Ciders of SW Michigan

We took a trip to Grand Rapids last weekend, and that part of the world is cider-mad, it appears.

Aside from Greg Hall's Virtue (which is big enough to merit a sign at the Fennvile exit on Hwy 196), we sampled People's Cider Company at the GR farmer's market - they have a bourbon-barrel aged which is very dry, and a ginger variety with a wonderful fresh ginger flavor ($15 for a pint jug, $10 for a refill), and a pair at Vander Mills, which opened their second facility recently in GR. The Chapman's Blend is a dry, higher-alcohol variety, very pale in color, crisp and perfect with food, almost a brut champagne. The Loving Cup is pinkish with hibiscus and pink peppercorn adding a slight burn but a lot of flavor. (Their restaurant offers 5oz mini pours enabling sampling at lunch without falling over -- and don't miss the Ham and Doughnuts).

I saw a several other local ciders on menus including JK Scrumpy's.

Cider mad, beer mad, and now hops mad (lots of hops now edging out vineyards and blueberry fields it seems). Was happy to see basically everything you mentioned above at The Northman the other day, which has a pretty broad list of ciders with Michigan being the best-represnted state. In the old Jury's spot on Lincoln.

JeffB wrote:Cider mad, beer mad, and now hops mad

Vander Mill had hopped ciders too.

JeffB wrote:Cider mad, beer mad, and now hops mad (lots of hops now edging out vineyards and blueberry fields it seems). Was happy to see basically everything you mentioned above at The Northman the other day, which has a pretty broad list of ciders with Michigan being the best-represnted state. In the old Jury's spot on Lincoln.

The Northman, Chicago’s first cider bar, closing in North Center, but cider still pouring

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html

Eater Northman story not behind a paywall.

Several weeks ago I ran across a listing for the building plus corporation holding the liquor license (therefore transferable) but excluding the name.

Cider bar The Northman reopening as Cobblestone by Bohemian House owner
https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html