Ironbound Cider by Jersey Cider Works - popsonhops.compopsonhops.com

Ironbound Hard Cider by Jersey Cider Works, Hunterdon County, NJ

Ironbound Cider by Jersey Cider Works

A lot of my friends will drink a hard cider as a change of pace to craft beer. Typically, it’s skillfully placed near craft beer and hard to miss in better beer stores. I haven’t been a fan of cider because my experience to date has been with overly tart, artificially sweet and over carbonated ciders.

Of course by now, you are probably wondering why I have photographs of Ironbound Cider. No, I didn’t borrow the six-pack or the image from a website or someone else. I own this six-pack baby!…

Ironbound Cider by Jersey Cider Works, Asbury, NJ

…My explanation? Recently, a friend offered me one at a barbecue. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying one and the appearance was invitingly golden and very still. It turned into a “why the hell not?” moment. A few sips and I realized that this wasn’t the cider of my past experience. It didn’t make my face grimace. This one was elegant and it was much more subtle and refined than I was expecting. I judge beer by its balance and I’ll do the same with this hard cider. I’d have to call Ironbound Hard Cider really well-balanced. There was no puckering tartness and the sweetness was genuine as the apple itself. Now, I have my change of pace cider…

…By now, you know that I am a fan of labels and I typically visit brewery websites for more information. Visit Jersey Cider Works This can’s label is chock full of tidbits and I’ll touch on just a couple items. First, let’s talk about the name. Say Ironbound, I think of the Portuguese neighborhood in Newark. It doesn’t make me think of the pastoral orchards of upstate New York. Rather, I’m hopeful the apples didn’t come from somewhere in Port Newark. However, I did learn that Newark has a rich history in cider since they claim that George Washington himself praised the quality of cider that originated in Newark. Next, I’ll note that hard cider is similar in alcoholic strength to a macro brew and Ironbound has an ABV of 5.2%.

The more I learn about Ironbound and its parent – Jersey Cider Works, the more there is to like. Jersey Cider Works and its sister company, New Ark Farms, focus on job-creation for the Newark’s “chronically underemployed”. The farm is located in northern Hunterdon County and they maintain 8,000 apple trees with varieties that originated over 250 years ago in and around Newark, NJ…

Ironbound Hard Cider by Jersey Cider Works, Asbury, NJ (located in Hunterdon County)

…I’ll add one other note. When my kids were younger, we learned that much of the macro apple juice available was produced in China. We avoided this juice for fear that it was treated with unknown and possibly unsafe chemicals. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Read about their poor environmental practices and business ethics and that should be enough to turn your stomach. I like that this is locally sourced as I suspect many macro hard ciders also use the cheap and unsafe apple juice from China.

In conclusion, if you live in New Jersey and you like hard cider, there is no reason why you should not make Ironbound Hard Cider a regular purchase. Either that or continue to suffer the puckery face you get with commercially available macro ciders.

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