We’re halfway through October, pumpkin picking is in full swing on the North Fork though apple season is already winding down.
This weekend Woodside Orchards in Aquebogue is getting into fall mode by releasing an apple-pumpkin hard cider. Also out now is another limited seasonal release, an apple-cinnamon cider, which was getting early rave reviews.
“The apple cinnamon is loved, everybody likes it,” said Woodside co-owner Bob Gammon. “The pumpkin we’re just starting to release now, so that remains to be seen.”
The apple cinnamon cider is dry with a very subtle after taste that is not at all cloying. You are still getting the cider flavor first, with just a tiny hint of cinnamon. It is the same with the apple pumpkin cider, which is has even more delicate taste with an almost floral-like flavor. Dry and crisp like the other ciders, it takes a few sips for the pumpkin flavor is detected.
Anibal Torres and his family were visiting the North Fork from North Babylon, when they stopped in to the tasting room on Friday to sample the ciders after a day of pumpkin picking.
“This is my first time out here trying the cider,” Mr. Torres said. “The cinnamon cider is sweet , but not too sweet. It has the cinnamon aftertaste, which I love. I’ve had cider in the past and have always liked it. I definitely came here specifically for the cider and I was glad that they had this because I tried all of them and the cinnamon won me over. It’s so good, I ended up getting the 64 ounce growler to go. “
“I thought it was great,” said Natalie Craven of Babylon. “It had nice cinnamon undertones, it felt like fall and it was sweeter then the other options, but not bitter. It’s a nice alternative.”
Woodside Orchards sells three standard flavors of hard cider; its traditional cider, a traditional sweet cider and an apple-rasberry flavored cider. Then during the year the cidery will release limited edition flavors that are only available for a short time period. This past summer apple ginger and apple lemon were on the tasting menu.
“The cinnamon and pumpkin are our fall seasonal releases,” explained Mr. Gammon. “We may try to do an apple-cranberry over the winter holidays. There will be other limited releases as we develop ciders that we like.”
Woodside Orchards is located at 729 Main Road in Aquebogue.
For more on their hard cider, pick up a copy of the fall 2015 edition of the Long Island Wine Press.
