In honor of Southern Utah’s iconic Desolation Canyon, Mountain West Hard Cider will release its new Desolation Prickly Pear Hard Cider today, Saturday, April 15.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle of Desolation Cider will go to Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) in an effort to help protect and defend the Utah’s red rock wilderness.
I spent some of my childhood in Desolation Canyon, which is well known for its whitewater rapids that span 83 remote miles of Utah’s Green River. “Desolation Canyon encompasses some of the most beautiful and pristine wild public lands in southern Utah,” says Karin Duncker, associate director of SUWA. “We are thrilled to be involved with Desolation and Mountain West Hard Cider. The support of Jennifer, Jeff and the great Mountain West Hard Cider team helps us bring our message to an even broader audience.”
Prickly pear juice, also known as the ‘cactus apple’ was chosen for Desolation Hard Cider because the prickly pear plant is common to deserts throughout the southwest. The addition of prickly pear fruit to the cider during fermentation imparts subtle flavors of melon and a delicate citrus finish, along with giving the 6.9 percent ABV cider its slight rosy color.
“We wanted to do our part to support the very canyons that inspire our ciders,” explains Jennifer Carleton, co-owner of Mountain West Hard Cider. “SUWA’s conservation efforts impact not only those who call Utah home, but also the over 4 million visitors to Utah’s great wilderness areas. Given the near constant controversy over public lands in Utah, the importance of protecting and preserving those resources is more crucial than ever.”
Desolation joins Ruby, 7-Mile and Cottonwood, rounding out the four ciders that will be available from Mountain West Hard Cider year-round.
You can find Desolation Hard Cider at Mountain West Hard Cider’s tasting room and production facility located at 425 North 400 West in Salt Lake City, and at select bars and restaurants throughout the state.
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