Bone & Bottle Reviews

02/08/2023

Some sort of sickness (not COVID this time!), a flat tire on the way home and a short power outage means I don't have the energy tonight for another deep dive into last week.
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In the meantime, let's keep the nice photos on my feed going with this shot from in-between sessions in Chicago last week! So many great people met, and wonderful ciders drank as I've mentioned. That city skyline, it's something else eh. Got some plans in the works...so if you're a cider maker and I drop into your DMs...it's really me! 😉 Cheers! 🥂

02/08/2023

Valentines Day is just around the corner💕

02/05/2023

Even as I pack & prepare to head back to the frozen tundra that is home, it's nice to reminisce on all the amazing people I met or reconnected with at & .
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As I'm usually the guy behind the camera, I've never really been one to think about capturing myself in the moment, or really try to get into the shots, so it's really great to be able to look back and see that I was there, instead of just *knowing* I was. Thanks to everyone at , & everyone else who helped make this week another amazing one. Cheers! 🥂

02/04/2023

Now that I've got a moment before Cider Summit, I want to look back at the Friday night pop-up hosted at . I was pouring for , so no photos of me doing that 😁, but I had a chance beforehand to meet up with everyone else there. A total of 12 cideries were represented (Missing is OS & Brooklyn Cider House) from basically all over the state. Attendees got an amazing chance to try all the regions of NY! Great job setting this up , can't wait to see what we do for Portland next year! Cheers!
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02/02/2023

It's been a whirlwind since I got off the plane today, and the fun is just starting. Last year I missed the awards ceremony, so I'm beyond thankful that I was able to get these shots this year. Totally worth missing my buffet for 😁. Congratulations to all these winners making cider better everyday. Cheers!
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02/01/2023

is starting to kick into high gear, or so it seems from afar. I'll be joining the frey here in just a couple days, but in the meantime, I'll reminisce on last year's event in Richmond. No better way to do that than with this unlabeled bottle from
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It's savory, smooth, and leaves the back of my tongue dry and wanting more. My next cider will be drank in Chicago, can't wait to see what that will be. Cheers! 🥂
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01/29/2023

Photos from Press Then Press's post

01/29/2023

New Leaf Cider Co. on Instagram: "Wanted to reintroduce ourselves & allow our followers both new and old a glimpse at the past 4 years for our family. Sunday is family time for us and we love looking back on early pictures and seeing where we are...

New Leaf Cider Co. on Instagram: "Wanted to reintroduce ourselves & allow our followers both new and old a glimpse at the past 4 years for our family. Sunday is family time for us and we love looking back on early pictures and seeing where we are...

3 Likes, 0 Comments - New Leaf Cider Co. () on Instagram: "Wanted to reintroduce ourselves & allow our followers both new and old a glimpse at the past 4 years for our family. Sunday is family time for us and we love looking back on early pictures and seeing where we are headed. Little....

01/29/2023

Had a great last visit to my friend's Kevin & April of the last night. Reconnected with some old friends, and met some new ones. Also got to share some great ciders with the patrons.
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Started with a Snapdragon (not shown) from . Then we cracked open my own contributions. First, this Raspberry/Honey cider really brought the dryness with big fruit flavor. Maybe not quite the right time of night for a cider-mosa, but this Squeeze the Day from really was a hit. Finally, the nightcap of a Crimson Gold SV from . This was blowing minds left & right. Just more proof Imo that people *actually* do want dry cider, we as an industry just have to do a better job of showcasing it, and helping people find the one that's right for them.
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While it's certainly a shame to see one of my favorite drinking establishments close their doors, these guys certainly have earned some real rest & time off. I won't forget the good times and the food ciders we shared. And to that, I say, cheers! 🥂
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#315

01/28/2023

Despite what this looks like, this was cider and not sludge. Dang ole lighting. The first couple sips, along with the last couple feature this wheat like flavor that's quite overpowering. In-between that, this was an interesting mix of bittersweet & seemingly tannic juice that was simply the bee's knee's. Super easy to drink once it hit that sweet spot...I had to take measured sips to avoid just drinking the whole thing in one gulp.
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I couldn't find the ABV anywhere on the can, but I only had a light dinner and this didn't feel overpowering, so I assume it may be pretty low (comparing to other ciders). I likely should have drank this a couple months prior, but it was overall still pretty good! Been wanting to try for a long while, glad I finally got the opportunity! Cheers! 🥂
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01/27/2023

Beginning a wild fermented apple cider aged in a fresh dumped bourbon barrel. Apples are Rome, Ida and Spy’s. Hope to have on draft by August.

01/27/2023

❤️ The Way To Her Heart Is…. CHICKEN WANGZ‼️😎😎
Posting the Reel On This Soon‼️
THE CREATOR OF THIS TREND 😎🙏🏾

01/27/2023

Photos from Slyboro Ciderhouse's post

01/26/2023

Registration just opened for an apple tree pruning class with guest presenter, Joel Howie of Canton Apples! He is eager to teach you what to do with an overgrown apple tree, what tools are essential for backyard tree pruning, and how to make healthy cuts to your trees. Joel maintains several old farm orchards in the Canton area, which include dozens of heirloom apple varieties. He is experienced at getting young apple trees off to a good start as well as bringing neglected trees back into production. Register for this in-person class here: stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/events/2023/03/18/pruning-apple-trees-with-joel-howie

01/26/2023

Join us for Cider After Sunset: A Private Tasting Dinner on Monday, February 27, 2023.

This night out includes:
• 5-course dinner (salad, appetizer, entrée, intermezzo, dessert)
• 5 handcrafted Clarksburg hard ciders
• Cidery tour
• Q & A with head cider maker and executive chef
• Commemorative tulip glass

Get your tickets at https://www.toasttab.com/clarksburg-cider-4493-walden-ave/v3/add/df84297b-864e-407f-a2e7-d5d22544b204/77149340-9b15-4c08-8f2f-92b6830d2d39

01/25/2023

This month's theme for the is . Thankfully, we can use past events 😂. Back...eh just at the end of November I took a trip down through the in southern NY. My original destination was , and I left with a case of their delights. I took the scenic route from there to and found this beautiful lake that featured some receding water levels. I'm sure this is a bustling spot in the summer, but this time of year, it's eerily silent with a touch of mountain fog. An awe-inspiring scene with some delicious ...cheers!
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Proper pound signs? ✅
Travel themed? ✅
Cider related? ✅
???✅
Profit? TBD.
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01/25/2023

Photos from Left Bank Ciders's post

01/24/2023

Photos from St. Lawrence Nurseries's post

01/24/2023

Finally after over a year of having this bottle in the stash, I got to enjoy a with a classic . While we're not exactly sure how aged this is, we've found untappd reviews featuring this label from 2013...so it's been around.
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From my recollection, this is my first English Perry (Samuel Smith's does *not* count). I'm use to French & Spanish Perry more, so I was a touch surprised this had a real butterscotch feel to it Though, I've had some keeved ciders that tasted similar...and keeved stuff might behave the same as Perry? I don't know.
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What I do know is this is very mature, with an almost watered down oak barrel aged feel, but as you let this sit in your mouth, the pear becomes more recognizable. It's thought provoking, while still being manageable on a late Monday. Cheers!
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01/22/2023

Grab a seat, pour a drink, & let me tell you a story. I took advantage of my proximity to Canada to go check out a couple events happening on this Saturday.
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was hosting an open Saturday for January, allowing people to stock up during their off-season, and let me tell you people were grabbing 6-8 bottles at a time. Great to see, and very smart on their part.. some good drinking Archibald's is.
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The main attraction was the Wassail event hosted by . While nowhere near a traditional Wassail, they had themed poems at each table, and branded glasses for all attendees. Sampled their Basil Mint, Yuzu Lemon & their take on a Tepaché. That Tepaché paired with fries and spicy ketchup was pretty tasty. Was nice to meet & chat with , , & as well!
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Of course, I couldn't pass up the chance while in town to grab a couple glasses at the legendary . Their bottle list is absolutely out of this world! I stuck however with what was on tap. I went with the two selections from and just wow!! Their scrumpy might just be one of my favorite ciders... and I don't normally make statements like that from a flight. Smelled like a goat pen, tastes like kerosene, stovepipe and heartiness. I couldn't have manifested a better example of what a scrumpy should be ...to me at least.
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Finished off the day with Mala Hot wings from . These really remind me of a wing sauce I use to make with Sriracha, Soy sauce & Scorpion Pepper puree. Crispy, juicy, sticky and oooo so spicy 🥵. Perfection. Cheers! 🥂
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01/21/2023

Cider lovers! The Valentine's Day Trio is now available! This curated and discounted selection of ciders are perfect pairings for your special plans, whether it's with your Valentine or your Galentine!
Follow the link to order or stop by our tasting room to purchase:

https://www.southhillcider.com/valentines-day-trio

01/20/2023

Just restocked the shelves .liquors We’ll be here tomorrow 1/21 from 6-9 offering free samples of all our ciders! Stop down, try some cider, and grab a 4-pack to go.

01/20/2023

Another night, another cider I brought home from CiderCon 2022. It's been a hot minute since I've had the pleasure of sipping on some , and I was happy to rectify that.
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This Antrim (not anthem like I've been reading the last 11 months) County, made from Jonathan & the lovable Rhode Island Greening from said county is an easy sipper, if a bit of a cheat on . It's full bodied, with a mix of tartness & tanginess to excite the tongue. It's pretty complex for a what's basically a session cider if you went straight off ABV. They halted the fermentation to leave a touch of RS, and it was a good play.
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Another delicious cider down...what's next? Who's getting excited for & in Chicago here in just a couple weeks? It's going to be a great week/weekend, hope to see many of you there...maybe you'll come around Saturday & I'll pour you some ? Cheers to that!
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01/19/2023

Hey!!!, Pruning season in the orchard has begun!! This is a wild seedling tree on our farm that has never been pruned. I intend to prune it during our winter pruning class and cider tasting, Sunday January 29th 1:00-3:00. Link in bio to register!
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01/19/2023

With some recent announcements, I felt it appropriate to open a can of that I picked up while at CiderCon last year.
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Considering Colorado ciders don't exactly make their way to the east coast much, I was excited to get any of it I could. This particular flavor is quite the cornucopia of options.
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The "One Night Fruit Stand" is quite a medley to say the least. A barrel aged pear & apple cider with things like cherries, raspberries, apricot & Brett. Honestly, I waited a long time to try this because of the Brett. It's not something for everyone, to say the least.
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Opening this out of the fridge, it smells like a dank pilsner. That smell fades as it warms, and becomes much more pleasant. The raspberry is the dominant flavor throughout interestingly enough. That said, by the time this reaches nearly room temperature, this becomes a really tasty treat. Fun experience from sip to finish. Cheers! 🥂
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01/17/2023

Photos from Press Then Press's post

01/15/2023

On this "super" , whether you're into the handegg or not, the stage was perfect to indulge in something truly wild; a .
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Many cideries are doing this really fun thing where they take fruit gathered around their area by residents as a trade for a drink or a cut of the fresh juice. These creations really invoke a feeling of the entire community coming together to make the final product a reality. With the fruit usually coming from seedlings, backyard trees, and anything in-between, the palate is one that really captures the local terroir. Add in that the proceeds of this particular drink went to a few youth programs, you've got yourself a 12oz can that really holds alot of community spirit.
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Within the can, this spirit really resonates, even being thousands of miles away. Featuring plums as a curious third fruit, this is super tart, with a classic Wildcraft funkiness that gives this a large range. It does drink easier as it aerates, becoming almost dangerous easy to drink despite having a bit of a heavy feel. Another fun, tasty creation with a great backstory. Also pairs well with their hot sauce 😉. Cheers!
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01/15/2023

A bittersweet day. Today, I opened up my final in my stash. Back in late 2020, I reached out to both these lads & the now defunct bottle shop Scrattings about Scrattings carrying their product, as they shipped to the US, plus I never related to a cider brand more than this one...I can't imagine why.
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I purchased 12 ciders from a variety of English cideries, all of them virtually impossible to find in the US otherwise, including all 5 varieties of BN&B that the shop ordered in. I finish this order with the Bonnie Prince, a "sweet" cider...as far as an unfiltered, unpasteurized, wild fermented can be "sweet".
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This is a fun, funky cider. It has everything you expect from something treated (or untreated if you want) like it has. Tangy, barnyard, touch of acid, and a wonderful mouthfeel being a still cider. It does indeed have a finish that one could find sweetness in, which is an interesting foil to most English ciders I've had that seem to feature a sooty stovepipe tannin. Doesn't drink like a 7.5%, but held up great for being a 2018 batch.
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A cracking little bottle, glad that I was able to experience these. Cheers! 🥂
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#2018

01/15/2023

A view of our empire room. One of the many aspects of what makes our space unique. Reminder: our restaurant is closed until March 4th. You can come to our tasting room Friday-Sunday 12-6PM. We are also always taking inquiries for private events during this time.

01/15/2023

Garland is the spot to be tomorrow for the NFL Playoff games!

Bills 🦬 v. Dolphins 🐬 1PM
Giants🗽v. Vikings 🧝🏻‍♂️ 4:30PM

LFG BUFFALO! And the Giants too, a little, I guess (Since Nancy said so - ❤️Allison)

*$1.00 wings eat in only*

01/14/2023

Photos from Kaneb Orchards's post

01/12/2023

We’re super excited for the second year of the B I G collaborative release … and fully in love with its deliciousness 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂. On tap now at 🍺

・・・
On tap right now!

Black is Gold is a semi-dry, sparkling cider produced by & in partnership with and in support of OAR of Tompkins County.
Made with love and care in support of
the vital work abolishing the barriers to racial and social equity & justice that OAR of Tompkins County and No Mas Lagrimas/No More Tears provides our community.

In your glass: cinnamon on the nose, and a balanced body with notes of honey.

A blend of: Harry Masters Jersey, Wickson Crab, Goldrush, Liberty Brown's Apple,
Zestar, Stoke Red and Rubinette varieties.

01/12/2023

Aaaaand we're back! After 7 long days, these lips got to experience the wonderful world of cider again. Currently on an assignment which means I have to choose in advance what cider I want. Looking through fridge before I headed out, I decided this Tequila barrel aged selection by would be the way to ease back into it.
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Absolutely delicious in a word. It's dry, with a juicy lime bite and an acidic, bright finish. Honestly, I couldn't have picked a better cider to come back to. Enjoy the rest of the week! Cheers!
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01/11/2023

Photos from Abandoned Hard Cider's post

01/09/2023

Photos from Clarksburg Cider's post

01/09/2023

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01/08/2023

Photos from Orchard Hill Cider Mill's post

01/07/2023

We’ll be at Winter Market at Triphammer Plaza today! 10:30am-2pm. Cider and non-alcoholic kombucha! 🥂🍎🥂

01/06/2023

Double Dry is back!!

Fermented dry with an English Ale yeast then dry-hopped with NYS grown Michigan Copper hops, this cider is perfect for cider-lovers and beer-lovers alike!

01/06/2023

After hearing that one of our fellow cider peeps was signing off from the social media trail, I went into the stash & cracked open this Twitcher...an Oak aged Apricot cider.
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This was pretty tasty in a word. It's a touch of sour, poke of tang, a hint of wood and a splash of fruit. It's fun, it's different, it's experimental. I am on record as being a fan of barrel aged Apricot, or at least the idea of it. This isn't exactly barrel aged, but it plays the part well. Thanks for sending it over Summer, cheers!
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Oh, I have a new best friend for a couple months as I'm watching over his lair while his servant is on vacation. Say hi to Broccoli, or Murder Mitts as I call him.
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