Brick River Cider Brewery Visit

Hello there! Brick River Cider was kind enough to invite me to sample their ciders. If you don't know much about Brick River, they actually started across the state in St. Louis. "Brick River Cider's mission is to work with regional fruit growers to craft authentic hard cider using only fresh-pressed fruit juices. Their ciders range from classic and traditional to bold and innovative, but whatever the style, they are all 100% gluten free from fresh pressed regional fruit, never concentrate."

When I first started drinking, I started with hard ciders. I drank Angry Orchard, Redd's Hard, and Ciderboys. When it comes to drinks like wine and cider, I prefer them sweet, but sometimes hard ciders can have an overpowering amount of sweetness. What I loved about Brick River was that the ciders lived up to their claim of being fresh. None of the ciders I got were overwhelmingly sweet, which was a great surprise. Nowadays, I tend to reach for craft beer, but Brick River has put hard cider back on my rotation of alcoholic beverages to pick from.

Ciders

Flagship: Cornerstone, Homestead, Sweet Lou's, Homestead Peach

What I loved about the flagship ciders is that they truly are classic hard ciders. The flavor profile of all four is crisp, easy to drink, and something you could reach for year-round. I especially loved the Homestead Peach because it added an extra layer to the cider. It's been surprisingly warm in Kansas City for this time of year, and the Homestead Peach made me really ready for spring. If you like floral notes, though, definitely check out Sweet Lou's. They put lavender in this one, giving a light, sweet touch to a classic sweet cider.

Seasonal: Winter Hop, Autumn Spice, Honey Crisp Apple. Mission Mango

These seasonal ciders are where I think Brick River really shined. I loved all of them. Winter Hop was a semi-sweet cider with a hint of blackberry at the end (incredible!). Autumn Spice was another semi-sweet cider that brought all the traditional fall flavors to the cider. Where the Homestead Peach had me craving spring, Autumn Spice pulled me back to fall days. The Honey Crisp Apple was probably the one most like a mass-produced hard cider in terms of flavor (but still better than those). Finally, Mission Mango may have been my absolute favorite. It's been that and Winter Hop. Mission Mango was a collaboration with Mission Taco in KC, combining mango with chili to make the most delicious cider. I could have drank multiple glasses of that one.

Food

Now it's my opinion that every great drinking establishment is made even better with food. I get hungry! If you're in Kansas City and looking for a place that has food and drinks, look no further than Brick River. Their BBQ mac-n-cheese was to die for. We watched what other tables ordered, and everything looked incredible. 

Vibe

I am a sucker for the Crossroads District. My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner at another local brewery/coffee shop and had our wedding at a venue in the area so it holds a special place in our hearts. Brick River was another great example of why I love the Crossroads. The building had Edison light bulbs, exposed brick, and huge garage doors. I can just imagine coming back in the summer with those garage doors open, enjoying a cider and the sunlight.

Final Thoughts

I don't have any experience with cideries, but I have to say that I absolutely loved Brick River Cider. If you are looking for something to do with your friends or family, this is a great place to plan to stop. They have an amazing selection of food, ciders, and the staff was super helpful/fast!