Stowe Safety Meeting

Safety Meeting is a Vermont release from STOWE, listed here as a cider, at 6.5% ABV with an IBU of 60. That bitterness figure is high for the category. It is in the range of a firmly hopped IPA, and the distributor's description matches: hop bitterness balanced against a touch of sweetness, with citrus and pine as the main flavors. The text also calls it an IPA, so treat this as a hop-forward bottle rather than a soft, orchard-sweet cider. Expect grapefruit-peel and resinous pine on the nose and a drying, bitter finish. Any fruit sweetness should sit underneath the hops, not on top of them. At 6.5% it has enough body to carry that bitterness without tasting thin. Sweetness is what softens hop bite, so the sweeter side of the balance is the part to look for. Pour it and give it a minute, since citrus and pine aromatics show more as the glass warms slightly. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F). Straight from a very cold fridge, the hop aromatics and any fruit character tend to stay muted. A tulip or shaped IPA glass is the best fit because it holds the aroma and leaves room for a head if the pour is lively. A standard pint glass or a wine glass also works. Bitterness and citrus like fat, salt, and heat. Good matches are fried chicken, fish tacos with lime, sharp cheddar, burgers with pickles, and moderately spicy Thai or Mexican dishes. Pine-heavy hops also suit grilled sausages and roasted root vegetables. Skip delicate desserts, which the bitterness will overpower. A tart fruit crumble is a better match.