We get it in the can from LCBO, but you're right, it's way better on tap!
I love bars and pubs that put a cider on tap. Most don't, so it's a treat when you find one that does - especially when it's something other than Strongbow!
What's your favourite cider?
Thu, 2011-12-08 18:40
#52
Sat, 2011-12-10 01:47
#53
If you're in the neighbourhood, try Betty's. There's always a couple ciders on taps and about 40 beers, many interesting ones. The backyard patio in the summer after a long day at work is my idea of heaven
Sat, 2011-12-10 08:06
#54
We'll check it out - thanks for the tip. :)
Tue, 2012-07-31 14:46
#55
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
My new favorite cider this season is Duke's, from B.C. Crisp, dry and flavorful, it is the best of a new batch of Canadian ciders.
The worst isn't actually Canadian, but masquerades as such: labelled as Keith's, it's over-sweetened pisswater imported from Anheuser-Busch.
Sun, 2013-04-28 15:28
#56
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
Head's up - well worth a try is the new pear cider called Sir Isaac's from Puddicombe winery in Winona, ON. Crisp, not too sweet, delightful.
Sun, 2013-04-28 15:41
#57
Sun, 2013-04-28 16:27
#58
It's not for the connaisseure, but Growers, out of BC has come out with a strawberry rhubarb cider that, when mixed with club soda, makes a great summertime drink.
I used to make wine, and still have the equipment. I wonder if I can use it for fermenting cider?
Sun, 2013-04-28 18:15
#59
@ Rebecca
You could put potatoes in that and it would work. Fermentation is the easiest, oldest, and healthiest technology in the world.
And aside from homemade, Growers is my cider of choice. My partner likes Magners.
Sun, 2013-04-28 19:58
#60
Lard, I'm happy to see that Sir Isaac perry is available at the LCBO (I checked Ottawa). I love perry.
Sun, 2013-04-28 23:04
#61
Catchfire
I don't know about the potatoes (!) but follow my instructions upthread and your winemaking equipment makes you overqualified to make cider.
I would make it with apple juice and throw in a couple pounds of strawberries once they come in season (or use frozen) and a whack of rhubarb. The thing about cider is that there's very little science involved. Throw in what you've got and see what comes out. If you don't like it, make it again!
Mon, 2013-04-29 08:42
#62
I think I'll start out simple: I found a dead easy recipe for apple scrumpy that involves throwing a bit of champagne yeast and brown sugar into a jug of preservative-free apple juice and letting it sit for a week or two. I like dry cider so I'll have to experiment with the amount of sugar to add and fermentation times, or I guess I can dig up my hydrometer.
Mon, 2013-04-29 10:33
#63
Catchfire
If you like dry cider don't put in any brown sugar at all. Add some dextrose (corn sugar), like half to a whole pound per gallon of juice. Champagne yeast is perfect for dry cider.
Mon, 2013-04-29 14:28
#64
I'll do that Catchfire. After I reread your recipe I googled dextrose (never came across it making wine) and decided that I'd pick some up when I got the champagne yeast and other stuff. I unearthed my equipment - took me half an hour just to clean the damned 23 litre carboy, the siphoning hose and airlock are unusable, and I can't find the hydrometer.
Can you recommend an alternative to sodium metabisulphite for sterilizing? It's what I always used in wine-making, but I'd rather not use it again if there's a better alternative.
Tue, 2014-03-18 05:03
#65
A good book on cider from planting to bottle has been published:
The New Cider Maker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Craft Producers
by Claude Jolicouer (who has an orchard near Quebec City)
Chelsea Green, 2013
See also Claude's website at
http://picasaweb.google.com/cjoliprsf
Nurseries selling cider apple trees and perry pear trees:
http://www.siloamorchards.com (Uxbridge ON, N. of Toronto)
okeefegrange (at) yahoo.ca (near the Bruce Peninsula ON, pickup only)
There are some interesting comments on English cider apples, and links to cider information, at
http://www.fruitwise.net (a UK site)
Thu, 2017-08-17 10:14
#66
I just discovered a new one from a local cider producer; McKeown Bone Dry. I don't know whether it is available anywhere outside Québec yet. Here you can buy it at groceries and dépanneurs; normally it should also be available at the SAQ, but I checked it isn't online yet.
http://cidremckeown.com/wp2/en/portfolio/mckeown-bone-dry-bone-dry-ginger/ It claims to have zero residual sugar; I don't know if that is technically possible but it certainly doesn't taste sweet. I liked it and will try the ginger one when I find it.
Fri, 2018-06-01 14:32
#67
It is a very hot, humid day and I'm happily drinking the McKeown Bone Dry Ginger Cider. I think this would pair very well with Asianish food.
Thanks to the babblers who started this topic!
Sat, 2018-06-02 12:14
#68
I've always liked Strongbow.
Mon, 2018-09-10 17:22
#69
The SAQ (government monopoly, equivalent to LCBO and other such corporations) workers have been on strike yesterday and today. So I'm once again enjoying some McKeown Bone Dry Cider (the plain type, not the ginger, though that is also very good). Bought at a Métro supermarket, reduced to 4 355 ml tins for 8,99$, though it comes to about $10 with the taxes.
This is another excellent cider: a bit stronger, but still less alcohol than wine, and a refined, very dry palate, slightly acidic but in a pleasant way (think of acidic things that are enjoyable, such as citrus and some other fruits).
http://www.bieresetplaisirs.com/2018/06/08/alma-klaus/ This site is not in English, I'll check the cider maker's site which should be. Google translate should work for this kind of text. http://www.bieresetplaisirs.com/2018/06/08/alma-klaus/
And the bone dry ginger, indeed with Asian foods: http://www.bieresetplaisirs.com/2018/08/10/mckeown-bone-dry-gingembre-57...
Mon, 2018-09-10 19:10
#70
Timebandit
Sounds nice! I found some Thornbury cider out of Ontario at the liquor store, quite enjoyed it. Nice and dry.
Tue, 2019-04-02 20:09
#71
This past week, I was waiting for Alexandre Boulerice and Jagmeet Singh to show up at a pub half a block away from chez moi. Alas they were late, and I was sick of waiting for them as there was a local extra-dry cider on tap. I went home and drank some of the McKeown Bone Dry I had in stock. And yes, the ginger one is great with Asian food.
Thu, 2019-05-30 15:46
#72
Enjoying another tall can of Klaus, cidre bouché traditionnel. A natural foods market has it on sale this week. It is rather cloudy (typical of this type of cider).
Wed, 2019-07-17 10:01
#73
Have any babblers tried Lonetree cider from BC? Metro supermarkets here have it on promo starting tomorrow. They have a Dry Cider.
Wed, 2019-07-17 10:01
#74
Have any babblers tried Lonetree cider from BC? Metro supermarkets here have it on promo starting tomorrow. They have a Dry Cider.
Wed, 2019-07-17 21:38
#75
I don't drink cidar anymore but Lonetree used to be one of my favourites, especially the apple ginger.