Milk and Honey is a local treasure

So, you found yourself reading The Record the other day…the only newspaper with editors willing to print our deeply insightful reviews on beers, seltzers and liquors. We are just your average consumers of alcoholic beverages with bold and controversial opinions. Please don’t consume alcoholic beverages if you are under 21 and follow the law. If you are of legal drinking age, please drink responsibly and… stop at buzzed!

After an unforgettable Halloweekend, we thought that maybe we should extend our trick or treating a couple more days. To do so, we found ourselves at a local favorite: Milk and Honey.

Have no fear, loyal reader, we found a couple tasty treats. We conducted extensive research on five different ciders that they offer. We only did this for your benefit, we promise.

In this review, you will find our thoughts on their Flora 2019, Estate 2020, Countryside, Chaga Chai and Alchemy 2019. So, let’s pitter patter and get at ‘er.

As we are writing this review, we are currently riding the high of emotions from the Houston Asterisks, sorry, Astros, just losing the World Series. On that note, our first batter is Flora 2019. With a 6.9% ABV, it is described as having tropical aroma with an acidic flavor.

The color is similar to a Gold Bond container. This cider is not too sweet and is rather pleasant tasting. It doesn’t go with the 30-degree weather very well, but it is still a fantastic drink to consume.

Our second batter is the Estate 2020. With a 7.4% ABV, this cider is what you think of when you want a cider. Brewed with local Cold Spring orchard apples and native yeasts, Estate is rather dry, but if you like dry wines, this is the cider for you.

It is neither too strong or too sweet, hovering right in that Goldilocks zone. Just right for an average beverage consumer like ourselves.

The cider is, however, getting towards the end of its time to fit the weather vibe. Two weeks ago? Perfect.

The third cider in the batting order was Countryside Lemon with rosemary. With a 6.9% ABV, it was a pleasant surprise for our tastebuds. It is made with fresh squeezed lemon juice and rosemary. It was not something we expected to taste so good.

It wasn’t too sour, and the rosemary added a pleasant aroma to the cider. It would pair nicely with some lemon garlic walleye out of Mille Lacs. It fits in with the current weather but would also be a great cider for April and early May. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

Fourth up to bat is Chaga Chai, also with 6.9% ABV. With some general confusion on the ingredients described in the menu, we were forced to look some of them up.

Chaga, chicory and burdock are mushrooms and two roots, respectively, that are used for different types of teas. Burdock is the big burs that stick to your clothes and is green and pink in the summer, but only the root is used for the teas.

The two final listed ingredients are dandelion and licorice root. Surprisingly, we did not have to look up those two. Again, both are used for teas.

Chaga Chai is basically the Mike’s Hard Lemonade version of teas, except it’s a cider. Plus, Mack actually liked this cider whereas Mike’s is a different story. This would make a fine addition to your collection of favorite ciders.

The final batter, Alchemy 2019, has the highest ABV on their menu: 13.4%. This ABV is a similar level to wine. This cider sets itself apart from the others because it is aged in bourbon barrels which creates a very unique flavor. The remnant of bourbon brings down the sweetness of the cider and creates a wonderful flavor.

It is what apple-flavored whiskeys try to be. If you’re a fan of whiskey but aren’t in the mood for such a strong drink, this is the drink for you. Two or three of these and you’ll be telling your buddies about the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise.

Honorable mention: the guest beer that we forgot the name of. It was an IPA with a much more bitter aftertaste than the Voodoo Ranger drinks from last week. Since it was a rotational drink and we are unable to remember the name, there is little for us to write about it.

Are you a single Bennie who wants to enjoy the rest of the fall with a very special Johnnie who has way too many flannels? Do you have strong thoughts on alcoholic beverages? Lucky for you, we are just those Johnnies.

Our emails are right there, but be wary, it might get lost in the 10,000 Canvas notifications we get. The lines are also open to anyone with research recommendations.

Remember, if you are of age, stop at buzzed! Anyways, back to choring.