New cider house rules: Virtue Cider Lapinette debuts
By Louisa ChuNew cider house rules: Virtue Cider Lapinette debuts
By Louisa ChuWhile the beer world buzzes Wednesday about the sale of Westvleteren 12 at $84.99 for six bottles, one local craft ciderist quietly releases a cider that’s not available in bottles at all — yet.
In case you’re wondering, “Westy” — the beer made by Belgian monks normally sold only at the abbey, save this first exception to raise money for renovations — will be available at Binny’s in Lincoln Park and Downers Grove.
Virtue Cider, founded by former Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall, celebrated the release of Lapinette last night at Lula Cafe. Only their second cider, it’s an unfiltered dry French Norman style cidre brut, fermented with saison ale yeast and aged for months in French Cabernet Franc oak wine barrels. Like their first cider, RedStreak, Lapinette is only available on draft around the Chicagoland area.