Westsylvania Cider

10/19/2026

My Falco Sparverius C***r from October 2025. Pressed exactly a year ago, this c***r with Stayman, Harrison, wild apples, and a large number of quince has really hit its stride.

The heaping quantity of quince gives it a unique tannic structure most of our local apples lack.

Wish I had more than a few cases!

10/19/2026

Redfield apples from Soergels Orchards. Developed in 1924 by crossing the Wolf River apple with the red-veined crabapple (Malus niedzwetzkyana) at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY.

Tart with subtle tannins, these guys are going to be pressed with Dabinett and what few local apples we grew/foraged this fall.

10/07/2026

Special thanks to Tom Yasnowski Farm for these awesome Dabinett apples. Looking forward to checking out this orchard in the future.

Tom’s orchard is on the western edge of Mercer County, about a half hour from Timberwolf Orchard and I’m extremely excited to see how this c***r turns out with proper c***r apples!

10/06/2026

Fall at Timberwolf Orchard.

09/19/2026

A wild crab apple that I found growing in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Originally grafted from a Scion in 2022, one of probably millions found across North America. Now growing in my yard.

I liked that it had all the proper elements for a great c***r apple-high sugar, decent acidity and tannins.

But most importantly it produced apples even in this year of a terrible freeze and has disease resistance to all of the various stuff that afflicts trees in Western Pa.

As our climate changes, we (the collective we) should be finding and propagating apples that are worth saving because they are good AND have the genetics to succeed in a changing environment.

09/07/2026

One of the main reasons I don’t spray my trees-broadcasting poisons that kill pest also kill other beneficial insects, birds, and people as well.

While the giant Cecropia moth caterpillars do eat apple leaves, among other species like the awful Red-humped caterpillars-broadcasting BT or even worse, would kill these guys.

I have several birds species that use my trees to nest, eat a fair amount of bugs, and keep other bad insects down.

08/27/2026

Crappy year but at least this tree is loaded. Yarlington Mill-a late blooming English c***r apple.

08/20/2026

After a good bit of traveling this July we’re back at it in the orchards. While not many apples (there are some surprises as you’ll see) one is a tree I grafted from a wildling growing in Butler County, Pa.

I don’t have a name for this one yet, the blossoms survived 22F in April and was grafted/planted in 2023.

I’ll have to go back and look at my tasting notes but I propagated them for a reason.

07/04/2026

C***r was there at the very start of the founding of the US.

Drink apples!

07/03/2026

A great piece on a c***ry that influenced me and my method of harvesting, making, and thinking about apples.

https://charleskirkwood1.substack.com/p/aaron-burr-c***ry?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demoo4dk5on8&fbclid=IwY2xjawS0xmJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFQZzY4bVN2UXhXVk40aGtLc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHny3kHr0sHVozMGNBzz8n8zPIldfcS_aohhAn1ydjaqUJrK29eZJPCbCgbMt_aem_ANV6r7BrIGs8UlKaNhVEHg

The Orchard After the Orchard: Aaron Burr C***ry and the Problem of American C***r Continuity