December 05, 2014 at 3:13 PM
For centuries, hard cider has been popular in the UK and throughout Europe. Recently, the taste is catching hold in the US. Cascade Farmlands member Peter Ringsrud of Snowdrift Cider is an expert on hard ciders. "We want the trees and characteristics of the apples to speak in the products we create," says Ringsrud. Snowdrift has about 35 kinds of apples in their orchard. When choosing a blend, the cider maker considers not just acidity, but other properties as well. Hard ciders range from dry to sweet with appearances that graduate from cloudy with sediment to completely clear. Snowdrift bottles 6 varieties of hard cider and produces about about 3500 cases per year. Even so, they can't keep up with the demand. Interest is hard ciders is growing. "When we started 5 years ago there were 4 or 5 Cideries in Washington State. Now there are almost 50," said Ringsrud. Snowdrift has won awards with Great Lakes International Cider/Perry competitions. They've also taken honors in the UK. Find Snowdrift Ciders at the Cheesemongers or Pak It Right or visit SNOWDRIFT'S WORKING TASTING ROOM.
CLICK TO VISIT CASCADE FARMLANDS OTHER OUTSTANDING CIDERIES! ...inlcuding Barns Etc. Tasting Room, Cashmere Cider Mill & Orondo Cider Works.