Crispin Hard Cider Scores A Touchdown

To some, fall weather means football. Not me. I still can’t distinguish the difference between a tight end and a tackle. Instead, the cooler temperatures and falling leaves are my signal that it is time to change my game plan and revamp my eats. Autumn’s favorite comfort foods — apples, squash, sweet potatoes and parsnips — move into the forefront; sandwiches remain a mainstay but are now accompanied with a steamy bowl of soup; and cold dinner salads make way for hearty one-dish casseroles. My beer consumption takes a nosedive, and red wine moves back into favor.
But on a Sunday afternoon when friends have gathered to watch another three-hour long, ass-slapping, dog-piling exhibit of manhood, that glass of cabernet feels mightily out of place. Enter Crispin, a naturally fermented, low-sugar, gluten-free, beer alternative. Fun and bubbly like beer, yet unlike a wine cooler, they finish crisp and clean on the palate, not sickly sweet.
Crispin Hard Cider is made from fresh pressed apple juice, not juice concentrate, with no added colors or preservatives. Its “Blue Line” is offered in original, brut and light. All three are clean and refreshing and can accompany most any dish. When half time finds you feasting on a bowl of spicy chili or munching on pork rinds, pop open a Crispin and pour it over ice.
For more sophisticated cooks, try substituting Crispin Hard Cider in practically any recipe that calls for white wine or beer. For a sure-fire touchdown (notice the football reference) brine your next batch of pork chops in Crispin for an interesting twist. (You can check out this site for more mealtime ideas, too!) And, for the novice mixologist, you’ve just added another tool to your arsenal.
Styled after classic European cider, Crispin hard ciders have roughly the same alcohol content as beer with the exception of their small-batch, hand-crafted artisanal reserves: the Honey Crisp, The Saint and the Lansdowne. These unfiltered, cloudy ciders offer complex flavors, have higher alcohol content and are uniquely American, just like football.
Are you a hard cider fan? —Karen