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Thanksgiving Made Fresh with Starcut Ciders

Thanksgiving Made Fresh with Starcut Ciders

Thanksgiving Shopping List
Cranberries
Corn
Ham
Turkey
Onions
Potatoes
Green Beans
Butter
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Cider !

That’s right, this year we’re adding cider to our Thanksgiving shopping list, and you should too! According to Short’s Brewing Company Head Chef,  Luke Meredith (and satisfied bellies everywhere), hard ciders like Octorock and Pulsar are prime for cooking. And not just sipping while prepping, we’re talking replacing or adding cider into to cooking liquids and incorporating its fresh apple taste into sauces and marinades.

Luke took a moment to share three cider Thanksgiving recipes that are ready for the big time. Add a couple six packs of your favorite Starcut Ciders varieties to your shopping list and let the cooking (and sipping) begin!

 

Cider Gravy

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Octorock
  • 4 cups turkey stock
  • 2 onions (finely chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage or 3/4 teaspoon dried
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:

  1. Melt the butter in a skilled and add the onions, sweat until soft (about 5 minutes).
  2. Sprinkle the flour over the butter/onion mixture and cook on medium for 5 more minutes, stirring every minute or so.
  3. Add the Octorock and turkey stock and bring the mixture to a simmer, then turn the heat to low and cook for another 20 minutes (gravy will thicken).
  4. Finally, add the chopped sage and season with salt and pepper.

 

Cider Brine for Turkey

  • 4 cups apple cider
  • 4 cups Pulsar
  • 2 cups coarse salt, plus more for seasoning
  • 1/2 cup dark-brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon whole allspice
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 4 sprigs fresh oregano
  • 2 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 gallon ice water

Directions:

  1. Add all ingredients, except the last five, to a large stock pot and bring to a boil
  2. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10-15 minutes
  3. Add remaining ingredients, including ice water, and cool
  4. Strain mixture, and it’s ready to go

 

Hard Cider Braised Kale

Ingredients:

  • 8 quarts of dinosaur kale that has been de-stemmed and cleaned
  • 2 large yellow onions (sliced)
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped garlic
  • 2 sticks of unsalted butter
  • 1 quart of Octorock
  • 1 cup of chicken stock
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a large dutch oven, melt the butter, then add the onions and garlic and cook on low heat until they are soft.
  2. Start adding in the kale, by the handful, until it all fits in the pot
  3. Add the Octorock and chicken stock and cover with a lid, cook on low heat for 45 minutes to an hour, then season with salt and pepper

 

The Wait Is Over, Starcut Ciders Bottles Now Available!

The Wait Is Over, Starcut Ciders Bottles Now Available!

The day has finally arrived – Starcut Ciders is now available on Michigan store shelves! Originally introduced at Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, MI in the fall of 2014, you’ve been able to enjoy our ciders on tap across the state throughout the summer. Now you can enjoy one straight from the bottle!

This week we will begin the distribution of two flagship varieties; Octorock, a semi-sweet cider and Pulsar, a semi-dry cider. Our first seasonal release, Squishy, a semi-sweet cider made from a late season blend of apples, Balaton, and Montmorency cherries, will also be available on store shelves following the flagship release. Our ciders will be packaged in 12-ounce bottles in six-pack carriers.

The label illustrations for both Starcut Ciders flagships and Squishy were completed by artist and designer, Don Pendleton. Most widely recognized for his portfolio of skateboard graphics and for the album artwork for Pearl Jam’s tenth studio album, Lightning Bolt, Pendleton was approached by Starcut this past winter. According to Short’s Art Director, Jesse Den Herder, “It was important to create a memorable icon for each of these ciders. Don’s work is so unique and was a perfect vehicle to express the personality of each cider.”  

When asked about working with Starcut Ciders, Don explained “It’s exciting to see what is being done with craft cider and to witness this swell of independent companies who are focusing on creativity and injecting their own personal taste and style into the product. Having been a part of skateboarding since the ‘80s and seeing that industry being driven by smaller brands and unique perspectives, it’s very reminiscent of the DIY spirit I grew up with. It’s always great to see people who are passionate about something doing what they love and putting so much into every detail, whether it’s the taste, the quality, or the packaging.”

Starcut Ciders is distributed by Imperial Beverage, who has distributed Short’s beer for over a decade. Find Starcut Ciders on tap and at stores near you using our Starcut Ciders locator.

 

Cherry pickin’ for Squishy at King Orchards

Cherry pickin’ for Squishy at King Orchards

Squishy, our first ever seasonal bottle release (a semi-sweet cider made with Michigan cherries) is making its way to stores in the coming weeks alongside our flagship ciders, Pulsar and Octorock. Made with cherries from our own backyard (no seriously, these cherries are grown at King Orchards, just a short bike ride), Squishy will be reppin’ Antrim county flavors state-wide. So it only seems fitting that we talk a little more about the fruit behind the flavors right? Right!

Made with two varieties of tart cherries, Squishy’s signature flavor comes from the use of Montmorency (a traditional cooking cherry, most likely you’ll recognize this cherry from your Great Aunt Sue’s famous cherry pie) and Balaton (a Hungarian cherry that is relatively new to the Northern Michigan cherry scene) cherry juice.

We source the juice for Squishy from King Orchards, a first generation orchard and farm with its roots in Central Lake, MI. Pioneered by Jim and John King and their families, their operation includes u-pick orchards, two farm markets, and commercial fruit and cherry concentrate sales. Jack and Courtney King, members of the next generation of the King Orchards family, took us on a tour of their original M-88 orchard just outside of Central Lake on a busy Saturday at the end of cherry season where we had the opportunity to talk all things fruit and cider.

Outside of cherries, King Orchards also grows apples, apricots, pears, peaches, nectarines, and vegetables in Antrim county. Their location in the northern portion of Michigan’s famed cherry growing region is beautiful (you can see Lake Michigan from portions of their M-88 market), beneficial (the rolling hills, climate, and soil of Antrim county lend themselves to growing cherries and other stone fruit), and at times, trying. In particular the threat of late frosts and the cold and bitter winters of late have tested not only King Orchards, but many throughout the region. But when you walk up the hill at their M-88 orchard past rows of apricot, peach, and seemingly limitless lines of cherry trees and you turn around to breathtaking views of rolling hills and Lake Michigan, you really understand why it is this family chose this path.   

We think King Orchards is pretty cool. And if you’ve had a squishy, you know that they mean business when it comes to growing the juiciest, tastiest cherries. When asked for the secret to their cherry juice concentrate, Jack King answered that simply leaving the fruit to ripen on the branch for as long as possible is the most important aspect. While it might not be much of a “secret,” it really speaks to the care and attention that the King family imparts in all they do. Jack’s sentiments and the goals of King Orchards really echo the commitment we’ve made to crafting a beverage we believe in that showcases the beauty of our home.

So the next time you enjoy a Squishy on tap or in our brand spankin’ new bottles, take pride in knowing that this ruby red, semi-sweet cider is made with only the choicest of cherries from our Antrim county neighbors.

Find Starcut Ciders During Traverse City Cider Week

Find Starcut Ciders During Traverse City Cider Week

We’re thrilled to be participating in the inaugural Traverse City Cider Week taking place at various Traverse City locations August 16th – 23rd, 2015.  In addition to Traverse City bars and restaurants that currently pour our ciders on tap, you’ll be able to find Starcut Ciders at these TC Cider Week events:

Cider and Sausage Salon
Wednesday, August 19th, 2015, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Historic Barns Park (1500 Red Drive, Traverse City, MI), at the newly renovated Cathedral Barn.

7 Monks Cider Tap Feature
Thursday, August 20th, 2015, 5:00 pm
7 Monks Taproom, 128 S Union St. Traverse City, MI
Tap List:

Find Starcut Ciders in your Neck of the Woods

Find Starcut Ciders in your Neck of the Woods

The wait is over Michigan! We are happy to announce that Starcut Ciders will now be available on tap throughout the State. It’s exciting to be able to share the Starcut love now, and extend distribution outside of our home in Northern Michigan. Starting today and continuing throughout the week, our cider will be making its way into new bars, restaurants, and taprooms in every corner of the state.

Starcut Ciders made its debut at the Short’s Brewing Company pub last fall. This made for many happy Northern Michiganders, and we couldn’t wait to spread that cheer with the rest of the state. We have increased production, in order to meet demand from consumers.

Making ciders with fruit grown on Michigan farms has been a rewarding process, and according to Tony Hansen, Head Cider Maker (and Short’s Head Brewer), supporting local agriculture will continue to be at the helm of all Starcut does.“One of my primary motivations to produce Starcut Ciders has always been to use the fruit from our local farms. I want to highlight Northern Michigan as a cider destination, support our neighboring farms, and help preserve the Northern Michigan agricultural landscape that so many of us love.” Starcut will continue to source as many apples as possible from the local farmers with which we have established rewarding relationships.

Starcut Ciders will be distributed statewide by Imperial Beverage, who has distributed Short’s beer for over a decade. The ciders will be available on tap at select locations beginning this week.

Use our Starcut Ciders locator to find Starcut in your neck of the woods.

Let us know what you think, use #StarcutState on social media and get in on all the buzz!

Find Starcut Ciders in Northern Michigan

Find Starcut Ciders in Northern Michigan

Starcut Ciders are available on tap at select locations in Northern Michigan (Grand Traverse, Antrim, and Charlevoix counties) beginning on February 11th, 2015. Check below for a list of restaurants and bars carrying Starcut Ciders on tap.

 February 11th, 2015

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Cider to be tapped at 10:00 am.
100 Grand Traverse Resort Village Boulevard,
Williamsburg, MI 49690
(231) 534-6000

Red Mesa Grill Traverse City
Blazar to be Tapped at 11:00 am.
1544 US 31 N
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 938-2773

Fire Fly
Cider to be tapped at 11:45 am.
310 Cass St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 932-1310

Trattoria Stella
Cider to be tapped at 12:30 pm.
1200 W 11th St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 929-8989

The Franklin
Navi to be tapped at 1:00 pm.
160 East Front St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 943-2727

Poppycocks
Cider to be tapped at 1:30 pm.
128 E Front St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 941-7632

U and I Lounge
Cider to be tapped at 2:00 pm.
214 East Front St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 946-8932

Bubba’s
Cider to be tapped at 2:30 pm.
428 E Front St.,
Traverse City, MI
(231) 995-0570

The Little Fleet
Navi to be tapped at 3:00 pm.
448 East Front St.,
Traverse City, MI 49686

7 Monks
Tabula Rasa, Navi, and Blazar to be tapped at 3:30 pm.
128 S. Union St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 421-8410

Hofbrau
Cider to be tapped at 4:30 pm.
2784 M 137
Interlochen, MI 49643
(231) 276-6979

Mr C’s Pub & Grill
Oktorok to be tapped at 5:30 pm.
9009 M-72 E
Williamsburg, MI 49690
(231) 267-3300

Alden Bar
Tabula Rasa to be tapped at 6:15 pm.
9149 Helena Rd.,
Alden, MI 49612
(231) 331-6214

Siren Hall
Cider to be tapped at 7:00 pm.
151 River St.,
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
(231) 264-6062

Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen
Cider to be tapped at 7:30 pm.
617 Ames St.,
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
(231) 264-0530

February 12th, 2015
Boyne Mountain
Cider to be tapped at 11:00 am.
1 Boyne Mountain Rd.,
Boyne Falls, MI 49713
(231) 549-6000

Cafe Sante
Minerva to be tapped at 12:00 pm
1 Water St.,
Boyne City, MI
(231) 582-8800

Red Mesa Grill Boyne City
Octorok to be tapped at 12:30 pm.
117 Water St.,
Boyne City, MI
(231) 582-0049

Bridge Street Taproom
Cider to be tapped at 1:30 pm.
202 Bridge St.,
Charlevoix, MI 49720
(231) 437-3466

Mitchell Street Pub
Tabula Rasa to be tapped at 2:30 pm.
426 E Mitchell St.,
Petoskey, MI 49770
(231) 347-1801

City Park Grill
Cider to be tapped at 3:00 pm.
432 East Lake St.,
Petoskey, MI 49770
(231) 347-0101

Stafford’s The Noggin Room Pub
Cider to be tapped at 3:30 pm.
100 Lewis St.,
Petoskey, MI 49770
(231) 347-4000

Blue Pelican
Cider to be tapped at 5:00 pm.
2535 Main St.,
Central Lake, MI 49622
(231) 544-2583

Timberline Shanty
Cider to be tapped at 5:45 pm.
5820 Shanty Creek Rd.,
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-9094

Starlight Lounge
102 South Bridge Ln.,
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-6262

Lulu’s
Cider to be tapped at 6:15 pm
213 N Bridge St.,
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-5252

Bellaire Bar
Dundela to be tapped at 7:00 pm.
217 N Bridge St.,
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-6536

 

 

*Times and ciders are subject to change.

Starcut Ciders Available On Tap in Northern Michigan Beginning February 11th, 2015

Starcut Ciders Available On Tap in Northern Michigan Beginning February 11th, 2015

We are excited to announce distribution plans for our ciders. Beginning next Wednesday, February 11th, 2015, we will be distributing our ciders in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska, Antrim, Emmet, and Charlevoix counties in Northern Michigan. Later this year we hope to expand distribution to include neighboring counties, and eventually the entire state.  We expect to release our first bottled cider this coming fall.

Tabula Rasa, a pub favorite as well as 6 new cider varieties (NaviDundela, Octorok, Minerva, Memento, and Blazar) will be tapped at restaurants and bars on February 11th and 12th, 2015. You can see the full list of bars and restaurants carrying Starcut Ciders on tap here.

Although production and distribution of our ciders is currently limited, if your establishment is interested in carrying Starcut Ciders, wherever you reside in Michigan, please fill out a brief form at http://starcutciders.com/waitinglist/.

Starcut’s Spectacular Ciders

Starcut’s Spectacular Ciders

Ready to savor the sweet nectar of Northern Michigan Orchards?  Then look no further than Starcut Ciders.  Join us at the Short’s Brewing Company pub November 14th – 16th, 2014 to taste these 10 delicious ciders.

 Enjoy our ciders and be sure to let us know what you think! Follow Starcut Ciders on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 Aurora Borealis
A sweet cider made from apples picked and pressed while frozen, and then aged in Bourbon Barrels for 9 months. Pouring a nice bright yellow color with pleasant perfume filled aromatics that include traces of vanilla and mint. A sizable sweetness full of apricot and melon flavors give way to hints of banana and some nutty walnut qualities.  Charred oak and a wine-like alcohol presence linger in the finish.

Featuring apples from Jeff Dewey
9.7% ABV

 White Skies
A sweet golden colored Perry fermented with English Ale yeast and aged in White Oak barrels.  Appealing toasted caramel aromatics flow pleasantly into moderate fruit and honey flavors.  The overall body is light with a minimal amount of acidity.
8.8% ABV

Jasper’s Astro
Semi-dry blend of a White Oak aged Perry and a cider made with apples from Boals Orchards.  Enticing toffee aromas lead into sweet pear fruit flavors with a satisfying fullness. The finish is sufficiently dry with a low level of acidity.

Featuring apples from Boals Orchards
8.4% ABV

Moonage Daydream
A late season blend of apples from Friske Orchards, aged in medium toasted White Oak barrels.  Slightly hazy with a pale yellow-white color and tangy acidic apple aromas.  Big tart lemony flavors create a notable bitterness that finishes pleasantly dry.

Featuring apples from Friske Orchards
6.7% ABV

Johnny Five
A medium sweet blend featuring Rhode Island Greenings from Boals Orchards.  A bouquet of apple skin, tartness, yeast esters, with hints of alcohol gather atop this straw colored cider. Tangy and bitter sour apple flavors are balanced by some sweet fruitiness and a medium dryness.

Featuring apples from Boals Orchards
9.4% ABV

Tabula Rasa
A pale orange medium sweet cider blended with apples from Altonen and King Orchards.  Fragrant tart green apples aromas are followed by some cantaloupe and melon flavors.  With hardly any bitterness or acidic intensity, the finish contains a lively cleansing effervescence with a trace of spice.

Featuring apples from Altonen Orchards and King Orchards
5.9% ABV

Magpie
A sweet cider made exclusively with Jonathan apples from Boals Orchards.  Aromas of brown sugar, syrup and baked apples are followed by similar sugary flavors throughout.  A pleasant balance is achieved through the right amount of acidity, creating a dry finish.

Featuring apples from Boals Orchards
5.5% ABV

Rustic Sheen
A medium sweet blend of Jonathan apples from Boals Orchards and Ida Reds from Friske Orchards.  Light fruit filled aromas compliment candy apple sweet and bitter flavors, in this pale yellow cider.  Complete with a satisfying richness and a lasting dryness.

Featuring apples from Boals Orchards and Friske Orchards
5.9% ABV

Funkadelic Facemelter
A dry cider with high acid levels made exclusively with Rhode Island Greenings from Boals Orchards. Delicate grassy aromas with hints of anise lead into big tangy citrus and sour fruit flavors.  A mouth puckering dryness dominates the finish.

Featuring apples from Boals Orchards
8% ABV

Radio Friendly
A sweet cider made with a late season blend from Friske Orchards. Straw yellow in color with a very light body and unique flower-like aromatics. Subtle berry flavors mix with a light bitterness producing a mellow finish that’s moderately dry.

Featuring Apples from Boals Orchards
5.9% ABV

Short’s Brewing Company Announces New Brand, Starcut Ciders

Short’s Brewing Company Announces New Brand, Starcut Ciders

Bellaire, Mich. – Short’s Brewing Company, Michigan’s largest craft brewery announces a new division of their company called Starcut Ciders.  Born out of a desire to showcase the beauty of Northern Michigan, Short’s announces this new division of the company designated to crafting hard cider made from fruits grown in Northern Michigan.

A project spearheaded by Short’s Head Brewer, Tony Hansen, Starcut Ciders is not a new concept.  In fact, Hansen’s first foray into the craft-beverage industry was fermenting wines and cider made with fruit from his father’s grove.  “I saw a lot of potential in those fruit trees and I felt compelled to transform that fruit into something valuable.  I still feel that way when I look at all of the orchards we have here in Antrim county,” said Hansen.

The name “Starcut Ciders” is indicative of the creative spirit embodied in both divisions of the company and refers to the pattern revealed when an apple is cut across the middle to reveal a star shape created by the fruit’s seeds.  Hansen is quick to point out that an apple’s seeds are not true to type – meaning that if planted, the seeds from one apple may grow a completely different variety of apple tree.  A metaphor of sorts, Starcut Ciders are sure to be as unique as the apple’s they are crafted with.

While the entire Short’s family is excited to begin pouring this new beverage at the Pub in Bellaire, they are also excited to see this company’s impact on the community.  With a commitment to using apples and fruits from Antrim county, Starcut Ciders sees this as a way to further invigorate the agricultural community in their own backyard.

Join Short’s at the Pub November 14th, 15th, and 16th to celebrate the introduction of Starcut Ciders.  10 ciders will be on tap (alongside 10 of Short’s delicious beers).  There will be live music Friday with Kellerville taking the stage at 8:00 pm, followed by Seth Bernard and Dan Rickabus on Saturday at 8:00 pm.

For more information about Starcut Ciders please visit http://starcutciders.com/.

###

Short’s Brewing Company
Bridgett Beckwith
Director of Marketing
231 498 2300 x 174
bridgett@shortsbrewing.com

Introducing Starcut Ciders

Introducing Starcut Ciders

Beginning November 14th, 2014, join us for the Starcut Ciders Spectacular at Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, MI.  10 brand new ciders will be on tap from November 14th, 2014 – November 16th, 2014.  Featuring live music by Kellerville on November 14th beginning at 8:00 pm and by Seth Bernard & Dan Rickabus on November 15th beginning at 8:00 pm.

Starcut Kickoff on November 14