In pursuit of the ideal cider to appease the masses this Thanksgiving, give a semi-sweet cider a go. While a drier style might win over your Cabernet-staunch uncle or a sweeter cider could make Grandma sing, a semi-sweet or semi-dry will help bring the family together. And at the end of the American Thanksgiving day, isn’t that the reason why we’re all here?
The folks at Meriwether Cider in Idaho know a thing about uniting relatives — dad Gig, mom Ann and daughters Kate and Molly Leadbetter all found themselves at a junction in life and it seemed the only road out was through a cidery as a family. Starting small pouring at farmers markets, Meriwether recently opened its Garden City taproom, which pours its wide offering of seasonals and one-offs alongside staples like the Strong Arm semi-sweet. “Like an apple right off the tree,” this full-bodied, juicy cider is fleshy and apple-forward in its robust fruit and semi-sweet palate. Earth, apple leaf and gentle acid shape out the profile of this pleasing, appeasing yet far-from-simple cider.
