New Hampshire State Beverage

Apple Cider

Adopted in 2010

Apple Cider becomes the State Beverage of New Hampshire's in 2010.

The bill came at the suggestion of a fourth-grade class from Jaffrey mainly Delaney [Joaquin] Hirsch, Shanleigh Bosse and Jesse Whicker. When in Mrs. Sheila Nichols' 3rd grade class (in 2009), they wrote to their state rep Bonnie Mitchell suggesting Apple Cider as New Hampshire's state drink. She answered her letter and sponsored HB1206!

During House hearings on the measure, opponents made the case for milk as the Granite State's number one drink. But ultimately the House was persuaded by supporters who pointed out that New Hampshire would be the first state to choose apple cider as its state beverage and that the inventor of the apple peeler, David Goodell, was a former New Hampshire Governor. (10/18/10): Ceremonial signing of HB1206 by Governor John Lynch (with Delaney, Jesse and Shanleigh at his side) took place on October 18, 2010  in Concord.

New Hampshire State Beverage: Apple Cider

Apple cider (also called sweet cider or soft cider) is the name used in the United States and parts of Canada for an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples. Apple cider is easy and inexpensive to produce. It may be opaque due to fine apple particles in suspension and may be tangier than conventional filtered apple juice, depending on the apples used.

This untreated cider is a seasonally produced drink of limited shelf-life that is typically available only in fall, although it is sometimes frozen for use throughout the year. It is traditionally served on the Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and various New Year's Eve holidays, sometimes heated and mulled. It is the official state beverage of New Hampshire

May 13, 2010
NH lawmakers deem cider the state beverage

By Bryan Deyermond bdeyermond@eagletribune.com

Alabama has whiskey. California has wine. Maine has Moxie.

Yesterday, the state Senate voted to name apple cider as the Granite State's official beverage. New Hampshire joins 27 other states to have chosen at least one official beverage, but it's the first to select cider.

Dan Hicks, who owns Sunnycrest Farms in Londonderry, said he produces more than 1,000 gallons of cider every fall. Hicks said cider was a perfect choice for the state beverage, noting it represents the link between apples and New Hampshire.

"One of the things about cider being the state beverage is it has been around forever," he said.

Andy Mack Jr. can attest to that. His family has owned and operated Mack's Apples in Londonderry for more than three centuries.

Annually, Mack's Apples produces close to 8,000 gallons of cider. Mack said he held receipts from apple sales dating back to the early 1800s. He agreed cider was a perfect choice for New Hampshire, given the heritage of the beverage and the fruit it's produced from.

"I think New Hampshire is one of the centers of apple production in the Northeast," Mack said.

Twenty of the 28 states with designated beverages selected milk, making New Hampshire a minority in the world of state beverages. But most residents said they agreed with the Legislature's choice.

Eleanor Essary, 51, of Derry said cider is a great reflection of New Hampshire.

"Cider feels like home, and this is my home," Essary said.

Julie Phillips, 34, of Derry agreed.
"Cider's all right," Phillips said. "I don't like milk."

Joe Wall, 22, of Manchester said the selection was logical, given New Hampshire's history as an agricultural state.

"It makes sense," Wall said. "There are a lot of apple orchards and farms in the state."

Nothing against cider, but some residents thought state lawmakers might have a few more important things on their plates than choosing a state beverage.

The bill was drafted by Jaffrey Grade School students as a way for the state's younger residents to learn the legislative process.

"There are probably more important things they could be doing," said Kim Sobotka, 35, of Derry. "I think there can be other ways to teach kids about government."

Wall agreed the vote didn't really have a purpose, but said he appreciated the news.

"I think people sit around bored and name things," Wall said. "But it's interesting. I'm a fact person. I know all kinds of random facts. It's just something more to know."

New Hampshire Law

The law designating Apple cider as the official New Hampshire state beverage is found in the New Hampshire Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 3, Section 3:26.

TITLE I
THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 3
STATE EMBLEMS, FLAG, ETC.
Section 3:26
3:26 State Beverage. - Apple cider is hereby designated as the official state beverage of New Hampshire.

Source. 2010, 277:1, eff. Sept. 6, 2010.