Cider Week is coming to Jackson Heights, LIC, and Astoria

Starting on Friday October 12 and ending on the 21st is the Second Annual Cider Week. During this week, “more than 180 restaurants, bars, shops, and markets in New York City and the Hudson Valley will feature regional, orchard-based hard ciders through special tastings, flights, events, pairings, and classes in order to build awareness and appreciation for this reemerging traditional American beverage.” A few places in Queens are participating, located in Jackson Heights, LIC, and Astoria.

First, on Friday 10/12, Table Wine in Jackson Heights (not in Astoria, as is indicated on the Cider Week website) is hosting a free cider tasting with Eve’s Cider. They are a family-owned business located up in the Finger Lakes region and focus on fermenting artisanal ciders. Stop by Table Wine from 5-8pm to taste their delicious, classic ciders and chat with the folks from the cidery.

Also on Friday, The Queens Kickshaw starts up their Cider Week Tap Takeover. Throughout Cider Week they’ll be dedicating four of their taps normally reserved for draught beer, to cider (until the kegs run out). Some of the ciders they plan to tap are Farnum Hill Dooryard 1212 (NY Cider Week blend), Cidre Dupont Reserve (aged 8 months in calvados barrels), and Fox Barrel Pear Cider, among others.

On Monday, October 15, Alobar starts their Cider Week-long Apple Fest, in the form of a prix fixe dinner that will be paired with ciders. They’ll also be offering special apple cocktails and cider wine.

On Sunday, October 21, and extending past the official dates of Cider Week on Monday, October 22, The Queens Kickshaw is hosting a Cider Dinner. They are offering a $55 five-course prix fixe meal, with a menu created by Chef Youngsun Lee. There are four seatings at 6:15pm, 7:15pm, 8:15pm, and 9:15 pm on each day. Reservations must be made to attend, as follows:

Please send an email to info@thequeenskickshaw.com to let us know how many people will be in your party, your preferred date/time slot, and a phone number we can reach you at. First come first served as seating is limited, and no menu substitutions please. Tax and gratuity not included.

Each course – a starter, cheese course, appetizer, main, and dessert – will be paired with a different cider.

More about Cider Week:

Cider Week, an initiative founded by agricultural not-for-profit Glynwood, highlights farmmade, regional cider producers from New York and the Eastern U.S. with a goal to support local orchards while also reviving heirloom apple varieties.

Hard cider was an American tradition until the early 20th Century, when it was lost to Prohibition and urbanization. Regional cider makers across the country and in the Northeast are now spearheading the comeback of distinctive, American, orchard-based libations, crafting hard ciders that pair well with food or can be enjoyed on their own.