The Cider Crate (2026)

16/09/2026

If you asked us who we thought was making some of the best c***r in all of Canada, where would your mind drift to first?

You may have not answered rural Manitoba, but about 2 hours from Winnipeg, you’ll find Wooden Gate C***r | Manitoba Craft C***ry who is elevating the entire c***r scene with masterful ferments and blends.

One such c***r we immensely enjoyed was their Hidden Rose. When Barry, the ED of C***r Canada / Cidre Canada said it’s one of the best c***rs he’s ever had, you’ve got to take that seriously.

Presumably a red peel or red flesh ferment, this rosé c***r tastes as beautiful as the hue is. You get a great driving acidity upfront, with then a really unique brown sugar like note coming through pretty quickly. With bright and semi-tart apples, the apples then almost melt into a creamy taste consistency, all while remaining bright and clean throughout.

Beautiful red varietal notes define this, with we assuming some of them being crab varietals because of the tannin and complexity. With us also getting candied watermelon, strawberry and floral notes to round out the experience as well.

An absolutely stunning c***r. And good thing they ship Canada-wide also, if you want to experience this and their amazing portfolio of c***rs. Their Orchard Queen is another must try if you make an order 🫡❣️

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10/09/2026

Last week we were in Calgary, judging our second year at the Canada B**r Cup | Coupe des bières du Canada, so we had to stop into one of our favourite local spots - Inglewood’s Cold Garden Beverage Company. It’s a very funky, progressive spot where all are included and welcomed.

They have one of our favourite modern c***rs only available on tap - their Scrapple Dry C***r. A very rustic, hazy c***r, it’s bursting with crisp apple character, with a clean fermentation to give you the right amount of satisfying alcohol and notes within. It almost tastes like freshly pressed juice, but it is 6.4%, so comfortably an alcoholic choice.

You could certainly spend hours here looking at all the unique decor on the walls and ceiling. And the ample drink menu definitely encourages that. I particularly like their vanilla-infused Marzen called Cakeface for the b**rs.

They also have a super juicy, Peach Bellini c***r slushie on tap that beats the heat. 🍑🍎

While it’s definitely a brewery first, it’s a must visit for lovers of hazy c***rs, unique taprooms and fun afternoons where everyone can be themselves.

And disco decors are unlike anything else we’ve seen 🪩💃🕺

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08/09/2026

We are in the middle of a trade war, so we haven’t posted any c***rs from south of the border since February 2025.

But this one is straight out of Compton (Quebec) 👍

Seemingly a 2022 vintage, the Kentucky by Cidrerie Compton is the closest you’ll have to anything Kentucky bourbon tasting here in the true north currently.

At 8%, they certainly let the bourbon speak volumes. Right out of the gates, you get a big punch of boozy, spirit goodness, including some warming in the mouth from it. It later lets the nuanced bourbon notes shine as it develops - vanilla, caramel and oak are primary.

And they also included some serious c***r apples within - Porter’s Prefection, Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, only to name a few. Their complexity and tannin build and defines as the journey goes on.

Bone dry. Sour. Rich. Everything you’d expect from C***rie Compton and more. A mature offering that fits well into the current landscape of Quebec c***rmaking.

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18/08/2026

It’s always a treat to get to try fruited c***rs that use uncommonly found flavours. Enter Yip C***r Kiwi C***r.

I can’t recall in the 2000+ c***rs we’ve tried now, ever having a kiwi flavour in a c***r. Maybe it’s a difficult fruit to work with, maybe it’s expensive. But whatever New Brunswick’s Yip did to this magical c***r, I’m in awe 🫡

It opens with a bright, juicy, sweet kiwi that is authentic, tangy and just plain fun. It then moves into a crisp, tangy apple blend, that really is clean and faultless.

It’s a bit of a sweeter c***r, but it has out seal of approval for being so juicy, flavourful and well executed. It does lean more kiwi actually, maybe about a 60/40% balance. But it’s reassuring you’re getting a lot of the promised titular fruit, they do not skimp out at all.

And guess what! You can get this at the LCBO in Ontario if you cannot make it out to New Brunswick just yet.

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18/08/2026

This one is for the hops lovers. When everyone is doing a hopped c***r, newer c***r maker from British Columbia Hardcore C***r Co. is doing it different and better if you ask me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Straight from the Okanagan, Hard Core C***r Co is taking your standard styles and elevating and remixing them into extra unique experiences. The two we’ve tried really stand out in a crowded field of entries.

Their best seller, the Unhazy Hopped definitely deserves the praise. It leans into many brilliant hops notes without being polarizing, while adding their own twist.

It’s actually a decent sour c***r, which is different for the style but also super tantalizing. Stating with some semi/crunchy hops, you get a lot of those sharp notes like citrus and stone fruits, as well as a touch of bitterness and resin. It then expands its profile to feature many apple characteristics, including green apple-like notes, as well as a crisp apple base really showcased throughout.

It’s a long lingering c***r, with the apple crispness and sourness building as it goes. And then out of nowhere, a unique element - an added adjunct, Apricot -, comes through. A semi-juicy, stone fruit flavour really shines into the finish, along with a touch of pleasant minerality.

This is a well executed hopped c***r in a field of varying experiences for the style. It would formally appeal to the craft b**r fans due to the higher hopped notes, but not alienating your more traditional flavoured c***r fans.

We look forward to see what other c***rs they offer. And they offer Canada-wide shipping so definitely worth to try their current 5-c***r lineup!

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03/07/2026

Drink up me hearties, yo ho 🏴‍☠️

But why is the rum gone? Because 1818 farm and c***ry used it all for their truly stellar release, Nowhere to Rhum 👊

One of the absolute best Ontario c***rs of the year, is this 9% barrel-aged banger. Made with hyslop crab apples, it’s then aged in rum barrels for 5 months.

The result is rich and layered c***r that does not mess around on the promised rum flavour. We get some gold and darker rum notes within, and while bold, the spirit notes and astringency aren’t too hot or overpowering. Just a tropical and complex rum infusion that will certainly take the edge off 😘

The hyslop base is tart and tannic as it should be for being a crab apple, with a touch of funk also. But it’s still smooth… we’ve had some pretty puckering crab apple c***rs before, but this is more sessionable than those. Overall, a dry c***r that lingers awhile, that is deeply satisfying.

All of 1818’s c***r releases for this year are worthy of a trip to Ottawa. But this one, right here, alone is worth it.

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02/07/2026

Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦

Well the weather did not cooperate with us at all here in Ottawa today. Flash flooding. Winds and maybe tornados. Torrential downpour and thunderstorms. It definitely canceled a lot of parties in the city. It killed our evening plans.

But we move forward. And we do so with good c***r.

We got this Geneva by Terre 50 on our trip to Quebec City last November at a local bottle shop. We also got the pleasure to meet them and try more of their portfolio this past weekend at Soif de cidre Montréal.

Well the year is only half way through officially today, but this is easily in the running for one of our best c***rs of the year.

It opens with your typical Geneva crab apple notes - tannins, acidity and sourness. But then like a storm breaking, a bright sunshine of creamy strawberry and pink florals emerge. And they stay and dance with the tannins and tartness. It’s a delicate tug of war between these elements that somehow keeps the balance.

If there was ever a “user-friendly” crab apple c***r, this is it. It’s very sessionable and easy to drink but it doesn’t compromise on the key elements of what makes a Geneva so. A c***r of contrast and compliments.

Can’t wait to drink the other two Terre 50s we purchased ❤️

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30/06/2026

This weekend in Montréal for Soif de cidre Montréal was amazing! So amazing, I didn’t take that many photos…

I say it time and time again - Quebec is making absolutely the best c***r in Canada and this festival every year proves it. Our 4th tear attending, it was great to see old friends and make new ones, with our forever c***r buddy Bone N' Bottle Reviews.

Already looking forward to next year!

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15/06/2026

I always pictured Normandy to be picturesque, but the first stop on our trip to GRANDVAL Stephane et Lucile really exceeded all expectations.

Tucked in the countryside, in the Route De Cidre anchor town of Cambremer, this idyllic c***ry really set the mood for our 4 days in the region and took us away to another world ❤️

This c***ry came highly recommended for the c***rs and the landscape and we see why.

While we really liked all the c***rs and calvados tried, what really stood out was their 2018 Grandval Signature. Aged for 6 years in the bottle, after an initial barreling and secondary aging in the bottle, the result was perfection. Rich, caramelized, layered, but still very easy to sip. A good sparkle added a bit of elegance to the experience as well. Overall, it was an expert blend of many apple characteristics really that drove the journey throughout.

And the Calvados was next level too - tasting the 2, 5 and 10 year blends, all were amazing but we actually found the 5 year to the perfect goldilocks of them all.

Could not recommend this place enough should you (and you should) make it to the Normandy C***r Route ❤️🇫🇷

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13/06/2026

We didn’t find a lot of c***r in Amsterdam, but we did have some great drinking experiences and otherwise!

Pic 1 - - a Dutch commercially-focused c***r. Somersby-esque made by Heineken
Pic 2 & 3 - De Prael Amsterdam for excellent craft b**rs made onsite + an imported sweeter Irish c***r on the menu from Stonewell C***r
Pic 4 - visiting the iconic to try the pride of the Netherlands, Jenever, a juniper liquor that was a precursor to gin
Pic 5 - - a super crisp and refreshing ale
Pics 6-8 - we did a VIP tour at the , which had a visit to their secret bar with many tastings
Pics 9-10 - we toured the Bols Cocktail Experience that did a deep dive into the history of Jenever, and finished with a 2 cocktail-making class
Pic 11 - a stop into the Aepjen bar, that has been there since the 15th century, where sailors use to trade monkeys for b**r, hence the monkey theme

And a few other fun photos from touring Amsterdam and the countryside.

Love this place and the people. A highly recommended stop on your next Euro-trip 🇳🇱

The Cider Crate

16/09/2026

10/09/2026

08/09/2026

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

03/07/2026

02/07/2026

30/06/2026

15/06/2026

13/06/2026

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