Summer 2025 Release

Written by Chris Negronida, Cider Consultant

For this release, we are excited to share our first true perry. For those of you who have been enjoying our cider since the beginning, you may remember a cider called Perfect Pear. It was our first and, until now, our only attempt at fermenting pears, but it was actually a blend of apples and pears.

A true perry, which is made exclusively with pears, can be inherently unpredictable. Not only are pears fickle to grow, but they also present several challenges when it comes to fermentation. They often are high in pectin, creating pectic hazes that make clarification challenging. Many pears also have minimal acid, resulting in a high pH juice that is unstable and has an unbalanced flavor profile.

We can address this with the addition of malic acid or apples, but for the perry purist, those are both off the table. The best approach is to select pear varieties (or forage pears) with some amount of acid and/or tannin, press them quickly, choose an appropriate yeast, and then cross your fingers.

Our cider maker, Joshua Hinchman, took on this challenge this fall, using a blend of perry pears from our orchard and pears harvested from a few neighbors down the road, who were willing to contribute their bounty to the cause. The result is a perry that is complex and remarkably well balanced.  

Cider Club members will receive our perry exclusively, as well as the SHOC Still from the 2022 harvest. This cider is tannic, balanced, and very food-friendly, great for pairing with a summer picnic or charcuterie board on the deck. Rounding out the three-bottle subscription is our recently released Nicksen '23. It's the perfect summer cider: fruit-forward, sweeter, and ideal for sipping in the shade on a hot day. Six bottle shares will also be receiving our Cackling Hen '22, another easy-drinking cider for long summer days.