ARMADA, Mich. – The largest producing craft hard cider company in the Midwest looks to give back to a cause that’s near and dear to their farm. Blossom Eater, an apple blossom honey, jasmine, and bergamot hard cider will be released Friday, March 30th in the Blake’s Tasting Room. Blossom Eater will be available at your local bottle shop in 6-pack bottles and on draft at select bars over the next few weeks across Blake’s 18 state footprint.
The spring limited seasonal will be tapped at 6pm by the Head Cider Maker, Robert Lauer, and poured into commemorative glasses for the first 50 guests to keep. The cider will be on the Blake’s Be-Kind-Tap until July, $1 from every pint will benefit the bees. The charitable tap highlights different organizations with a cause, like saving the bees. “It’s a toast to the hardest workers on the farm,” says Marketing Manager, Chelsea Iadipaolo. “Blossom Eater is the perfect balance of crisp apple and sweet apple blossom honey, foraged from hives located around our orchard.”
The 72-year-old farm has partnered with a national organization, The Honeybee Conservancy and the Detroit based, Bees in the D, both non-profits that focus on education and advocacy of bees. The Orchard has worked for years with local organizations to have hives out on the property to help pollinate fruit trees, pumpkin blossoms, raspberries, strawberries, their lavender field, and more. Unfortunately, these important workers are facing a serious crisis currently. Blake’s Farm Manager, Erin Lauwers says, “Bees actually really love orchards because apple blossom pollen is of a high quality. Colony Collapse Disorder is attributed to many factors, including human practices, disease, and mites in the hive.”
Brian Peterson of Bees in the D adds, “Honeybees seem to have the deck stacked against them. We owe these tiny workaholics a toast for their tireless pollination of millions of apple blossoms that result in the delicious apples which Blake’s crafts into Blossom Eater.”
Blake’s Tasting Room will have live music 7-10pm and a unique honey entrée, offered this weekend only; make a reservation by calling (586) 784-9463. The entire facility will be closed Easter Sunday. To locate Blossom Eater near you, use the cider locator at blakeshardcider.com/cider-finder, Blossom Eater will be active on the finder after April 9th.
Learn more about what you can do to save the bees by visiting thehoneybeeconservancy.org, beesintheD.com, and blakeshardcider.com/bees.