PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - A hard cider 10 years in the making is finally making its big debut.
East End Brewing announced Tuesday morning they are finally releasing “Along Came A Cider” on Saturday, February 18.
East End has been making the cider since 2009 but are now canning it and also making it available in kegs.
Scott Smith, owner and founder of East End Brewing says that government regulations are cider are not very clear.
“Since it’s made from pressed apple juice, the Federal Government considers cider to be wine. But if it’s under 7.5% abv, the state considers it beer. So that’s how we’ve been able to produce and sell by the Growler and glass for the last decade. Getting the approvals for packaging is more of a challenge.”
East End’s hard cider is at 6.5 percent so the company is able to make the cider with their beer license.
“We’ve made some significant improvements to our cider making process in the last year or two, and we’re really very pleased with the results. Late last year, we decided it was the right time to get all the legal stuff sorted out, so we could start offering some cans and kegs to the outlets that already carry our beer.” Guests at their Larimer Brewpub have been enjoying their cider on site for all these years, but now they’ll finally be able to take some cans of it home.
Along Came A Cider is described as a “semi-dry cider” and the apples come from apple juice from Kistaco Farms in Apollo, PA.
The gluten free brew will be available in cases and six packs at East End’s Larimer facility and their wholesale partner, Vecenie Distributing in Millvale will also be distributing cans along with draft in quarter barrels.
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