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| - O Arsenal, How I Love Thee! Let Me Count the Ways:
1) The owners. Bill and Michelle Larkin converted the ground floor of their Lawrenceville home into their (read: Bill's) dream. Who does that? I can't think of a whole lot of people, that's who. Their living room is now the tasting room, and what we can only assume was the dining room is now a seating area. The owners are friendly, knowledgeable about the area, and happy to talk to you about making cider, Lawrenceville, or the history of the Arsenal across the street. You may see their kids. This is DEDICATION, people.
2) The decor. I knew I was in love when I walked in to see a plastic skeleton suitably attired in Civil War-era garb, welcoming visitors in the most delightfully macabre fashion. The tap handles are variously fashioned from skeleton hands and revolvers. The Civil War-inspired theme is wonderfully done.
3) The cider. Oh, the cider. This will have to be a multi-part point of love. So.
3a) The actual cider. Their tap board lists that day's offerings by dryness, starting with bone dry at the top and proceeding in increasing sweetness to sweet at the bottom. Michelle will recommend tasting them in order of sweetness, much like one samples craft beers or wine. Do as she recommends. There's a tasting limit of 3 samples per visit due to the high alcohol content. Trust me. You won't be disappointed. You'll have a slight buzz by your third sample and will be desperately trying to decide which cider to fill a bathtub with and swim in for the rest of your life -- or rather to take home in a growler.
3b) The growlers. They will grant you honorary commissioned military rank, i.e. "Lieutenant Laura" or "Corporal Chris", and write this rank on your growler. Buy a growler. Take it home. Drink it all in one night. Return, refill, save $5.
3c) The experiments. Bill keeps some standard ciders on tap at all times (trust me, Picket is the BEST) and rotates through his experiments. And what experiments they are! Some are so-so (the chocolate cider from 02/2015 was much like an alcoholic Hershey's syrup), and others are phenomenal (rhubarb? yes, please!). Come back. Often.
3d) The sorbet. Yes, they make cider sorbet. And it is everything magical that you could ever want. We tried the strawberry-rhubarb sorbet -- made with, you guessed it, a combination of strawberry cider and rhubarb cider. Magical, I tell you.
4) Outdoor events. Arsenal has a Cider Garden, and Bill said that they host live music events throughout the summer season. Although I have yet to check this out, as soon as the Garden is open for the season, I will be there. And I will be drinking cider. And I will be happy.
5) Partnership with other local businesses. One of my visits to Arsenal was with Venture Outdoors on a Hard Cider Hike of Lawrenceville. Following a 3-mi hike, we ended at Arsenal for a private tasting and tour of the entire operation. Awesome? Yes.
Go check it out.
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