Back in the fall of 2019 (what seems a lifetime ago, now), on a media trip to Yakima, Washington, we were introduced to the brand-new Cosmic Crisp® apple. Over two decades, Washington State University developed the new variety, a cross between Enterprise and Honeycrisp, and one of the interesting characteristics of the apples is that they don’t turn brown when cut (or rather, turn brown very slowly).

(True, by the way. We bought some at the time and I tested this out by slicing one to test, and it stayed crisp and fresh.)

Naturally one of my first questions was, how will these apples work for cider? Perhaps unsurprisingly, 2 Towns Ciderhouse of Corvallis created a Cosmic Crisp cider a year ago (perhaps one of the first), and now, the cidery has released its new Cosmic Crisp® in cans—its first imperial cider in year-round cans. To promote the new release, 2 Towns sent me a six-pack of the cider last week.

Here’s the press release in full:

2 Towns Ciderhouse has decided to start the new year with a bang by launching a stellar year-round Imperial cider – Cosmic Crisp®!

Crafted from a resplendent blend of fresh-pressed juice from its namesake, Cosmic Crisp®, and other Northwest apples, this cider shines like starlight. Bright, fruit-forward aromatics collide with a high-ABV and high-acid profile for a truly heavenly experience. If some of the adjectives used to describe this product seem a bit out of this world, it’s because the cider makers were truly blown away with the cider that this apple made.

“When fermented, the aromatics that are released from the Cosmic Crisp® apples are truly unique,” said Dave Takush, Head Cidermaker, “Strong notes of white currant and pineapple blossom off of a platinum-colored cider that is as crisp and sparkling as you could imagine. People can make all the interstellar puns they want, but this is truly a unique and beautiful cider.”

While this is the first cider to be produced on a large scale using Cosmic Crisp® apples, 2 Towns is also proud to have been the first cidery to produce a cider crafted from this exceptional new apple. Their small-batch, draft-only version was released in January, and they were ecstatic to learn that it won Platinum in SIP Magazine’s Best of the Northwest awards. One of the west coasts’ most prestigious craft alcohol awards, it just went to show the quality product that would come from this exciting new apple varietal.

Cosmic Crisp® apple is the work of 20 years of study and research by Washington State University, resulting in a classically bred hybrid of Enterprise and Honeycrisp apples. The resulting fruit is a large, round, crisp, and super juicy apple that is perfect for snacking, baking, and, perhaps most importantly, cider making.

“We are proud to have been selected to partner with the COSMIC CRISP® team and launch this apple out into the world,” said Nels Jewell-Larsen, 2 Towns’ Director of Business Development, “This is a very special apple and it has been a pleasure to work with a group that is as passionate about apples as we are.”

With a bubbly visual profile that glistens and gleams like the starburst-like lenticels on the apple’s skin, a remarkably light (for 8% ABV) and fruit-forward profile, Cosmic Crisp® is sure to take you on a truly interstellar cider experience with every sip.

Cosmic Crisp® will be available in 375 mL can 6 packs, ½ bbl & ⅙ bbl kegs through distributors throughout Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, and Arizona.

About 2 Towns Ciderhouse

At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar or concentrates and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider. For more information on 2 Towns Ciderhouse, visit www.2townsciderhouse.com.

I’m looking forward to trying and reviewing this new cider and will share my thoughts soon.