In 2008, Craig Campbell and his wife, Sharon, began experimenting with making cider from dessert apples grown in their 400-acre commercial fruit orchards in Yakima, Washington. Despite naysayers who warned that cider apples required a maritime climate, Craig also planted a two-acre test orchard with 25 varieties of cider apples. Today, their two-acre experiment expanded into Cider View, a 30-acre “high-density” cider orchard. In their commercial cidery, Tieton Cider Works, their head cidermaker/operations manager of nearly 15 years Marcus Robert blends American heritage, English and French cider varietals with dessert apples to capture the best of what each variety brings to the cider: sweetness, acidity, tannin, and aroma. It’s Monday, which means Peaks & Pints offers an in-house flight of cider. This week, we’re featuring Tieton Cider Works in a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Monday Cider Flight: Tieton Cider Works.
Peaks and Pints Monday Cider Flight: Tieton Cider Works
Tieton Rum Barrel Pear
6.9% ABV
Tieton knows pears. It has the double platinum Perry Pear medal to prove it. They know how to fine-tune the growing and pressing process of unique, highly acid and tannic pears. Their Rum Barrel Pear proves it with ripe floral pear notes combining with an oaky barrel character for vanilla and a hint of spice, plus a bright effervescent finish.
Tieton Bourbon Barrel Peach
6.9% ABV
Tieton blends American heritage, English and French cider varietals with dessert apples to capture the best of what each variety brings to the bottle: sweetness, acidity, tannin and aroma. Their popular Bourbon Barrel Peach cider was aged in previously used Dry Fly bourbon barrels. Aging in bourbon barrels gives the cider deep, rich notes of vanilla and spice.
Tieton Imperial Raspberry
8.4% ABV
Tieton’s Imperial Raspberry is a blend of fresh pressed orchard grown apples and Northwest raspberries for a perfect balance of tart and sweet. Pouring as a crisp shade of ruby, you may trace a tart fruity acidity on the palate as it finishes with a rich raspberry bite.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
