Artifact Cider Project

Though I’ve not been to the exact brewery, I purchased a cider from Johnnymac Liquors. It had a fair price point for the size and I was impressed by the 6% alcohol level in a cider. The owner (of Johnnymacs) said they’d been selling well so I was extra excited as I’d had this place bookmarked for a while.
I, however, wasn’t a fan. I was at a friends house and they weren’t fans either. The cider, quite frankly, tasted like a flat champagne. It didn’t have a punch like a regular hard cider and was lackluster. It didn’t really even taste like cider. Honestly a flat champagne.
There are two other types– maybe they’re better and I’m not opposed to trying them. I won’t be buying this type again though.

I had no idea this place was literally only a few blocks away from my house.
Strangely enough, I got a «suggestion» on Facebook to attend Artifact Cider’s 1 year anniversary. Loving all things cider, I made a mental note to check it out and likely would attend. When the day of the 1 year anniversary came, and I googled the address, I realized how very close it was!
Although Artifact put out their first cider in June 2014, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who knows of this Springfield local «micro-​cidery» in Gasoline Alley. That does not mean, however, that this is a product to be missed! At the anniversary party, they had 6 – 7 ciders on tap, including the new High Hops, made in conjunction with High Horse. I tried High Hops (a definite win, not subtle on the hoppiness), and Buzzworthy. Buzzworthy is a bone-​dry and tart, with a subtle apple-​blossom honey finish. I loved it so much, I brought home a 22 oz. bomber of it ($ 8).
The anniversary party was free, and an absolute blast– they had local food truck vendors, local musicians, and lots of laid-​back vibes. I was able to check out their actual cider tasting room, which is any artsy bohemian’s dream. I’d be highly interested to know if they are open for «regular» business hours for tastings, purchases, etc. (*I wasn’t able to find anything on their website that said so, or not.*)
All in all, Artifact is not just a pretty face with lots of feel-​good attitude behind it. It’s a solid cider. They offer still and sparkling, and with all-​local apples, a variety of tastes too. I really hope that they have regular business hours, because I’d love to make this an after-​work stop, or make weekend visits, for sure. For those who can’t wait, Artifact is sold in a variety of restaurants, bars and stores all throughout the Pioneer Valley (go to the website for a map).