Enjoy Delicious Apple Cider, Sweet and Hard
October/November 2007
Megan Phelps
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Fall is the perfect time of year to enjoy fresh apples and freshly pressed apple cider.
PHOTODISC/GETTY IMAGES
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If you happen to be driving out in the country on a beautiful
fall day, and you pass a roadside sign that says 'fresh apple
cider,' by all means stop! This is the time of year to enjoy
freshly pressed cider, and some of the best available is from local
cider mills.
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When it's in season, you can also find apple cider in the
grocery store. Look for the stuff that's made locally and hasn't
been heavily filtered ? it will have the best taste. The best
ciders also are made with a blend of apples, some sweet, and some
just a bit tart for added depth of flavor.
If you enjoy apple cider and are over 21, consider seeking out
different kinds of hard cider, too. There's a long tradition of
making alcoholic ciders both in Europe and in the United States,
and the flavors can be as varied and textured as any wine or beer.
That's because there are thousands of apple varieties that
contribute their unique flavors to cider, whether hard or
sweet.
Feeling thirsty? Here are five fun ideas for exploring cider
flavors ? from simple cider sampling, to semi-professional cider
making. Enjoy!
1. Sample Different Ciders. If you have several
cider mills in your area, why not try sweet cider from all of them?
They'll all have different flavors, and when they're in season, you
should be able to find them at the grocery store. Much hard cider
is very sweet, so seek out dryer types to get a better idea of the
range of flavors.
2. Visit a Cider Mill. It's also fun to visit
cider mills to see how sweet cider is made. It's especially
enjoyable if they have presses you can see working, or 'pick your
own' orchards where you can pick and eat apples right from the
tree. A good place to find cider mills near you is the
Local Harvest Web site,
although apples are scarce in some parts of the country this year
because of an unusually late spring freeze.