LifeCycles’ New Backyard Blend Cider!

Our Backyard Blend cider launch at Spinnaker’s Brewpub was a success! A big thank you to all who came out and shared in introducing this delicious new social enterprise venture. If you still want to buy some bottles of this delicious cider, look for the Backyard Blend in Spinnaker’s liquor stores in James Bay and Vic West. The proceeds will go to support the Fruit Tree Project!

The Backyard Blend is born of our longtime collaboration with Spinnaker’s bringing together the remarkable medley of apples harvested by Lifecycles and the rich expertise of their craft-brewers. Since the 90’s Spinnakers has been committed to being ‘relentlessly local’ in their approach to food and beverage. Along with making West-coast fare and craft-brew beers from regionally sourced ingredients, Spinnakers has sought to support community groups, like ourselves, who work diligently to increase food access and food literacy. Spinnaker’s has supported us since the beginning.

After hosting a few fundraisers and purchasing fresh fruit for their menu items, Spinnakers began making a line of Apple Cider Vinegar for us. This past year, when founder and owner Paul Hadfield suggested that Spinnaker’s make a new cider from our apples, it seemed like a natural step in our collaborative evolution. As Paul himself has said, “We believe that LifeCycles’ values and goals are important to fostering a better community for us all, which is why we [Spinnakers] are committed to working with them to help them in achieving their goals.” Our collaboration of the Backyard Blend Cider, may only be a start in a broader partnership.

As it says on our label, “the uniqueness of our product reflects the uniqueness of our partnership.” The juice we use to make this blend is comprised from an unparalleled diversity of varieties sourced from over 300 different households all in the Greater Victoria Area. This diversity gives the Backyard Blendan exceptional complexity that is impossible to replicate year to year. Each batch is a limited edition. The Backyard Blend is a ‘hyper-local’ product, and is, as far as I know, the only Cider anywhere to be sourced almost entirely from within an urban setting. As our tagline suggests, “it couldn’t get more local than right next door.” No other local product connects so directly to such a broad community.

You can find the Backyard Blend at Spinnaker’s liquor stores in James Bay and Vic West. Also look for our Quince Paste (find it at Ottavio’s and Village Butcher) and Apple Cider Vinegar (soon to be everywhere). Proceeds will help us pick more fruit and feed more people.