Cheers!: Rejuvenated by Apples

Cidre

After a recent long, boring freeway drive, I stopped at Econofoods in Sturgeon Bay for a few supplies. They always have some great beverage specials – sometimes on display as soon as you walk into the store.

That was the case on this day, which happened to be the weekend before Thanksgiving. Many malty beverages were on display at good prices. After my long, dry drive, one item in particular caught my eye, and not a malty beverage – Cidre, an apple cider from Stella Artois, six packs on sale for several dollars less than the usual price. I happily grabbed a sixer (and now wish I had grabbed more).

Cidre is made with “hand-picked apples.” It says so on the neck label. I wonder if it really matters if the apples were hand-picked or foot-picked or nose-picked, does the picking process mean anything at all to the end product? Or is this just a diversion to suggest that this is a simple artisan product and not mass-produced in a factory. I can’t think of any other reason why someone would be impressed by a hand-picked apple.

But I digress.

I grab a few others things, including chili fixings because it’s that time, and stand in line for a cash register, when a young woman opens the cash register next door and looks directly at me to say, “I can take you.”

The sixer of Cidre is the first thing I set down before emptying my basket of foodstuff on the line.

“How is this Cidre?” she asked as she ran it past the price reader.

“Good,” I said. “It’s not a dry cider. It’s the appliest of the ciders I’ve had.”

I can’t remember her response because it was at that point the long drive caught up with me and my mind entered a pillowy place that promised sleep very, very soon…just 14 miles until the end of the line.

Yup. I was right, and I hope the cashier tries it from my recommendation because this really is one happy appley cider.

Too many ciders are so dry that you have to really stretch your imagination to identify the apple. Not with Cidre. This is apple unabashed. And I like apples. I like eating them, and I like drinking them. This reminds me of my favorite apple ale, made by New Glarus Brewing. I must remember to have the two together sometime in order to compare.

But let me mention a few things I love about Cidre. I find it refreshing and rejuvenating, maybe even enlightening. The Yin and Yang of flavors conspiring in my mouth make me smile at their beauty.

•••

Stout lovers take note: Bier Zot Beer Café in Sister Bay has just announced a three-day festival of stouts.

Holly King Fest will be held, in the words of a Bier Zot press release, “to showcase some of the country’s rarest stouts, all on draft…”

Day One on Thursday, Dec. 15 is called Cellar Works Barrel-Aged Bonanza. For $75 you get a five-course prix fixe dinner paired with bottled stouts from Bier Zot’s 800-plus bottle cellar. This dark journey will be led by Bier Zot’s knowledgeable and enthusiastic Bar Manager/Beverage Curator Ryan Castelaz. This event begins at 5:30 pm.

On Friday, Dec. 16, a Bottle Swap & Exclusive Bottle Silent Auction will be held from 5 to 8:30 pm. This is your opportunity to swap bottles with other beer lovers. The Exclusive Bottle Silent Auction will feature more than a dozen bottles of “elusive ales.” Proceeds will benefit the Door County Land Trust.

And on Saturday, Dec. 17, the main event will be held, Holly King. The event runs from noon to 4 pm and for $50 you get food, a Bier Zot sampling glass and five pours of Imperials stouts, including Deschutes 2015 Abyss, Surly 2016 Darkness, Goose Island 2014 Bourbon County, Avery 2015 Tweak, Dieu Du Ciel Aphrodisiaque on Nitro, Oskar Blues 2016 BBA Ten Fidy, Epic 2016 Double Barrel Baptist, Founders 2016 Lizard of Koz, Van Houzen 2015 Whiskey BA Rumplestoutskyn with Cherries, with more to be announced.

While that is going on, Bier Zot has also invited talented Midwest brewers to pour some of their best in the Wild Beer Hall. Bier Zot promises some cellared rarities on draft and a pop-up bottle shop.

Learn more and buy tickets at bierzot.com/holly-king-festival. See you there!