Blog : Starcut

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

 

Starcut Ciders Tap Feature at Continental Fire Co.

Starcut Ciders Tap Feature at Continental Fire Co.

Friday, October 9th, Continental Fire Co. will be bringing you a pairing event featuring Starcut Ciders by Short’s Brewing and vegan artisan cheeses by Miyoko’s Kitchen. It doesn’t matter whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, lactose intolerant, or not, because these hard ciders are top-notch and these cashew-based cheeses are rich, delicious flavor bombs. Trust us, we only want to serve you super yummy things!
Tickets are limited. Buy tickets online at cfco.storenvy.com or in person at The Continental Fire Co. during regular business hours.
Cider List:
Vander Fest

Vander Fest

vander fest (1)

Starcut Ciders will be making their Vander Fest debut on October 3, in Spring Lake, MI. We will be pouring both Octorock and Squishy and talking all things Starcut with fest goers. Stop by the Starcut Ciders booth to share a Northern Michigan crafted cider. Cheers!

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.

Lucky’s Market Guided Cider Tasting

Lucky’s Market Guided Cider Tasting

This is our first cider tasting in Ann Arbor! To celebrate the release of Starcut Ciders in bottles, Short’s Brewing Company Liberator, Pauline will taste out Octorock and Pulsar at Lucky’s market. This is a free tasting and a great way to enjoy Short’s newest brand, Starcut.

Mid Mitten Cider Fest

Mid Mitten Cider Fest

On Saturday, September 12, we will be at Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns for the Mid Mitten Cider Fest! We will be pouring Starcut Ciders Octorock, Pulsar, and Squishy! Swing by the Starcut booth for some cider liberation. Bring the whole family to enjoy the corn maze, wagon and train rides, gemstone mining, and the Jumping Pillow. We cannot wait to see you there!

Tap List:

 

Cider Dayze

Cider Dayze

Join us at the First Annual Cider Dayze Festival in Armada for craft beer and cider, live music, local cuisine, and many fun games and activities. We will be setting up camp at Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill for the weekend, so don’t forget to stop by the Short’s and Starcut Ciders booths and enjoy a cold one with us! We will see you there.

Tap List:

  • Erraticus
  • Pulsar
  • Squishy
  • Octorock
Food Dance 20th Anniversary

Food Dance 20th Anniversary

Our friend’s at Food Dance are celebrating 20 years as part of a growing and vibrant local food community. Food Dance is hosting two give-back events to celebrate and honor the farmers, producers, staff and community that have been essential to their success and growth. Join us in their main parking lot on the corner of Pitcher St. and Water St- from 12-4p we’ll be pouring Starcut Cider’s for you to sample and enjoy.

Tap List:

  • Pulsar
  • Octorock
  • Squishy