Soft-Serve Hard Cider Is Autumn's Answer to Frosé
在过去的几年中，Froséhas had a stronghold on boozy brunches, though many beverage professionals continue to have mixed feelings about it.
Will Correll, founder and CEO ofBuskey Cider, has always found frosé to be lacking. He wanted to come up with something refreshing for fall that elevated the flavor of the base beverage, rather than masked it. "We thought about people wanting something frozen and cold, but a lot of times, frosé leaves me wanting something that's a little more craft and the beverage [itself], instead of just sweet, syrupy additives," he said.
Correll首次受到启发，创建了他的超广泛的，秋天的替代品，它是Frosé（一种软奶油苹果酒Frosé），当时他阅读了以下零机器上的一篇文章，这是一种$ 5,500的设备，该设备使用绑定剂将酒将大酒变成“冰淇淋”。“但是从技术上讲，这不是冰淇淋，因为没有乳制品。
Buskey Cider所在的弗吉尼亚州里士满，是一个以其啤酒而闻名的城市，因此您可能会假设30多个啤酒厂之一将是第一个在该设备上获得啤酒的人。事实并非如此。
In late July, the cidery, which is surrounded by breweries in the Scott's Addition neighborhood, released its soft-serve cider. The response was overwhelming.
购买机器仅三个星期后，Correll和他的妻子Elle（共同所有人兼营销总监）在发射日发行了200多份。
“Soft serve and cider are two known enjoyable items, and combining the two concepts would get people excited about trying a cone in general and subsequent flavors after that," Elle said.
Buskey's has always stood out from other breweries and cideries with its creative, high-concept flavors, which they release every other Friday. There's watermelon rosemary, Thai tom yum, pomegranate habanero, and about a dozen others, including a mezcal barrel-aged cider they released this summer. Their soft serve doesn't have any corn syrup or concentrate, just 100 percent VA apples; the cidery uses two million of them a year
威尔说：“我们如此认真地对待生产方，苹果如此重视，但随后可能是非常异想天开的。”（该公司的徽标是带有苹果帽子的禁令时代的徽标。）
That same fun—but not syrupy or watered down—aspect of the hard cider translates to the soft serve. Though the addition of a binding agent is necessary to freeze the alcohol, there are no added flavors. It's just the cider, which maintains about a 6 percent ABV, served in a cup or cone for $8.
虽然将承认杯子持有更多产品，但他更喜欢锥体。不仅是因为它更适合Instagram。
他说：“蛋糕锥有一种焦糖性，可以很好地补充苹果酒，甚至降低了糖的味道。”
Since launching the summer treat, they estimate to have sold more than 1400 servings. Will says the Below Zero machine paid for itself in just four weeks.
“I've had quite a few cider makers from around the country reach out, as well as some breweries in Richmond," said Will. "My advice to all of them has been, 'Don't underestimate how intense of a cleaning program you have to put together.' It is an awesome machine, awesome product. People love it. But it has added close to an hour of work per day."
He estimates the machine has more than two dozen parts that need to be disassembled and cleaned; he had to develop a training video for his staff. But the work is worth it. Will, who's always been fascinated by the country's hard cider history, loves that customers are truly getting to experience cider and not just a watered down, slushy sweet drink.
他说：“我真的很高兴的是顾客如何获得苹果酒体验。”“他们会有[软发服务]，然后再乘飞机，然后发表评论，'哇，这确实是苹果酒。'”
So far, Buskey has run some of its most popular flavors, watermelon rosemary and tart cherry, as well as a colorful dragon fruit açaí, through the soft-serve machine.
The Correll's are anticipating purchasing another Below Zero sometime next year for their Cape Charles location, two hours from Richmond.
是歧视l and winter approach, Will said, "We're still asking questions. Are we going to serve soft serve in the winter? Will people eat soft serve when it's snowing outside? My guess is actually, probably yes."