Pippins Sparkling Cider

Juicy, expressive, and playful on the tongue, Pippins reveals why cider was North America’s favourite drink before Prohibition. This aromatic off-dry cider is as robust as our pioneers and the Pippin apple trees that flourished on our frontier.

Pippins is a tribute to the pioneers who homesteaded on Vancouver Island and across North America. A “pippin” is an apple tree that grew from an errant seed (unlike most apple trees, which are propagated by grafting). Pippins cider reflects the story of how apple varieties developed during North America’s pioneering age, when many of the Old World varieties failed to thrive, but their seeds produced a generation of new varieties.

Raise a glass of Sea Cider and let our heritage apples tease your senses!

How We Make This Cider

Pippins is made in the New England pre-Prohibition style, which means sharply acidic, but balanced with subtle sweetness, and high in alcohol. Fermentation is undertaken at cool temperatures to preserve the fruitiness on the nose and to maintain the acidity. A dosage of organic cane sugar is added during fermentation to raise the level of alcohol (this was traditionally important to improve the shelf life of cider during the pioneering days).

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings 

• Appearance: Effervescent, warm straw in colour, clear, bright.
• Aromas/Flavours: Citrus, apple, pear, lemongrass, pineapple, confectionary.
• Acid/Sweetness: Intense acidity, balanced by slight residual sweetness.
• Mouthfeel: Crisp, sharp to the tongue

Food pairings: Pippins pairs beautifully with oysters, seafood as well as bold, intense flavours, such as strong cheeses, BBQ, pulled pork and spicy foods.

Good to Know

• 9.5% ABV
• 750 ml clear champagne glass with crown cap + flip top for re-closure
  
• Produced on-site in Saanichton, BC, Canada

Awards

• 2023 – Judges Pick – Sip Magazine / Best of the Northwest – Modern Dry
• 2021 Bronze – GLINTCAP – Heritage Cider Dry
• 2019 Silver – GLINTCAP – Heritage Cider Dry
• 2018 Silver – GLINTCAP – Heritage Cider Dry
• 2017 Bronze – GLINTCAP – Heritage Cider Dry
• 2017 Silver – Dan Berger International Cider Awards – Single Variety Cider
• 2017 Gold – San Diego International Beer Competition – New England Cider
• 2016 Bronze – Taste BC Awards
• 2016 Silver – GLINTCAP – New England Cider
• 2015 Gold – Pacific North West Cider Awards – Single Varietal Category
• 2015 Silver – GLINTCAP – New England Cider Category
• 2015 Bronze – Taste BC
• 2014 Silver – GLINTCAP
• 2014 Silver – Taste BC
• 2014 Gold – PNWC Awards
• 2012 Bronze –  Northwest Wine Summit
• 2011 Bronze – Taste BC
• 2010 Silver – Northwest Wine Summit
• 2010 Silver – Taste BC 2010
• 2010 Bronze – Canadian Wine Awards 2010 (Sparkling Category)

Heirloom Series

Traditional European cider varietals and heritage North American apple varietals are the focus of our Heirloom Series. For centuries, British and European cidermakers have used cider-specific varietals to impart complexity in cider that ordinary eating apples cannot achieve. Cider made from bittersweet and bittersharp varietals in places like Herefordshire and Somerset delivers earthy phenolic aromas and appealing astringency that, to this day, distinguishes this style of cider as “the cider for cidermakers”.  Most of the varietals we grow at Sea Cider are of this lineage, and include Dabinetts, Kingston Blacks, Chisel Jerseys and Yarlington Mills. 

Sea Cider’s Heirloom Series of ciders pays tribute to apples that have stood the test of time and produced some of the world’s finest cider. The ciders in this series are handcrafted on our farm and have been developed to highlight the robust varietals deeply rooted in tradition.

Products in the Heirloom Series include, in preferred tasting order: Perry; Wild English; Flagship; Platinum; Kings & Spies; Bittersweet; Pippins.