Merridale Cider Tasting at Salt

On Monday November 1st, I attended the Merridale Cidery tasting as part of The Salt Cellar Series at Salt Tasting Room.  Janet Docherty and Rick Pipes, proprietors of Merridale Ciderworks were on hand and I was fortunate to sit with them, enchanted to learn more about their company and the products they master.

Rick Pipes of Merridale Ciderworks

The long communal table filled with about 25 guests all had the opportunity to discover the delicious drinks that hail from Vancouver Island’s orchards as we paired the cider with rich, artisanal cheeses and local charcuterie from delis such as J N & Z and Oyama Sausage Company.

Round 1 –we tasted these 3 ciders: Cidre Normandie, Scrumpy & Traditional

Round 1

Round 1 with pairings

In the first round of 3 ciders, my favourite was Scrumpy with the Compte cheese & Cipollini Onions

Round 2 – we tasted these 3 ciders: House, Merri Berri & Cyser

Round 2

Round 2 with Pairings

In round 2, my favourite was the Cyser cider paired with the Similkameen honey

Scrumpy. Cyser. Pippin. If these terms are familiar to you, you may have enjoyed a frosty glass of traditional, English cider at some point. Here in BC, it is rare to find the dry, spicy flavours that are embraced by authentic British cider producers. Merridale Cidery, on Vancouver Island, is one of the few orchards that is dedicated to real cider and showcases the drink’s potential.

Merridale Cidery can be found online at http://www.merridalecider.com/about

Salt Tasting Room is in Blood Alley, Gastown  or online at http://www.salttastingroom.com

By: Richard Wolak

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