Hard Cider: Early America’s Drink of Choice
July 3rd, 2010
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In the 18th century it was hard cider, not beer, that was the alcoholic beverage of choice. Even children often drank hard cider with breakfast and dinner because it was safer than the water. So how did this preference for hard cider disappear from the American palate? David Williams (George Mason University) investigates the demise of this quintessential early American drink. And: A visit to the tasting room of Albemarle CiderWorks. Also featured: Deborah O’Dell (University of Mary Washington) studies magnetic orientation in bees, which, like homing pigeons, use magnetic fields to orientate themselves. She’s interested in recent studies that suggest that bees living near cell phone towers may become disoriented and produce less honey.
A most interesting show…(and amusing to me that you paired a show involving W.A.S.P.’s with one on bees!)
Glad you liked it. Here is a link to the article which the interview grew out of. Note also the Johnny Appleseed links, which show him to be a classic Yankee, hippy WASP.
-Dr Dave
Hi there Dr. Williams and With Good Reason! We would like to put this interview on our blog for Farnum Hill Ciders. Is that ok with you, and would you like to write an introduction for us? Please let me know. Thanks. Corrie
Of course! Post away!
Lydia
Ok by me. I trust you to write up a useful introduction. My paper pretty much says allI have to add at the moment.
-Dr Dave
The most interesting response to this program for us has been the number of people who are stopping by the Albemarle CiderWorks Tasting Room to sample “proper cider/” We are hosting an open house with complimentary tastings of the four ciders we are offering in our second year this weekend, Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th, from 11 am to 6 pm. . We hope to report that real cider is alive and well in Virginia… Charlotte Shelton
Charlotte — that is great to hear! We are thrilled at the limited attention that true cider garners, and believe that the cider rebirth is coming. I hope that your tasting weekend was all it should be and that you’ll pass along hello from all of us here at Farnum Hill to you all.
Best,
Corrie
Don’t forget Foggy Ridge Cider and Castle Hill Cider also in Virginia. And Blue Bee Cider in the works in Richmond!
Dear Beth,
Thanks for all these cider spots. I do hope the show will convince more people to sample early America’s drink of choice.
Elliot Majerczyk