Corvallis, OR — After five years of operating Traditions Ciderworks as a sister company, 2 Towns Ciderhouse begins this week to rebrand the line with the 2 Towns moniker, now calling it our Traditions line. The 2 Towns Traditions line of vintage ciders focuses on specialty barrel-aged and traditionally inspired ciders. Four products will be released over the next six months, starting with the Riverwood, a New World brut style cider, and Cidre Bouché, a French style keeved cider. Available in extremely limited quantities, bottles of each cider can be found at the 2 Towns Tap Room and at select bottle shops throughout the West Coast starting next week.
“The Traditions line is all about showcasing extremely rare heirloom apple varieties and the traditional styles of cider they are so well-suited for,” said Dave Takush, head cider maker for 2 Towns.
“2 Towns makes some of the best cider in the Northwest and we think our cider fans are ready to see our award-winning Traditions line under the 2 Towns where it belongs,” added Lee Larsen, CEO of 2 Towns. “Riverwood, Cidre Bouché, Afton Field and La Mûre are all made with the same commitment to 100 percent fresh-pressed apples, no added sugars, and whole ingredients only, utilizing rare heirloom apple varieties and time-intensive techniques that demonstrate our dedication to excellence in cider making. Moving these ciders under the 2 Towns name provides fans with an introduction to cider styles that they might not have tried otherwise,” said Larsen.
Riverwood, now in its 3rd vintage, has received high acclaim as the winner of double Gold at the 2015 Oregon Wine Awards, Gold at the 2013 and 2014 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Festival (GLINTCAP), Gold at the 2014 U.S. Open Beer Championship and Gold for Modern Dry at the 2016 Portland International Cider Cup. Cidre Bouché will be available for the first time in bottles and was honored last year with 1st place in the traditional apple category by Sip Northwest Magazine’s Best of the Northwest. Quantities of each of these are limited to 240 cases.
More About These Ciders
CIDRE BOUCHÉ: French Style Keeved Cider – 6.5% ABV
Oregon grown bittersweet heirloom apples
Old World keeving method
Aged in French oak casks
Inspired by the bittersweet ciders of France, Cidre Bouché is made with an Old World process called keeving. We start with 100% traditional cider apple varieties like Kingston Black, Michelin, Reine des Pommes, Dabinett and Muscat de Lense, and then let the fruit ‘sweat’ and intensify in aroma. Next, the apples are crushed and left to soak on the skins before the juice is fermented slowly over the course of a year, and aged in French oak casks. When finished, this keeved cider is rich, thick and brimming with overripe bittersweet apple character. Pairs well with classic French fare— think savory crepes, pork terrine, camembert and blue cheese.
RIVERWOOD: New World Brut Cider – 6.3% ABV
Willamette Valley grown Jonagold apples
Oregon grown bittersharp cider apples
Finished in chardonnay barrels
Inspired by sparkling brut champagnes of the past, Riverwood is a contemporary take on a classic. Slow fermentation at cold temperatures allows the intense passionfruit-like aroma of freshly picked and pressed Jonagold and Porter’s Perfection apples to flourish. Dry, bright, and floral, this New World cider brings the brut style out of the past and into the present. Pairs well with lobster mushroom risotto, butternut squash ravioli in sage brown butter, asparagus with lemon aioli and Moroccan chicken with dates and braised greens.
About 2 Towns Ciderhouse
At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider. For more information about 2 Towns Ciderhouse, visit www.2townsciderhouse.com.