Maker Notes

Research and development (but with cider!)

Why notes?

Taste, of course, is a highly subjective thing. But cider making is an art and a science. Cider apples have unique flavor characteristics - which for nerds like us - are worth noting, helping expand our appreciation and enjoyment of each cultivar. Tasting notes can also identify how apples respond to growing conditions – helping us make better, more delicious choices in how and where to grow varietals. This library details nearly every cider we’ve made since 2019, using a common “spider chart” format ranking 18 criteria ranging from basics like sweetness, tartness and astringency to how each cider recalls other fruit and spice categories. Members of our Core Club receive copies of these with each shipment, along with a crib sheet providing background on how we define our criteria - making it easy and fun for fans to compare their experiences with ours.

Use the search tools below to explore the archive, noting batch numbering for each release, wherein the first digit(s) represent product sequence followed by abbreviated year of release. Above all, enjoy cider!

Reserve Series Rick Hastings Reserve Series Rick Hastings

Lafayette

Reserve Series | Batch 10.23

Our latest French-style cider – featuring American varietals including Harrison, Franklin and McIntosh. Keeving stalls fermentation before complete dryness, expressing deeper, more complex fruit and microflora notes. Ripe tropical fruit, cling peach, caramel and crème brûlée flavors.

Core Club 2023 Q4 Selection

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Reserve Series Rick Hastings Reserve Series Rick Hastings

Franklin Apple

Reserve Series | Batch 9.23

Discovered in 2008 in northern Vermont, the Franklin apple is a rare American “bittersharp,” offering substantial tannins that provide greater body and mouthfeel. Uniquely balanced profile, leaning to Mandarin orange, caramel, date and mace notes. We’re excited by this one - an American Kingston Black?

Core Club 2023 Q4 Selection

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Reserve Series Rick Hastings Reserve Series Rick Hastings

Golden Russet

Reserve Series | Batch 8.23

Golden Russets may resemble potatoes (due to their bronze-hued, russeted skins), but they’re one of America’s best cider apples. Here's an example from our friends at Century Steep Orchards, offering a more subtle version of our mainline GR – with notes of jackfruit, ripe pear, butterscotch and nutmeg.

Core Club 2023 Q4 Selection

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