Why Dry Cider Belongs on Your Holiday Table
The search for the perfect Thanksgiving pairing usually ends with a frantic dash down the wine aisle (I see you). But what if the drink that belongs on your table… isn't wine at all? What if it's the crisp, dry, and complex beverage that has been part of American history since the very first settlements? That drink is hard cider, and this year, it’s time to reclaim it for your holiday celebrations.
Forget the Wine: Let's Reclaim America's Original Feast Drink
At Carriage House ciders in Benton Harbor, we’re asking you to celebrate America's True First Drink: cider. Our ancestors, the colonists, didn't rely on European wines; they relied on apples. They brought barrels of apples to survive the voyage and saved the seeds to plant once they settled. By the fifth year of settlement, hard cider was the most popular drink in America, a title it held until the mid-1800s.
When you raise a glass of our dry cider, you’re not just celebrating Thanksgiving; you’re honoring an authentic tradition!
Small-Batch Quality You Can Taste…
…and tradition you can see.
For example, we combine Esopus Spitzenburg (said to be Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple) with Roxbury Russet (considered the first American cultivar) to make a Carriage House cider called Old Friends. Just like it was made in the 1700s.
We hand-crush our apples and are proud to use no additives, ever. Every apple that goes into your bottle is manually reviewed twice before crushing. This commitment to all-natural ingredients is why we are able to let wild yeast from the apple skins guide our fermentations, thereby creating unique and (sometimes!) surprising flavors.
Because of this meticulous, small-batch process, sadly, our ciders often sell out quickly. While we create popular favorites like our Hopt series, which will be fairly consistent across versions, most of our flavors are strictly limited-edition.
Our traditional methods achieve more than just great taste; they create the precise balance of acid and tannins that transform our cider into a secret weapon against rich holiday foods.
Cider’s Secret Weapon Against Rich Food
Palate Cleansing Power: Dry cider is a crisp, refreshing palate cleanser. Unlike heavy wines that leave you feeling full, the cider's tartness and low residual sugar act like a scrub, cutting through the rich flavors of gravy, turkey, and dense side dishes.
Enhances Every Bite: Dry cider resets your taste buds between bites, ensuring you can taste the nuance of every new flavor on your plate, rather than having them clash or fade.
A Lighter, Brighter Choice: Dry cider is less filling than beer and generally has a lower alcohol content than most wines. This ensures you can savor every course of your meal without feeling weighed down.
Crafted for Complexity: We specifically use high-tannin apples, like the Foxwhelp, which are too astringent to eat but make beautifully complex, dry ciders.
Honors American Heritage: We use heritage apple blends, such as in our Old Friends, made from apples like the Roxbury Russet and Esopus Spitzenburg, crafting a cider that mirrors the authentic flavors of the 1700s.
This Thanksgiving, skip the crowded wine aisle and choose the drink with American roots. Choose the perfect pairing. Choose Carriage House Ciders.
Here is a sampling of our current online selection:
Our 2023 Spirited cider took Platinum in the Great American Cider Competition this year. Pairs well with dishes like smoked fish, barbecue, or sausages.
We followed famed chef Jacques Pépin's recipe to craft our 2023 Debutant - Pét-Nat Honey Apple Wine which truly celebrates the best of Michigan. It’s a perfect complement for seafood, yet flavor-forward enough to rock a steak dinner.
WILD! 2023 is a delightful mix of wild and foraged apples blended with Wickson Crab, Baldwin, and Newtown Pippin. Pour this great bubbly for a celebration or to accompany vegetarian pastas, seafood, and poultry dishes.
Old Friends blends the Roxbury Russet (first American apple cultivar) with Esopus Spitzenburg, (Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple), in this delightful, sparkling cider with a slightly funky nose. These two old friends were known to have been used in cider even before our nation was born.
Order now! Our online inventory is full, rotating with our newest releases and seasonal favorites perfect for your Thanksgiving gathering. To see what currently is available for direct shipping to your state (including our most recent apple blends and experimental batches), visit our online shop at carriagehouse.love/vinoshipper.
Or call us at 312-961-0363 … We deliver to Southwest Michigan, Chicago and South Bend and most states! Don't let your perfect holiday pairing sell out—secure your cider today and reclaim the American table!
Thanksgiving Drinks, Dry Cider Pairing, Michigan Cider, Benton Harbor, Colonial History, American Tradition, Holiday Planning, Local Craft Beverage, Cider for Wine Drinkers.
