Pear ciders hit the spot before big feast begins

In My Glass

By Rob Kasper

November 7, 2007

Pear cider (Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam / October 29, 2007)

It is flavorful, seasonal and refreshing. Pear cider is worth a try, especially at Thanksgiving.

There is always a question, at my house anyway, about what beverage to serve during the pre-meal sipping time on Thanksgiving. I save the good wine for the main meal. Beer is a familiar option, especially for guys, but not everyone cottons to it. Moreover, there are some folks, who prefer a beverage that has little or no alcohol. Cooks, for instance, don't want to get tipsy before they get the Thanksgiving turkey to the table.

Pear cider fits each drinker's need. It is an attractive alternative beverage.

All pear cider is made from the juice of crushed fruit. In the nonalcoholic version, the juice is pasteurized and bottled. It is fruit juice at its finest. The pear cider from Reid's Orchard of Orrtanna, Pa., sold at farmers' markets in Waverly (Saturday mornings) and downtown Baltimore (Sunday mornings), is loaded with pear flavor, making it a beverage for all age groups. Other ciders let the yeasts in the fruit liquid do what they do naturally, namely convert sugar to alcohol.

The three alcoholic or "hard" ciders I bought at a liquor store were all light-bodied, easy to drink and seemed well suited for pre-meal sipping.

The pear cider from France gave the juice the Champagne treatment, producing a dry, lightly carbonated beverage that I loved. The label listed the type of pears - Plant de Blanc, Muscadet, Tricotin, Avenelle and Poire de Grise - used to produce this dry, bubbly winner.

The pear cider from California emphasized the flavor of the fruit and had a marvelous pear aroma. In the glass, the yellow cider reminded me of a pale lager, and it delivered the biggest buzz: 5 percent alcohol.

The Vermont pear cider I sampled was called Woodchuck, and this name, I admit, made me biased. I do not have fond feelings for woodchucks. One attacked my garden this summer. Nonetheless, I drank this cider and tried to give it a fair test. It was as clear as club soda, with a hint of wood flavor and a tangy finish.

rob.kasper@baltsun.com

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