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Two weekends ago, on October the 24^th, the New England Basque Club celebrated its annual Cider Day. Around 80 people gathered, in the words of the organizers, to enjoy food, some rural sports, a conference and, for the first time, cider making. “We had a blast,” as club member Roberto Guerenabarrena told EuskalKultura.com.

Middletown, RI. Almost a hundred folks gathered at the annual Cider Day, celebrated by the New England Basque Club, on October 24. Attendees enjoyed a BBQ, drinks, rural sports and, for the first time ever, a cultural event.

Begoña Echeverria, author of The Hammer of Witches, gave a little talk about her novel, invited by the Club, making a plausible economical effort to expand its cultural program. “We want to boost Basque cultural activities in this area,” said Sergio Sotelo, president of the Club.

Making Cider

Rhode Islanders had great weather on that weekend that made the Cider Day even better. “It’s a little cooler now, but we had a good day,” said Guerenabarrena. So, in order to warm up a little bit, attendees exercised for a while, although not as usual, but by making cider.

Following Guerenabarrena’s guidance, each person pressed apples for about ten minutes. “It’s a pretty simple process. First you need to break the apples with a crusher and, then, press them. That way you create the juice, that you can drink and it’s so addictive!” After ten days, pesticides need to be added and, a couple of days later, the yeast. Ten more days need to pass until you take the sediments and let the cider rest to be ready in three months.

The Basque crowd used Roberto’s machinery, who started making cider, along with his friends Jesus Meabe Basterretxea and Kevin Morrisey, some five years ago. The first two made 15 gallons before the feast, on Cider Day, members created 5 more gallons, and Meabe and Guerenabarrena squeezed the last 15 gallons of apple juice a week later. 35 gallons total. “We’ll keep the cider for next year’s Sagardo Eguna, to drink it, give it away, or use it in a raffle…,” he concluded.

New website

The NEBC recently launched its new website, a user friendly and simpler site that will help its members know what comes next. Click here to check it out and, also, have a look at their regularly-updated Facebook page.