Tag

cider

Browsing
Cider Tasting Party | A Well Crafted Party
A Well Crafted Party

Host a Cider Tasting Party – VIDEO

No Comments A Well Crafted Party

Tasting parties are so fun to do as they give guests a bunch of different choices and allows everyone to really find something to their own liking. We’ve done a variety of tasting parties in the past including a whiskey tasting, wine tasting, ice cream tasting, and beer tasting. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit KGW’s Portland Today to share tips on how to create a great cider tasting party featuring Julian Hard Cider. See the segment here:

 

 

Host a Cider Tasting Party

There are a variety of ways you can host a cider tasting party. I tend to start by picking out my ciders at the store. This cider tasting is tasting different varieties of the same brand, but you could also choose to taste different ciders across a variety of brands. Below are some tips for hosting your next cider party:

  • Do a blind tasting. Want to see which company makes the BEST cider? Try getting the same style of cider from around 5 different breweries. Wrap each one in a paper bag or with paper. Mark each bag with a different number. Put out tasting sheets so guests can write down what they like and disliked about each cider. At the very end, have everyone say their favorite number and find out which cider was the overall winner, and on.
  • Taste food too. Try pairing the ciders with foods that should go well with them. Look for foods with similar flavors that may be enhanced when trying the cider with it. Food is important for more than just pairing flavors, it will help keep your guests from becoming too inebriated.
  • Keep your samples small. This is also a safety thing… but, it also serves to allow guests to really get a good taste of each of the samples and then move on to drinking their favorite of the samples.

Free Cider Tasting Printables

Get your free Cider Tasting Printables below. Print and cut out per the directions on the printables.

Beer Tasting Printable | A Well Crafted Party Free Beer Tasting Printable | A Well Crafted Party

I’ll be sharing the recipes for some of the pairings featured in the video above soon! Check back next week!

Have you ever been to a tasting party? What made the party fun? Comment below!

by
Keep Reading
4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party
A Well Crafted Pantry

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider

1 Comment A Well Crafted Pantry

To me there is an art to pairing drinks with meals. However, I’m pretty easy when it comes to drinks too. I enjoy a lot of different items and a lot of different pairings. Some of my favorite types of beverages to serve happen to be beverages that pair well with many different foods and are pretty friendly. Hard Cider is one of those types of beverages. Every year I head out to the Portland Apple Festival mainly for the opportunity to taste a bunch of local and delicious ciders. I tend to think of Hard Cider in the fall, but was pleasantly surprised at how summer-friendly they can be when Julian Hard Cider sent me an array of ciders to try out for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

This post is in partnership with Julian Hard Ciders. All opinions are my own. For more information about sponsorships on this blog visit my policies page. 

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party

4th of July Drink Ideas

With names like “Cherry Bomb” and “Apple Pie” these hard ciders were pretty much made for an Independence Day celebration, don’t you think? But, even if the names weren’t perfect for a 4th of July party then the sweet and tart flavors make for a refreshing and easy to pair beverage solution. The ciders are made without added sugar and are sweetened with 100% juice.

The Julian Hard Cider flavors include: Cherry Bomb, Apple Pie, Harvest Apple, Black and Blue, Pearanormal, and Razzmatazz.

My three favorites for 4th of July pairings include the Cherry Bomb, Apple Pie, and Black and Blue for refreshingly sweet pairs to some of my favorite foods to eat at an outdoor BBQ.

 

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party 4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party

Julian Hard Cider: Cherry Bomb

The Cherry Bomb was sweet and tart both with BIG notes of cherries. This was my favorite of the ciders mostly because I’m obsessed with cherries this time of year. It is made with the traditional apple cider and Montmorency Cherry juice. I think this cider would pair nicely with some BBQ ribs or brisket. It could even be paired well with a juicy burger topped with a roasted red pepper and garlic aioli.

Julian Hard Cider: Apple Pie

The Apple Pie hard cider tastes just like fall to me. The crisp bite of a juicy apple with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Why do I like it for 4th of July if it tastes like fall you ask? Well, easy… is there anything more American than apple pie!? This would pair well with a hot dog piled high with sauerkraut or grilled onions. I’m personally going to serve the apple cider with our yearly Crab Boil. I think it will be great with the flavors of crab, sausage, and corn on the cob!

Julian Hard Cider: Black and Blue

Blackberries and blueberries make this cider fruity and bold. Maybe it is the name of this cider… but, I’d pair this with a big burger topped high with bacon and blue cheese. Blueberries and blue cheese just belong together. I’d also pair this one with steak. Mmmm… grilled steak.

 

4th of July Drinks with Julian Hard Cider | A Well Crafted Party

 

Other ideas for 4th of July Beverages:

Spiked Ice Cream | A Well Crafted Party Spiked Cherry Limeade | A Well Crafted Party

Cherry Sangria - a sweet & sour sangria | A Well Crafted Party

Need some other beverages to serve alongside your hard cider this holiday? My favorite summer cocktails include:

Of course, you don’t want to serve only alcoholic beverages. Make sure you have some infused waters on hand to keep everyone hydrated!

by
Keep Reading