The Appley line is a series of cysers, which are meads made from apple cider and honey. Maniacal is proud to source its cider from an Emmet County, MI orchard. The apple trees of this orchard were planted in 1942 by Stanley Vorce and include some familiar varieties as well as some that have been phased out over the last century, including Northern Spy, Kirby Delicious, Russet, Baldwin, and Red Delicious. 

Patrick has been working on bringing back the apple trees from some decades of being left to the wild, including pruning a few that were over 70 feet tall. Each year we have gotten more cider from these trees, which has enabled Maniacal to increase Appley production. 2023 was an excellent apple crop year across Michigan, so you’ll see at least 8 Appley cysers in our 2024 releases.

Appley Buckwheat & Alfalfa variant. 

14.7% abv

June 2024

Mead Details-

This was the initial cider pressing, which happened mid October 2023. Using a variety of apples from Cross Village in Northern Michigan. It was made using ⅔ Buckwheat honey and ⅓ Alfalfa honey. This was a 120gal batch. Half of this became this Appley you’re reading about here. The other half is a Bourbon Barrel Aged Appley to be released in the fall of 2024.

The yeast used in this recipe was EC1118

This mead is 8 months old before bottling. 

Karl’s tasting notes-

  Okay now this next in our line of Appley’s this year is one I’m highly anticipating! As a fan of the more “rustic” profile of buckwheat honey already, it made with our own northern Michigan cider AND alfalfa honey? I can hardly wait!

Starting this tasting, one may appreciate the immediate darker color of this Appley, thanks to the Buckwheat and Alfalfa honey both.  Following up and the nose hits with a subtle richness, not one to stand out, and yet is promising layers of flavor. Whispers of those rich alfalfa florals and hardy farmhouse flavors of buckwheat accented by that unmistakable scent of cyser

One sip later and it’s like a less sweet caramel apple on the first impression! Taking your time with this one and you’ll be enriched by the crisp cider and its two lavish dark honeys. Sweet, apple-infused florals from the alfalfa honey one moment, then the iconic “haygrass” and “caramel” notes from the buckwheat the next. This Appley matches a spike of boozy buckwheat with sweet apple honey goodness and a woody floral of alfalfa that’s begging for a whiskey barrel. What a great usage of dark honey and fresh cider!