1623
America’s first apple trees are planted in New England by William Blackstone, a British settler and quite the eccentric. Legend has it that he once saddle-trained a bull.
1797
Founding Father John Adams commences his term in the White House, gracing it with his policy of enjoying a tankard of hard cider daily.
1840
William Henry Harrison offers supporters of his campaign free cider. He wins in a landslide. Coincidentally, landslides can be prevented by planting trees (like apple trees) along a hillside.
1863-1869
The First Transcontinental Railroad is constructed, spanning 1,907 miles from San Francisco to the Eastern U.S. Rail Network. On April 28th, 1868 the crew set a world record by laying 10 miles of track in a single day. Did they celebrate with hard cider? If they were smart they did.
1875
Andrew Carnegie opens his first steel mill in Braddock, PA. Rumor has it, the bar across the street runs out of hard cider.
1920
With cider already struggling from the winter of 1918, Prohibition is passed. Radical members of the Temperance Movement sought to destroy all alcohol production. The burning of entire apple orchards made cider particularly vulnerable. When Prohibition is repealed 13 years later, cider is its largest casualty.
2014
Smith & Forge Hard Cider is born. A hard cider made strong, in the fine tradition of making things strong. It is a sturdy drink for strong men. It is more than a cider, it is a link to your foredrinkers… a cider built to restore the grit and greatness to hard cider.
What is hard cider?
Hard cider is a strong, sturdy but not-too-sweet fermented alcoholic beverage built from the juice of apples. It’s not actually hard, as that would be impossible to drink.
Is it Gluten-Free?
Yes, it is made from apples, and not from wheat or barley, so it is naturally gluten-free. With Smith & Forge Hard Cider, those with gluten allergies may instead concentrate on fending off other health threats, like being trampled by their oxen.
We are certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. They really don’t see eye to eye with gluten.
What is the ALC/VOL?
It’s 6.0%.
Where can I find it?
Here is a map of your nearest watering holes and apothecaries.
How is it sold?
In 12 and 16-oz cans. Along with 12-oz bottles. Your biceps will express their gratitude.
Can I feed it to my canary?
No, you may not feed alcohol to animals. You may need that canary to monitor air quality in the mine shaft.
