Artifact Cider Feels Like Home

Feels Like Home is a cider from Artifact Cider in Massachusetts, bottled at 5.4% ABV. That puts it in the middle of the cider range: fuller than the lightest session ciders, and well below the strength of dessert or ice-style bottlings. No other tasting details are listed for this one, so what follows is what ciders from a New England craft producer at this strength usually show, not a measured profile. Expect apple character up front, with acidity doing most of the work. Cider has no hop bitterness, so any grip comes from apple tannin and acid, which typically read as a dry or off-dry finish rather than a bitter one. Look for fresh-pressed apple aroma, possibly with a baked-fruit or light spice note. Ciders from this region are often made from blends of dessert and heritage apples. Whether this bottle is dry, semi-sweet or sparkling, check the label or ask staff, since the distributor description doesn't say. A cider at 5.4% should be easy to drink through a whole glass without the alcohol dominating, and the acidity should keep it clean rather than syrupy. Serve it well chilled, around 38 to 45°F (3 to 7°C). Colder than that mutes the apple aroma, and warmer tends to make the sweetness and alcohol more noticeable. A tulip glass or a stemmed white-wine glass concentrates the aromas better than a straight pint glass. If you prefer a pint glass, a nonic works fine for casual drinking. Pour slowly if the cider is carbonated, and leave any sediment in the bottle unless the label says it is meant to be stirred in. For food, apple acidity and moderate alcohol suit pork in most forms, including roast loin, pulled shoulder and sausages. Sharp cheddar, aged Gouda and washed-rind cheeses all pair well, as do roasted squash, autumn salads with nuts, and fried foods such as chicken or fish, where the acidity cuts through the oil. If the bottle turns out to be on the sweeter side, steer it toward spicy dishes or salty charcuterie, where the residual sugar balances heat and salt.