Richard Read was just 14 when he started making hard cider from apples and pears. "I used a potato masher to juice them," recalls the native of Herefordshire, England. When he moved to the United States 10 years ago, Read struggled to find an American version that quenched his thirst like the drink of his homeland. "It wasn't my cup of tea as us English would say — or cup of cider, correctly," he jokes. In 2010, Read started Griffin Cider Works in Westlake and this July opened Griffin Cider House in Lakewood. The cider-focused English pub features eight ciders on tap, all of which use apples from local growers such as Quarry Hills Orchard in Berlin Heights. The fall-favorite Honey Oak ($6 for 16 ounces), made with honey from McLaughlin Apiary, is a sweet example of Read's determination. "I got the right blend with Ohio apples and the right yeast and fermentation methodology," says Read. "I think I hit the nail on the head." 12401 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-767-5444, griffinciderworks.com
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