How can you not love Wayside Cider. Alex Wilson & Irene Hussey started Wayside Cider in 2014 after meeting at the Catskill Amateur Cider Making Contest at Table On Ten - Irene won the competition. Alex came second, but maintains to this day he "was robbed." Dude, I''m in! I had my first Wayside cider in Roxbury, NY, while driving through. Stopped into a little cafe, and there it was. Bought a bottle.
With a love of the wild and abandoned homestead apple trees, the pair made 3500 bottles of methode champenoise, unfiltered mountain cider in their first year. They sold it out in no time. They were fortunate to find a large old barn in the center of the historic Catskill town of Andes, NY which is now the home of Wayside Cider & Tap Room.
According to the cidery, Wayside Half-Wild (7% ABV) "draws its name from the unique blend of locally harvested wild apples [foraged in the Catskills] and dessert apples from the Hudson Valley." This is essentially a semi-sweet cider, with a tremedously wonderful nose, and a lovely spiciness that comes across. But there is wonderful acidity that keeps it fresh and lovely, no cloying. Fresh apples and a hint of something pretty. Super refreshing.
