Sassamanash Sparkling Cider

Cranberries, or sassamanash as the Algonquians call them, are a welcome sign of autumn. Several varieties - both indigenous and introduced - are found on Vancouver Island. When these crimson delights are blended with fermented apples and a dash of hibiscus, the resulting cider is a tasty balance of bright acidity and autumn sweetness. 

How We Make This Cider

Sassamanash combines the best British Columbian grown apples with the finest BC cranberries and hibiscus flowers. We soak our cranberries and hibiscus flowers in spirits sourced from Vancouver Island, allowing them to steep for up to a year. Once we deem the flavours, aromas and colour to be sufficiently extracted, we press these infusions with our basket press, then add the crimson eau de vie to our farm-crafted cider just before bottling. The result: a beautiful light rosé-coloured cider with a bright, balanced acidity that is drenched in autumn sweetness.

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings 

• Appearance: Sparkling, blush
• Aromas/Flavours: Fruity, slightly sharp with a hint of floral and green apple notes
• Acid/Sweetness: Bright balanced acidity with residual sweetness
• Mouthfeel: Sharp yet smooth with minimal tannins

Food pairings: Sassamanash was created to accompany your Holiday gatherings. Try it with Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, and everything in between. Turkey or ham
(or nut loaf as a vegetarian option) with mashed root veggies, grilled kale, and
other seasonal goodness pairs perfectly with this holiday sipper. Sassamanash also
pairs well with fresh fruits, salty snacks, and light desserts. Or, combine with club
soda for a festive holiday spritzer!

Good to Know

• 9.9% ABV
• 750 ml clear champagne glass with crown cap + flip top for re-closure
• Produced on-site in Saanichton, BC, Canada

Awards

• 2022 SILVER - GLINTCAP (Specialty Cider and Perry) 

• 2017 BRONZE - GLINTCAP (Specialty Cider and Perry)

Canadian Invasion Series

Healthy land is imperative for orchards and natural areas to thrive, not just for Sea Cider, but for all of us. We all need productive agricultural land to help feed our communities, and this means having healthy and natural areas to provide a balanced ecosystem with clean air, carbon sequestration and habitat for wildlife. At Sea Cider, we pay close attention to the connection between our orchard and the surrounding areas. Our farm comprises both orchard and forest. Our orchard benefits from our forest, which provides wind protection and habitat for birds which feed on harmful insects; while our orchard provides flowers and sunshine for indigenous insects such as mason bees to thrive.

This symbiotic relationship is threatened by invasive plants. On the west coast, well-known invaders include the Himalayan Blackberry, Scotch Broom, English Ivy and Daphne. These tenacious plants take over land, pushing out indigenous species and degrading ecosystems. When such invasive species are present on farms and in forests, they inhibit the growth of more beneficial plants, and they degrade soil quality.

To raise funds and awareness, Sea Cider has created the Canadian Invasion Series. Each cider in the series is made by pressing the best of BC’s apples, fermenting the juice with champagne yeast, and then infusing the cider with fruit, botanicals and other ingredients from Sea Cider's farm, forest and surrounding BC farms. With community at its core, Sea Cider supports local non-profits improving our environmental health thanks to sales from the Canadian Invasion Series.

Products in the Canadian Invasion Series include, in preferred tasting order: Wolf in the Woods; Ruby Rose; Birds and the Bees; Sassamanash; Bramble Bubbly; Cherry Lane; Witch's Broom.