Description

What am I: Daughters of Madness Pearl Hard Cider

American Luke Schomer has spent his whole life fermenting – fermenting wine, beer, cider, and of course, ideas. A journeyman beverage maker for many producers in the United States, Luke knows how to ferment nearly every kind of alcoholic beverage.

After meeting his Portuguese wife in the USA, the couple decided to move to Portugal to raise their family and enjoy the family-focused culture of Portugal. An added benefit has been the closeness to an abundance of raw material for his fermentation desires, including apples for cider and grapes for wine. Daughters of Madness was born and is named for their three daughters.

Luke and his family live full time in the capital of Lisbon and spend every available moment searching the vineyards and orchards of the Serra Montejunto, particularly around the region of Alcobaça. Alcobaça is a location known throughout Europe for the quality of its apples, and the diversity of its apple varieties. This no doubt provides an exciting assortment of flavors for the ciders.

Daughters of Madness Pearl Hard Cider was housed in French Burgundy barrels. 25 kilograms of Belgian black currants (groselha preta) and a small satchel of star anise were added to each barrel. After months of aging the barrel whispered that the “Pearl” was developed and it was time to bottle. This cider is fruity, earthy, and a tickle higher in acidity. The star anise adds soft notes of clove and cola.