredible seasonal and year-round flavors which they make right on their century-old farm.
One of our favorite flavors is “Cider Donut.” Made with a blend of brown sugar, warm spices, and of course apple cider, this hard cider flavor will totally get you in the fall mood. It’s 100% gluten-free and really does taste just like a cider donut!
Next, we’re loving the light and bubbly 1911 Established Black Cherry Hard Cider, which also won the 2020 Platinum Award from Cidercraft Magazine. 100% gluten-free, it’s crafted with freshly pressed apple cider and cherry juice. This one is tart, crisp, and so refreshing!
Using fresh apple cider as the base for their hard cider is what makes 1911 Established unique. Many hard ciders you’ll find on the market are made from apple concentrate. Thick and syrupy, juice concentrates are made by a process that removes water from the fresh juice making it easy to transport, less susceptible to spoiling, and cheaper to use than fresh. But using it can result in a hard cider that tastes overly sweet on the finish.
Hop over to the Beak & Skiff farm, and their 1911 Established Hard Cider is always made from their own apples and freshly pressed cider. From “Tree to Can,” this makes for a perfectly balanced hard cider with just the right touch of sweetness.
Available in 16-ounce cans, Beak & Skiff offers 21 delicious seasonal and year-round flavors of 1911 Established Hard Cider to choose from, including Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged, Honeycrisp, Rose, Cranberry, Tropical, Blueberry, SnapDragon, and Raspberry.
And there’s good news if you’re gluten-free. Since they’re not made with grains, 1911 Established Hard Ciders are 100% gluten-free and celiac friendly. Whether you’re gluten-free or not, there’s no doubt you’ll love these bubbly and refreshing hard ciders.
If you live near the upstate New York area, plan a trip to the Beak & Skiff historic apple farm and orchard in Lafayette, New York to pick some apples, and take home their delicious hard cider. You can sample their collection of premium spirits and apple wines in their 1911 Tasting Room too!
If you’re outside the NY area, click here to find Beak & Skiff 1911 Established Hard Ciders near you!