Monday, March 6th, 2023

Peaks and Pints Monday Cider Flight: Swift Cider

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Swift Cider, an urban craft cidery based in Portland, Oregon, is the reincarnation of Outcider, which was originally founded in spring 2012. Founding owner and head small-batch cidermaker Aidan Currie continued to dedicate his life to small batches made with fresh-pressed apples, local ingredients, slow-and-cold fermentation, and wild yeasts when he rebranded as Swift Cider in the Spring of 2014. Swift launched into the Oregon market with three flagship ciders: the Wholesome Apple, the Marionberry, and the Dank Hop. Currie takes pride in making balanced dry ciders, which contrast starkly with the sweeter styles in the market. According to the head cider maker, “you are what you drink,” so every effort is made to use wholesome ingredients. Their base cider is made from seven Oregon and Washington grown apples. When blending in additional fruits, hops, and spices, they source minimally processed ingredients and avoid anything that contains concentrate, sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors. Today, Peaks & Pints presents a to-go flight of Swift cider — a flight we call Peaks and Pints Monday Cider Flight: Swift Cider.

Peaks and Pints Monday Cider Flight: Swift Cider

Swift Blueberry

4.6% ABV

Swift Cider’s Blueberry cider medaled at the Portland International Cider Cup with its apple and blueberry juice combo. This semi-sweet cider hits the tongue with jammy blueberries, light citrus, and floral notes with medium tartness and a clean finish.

Swift Pineapple Mai Tai

5.6% ABV

The Mai Tai was created in 1944 by Victor J. Bergeron at his restaurant in Oakland, California. The story goes that upon serving it to some friends from Tahiti, one of them exclaimed, “Maita’i!” which meant, “Out of this world!” The name stuck, but the story itself is sometimes disputed. Nevertheless, “Trader Vic” is usually credited with the drink’s invention. As part of Swift Cider’s Upside Down Cocktail series, their Pineapple Mai Tai is made with pineapple, blood orange, cinnamon, and vanilla beans for notes of sweet citrus, fresh cut pineapple, spice rum, and vanilla.

Swift Blood Orange

6.2% ABV

Swift’s Blood Orange dry hard cider is blended with blood orange juice. A round and fruity body with gentle citrus aromatics, this cider is clean, refreshing, and pairs well with spicy food. For those who want a fruit cider right in the middle of the sweetness scale, this cider is the bloody one.

Swift Strawberry Cider

6.5% ABV

Swift Cider, an urban craft cidery based in Portland, Oregon, is the reincarnation of Outcider, which was originally founded in spring 2012. Founding owner and head small-batch cidermaker Aidan Currie continued to dedicate his life to small batches made with fresh-pressed apples, local ingredients, slow-and-cold fermentation, and wild yeasts. His Strawberry cider is slightly tart, dry, and smooth — not too sweet and refreshing.

Swift Pomegranate

6.5% ABV

Swift Cider’s namesake, the Vaux’s swifts, flock to Portland each harvest season by the thousands to roost inside old brick chimneys on their annual migration. Locals convene on blankets to toast the birds as they dive into one particular chimney at sunset, many toasting with Swift’s Pomegranate cider. It’s a hard cider blended with fresh pressed pomegranate juice that’s tart and fruit forward with mild tannin, medium body, and a clean refreshing finish. For those who want a fruit cider right in the middle of the sweetness scale, this cider delivers the pom punch.

LINK: Peaks & Pints cooler inventory