The Rising Tide OF CRAFT CIDER IN ALBERTA BY LISA LAGACE
Journey North Cider Co.
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n recent years, the appetite for an alternative to craft beer in Alberta has been growing. The province’s beverage scene is vibrant and rich, yet craft cider has rarely been top of mind for local makers. But as the cult of cider grows around the world, Alberta finds itself in the early stages of a cider boom. With every new cidery that pops up, the makings of a reliable and captivating craft cider community are starting to take root. This is due to a couple of factors — the initiative of locals to bring cider to the community, and the growing need for more options for those looking for a beverage free of gluten, or just preferring something a little lighter than beer. Alberta’s first cidery officially landed in Calgary in May of 2019. SunnyCider initially came to fruition in Calgary’s Sunnyside community, where a group
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of neighbours came together each fall to pick apples. The abundance of produce they ended up with each year created a particular challenge. After making applesauce, apple pie, and apple juice… they still had more apples than they could use. Someone brought up the idea of fermentation, and after a few years of trial and error, they landed on some cider recipes that their friends, family and neighbours were raving about. “A few of us decided that with the craft beer boom, Alberta could handle some cider,” says SunnyCider’s General Manager, Dennis Scanland. “So cider was born out of an opportunity, rather than a beverage choice.” For Tyler Crowdis, Owner of Calgarybased Bramble Cider, jumping into the craft cider business came about a little differently. When he was diagnosed
with celiac disease, his love of visiting breweries and trying all the new local brews was suddenly off the table. “I decided to take things into my own hands, with the vision of making craft ciders reminiscent of my favourite experimental craft breweries,” he says. In an effort to create his dream cider — a dry and hoppy one similar to his favourite, now off-limits, IPA’s — he started experimenting in his own kitchen. “Soon our little basement was filled with carboys. I tried different fruit flavours and interesting yeasts like Brett (Brettanomyces), again trying to emulate a brewing philosophy.” When friends and family started praising the product, he decided to quit his career in the electrical industry and start Bramble with his wife. Broken Spoke Cider came to be when neighbours James and Jenny Black and
