Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/395149
221 in 16-ounce bottles last May. Roots, the flagship cider, resonates with hints of oak from the bourbon barrels and maple syr- up sourced from a farm in western Mas- sachusetts. Rind is a citrusy, year-round cider made with saison yeast, coriander, and orange rind. Sprig, a summer varietal, is dry-hopped with cascade hops and fin- ished with fresh mint before bottling. Far From The Tree Cider is available at bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across the North Shore and Boston. Since first releasing their cider, the Snapes have been growing audiences through regular visits to the farmers' markets in Salem and Newburyport, where they can explain the difference between their cider and all the rest. Al and Denise freely admit that their libation isn't for everyone: wine drinkers expecting something like Zinfandel are in for an entirely different experience with the dryness of Roots or Rind. But often- times, they say, the folks with the most skeptical expressions are the ones most likely to bring home bottles after they've had a taste. A little more than a year into the only business venture they've ever known, the Snapes look forward with a mix of excite- ment and apprehension. Excitement in the face of the possibilities: building a re- serve of cider and using different vintages in future batches; planting an orchard within driving distance and reviving rare and exotic apples; and a developing a new holiday varietal due for release this month that's based on the taste of Joe Froggers cookies. The apprehension stems from one core question: Do people like the same kind of cider we like? The converts aren't going away, but if they ever do, the Snapes have a backup plan. "If we can't sell any of it," Al says, "we'll just put it all in a base- ment, and we'll have enough cider to enjoy forever." farfromthetreecider.com ● n Cider Sips The Snapes recently invested in a new tasting room. Opposite, scenes from the cider- making operation