With spring comes the new cider, made from apples picked in the fall and sometimes the previous winter.
In the cider houses of our countryside, the effervescence is at its height. Traditional cider, hopped, macerated on berries, or on grape marc, innovative products are multiplying and astonishing us ever more.
Discover 10 ciders that stand out, including several new ones that will be launched during Quebec Cider Week, from May 5 to 15. For more information: cidreduquebec.com/semaineducidre/.
Next to the track
From the La Shed series, from Cidrerie McKeown in Rougemont, an unfiltered raw cider of spontaneous fermentation created from a blend of apples and maceration on sumac berries, this native tree also called vinegar tree. Aging potential of 7 years.
► 7% alcohol
► idremckeown.com/
Haskap 06
In the Les Complices series, Camerises 06 is a naturally effervescent cider, whose fermentation is finished in the bottle. Made by the Autour de la pomme cider house in Shefford, it reveals the fruity and tangy aromas of haskap.
► 7% alcohol
► aroundtheapple.com/
The bully
Made by Domaine Le Grand Saint-Charles in Saint-Paul-D’Abbotsford, using spartan, mcintosh and empire apples, La Brut’e is a dry cider, whose slight bitterness comes from hops.
► 7% alcohol
► domainlegrandsaintcharles.com/
Late Cortland
Unfiltered cider with natural sparkling, no added sulfites, from Cidrerie Milton, Saint-Cécile-de-Milton, Late Cortland is made from 100% Cortland apples that have been dried outside by the cold in December and pressed whole.
► 6.5% alcohol
► cidreriemilton.com/
Turbo Sin
From the Cidrerie Chemin des Sept in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Turbo Péché is a blend of spontaneous ciders aged in American oak barrels that once contained Péché Mortel beer from the Brasserie Dieu du Ciel. A raw cider with fine bubbles and lively acidity.
► 8% alcohol
► chemindessept.ca/
Black Cider
One of a kind, this carbonated sparkling cider from the Hemmingford orchard is made with roasted apples. A natural, light, bittersweet drink that is drunk like iced tea, minus the sugar.
► 6% alcohol
► vhemmingford.com/
Scoundrel
This cider with fine bubbles is produced by Cidre Sauvageon from honeycrisp, liberty and ginger gold apples from the Blue Ribbon orchard in Mercier and Saint-Pépin grape marc from Domaine Labranche.
► 6.5% alcohol
► centrale.coop/cidre-sauvageon/
#Without golden filter
Fresh and sparkling, the cider #Without Golden Filter from Cidrerie Michel Jodoin in Rougemont is presented in a ready-to-drink format, in an aluminum bottle ideal for picnics. Unfiltered, only 2 g/litre of sugar.
► 6.4% alcohol
► micheljodoin.ca/
Highbush Viburnum
Made with apples from the Domaine Ritt orchard in Cap-Saint-Ignace and pimbina juice from the Evolution orchard in Sainte-Louise, this carbonated sparkling natural cider is unfiltered, very dry, and reveals the astringent and tangy notes of pimbina .
► 6.5% alcohol
► domainritt.com/
Nordiq – Hemmingford 02
This table cider with natural effervescence, refermented in the bottle and unfiltered, is made by Sommelier Nordiq from golden russet apples from the Hemmingford orchard and Riesling grape marc from the Vignoble Camy. Tannic and tangy, halfway between cider and wine.
► 10% alcohol
► cidrenordiq.com/