Wandering Aengus Ciderworks offers Draft cider in Oregon

Wandering Aengus Ciderworks has announced the release of its new draft cider as part of the company’s ongoing effort to introduce real hard cider to the craft alcohol consumers of Oregon.

Since 2005, Wandering Aengus Ciderworks has offered tastings at supermarkets and at Portland area farmers markets to introduce Oregonians to real hard ciders, which are virtually non-existent in the marketplace.

Real hard ciders are produced from blends of true cider apple varieties, which produce a complex and refreshing craft beverage without any additives or adjuncts. Most hard ciders available domestically are made from readily available and inexpensive dessert apples that produce a low alcohol and simplistic beverage and require added sugar, concentrates, colors, and/or flavors to make them palatable.

In early 2009, management at Wandering Aengus decided the only way to raise awareness of real hard cider is to start a cider draft program. Luckily around that same time, Green Mountain Cider of Vermont (producer of Woodchuck cider) purchased Wyder’s Cider of California and British Columbia. This merger resulted in several redundant pieces of equipment including Wyder’s spare kegging line and kegs; cider specific equipment available at a reasonable price. An eventful road trip to Kelowna, British Columbia and a few weeks of repair resulted in a professional kegging set-up.

Initially Wandering Aengus Draft cider will be available at brewpubs and pubs with a current cider tap. The first location to offer Wandering Aengus Draft cider is Ventis Café located in Downtown Salem, Oregon.

“There are no real hard ciders on draft in Oregon. But Oregonians want a craft product on tap that tastes great, is refreshing but complex, and is made from local organic ingredients; Wandering Aengus Draft cider hit all those points,” says James Kohn, Marketing Director for Wandering Aengus Ciderworks.

Wandering Aengus Draft Cider Description:
• Strong apple aromas with a light body and a long ginger spice finish.
• Pairings - barbeque, pork, turkey, sausage, or aged cheddar.
• True Cider Apples, 100% Organic from Oregon and Washington
• Gluten Free
• 6.8% alcohol, 1% residual sugars
• Cold fermented at 48˚F, 2 months, Racked and aged 3 months; all in Stainless Steel tanks
• Available in 6th Barrel (5.16 g) Sankey Kegs
• Batch 1 (Semi-Dry)-138 kegs 5/7/09
• Available through Point Blank Distributing (503-232-1668) and directly from Wandering Aengus Ciderworks (503-361-2400)

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Wandering Aengus Ciderworks crafts real hard ciders from true cider apple varieties grown organically on its orchards in Ashland, Oregon and Salem, Oregon and by a few select growers in the Northwest. True cider apple varietals are required to produce the depth of flavor, excellent structure and body, and delightful aromatics of real hard ciders. Founded in 2004 by Nick Gunn and Mimi Casteel, today Wandering Aengus Ciderworks is recognized nationally for producing the highest quality hard ciders available domestically. For more information, visit www.wanderingaengus.com or e-mail.