Stringer Family Antics: The Great Cider Tasting

Rochester, Michigan is home to four great cider mills, and for those of us who grew up here, apple cider constitutes the taste of autumn. Our four cider mills are Yates Cider Mill (our family's least favorite cider mill), located south of downtown, Rochester Cider Mill, located out on Rochester Road, Paint Creek Cider Mill, within walking distance to Cobb Creek, and our sentimental favorite, Goodison Cider Mill, also located within walking distance from Cobb Creek.

Before our Thanksgiving dinner, NanaB threw a "Cider Tasting." She procured a half gallon from each of the four cider mills, disguised the containers, and printed out evaluation sheets.

We all then tasted the ciders, noted their flavors and clarity, and rated each one. We all guessed which one was came from which cider mill, and noted our favorites.

We engaged in lively discussions about the interplay between clarity and taste, the flavors detected in each sip, how to make hard cider by hiding glass bottles of it in the woods to let it ferment. Which cider did we like best? Exit polling indicated that most believed that Goodison Cider Mill would eventually be declared the winner. Aunt Lisa tabulated the results.

Cider Number Four came in first. Even though its clarity was the best, the flavor was the strongest and liked best by most people. This is what cider is supposed to be. Cider Number Two came in second. Also with high clarity, this cider started strong, but came in after Number Four due to a weak finish to the taste and a slightly "corn syrupy" aftertaste. Cider Number Three came in third. Cider Number 3 was very murky, and had an intriguing, slightly "dusty" taste. Finally, Cider Number One clearly came in last. It's taste started light, and tasted very clearly like MacIntosh apples, but had a very watery finish. Clearly, Cider Number One was the "lightweight" of the group.

So, which cider was which? NanaB revealed the ciders.

Our winner, Cider Number Four, was from Yates Cider Mill! How could that be?
Our second place finisher, Cider Number Two, came from Rochester Cider Mill.
Our third place finisher, Cider Number Three, came from Paint Creek Cider Mill, and our sentimental favorite, Goodison Cider Mill produced the last place Cider Number One!