Cider of the Month: Drinking Sietsema Orchards' Red Label At Three Aces

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Aug 30, 2014 6:00PM

Sietsema Orchards just recently became available in Chicago, but they have been making cider on their Michigan Farm since 1934. Their website says Red Label is for “For those who like their cider sweet,” but I certainly don’t like my ciders sweet and I still thought this was a great cider.

It is sweet, but just enough and balanced wonderfully with a tart sharpness. It’s lightly carbonated with a medium body. It’s a refreshing and accessible cider that will please both seasoned cider lovers and those new to craft cider.

It’s on tap at many places now, including Three Aces (1321 W Taylor St.), where it is a fantastic pairing with their menu’s hearty Italian-influenced bar food. I enjoyed washing down my calabrese panini, which was filled with four cheeses and plenty of salty Italian cured meats, with this cider.

Calabrese Panini: four cheese blend, capacola, calabrese, calabrian chilies, oregano aioli, fries, garlic & hops pickle