Core Values Cider Company - Canmore’s Funky Little Cidery
On a recent trip to Canmore, I stumbled across a gem just off Railway Avenue - Core Values Cider Company. It’s run by Sarah and Joshua Jennings, a New Brunswick-born couple who brought their love of apples (and the 1980s!) to the Bow Valley.
They launched the cidery in 2020, first as contract brewers, then opening their bright and bold taproom three years ago. Think BMX bikes, cassette tapes, and neon Memphis-style artwork - plus seven ciders on tap and plenty of room for creativity.
Their ciders are wild fermented. They rely on natural yeast from the apple skins and their own cellar culture. It’s a slower process, but it builds complexity and a farmhouse character that wine lovers (like me) will appreciate.
The one I tasted on air
Marty McDry - a flashback to Back to the Future with a fresh orchard vibe. It pours a cloudy straw yellow, smells like red apple skins and wild mushrooms and finishes with lively acidity and a dry, funky kick. Joshua describes the flavour as “orchard floor.” I love that.
If you’re new to cider, try a flight. Just like wine, there’s a whole range from sweet to bone dry, made from apples or even pears (called a perry). And don’t forget the cheese!
Core Values Cider Company
- 1402 Railway Avenue, Canmore
- Open Wednesday to Sunday
- corevaluescider.ca
Want to hear the full audio version? Listen to my CBC Radio column on The Homestretch homepage.