Welcome to PUT CIDER IN IT Episode 4 - Halloween Edition!

In this spooky fourth episode, Josh travels to our friends in Albany: Stacks Espresso Bar.

Josh popped over to see Sue and talk about the upcoming Stacks Seasonal Showcase: Autumn this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at 488 Broadway in Albany.

At the event, there will be special Nine Pin Cider and coffee pour-over tastings, a seasonal marketplace pop-up by Make It Upstate, and insider tricks for treats by Chef Sue Dunckle from Stacks!

Sue will be showcasing an incredible Pork Normandy this Saturday...let's see what happens when we Put Cider In It!

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Recipe for the Nine Pin Pork Normandy:

Place pork slices between plastic wrap. Using mallet, pound pork slices to 1/4-inch thickness. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate.)

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in another heavy large skillet over high heat. Season pork with salt , turmeric, and pepper. Add pork to skillet and sauté until just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.

Add shallots , apples, cranberries , walnuts and thyme and sauté 2 minutes. Add  Nine Pin and honey and simmer until reduced to glaze, scraping up any browned bits, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange a few pork slices on each plate. Spoon sauce over. Top generously with sautéed apple slices and serve!

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Want to try this Nine Pin Pork Normandy first hand? Come out to the Stacks Seasonal Showcase this Saturday, October 30! See the full details on https://www.ninepincider.com/tasting-room.

Next Put Cider In It episode will be released on Wednesday, November 10 with Lidia's Empanadas!

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Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery, is officially New York State Grown & Certified.

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The New York State Grown & Certified designation is the first statewide, multi-faceted food certification program designed to strengthen consumer confidence in New York products, address food product labeling, and assist New York farmers so they can take advantage of the growing market demand for foods locally grown and produced to a higher standard.

The seal allows shoppers to find the best food for their families – making it easy to identify foods they can trust and that are locally and responsibly grown and produced.

When consumers see products with the New York State Grown & Certified seal, they can be assured that it comes from a local farm that adheres to high food safety standards and environmentally responsible practices. The label lets them know the food was grown locally, right here in New York State.

“We are very pleased to be officially New York State Grown & Certified,” said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cidermaker. “This important distinction is an easy way for cider enthusiasts to know that our premium craft cider is proudly made from New York apples and produced in the Empire State.”

This voluntary program is a cooperative effort among producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to meet consumer demand for high-quality food and agricultural products.

Welcome to PUT CIDER IN IT Episode 3!

In this third episode, Josh travels to our friends in Stuyvesant Plaza: PRIMAL: Your Local Butcher.

Josh met up with Andy to see if he was working on anything special to do with all of his local meats.

Andy was crafting an amazing brine for his locally sourced pork tenderloin...let's see what happens when we Put Cider In It!

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Nine Pin Brine:

- 3 cups Nine Pin Cider

- 2 cups Water

- 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

- 1/4 cup Salt

- 1/4 cup Worcestershire

- 1 TBL Garlic Powder

- 1 TBL Onion Powder

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Recipe for 2 pork tenderloins:

- Let Pork Tenderloins sit, fully immersed in the brine for at least 24 hours. Smoke at 250F, until internal temp of 145F is achieved (approximately 2 hours) or cook in oven at 350F to reach temp. (Approximately 35 min)

- Cooking times are an approximate guideline only. Always keep a watchful eye on the internal temp, as ovens and smokers can vary greatly.

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Want to try local meats cooked from Primal with this Nine Pin Cider brine first hand? Come to our upcoming pop up with Primal on Wednesday, October 20! See the full details and menu on https://www.ninepincider.com/tasting-room.

Next Put Cider In It episode will be released on Wednesday, October 27 with Stacks Espresso Bar!

Welcome to PUT CIDER IN IT Episode 2!

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In this second episode, we travel to Troy, NY to hang out with our old tasting room cider slinger, Jake, and his husband, Alejandro, at their new coffee shop, Jacob-Alejandro.  

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Jake and Alejandro were working on a delicious cheesecake...let's see what happens when we Put Cider In It!

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Stay until the end to see some good Great British Baking Show humor!!!

Here is the recipe for you to try at home:

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Nine Pin Strawberry Cheesecake Glaze with Fresh Strawberry & Basil

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For 1, 6” cheesecake

Ingredients:

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For the Strawberries & Basil:

1/2 lb Fresh Strawberries, sliced

5 leaves Fresh Basil, chopped

2 tbsp White Sugar

2 tbsp Nine Pin Strawberry Cider

For the Strawberry Glaze:

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1 each 6” Prepared Cheesecake

1 lb Fresh Strawberries

1 cup White Sugar

8 oz  Nine Pin Strawberry Cider

1/2 pkg Gelatin powder

Whipped Cream

Method

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1) Prepare the strawberries & basil ahead to let the flavors blend.  Combine sliced strawberries with chopped basil, sugar and Nine Pin Strawberry Cider. Toss with a fork and let rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.

2) Meanwhile, prepare the glaze:  Quarter 1/2 of the strawberries and combine with sugar and cider and bring to a boil

2) Bloom the gelatin in cold water.

3) Once the strawberry mix is at a boil, remove from heat and stir in bloomed gelatin.  Let cool until warm.

4) Blend cooked strawberries in a blender, should be pretty runny and let cool to almost room temp.

4) Slice the remaining 1/2 of strawberries and fan over top of cheesecake.  Pour glaze over strawberries and over the side of the cheesecake.

5) Topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberry and basil mix.

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Next Put Cider In It comes out Wednesday, October 13 with Primal!

ALBANY, N.Y. (September, 2021) – Nine Pin Cider, New York's first farm cidery, has partnered with Samascott Orchards located in Kinderhook, NY to host their two popular fall cider events again this year: “Cider Sunday” on Oct. 10, and “Cider Maze” on Friday, Oct. 29.

During Cider Sunday, attendees will be able to enjoy Nine Pin’s unique pop-up hard cider bar right in the middle of Samascott Orchards where food and music will also be offered. Samascott Orchards offers an incredible selection of apples for picking as well as a myriad of great fall vegetables.  

At the Cider Maze, participants will be able to try and navigate through this year’s new corn maze design while enjoying a crisp can of cider.  There will be various punch points inside the maze to gain prizes. You may find four of the eight punches to receive $1 off a 12 oz pour at the pop-up Nine Pin bar outside the maze, or all 8 punches to receive an extra $1 off a second 12 oz pour. The Nosh Food Truck will be there with unique food offerings.

“These are two amazing events to help everyone welcome the fall season,” said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cidermaker. “It’s exciting that  we are able to offer them again this year.”

The pop-up cider bar at Cider Sunday is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entry to the orchard is $5 per person. Dogs are not allowed.  

The Cider Maze is a 21 and over event only, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. A fee of $16 grants you entry to the maze and your first can of cider to drink in the Maze. Flashlights required as the event will beheld in the dark; rubber boots recommended.

Samascott Orchards is located at 5 Sunset Avenue in Kinderhook.  The Cider Maze is located at 65 Chatham Street in Kinderhook.

ALBANY, N.Y. (September, 2021) – Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery, has released Apple Pie-Secco, as its new seasonal cider, once again highlighting the incredible variety and quality of New York agriculture.

Crafted from apples from Samascott Orchards in Kinderhook, N.Y., Apple Pie-Secco symbolizes life’s simple joys, autumnal aromas filling our homes, explosions of taste. It’s pure comfort.

“There is no better way to celebrate the fall season than with our new seasonal cider   Apple Pie-Secco,” said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cidermaker. “This cider is dry and complex and its cinnamon and vanilla spices add nostalgic comfort to the drinking experience.”

Apple Pie-Secco is currently available in 12 oz. cans in Nine Pin’s tasting room in Albany as well through retailers throughout New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey.  Residents in other states can purchase Apple Pie-Secco through Nine Pin’s online store.

For more information about Nine Pin Cider, please visit ninepincider.com.

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Over the past 8 years, Nine Pin has produced high quality craft ciders using 100% New York apples and fruit. We have experimented with all the different fruits, hops, teas, etc. that can be put in our New York hard ciders. But one question remained... What can we put our cider in?!

Through this video series, we will talk with some of the Capital Regions most talented chefs, bartenders, bakers, and beyond to see all the amazing ways Nine Pin's Cider can be used in their creations.

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In this first episode, we went out to our neighbor across the street, Lost and Found, to speak with Jesse and learn about his amazing Blackberry Margarita Slushy he has been working on. Let's see what happens when we Put Cider In It!

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Want to make this delicious Nine Pin Blackberry Margarita at home? Here is how you can PUT CIDER IN IT:

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"Nine Pin BlackBerry Ciderita"

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- 1 oz Tequila
- 1/2 oz Triple Sec
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 4-6 fresh blackberry’s
- Nine Pin Signature Cider

Muddle blackberry’s and simple syrup together. Add tequila, triple sec and lime juice and shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice in a tall glass and top with Nine Pin Signature Cider.

Read on for seven fall dessert-inspired ciders to enjoy all season long.

See what's fresh this week!

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 23, 2021) – Chef Ric Orlando, in collaboration with Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery,  is releasing two new BBQ sauces made with Nine Pin Cider: Signature BBQ and Ginger BBQ. The sauces will be distributed through retailers across the United States.  

“I have been drinking and cooking with Nine Pin Cider since their launch. I love this stuff, so it makes perfect sense for us to partner up on these two deliciously addictive sauces,” said Chef Ric Orlando, creator of brand seasonings and sauces.

“Our family has been a fan of Chef Ric since he first appeared on the Hudson Valley food scene and we are honored to collaborate with him.  The Nine Pin BBQ sauces are the perfect condiments for everyone who seeks that sweet and tangy, or spicy mouth feel.  They pair incredibly well with Nine Pin ciders, ” said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cidermaker.

“When I design flavors, I like to hit all of the notes in one bite. Partnering with Nine Pin Cider has given me the perfect ingredients to make my two newest BBQ sauces rock! Sweet, tangy, complex; these BBQ sauces will be indispensable in my grilling Arsenal,” said Chef Orlando.

The cider sauces will be available for purchase at Nine Pin’s tasting room in Albany as well as through its online store. Capital Region fans will have the opportunity to taste gourmet food prepared by Chef Ric Orlando using the sauces at a launch event in Albany at Nine Pin Cider on Thursday, Sept. 2.

To purchase your cider sauce, please see below!

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Read the full story by Cider Culture here!

Stay up to date on our New York State Summer Farm Share featuring Sollohub Family Farm

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ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 6, 2021) – Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery, has released the latest in its line of Light Ciders: Honeycrisp Lemon.

Honeycrisp Lemon light cider, the fifth in Nine Pin’s popular light cider series, is crafted with 100 percent New York Honeycrisp apples sourced from Samascott Orchards.

“Nine Pin Honeycrisp Lemon is perfect for drinkers who seek a low calorie, low alcohol, farm-to-table option and who, like us, believe in supporting local orchards and farms,” said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cidermaker.

Honeycrisp Lemon light cider, blended with a touch of lemon juice, comes in at 4.8 percent ABV and is under 100 calories.

12 oz. four-packs are available for purchase at Nine Pin’s tasting room in Albany.

For more information about Nine Pin Cider, please visit ninepincider.com.

Check out what's FRESH and LOCAL this week

Check out what's FRESH and LOCAL this week

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 6, 2021) – Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery, has announced the tapping of Pin Pals from Community Beer Works of Buffalo, New York and 20 Year Slumber from Rip Van Winkle Brewing of Catskill, New York. Both cider beers will be available on tap this month at the cidery.  

Pin Pals from Community Beer Works will be available on tap starting July 12. This apple witbier is brewed with New York State wheat and blended with New York State apples. The apples were pressed by the teams from Community Beer Works and Nine Pin Cider. The addition of the juicy apples supports a crisp, Belgian-style witbier.

20 Year Slumber from Rip Van Winkle Brewing will be available on tap starting July 24. This beer offers a balanced blend of a New York-ingredient blond ale and a refreshing dry cider. The process starts with a base of Hudson Valley pilsner malt and flaked wheat and lemony Tahoma hops from Chimney Bluffs Hoppery. During re-fermentation, the apple juice normally reserved for Nine Pin’s Signature Cider is pumped in. The blend is fermented using Norwegian Kveik yeast, which contributes its own fruit flavor.

“We drink a lot of Nine Pin Cider at Rip Van Winkle, so it was a no-brainer to invite Alejandro and Josh down to brew a cider-beer hybrid with us!”, said Justin Sturges, head brewer. “We had a blast talking shop. I learned a ton about how Nine Pin makes cider and by the end of the day Alejandro was transformed into a Big Beer Guy!”

“We’re excited to release this special collaboration with our Pin Pals from Nine Pin Cider Works!”, said Mike West, social media manager.

“Working with these innovative breweries and creating such unique New York hybrid cider beers has been a great pleasure,  said Alejandro de Peral, co-founder and cider maker. “Collaborations like these keep pushing the limits on the flavor of what our New York State apples can deliver.”

Pin Pals has an ABV of 5.8 percent and 20 Year Slumber has an ABV of 6.5 percent.

Check out what's FRESH and LOCAL this week

Check out what's FRESH and LOCAL this week

Read the full story below!

Check out what's FRESH and LOCAL this week

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 10, 2021) – Announcing the seasonal release of Peach Tea cider in 12 oz. cans, its collaboration with Guilderland, N.Y.-based Short and Stout Tea Co.

Peach Tea is Nine Pin’s take on a classic summer drink. This cider, crafted from a farmhouse blend of New York apples from Kinderhook, N.Y.-based Samascott Orchards, is cold-infused with a custom peach tea blend from Short and Stout. The infusion of these ingredients creates a bright, refreshingly tart, and delicious peach cider. Peach Tea pairs well with sunsets and warm summer nights.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Short and Stout once again to bring our fans this summer treat,” said Alejandro del Peral, co-owner and cidermaker. “We’re sure our Peach Tea cider will make a great addition to all your summer occasions”.

“At the Tea Lounge, we push the boundaries of the ways to enjoy tea. We are happy to work with Nine Pin to allow people another avenue to enjoy this versatile ingredient,” said Matt Zacharewicz, co-owner, Short and Stout Tea Co.

Peach Tea cans are available in 12 oz. four-packs at the Nine Pin tasting room and online and has an ABV of 6.3 percent.

They will be available in retailers across New York State starting June 14.

Orders can be placed below!

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Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery, announces the release of its limited edition Pride Can in observance of LGBTQ Pride Month. For the third year in a row, a portion of the sales from each case sold will be donated to support the Columbia County-based LGBTQ non-profit OutHudson and Albany based In Our Voice Inc.

Nine Pin shows its full support of the LGBTQ community with the release of these limited-edition Pride Cans. The limited release features an annually updated Pride Flag design proudly wrapped around a 12 oz can. Remarkable Liquids, the leading craft beverage distributor in New York State who also carries Nine Pin Cider's products, also will add to Nine Pin's donation to these two organizations. OutHudson’s mission is to improve the quality of life and advance the visibility of LGBTQ people in Columbia County. The donation will help organize various social and educational LGBTQ events such as movie screenings, intergenerational programming, potlucks, discussion groups, youth/teen support groups, drag brunches, author/poetry readings, Drag Queen Story Time, community town halls, educational workshops, and HIV/AIDS programming. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual OutHudson Pride Parade is canceled.

In Our Own Voices mission is to work for and ensure the physical, mental, spiritual, political, cultural and economic survival and growth of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people of color communities. “OutHudson is very thankful for the generosity of Nine Pin Cider's Pride Can donation,” said Rich Volo, president, OutHudson. “The funds raised contribute to the OutHudson Scholarship program, providing Columbia County youth with funds for college, as well as additional LGBTQ programming and events throughout Columbia County. We are truly grateful for all the work Nine Pin Cider does for the LGBTQ community in Columbia County.”

“OutHudson and In Our Own Voices are tremendous organizations that have done amazing work for our LGBTQ community,” said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cidermaker. “We are proud to support their cause.”

Pride Cans will be available for sale at Nine Pin’s tasting room located at 929 Broadway in Albany and online at ninepincider.com starting Thursday, June 3. The cider will be available in 12 oz. four-packs and has an ABV of 6.7 percent.

For more information about Nine Pin Cider or to place orders, please visit our online store on ninepincider.com.

Full Story by Emily Kovach of Cider Culture

Read the full story by Steve Barnes, head writer of Table Hopping in Times Union.

(Beacon, NY, May 7, 2021) – Cider Week New York 2021, produced by the New York Cider Association, kicks off for the spring on May 15th and runs through Memorial Day weekend, May 31st. For the first time ever, Cider Week events will be hosted across the entire state. There are a variety of events including both in-person and virtual tastings, dinner pairings, panel conversations, cider seminars, orchard tours, cider yoga sessions, and more. For more information, a listing of the 37 cidery participants, the event calendar, and where to buy cider, visit www.ciderweeknewyork.com. Virtual Cider Week programming can be viewed at New York Cider Association TV Channel on YouTube.

Directly tied to New York’s agricultural cash crop of apples, cider in New York has seen an unprecedented growth explosion of over 450% over the past ten years and now has a $1.6 billion economic impact to the NY state economy. With over 140 producers making over 5 million gallons of cider every year, New York continues to rank first in the country for the number of cider producers.

Presenting Sponsor, Marianne Brennan of Beak & Skiff/1911 Established says, "The Beak & Skiff/1911 Established families have been building and supporting the apple industry in New York State for over 100 years, so it is a natural evolution to now be a part of Cider Week as a Presenting Sponsor. As a farm and cider producer, we are proud to contribute to the growing hard cider industry and the people that make it so fun and rewarding. Along with the New York Cider Association, we look forward to educating experienced and novice cider drinkers through creative virtual and in person events.”

Following is just a sampling and highlights of Cider Week New York 2021 events:

AN INTIMATE EVENING AT 1911 ESTABLISHED – A TASTING AND DINING EXPERIENCE

Wednesday, May19th from 6pm to 8pm - As a presenting sponsor of New York Cider Week, 1911 Established is hosting a special night with Head Cidermaker, Yann Fay, and new Executive Chef, Carl Helgersen, to guide attendees through a 1911Cider & Spirits tasting and food pairing. Attendees will also get a firsthand account of the rich heritage behind Beak & Skiff with a talk from 5th-generation company president himself, Eddie Brennan. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-intimate-evening-with-1911-tickets-153536952157.

Beak & Skiff & 1911Tasting Room, 2708 Route 20, LaFayette NY, 13084 (Finger Lakes Region)

CIDER AND PAELLA BY THE POND AT TWIN STAR ORCHARDS

Sunday, May 16from 1pm to 2pm - Join for delicious Seafood Paella, made with shrimp, calamari, chicken and chorizo, perfect when paired with Brooklyn Cider House’s Raw or Little Wild cider. The usual wood-fired pizzas and burgers will be also be available along with craft cider and local beer and wine. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance at https://www.twinstarorchards.com/menu.

Brooklyn Cider House, 155 N Ohioville Rd #3402,New Paltz NY, 12561 (Hudson Valley)

CIDER APERITIF WITH SOUTH HILL CIDER AND ISIGNY STE-MÈRE

Monday, May 17from 4pm to 6pm - Join for a cider Aperitif hour with Isigny Ste-Mère dairy cooperative from Normandy, France. Learn about the century old dairy cooperative from the French cider capital. Offerings include a special paired cider flight showcasing French style ciders with traditional cheeses from Isigny Ste-Mère. Normandy is known for the high quality of its milk and there will be pairings with their cheese, butter and cream with South Hill ciders. Free to attend. Formore information, visit https://www.southhillcider.com.

South Hill Cider,550 Sanbank Rd, Ithaca NY, 14850 (Finger Lakes)

URBAN TREE GRAFTING NIGHT AT NINE PIN CIDER

Monday, May 17from 5pm to 6pm - Live tree grafting event in front of Nine Pin’s tasting room. Learn about tree grafting from Michael Leidy, a local Cider Enthusiast and Treekeeper. During the presentation, Mr. Leidy will graft cuttings from various cider apple varieties on to the ornamental crab apple trees in front of the cidery with the goal of creating a “frankentree”. Learn about specific cider apple varieties and how they are propagated. Free to attend. For more information, visit https://www.ninepincider.com/tasting-room.

Nine Pin Cider, 929 Broadway, Albany NY, 12207 (Capital Region)

OUTDOOR PATIO LAUNCH AND LIMITED-EDITION TREASURY CIDER CYSER TASTING

Saturday, May 22from 11am to 5pm - Join at Treasury Cider, Fishkill Farms for the season re-opening of the outdoor patio bar with a special sneak preview of upcoming Treasury Cider’s new Cyser. Food will be available and live music on the patio, as well. Reservations

are strongly recommended and can be made at https://www.fishkillfarms.com/.

Treasury Cider, 9 Fishkill Farm Rd, HopewellJunction NY, 12533 (Hudson Valley)

STRETCH THEN SIP AT PENNINGS FARM CIDERY

Saturday, May 22 from 11am to 11:45am - Celebrate Cider Week New York at Pennings Farm Cidery. In partnership with Jenese of Lotus Yoga and Wellness, enjoy a relaxing outdoor yoga class on the hill and some delicious cider! Purchase of a ticket includes the yoga class and one cider following the class. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit penningscidery.com.

PenningsCidery, 4 Warwick Turnpike, Warwick NY, 10990 (Hudson Valley)

NAKED FLOCK CIDER COCKTAIL CLASS ON FACEBOOK LIVE

Saturday, May 22at 6pm - Join Michele and Dylan for a special Cider Week edition of Naked Flock’s Facebook Live show where they will discuss some of the cider cocktails on their seasonal menu!

Cider cocktails are also available for purchase at Naked Flock’s tasting room Wednesday –Sunday 11am-5pm. For more information, visit exploretock.com/applewoodwinery. FREE.

Applewood Winery and Naked Flock Cider, 82 Four Corners Rd. Warwick NY, 10990 (Hudson Valley)

HISTORY OF APPLES AND CIDER IN SULLIVAN COUNTYWITH JOHN CONWAY

Sunday, May 23at 4pm - Join local historian and columnist John Conway for an overview of the roles that apples, cider and cider making have played in the lives, culture and agriculture of Sullivan County over time. FREE to attend. For more information, visit https://www.seminaryhill.co.

Seminary Hill Orchard &Cidery Tasting Room, 43 Wagner Lane, Callicoon NY, 12723 (Catskills)

AMERICAN CIDER, TASTE & TALK

Wednesday, May26 from 7pm to 8pm - Join Heritage Radio Network online, in celebrating the debut of “American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historic Beverage” by Daniel Pucci and Craig Cavallo. The first of its kind, the book chronicles the history of cider making in the United States, offering essential knowledge on what to drink and where the cider market is heading. The authors will dive into history and flavor in conversation with Jimmy Carbone, host of the award- winning HRN podcast, Beer Sessions Radio. In the second half of this event, Pucci and Cavallo will be joined by Angry Orchard’s head cider maker Ryan Burke for myth-busting about this beverage and an interactive cider tasting. Every ticket includes a copy of “American Cider” from Books are Magic. For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/american-cider-book-party-and-tasting-tickets-151734904183?aff=jimmy.

To order a cider bundle and taste along with the authors, visithttps://vinoshipper.com/shop/angry_orchard_cider_company_llc?list=

5 BORO PICNYC FEATURING CIDER ALLEY

Saturday, May 29from 11am to 4pm - Food Karma Projects, the producers of Pig Island NYC and Brisket King® NYC, are bringing you the ultimate Memorial Day barbecue and picnic, with cider! Join for a full day of ribs, vegetarian dishes and a cider alley featuring Original Sin Cider and many others. One ticket price provides all-inclusive food and drink tastings and VIP tickets are available for early admission. For more information and to buy tickets, visithttps://cookoutnyc.com.

Snug Harbor Heritage Farm, 1000Richmond Terrace, Staten Island NY, 10301 (New York City)

BLT X WÖLFFER TASTING EVENT

Ongoing through Cider Week through May 27 - BLT Restaurant Group toasts to the start of Rosé season with the introduction of a new brand partnership with Wölffer Estate, a sustainable vineyard in the heart of the Hamptons. As temperatures rise and flowers bloom in New York City, the international hospitality group is bringing Wölffer’s iconic Rosé Stand to BLT Prime to offer New Yorkers a taste of the Hamptons. The Wölffer Rosé Stand will be open to the public with three of the New York brand’s most beloved rosé products, including Wolffer’s Dry Rosé Cider. To make a reservation, visit https://www.opentable.com/r/blt-prime-new-york-2

BLT Prime, 1032 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10021(New York City)

For even more events and new events posted daily, visit www.ciderweeknewyork.com. Virtual Cider Week programming can be viewed at New York Cider Association TV Channel on YouTube.

Story by Jim Franco at Spotlight News

On Saturday, April 24 the Nine Pin Mobile Bar made a debut at a small wedding in East Greenbush.

It has been an interesting journey with the mobile bar.

As with everything, it started out as just an idea. At first it seemed so simple: let’s provide a way for people to access a unique New York cider bar at their private, outdoor events during an *almost* post-COVID summer. We sensed there was plenty of celebrating in the works to make up for a long year of social distancing and zoom gatherings.

Of course, we could have taken an easier road by buying already-to-go trailer, making some minor adjustments, and giving it a subtle Nine Pin branding touch.

But no, no, at Nine Pin we must take the road less traveled, start from scratch and create our own, unique trappings. In this spirit, we invested in a used horse trailer, and trust us, it was USED!

The first task was cleaning. If you know anything about horse care, you are aware that it is quite the messy job. To wash the aftermath is not pleasant. But we powered through, encountered a couple surprises along the way, and were finally ready for the next task, welding.

Luckily in this department, we have a good friend who owns his own welding business, Mack Daddy Fabrications. Chris Patterson is an incredibly talented welder. The only problem is that his usual welding work involves massive steel tanks in nuclear power plants; an amazing skill set to have, but a little too much skill for our little horse trailer.

Chris did amazing work on the bar, and our cider mobile is now as strong as a military grade tank, ready to go into battle. Who knows, depending on the party we attend, we may need this type of brawn!!!

After Chris completed his work, it was time to paint and refurbish the inside. Alejandro and his father, Casiano, worked around the clock to prepare for our first event. There was a bit of nail biting suspense at the end, but we were able to accomplish our goal.

All in all, it took us almost three months of hard work to get the Nine Pin Mobile Bar event-ready and we rolled into our first event fit to bring all the fun, excitement, and exceptional New York cider a wedding deserves. But wait, there’s more!  Even though the mobile bar was complete and primed to serve a slew of Nine Pin Ciders to feverish party goers, we faced a final challenge…

How do we get a full-sized horse trailer into a small suburban back yard?

The answer is three grown adults, including an incredibly good-natured groom himself, carefully backing the bar into the yard, physically lifting it at points to pivot it into place, all while trying to maneuver it around the already set up wedding tent. We managed to achieve a perfect position, though it may or may not have required deconstructing a fence in the process to fit the bar through. (Luckily the fence was easy to put back together).

So, after all the ups and downs, the question of “What have we gotten ourselves into,” and the uncertainty of whether we would actually pull this project off, we had, indeed, done it. We got the Nine Pin Mobile Bar to the wedding and immediately we knew that all of our hard work was worth it.

Tehresa and Pierre, the bride and groom, could not have been better hosts. They, like so many couples who had planned weddings in 2020, decided to get married via a private ceremony last summer. Their celebration on the 24th was an intimate gathering among their closest friends and family to commemorate the occasion that everyone missed due to the pandemic. And boy, did they make up for lost time!

The entire time we were there, there was not a frown on anyone’s face. People were just so happy to be in one another’s presence. The cider poured beautifully, and gave everyone that extra liquid courage to tear up the dance floor. I will admit, it was hard to not just jump in and join in on the fun myself, having not danced with a group since my mother’s 60th birthday party two weeks before the shutdown in 2020.

The night ended without any hiccups. We said our farewell to Tehresa and Pierre with a beaming sense of triumph, knowing our first event had gone perfectly.

And in the end, it was an Instagram message from Tehresa that truly reminded us why we had put so much work into the once beaten up horse trailer. It read simply: “Y’all seriously made our day”.

-         Joshua Whelan, Director of Marketing

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Nine Pin throws dozens of events every year (2020 excepted). They range from food pairings, tastings, craft nights, and more. Among all the fun and exciting experiences, nothing to me is more rewarding than our annual Warehouse District Clean Up, which we lead annually on the Sunday of Earth Week.

The cleanup began in 2015 with a crowd of approximately fifteen eager volunteers, ready to get their hands dirty with the promise of crisp, refreshing Nine Pin cider at the end.  

We gathered around our then relatively tiny tasting room on a bright and gorgeous spring Sunday, welcoming the warmer weather after the lingering cold of winter in Upstate New York.

We broke into teams; Nine Pin employees led their respective groups to each of the nine cleanup zones we had designated. I was assigned to a team of young women, all friends, and we made our way to clean up Manor Street. Although a small street for Albany, it sure put us to work!

At first, being assigned to group of strangers was not exactly how I envisioned my first cleanup adventure. If I was going to be picking up trash on Sunday, I wanted to be with my fellow co-workers or, even more preferably, my girlfriend (now wife).

However, it did not take long to discover the magic of the day. Before I knew it, my team and I were cracking jokes, getting to know one another, and laughing about all the literal junk we were handling. We spent only two hours together, but by the end, I felt I was part of their “girl” gang.  

When we returned to the tasting room to retrieve our complimentary cider reward, the bonding continued. Now we were joined by all the groups who had returned from the other cleanup areas. We sat outside the tasting room, sipping our ciders and trading war stories of what we had, thankfully, removed from the streets of the Warehouse District. We basked outside in the warm sun, while admiring the literal mountain of trash we had collected. Albany DGS was soon there to haul the trash away to a proper disposal site.

Fast forward six years later and our group has grown to approximately 40-50 fabulous volunteers each year.  I am delighted to have the opportunity to rekindle bonds with returning friends and to establish connections with the new faces that join us each year.  

This year I was lucky enough to meet a friendly gentleman named Wes. At first a stranger, I asked Wes to hop in the Nine Pin pickup truck with me to help retrieve the “big ticket items”. We recovered an entire couch, several rotting pallets, an old concrete fountain, and many more bulky objects, not suitable for the hefty bags that Albany DGS had donated. By the end of our mission, Wes and I were joking around and realizing our shared musical taste for classic Hip-Hop.  

We then joined other volunteers in the tasting room, and there was no denying the comradery between groups of complete strangers, all conversing about our shared experience. Just as with our first year, we all reflected on our hard work this year and how we couldn’t wait until next year’s cleanup!

• Joshua Whelan, Director of Marketing

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