Western Sullivan Public Library

Q&A with

Please tell us a little about yourself, why you chose Sullivan County, and specifically Youngsville for your new business, Forthright Cyder & Mead?

Hi, we’re Japheth and Michelle, a husband and wife team, and we love it here in the Sullivan Catskills. Michelle is Queens born and raised, and Japheth is from Sussex Co, NJ. We discovered the area when Michelle’s parents moved here 5 years ago, and we made the full time move in 2018 to start our business. We opened August 2020, not the best timing but after 1.5 years on permits and paperwork, we had to get the doors open (figuratively speaking, since we were outside in a tent...).

We chose Youngsville primarily for the location! We’re 5 minutes from Jeffersonville, or a little longer by bike, and this whole area is seeing a lot of exciting revitalization. And since we’re on Rt 52, we’re just a quick drive from Callicoon, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Bethel, etc.

How did you get started in this industry? Was it a passion that grew?

Japheth worked at an apple orchard as a kid, where he tasted his first alcohol: apple jack. He began making cysers as a hobbyist with Michelle in our first apartment together in Astoria, Queens. After several attempts that were just vinegar, we created a method and recipe with consistent results.

To get unbiased feedback as amateurs, we began entering homebrew competitions. Then, surprisingly to us, we began winning them. This success gave us the confidence to consider going pro. Meanwhile, our careers in retail/hospi‑ tality management and communication/ marketing respectfully seemed like good preparation to create a cyder and mead business.

Can you tell us a little about your cyder & mead? The process and differences of the two?

Simply put, Forthright is like a brewery or winery, except that our alcohol is made from apples (cyder) and honey (mead). Cyder is made from crushing/pressing apples and fermenting the juice. Mead is made similarly by diluting honey in water and fermenting. For both cyder and mead, we introduce specific yeast strains for fermentation, which play a big role in the sweetness, alcohol, and flavor of the final product.

They are very different substances to work with. Fresh‑ pressed apple juice has tons of nutrients to help the yeast thrive, but a limited final sugar/alcohol profile. Honey, having comparatively higher sugars, allows for a wider range of final sugar to alcohol, but its sterile nature lacks nutrients to empower the yeast.

One of your specialties is CYSER, can you please tell us more about this?

Cyser is a hybrid of cyder and mead, either a cyder with honey or a mead with apples, depending on who you ask. We found cyser to be a delicious and incredibly versatile alcohol, the apples providing the nutrients for the yeast, and the honey providing the sugars for a broader final range. Plus the flavors work perfectly together and as a base for many other fruits, herbs, spices, etc!

Our flagship is Bossfight, a semi-sweet, apple-forward, golden cyser. You can find bottles for sale in some of the best local shops, check out our website for an updated list. It was made for river days, mid‑hike pick‑me‑ups, dinner with friends, and fighting the man.

Are all of your cyder and meads made at your location in Youngsville?

Everything is fermented and bottled here in Youngsville. Our chief ingredients, apples and honey, are always sourced from New York state. We bring the farm‑fresh back here and turn it into alcohol. The whole process takes 4‑6 weeks, there is no brewing or distilling, just happy yeasts eating sugar and pooping booze and CO2.

Hopefully soon we can all resume to regular business procedures, can you please tell us what visitors can expect when you are fully open. Will you be open more hours? Will light fare be served? Will you have tours of the process?

At the Cydery we offer limited seasonals and surprise releases, ranging from sweet to dry, still to bubbly, and varying alcohol by volume, plus alcohol‑free options. We specialize in bold flavors and locally-sourced ingredients.

We will be reopening our outdoor seating on March 19, 2021, and plan to open the indoor tasting room in April or May. While not a full scale kitchen, we will offer small plates to accompany your drink. We also have a bunch of exciting food popups and events planned throughout the summer and fall.

When you visit, you’ll be helping support local charities and community organizations. Our Solidary Cyser program partners with different groups to raise funds, awareness, and local pride. In 2020‑21 we were proud to work with local 4H, the Youngsville Firecrackers mitten‑drive, and the Heart‑a‑Thon.

How can people learn more about Forthright Cyder & Mead and stay up on news from your store?

Please check out www.ForthrightCyder.com and sign up for our email list. We’re also on Facebook & Instagram. Because we’re so small, our selection changes frequently, so we keep the socials up to date.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If you’re local or in the area regularly, ask about Friends of Forthright. Our 6 month CSA gets you discounted cysers and a members‑only release, and it really helps us too.

We’ll be forever grateful for the warm welcome and all the support we’ve received through the fall, winter and spring.

Looking forward to welcoming you this season!

Japheth & Michelle Forthright Cyder & Mead