Ferro Farms Cider 750ML

Ferro Farms Cider 750ML is a 6% ABV artisan hard cider from southeast Wisconsin, blending nine heritage and North American apple varieties in a 750ml bottle. This small-batch cider earned a Silver Medal and 85 points from Tastings.com in 2016, along with medals at GLINTCAP in both 2015 and 2016 and the Mendocino Apple Show International Cider Competition in 2017.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6%  |  Origin: Kettle Moraine, Southeast Wisconsin  |  Style: Artisan Hard Cider  |  Cidermaker: Charles McGonegal (Aeppeltreow Winery)

Production & Heritage

Ferro Farms is a family-owned operation located just outside Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in the Kettle Moraine — a glacially-formed landscape where accumulated glacial debris has enriched the soil and created an unusually productive environment for apple cultivation. The apples grown in this terrain tend to be smaller but intensely flavorful, lending themselves naturally to hard cider production. Cidermaker Charles McGonegal of Aeppeltreow Winery in Burlington, Wisconsin, oversees the blend, which combines six North American varieties — Red Delicious, Cortland, Idared, McIntosh, Honey Crisp, and Northern Spy — with three historic English cider apples: Cox's Orange Pippin, Kingston Black, and Ashmead's Kernel. The inclusion of traditional English bittersweet and bittersharp varieties sets Ferro Farms apart from most American craft ciders, introducing tannin structure rarely found in domestically grown blends.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Apple blossom and fresh orchard fruit lead the nose, followed by delicate floral notes. A gentle effervescence lifts the aromatics, keeping them bright and inviting.

Taste: The entry is clean and fruit-forward, with crisp apple flavors dominating the early palate. At mid-palate, light tannins from the English varieties emerge, adding grip and a dry backbone that balances the fruitiness. The overall impression is light-bodied and refreshing, with enough structure to hold your attention.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length, with lingering apple skin and a gentle tannic dryness. A faint floral echo rounds things out, leaving the palate clean and ready for the next sip.

How to Drink Ferro Farms Cider

Serve chilled to around 45°F to let the floral aromatics open up while keeping the body crisp. This cider drinks well on its own but also performs in several cocktail applications.

• Cider Shandy: Mix half-and-half with a light wheat beer for a sessionable warm-weather drink that amplifies the floral character.
• Stone Wall: Combine with bourbon and a dash of Angostura bitters — the cider's tannin structure stands up to the whiskey without folding.
• Apple Spritz: Top with sparkling water and a squeeze of lemon for a low-ABV alternative to a traditional spritz, letting the Cox's Orange Pippin and Honey Crisp notes shine.

Best For

• Introducing wine drinkers to the complexity of artisan hard cider
• Pairing with a fall or early winter cheese board
• Gifting to someone who appreciates small-batch, farm-to-glass beverages
• Outdoor gatherings where a lower-ABV option with real depth is welcome

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ferro Farms Cider taste like? Ferro Farms Cider is light-bodied and fruit-forward with fresh apple flavor, floral hints of apple blossom, and a subtle tannic dryness from English cider apple varieties like Kingston Black and Cox's Orange Pippin.

How does Ferro Farms Cider compare to Angry Orchard Crisp Apple? Ferro Farms uses a blend of nine apple varieties including three traditional English cider apples, resulting in more tannic complexity and a drier profile than Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, which skews sweeter and is mass-produced. At 6% ABV, both fall in a similar strength range, but Ferro Farms reads more like an Old World farmhouse cider.

Is Ferro Farms Cider good for sipping on its own? Yes — the combination of fruit-forward flavor and light tannic structure makes it a satisfying standalone drink served chilled, particularly for drinkers who enjoy dry or semi-dry ciders.

Where is Ferro Farms Cider made? Ferro Farms grows its apples in the Kettle Moraine region of southeast Wisconsin, just outside Lake Geneva. The cider is produced by Charles McGonegal of Aeppeltreow Winery in Burlington, Wisconsin.

What foods pair well with Ferro Farms Cider? Sharp cheddar or Gruyère cheese complements the tannin and acidity. Roast pork or pork chops echo the classic apple-pork affinity. Waldorf salad mirrors the fresh apple notes. Pan-seared trout benefits from the cider's crispness cutting through the richness. Apple tarts or baked brie make a natural dessert pairing.

What sizes does Ferro Farms Cider come in? Ferro Farms Cider is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Ferro Farms Cider worth the price? Ferro Farms positions as a small-batch, artisan-tier cider, priced above mass-market brands but justified by its nine-variety apple blend, use of rare English cider cultivars, and the glacially enriched terroir of the Kettle Moraine growing region.

Why Ferro Farms Cider?

What separates Ferro Farms from the broader American craft cider landscape is the deliberate inclusion of traditional English cider apples — Kingston Black, Ashmead's Kernel, and Cox's Orange Pippin — alongside familiar North American varieties. These bittersharp and bittersweet cultivars introduce a tannic framework that most domestic ciders simply lack. The glacially-formed Kettle Moraine soil contributes smaller, more concentrated fruit, and the expertise of veteran cidermaker Charles McGonegal ensures that concentration translates into a balanced, structured finished product. Multiple competition medals, including recognition at GLINTCAP and the Mendocino Apple Show International Cider Competition, confirm that this blend delivers well beyond its modest 6% ABV.