Page 33 - Beverage Master December January 2020

Craft Beverage

1) Isn’t beer or wine. ents Ann and Gig. Notable award-winning ciders
include Foothills Semi-Dry, Strong Arm Semi-Sweet,
2) Is just as complex as those beverages, with par- Blackberry Boom, Ginger Root and Hop Shot, craft-
ticular nuances and unique profiles. ed with Citra hops. Annual production is approxi-
mately 30,000 gallons.
It’s an interesting challenge for a beverage that
relies on a fruit with approximately 2,500 varieties Michelle McGrath, execu-
in the United States alone. Apples are grown in all tive director, United States
50 states in America, and five of the 10 provinces in Association of Cider Makers,
Canada. This means regional and local orchardists based in Portland, Oregon. Its
offer unlimited possibilities for crafters. mission is to “grow a diverse and
To share the knowledge that’s plentiful for wine, successful U.S. cider industry by
beer and spirits, but less so for cider, we reached providing valuable information,
out to the following experts: resources and services to our
members and by advocating on their behalf.” The
Peter Glockner, co-owner, direc- USACM also stages the popular CiderCon each year,
tor, and brewing/filtration sales, which provides new and existing members oppor-
Cellar-Tek. The company started tunities for workshops, cider tours and networking.
in 2004 as a two-person oper-
ation in British Columbia, spe- Tie Information to Innovation
cializing in winery supplies. Now
based in both British Columbia The Larkins started Arsenal with $60,000 and
and Ontario, it also provides zero working capital in the basement of their city
equipment and supplies for craft brewing, cideries row-house. Bill was an accountant, and Michelle, a
and distilleries. pre-school teacher. His winemaking hobby expand-
ed into a passion for cider and mead. “When we
Bill and Michelle Larkin, started in 2010, there wasn’t anyone doing what
co-owners, Arsenal Cider we wanted to do anywhere around us. We had to
House, established in 2010 essentially make up things as we went and hope for
and headquartered in the best,” Larkin said. “This is why I always tell new
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with people in the Pittsburgh industry to feel free to
additional tap houses in reach out to me if they have a question.”
Wexford and Finleyville, plus
taps in rotation throughout The Leadbetter family, after years in other pro-
Philadelphia. Another location in Cleveland, Ohio, is fessions, chose to band together and open a cider
scheduled to open by the end of 2019. The Larkins house. “My sister, my dad and I all took cider-mak-
produce hard apple cider, cider-style fruit, grape ing classes at Washington State University’s
wines and mead. Flagship pours include Fighting extension program, and Mom took a business of Joe Kesteloot, Head Brewer, Peace Tree Brewing Co.
Elleck Hard Apple Cider, Archibald’s Ado Hard cider class. And webinar-based classes on our spe-
Apple Cider, Picket Bone Dry Hard Apple Cider and cific areas inside the business,” Leadbetter told
Murray’s Mead, with various seasonal and one-off Beverage Master Magazine. “We also attended the
releases on tap at each location. Annual production USACM’s CiderCon the years before and after we
is more than 50,000 gallons. opened, which was incredibly helpful, and I recom-
mend to everyone!” They launched Meriwether
Molly Leadbetter, owner, with a Kickstarter campaign.
Meriwether Cider Company,
with two locations in Idaho: McGrath said the USACM strives to provide as
a taproom in Garden City much insight as possible. “Our Certified Cider
and a cider house in Boise— Professional program educates distributors and
the first in the state. Opening retailers about cider, but cider makers may gain
in 2016, Meriwether is tools for conversations with those audiences as
owned and operated by well,” she said. “We also have marketing resources
the Leadbetter family: Molly, sister Kate, and par- our members can use to educate their accounts

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