Bone & Bottle Reviews

12/07/2025

It's a good day to just "chill" 😎.
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But I am pumped (I use "excited" too much in this video) to announce that I'll be BACK to for 2026 in Providence, RI. 2026 is going to be another banner year for the industry the world over, and CiderCon is a great way to kick off the year. I'm sure I'm not alone in this being my first time visiting Rhode Island, so I cannot wait to see what it has in store!
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I've been roots deep in some projects over the last couple months, and I'm looking forward to getting back to some other media work. Photos, video, writing, whatever it takes!
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Who else is going to be at CiderCon? Let's link up! I would love to do some highlights on all the different corners of the industry. Only a couple months until the big show, let's make the most of it!

12/07/2025

Haven't posted an update on the feed for a bit...to say it's been busy is an understatement! Some really neat things are bubbling away, some to be announced very soon!
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Anyway, here's a snapshot into the ciders I've dove into the last few weeks.
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Finally opened this acid bomb crabapple cider from . This amazing Canadian cidery just on the outskirts of the GTA make an incredible sparkling soft and hard crabapple cider, wish they weren't so far or I would stock up!
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Think I posted this one but a fun Brittany inspired cider from I shared with a friend...big hit.
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While it's been too long since I ordered from , I still have some bottles from my last order, including this Wild Ferment from . It was pretty still at this point, but still drank well and went well with some sliders.
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A couple weeks ago hosted an online 10th anniversary call, and we all opened some good stuff. I started with a heavy hitting Harrison cider from .cider.wine , then opened a mystery unlabeled that I ended up remembering was the recently released Porters Perfection from . Not sure the ABV on that one, but even with food and hydration, those two ciders kicked my ass that night 🤣. We all had a great toast with ice cider to end that evening.
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Lastly, finally opened one of the bottles from that I bought and ended up being late for the bus during the 2024 for. Only bangers all around. Think we're caught up. Shout out to for the farmhouse bottle from the end of the holiday event today. Cheers!
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11/28/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to those who partake!
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And if you do, hopefully you made sure to for that perfect Thanksgiving pairing.
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Now to be frank - I am s**t at food pairing 🤣. But I can certainly match a cider to your situation! ..
Do you have some obnoxiously loud family members that make you wish you'll not remember the day? Some Miner's Reserve at 12.7% ABV from will fix you right up. ..
Inquisitive family always looking for a low-key, new & local business to support? Pear Cider will be a hit. ..
A chill, laid back endeavor that needs a flavorful kick? Black Widow will be the last cider your inlaws will ever love. ..
And for those snobby, hard to please people who demand only the finest, some will show them that you too have impeccable taste.
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Unfortunately, due to Happenings, I personally didn't get to open any of these selections, but did share a couple things at dinner two! The first cider crafted on Native Land in Canada, Dry Cider was quite interesting, with a good crisp flavor. Thanks to for that can!
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And unlike a fruitcake, this bottle of AngelJūs from is an amazing gift that keeps on giving. Aged 5 years in stainless steel, then 6 months in Rye Whiskey barrels, I got this bottle in June during packup at Haverhill, and only just recently been sipping and sharing. Been quite popular even with some oxidation.
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Hope everyone had a great day and great ciders to pair! Cheers!
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11/22/2025

First Saturday in a long while with no work...so of course I had to find something to do. just had their grand reopening and / were pouring samples...plus a local food truck was slinging walleye bites 😎. Great times all around!
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11/21/2025

I guess it was the other day? Well, one look in my cellar and you'll know it really is a "cider day" everyday here.
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Went out to dinner with a few friends after work yesterday, and then followed that up with a quick drink. This Brittany inspired cider by was absolutely the perfect call. Flavorful with a handful of residual sugar but not heavy nor overbearing. This is a wonderful bottle to accompany time spent with good company. And I think we can all say cheers to that!
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11/17/2025

The final weekend of the - Recap
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Friday was the kickoff for the NYC festival weekend, with this event hosted at , planned by . Dozens of cidermakers, industry personalities and friends & family came together to have a good time to start the weekend off right.
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Walked in and had a sip of pommeau within minutes...so you know it was a great time. The nightcap was a couple of the remaining Magnums...which were as fantastic as one would imagine. Awesome to meet the other half of Cider Society (Fabian) & also as well as many old friends.
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Saturday was the big shindig at . Didn't get much chance to leave the table once the event kicked off, but before we all left, was able to get a pour of & Kingston Black...gotta make it count!
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hosted a tap takeover at the Brass Monkey bar down the street which was fun, then finally got dinner, then with a nightcap of .
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Big ups to for the ...been following them for years...so pumped to finally try their stuff! Also can't wait to see how your new project goes! Thanks to for hosting me, for pic 1 & convincing me to stay for the bar event. So many people to thank, not enough space. Let's just see what's next, but for now, cheers!
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11/09/2025

A full day removed from the season finale of the tour, and I'm still buzzing! A great crowd and an amazing lineup of cideries packed into the event center to satiate the thirst of resident Southies and many beyond.
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I did not get much of a chance to leave my table, which isn't a bad thing, so thanks for stopping by and saying hello (and supporting ) , , and everyone else who attended!
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I didn't go dry the entire event thanks to great table neighbors in , , and . Also popped over to before the end.
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Afterwards, I made my semi-annual visit to , and did some plane watching. Beautiful night for it. Then some stops at OS accounts (always working), a sake tasting, some wings, then finally back to my host's & for some more ciders.
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Found an interesting sidra at a co-op suggested by (the sidra was ok'd by ), and it was indeed delicious! Sidra is the final frontier for me, but this was great. Then finished the night with this Russet/Dolgo blend from . Just phenomenal as always, and with how astringent it was, a perfect cider to share. Over, an outstanding day, and with that, just one more weekend left on the next weekend. Until then, cheers!
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11/08/2025

Adding a cider operation to a family orchard can be both exciting and challenging.

Next week’s Technical Skills Share features Jeff Rogers, Owner & Cidermaker at sharing his family’s journey from small-scale experiments to launching a full-fledged cider brand.

Learn how they scaled from gallon carboys to a homemade hydraulic press — and the creative, practical, and strategic steps along the way.

📅 Thursday, Nov 13 | 11–12 PT / 2–3 ET

We’ll cover:
🍎 Scaling from small batches to commercial volumes
🍎 Flavor innovation with apples, botanicals & fruits
🍎 Grafting & diversifying orchard varieties
🍎 Building a distinct brand rooted in heritage
🍎 Overcoming the growing pains of a new cider business

Get tickets via 🔗 in bio for this session or the full 2025 series.

11/07/2025

Been sipping away with some cideries that will be at on Saturday in South Boston.

Last night I opened this *vintage* bottle of which was just amazing. I should have chilled it just slightly more than I did but still just as tasty as I'm sure a fresh bottle from a few years ago would have been.

Tonight we're going with something new and this latest iteration of aged in Tom Cat Gin barrels - Bee's Knee's. It really tastes like a gin mixed drink...which for some may not be the ticket, but I love me some gin, so I'm very happy I decided to jump in for this season's Golden Apple Club box.

Be sure to not miss out on all the cider that'll be flowing at the South Boston Lithuanian Society on Saturday...of course including some poured by myself. Also make sure to buy a poster or 6! I need to get a full set of brakes next week. Cheers! 🥂
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11/04/2025

The is rounding its final bend and into the homestretch! Coming up this Saturday is Boston. Cidermakers from all over New England and beyond will be there! While of course you all should come hang with , one of the other great producers that will be there is .
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Still have a few cans from assorted club shipments, but this was my last can of this delicious Wickson treat. A 50/50 blend of Wickson crabs and Grimes Golden, this drinks with crisp, juicy bite and finishes with a refreshing bit of dryness. Not had much time to drink lately, so it's important to make sure when I do have time, it's something worthwhile, and this certainly fits the bill. Cheers!
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10/29/2025

10/28/2025

I checked my email the other day and had an interestingly titled article from : Perry is not dead. Seemed a curious exclamation as well, duh, of course it's not dead. However what I didn't know previously was that a very large cider producer in England had made the declaration about the end of the era of Perry.
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For most of us in the industry, it's easy to wave off the initial nonsensical mutterings of an impersonal macro producer. However, for the general public, this does send a concerning message, and there's been a flood of Perry producers the world over coming to its stout defense.
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One of the leading voices is & their campaign to showcase that which we all already know; Perry is here, and it's never been better.
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I took a bottle of Sparkling Perry to with me on Saturday, and there was no better place to share it than at with . It's a very balanced take on perry; decent acid and very light sweetness but not overly dirty or astringent like many craft PNW drinks, but not a smooth & sweet perry like something from Normandy. This really toes a middle ground but doesn't act like it doesn't know what it wants to be. It's an enjoyable experience, and certainly doesn't seem all that "dead" to me. Cheers!
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