Northern California has long received the lion’s share of acclaim as the state’s agricultural destination, but Southern California is garner the credentials to give it a run for its money. With historic orcharding regions like Julian, Oak Glen and Yucaipa growing heirloom apples, SoCal is showing it can produce something other than craft beer, and that seems to be cider. One of the latest to the area’s cider scene is San Diego’s Guthrie CiderWorks. Its first release, Dry, is exclusively sold in California in 22-ounce bottles, stacked with 7.7 percent ABV and is true to its name. Dry, clean, crisp with light, bright apple flavor, the finish leaves evidence of whiskey-barrel aging and a tingle of acidity on the tongue.
