One taste of Trojan Twister, Bromfield’s first-ever entry in hard-cider league competition, flattened the opposition in a regional taste-off last week. Facing strong teams from neighboring apple towns like Stow and Bolton, the Twister cider team took an early lead and quickly put several judges under the table.
“Harvard kids have always been fierce competitors, but even I was surprised at the hours they spent in the chemistry lab concocting this potent brew,” said Coach Paul, who mostly succeeded in enforcing strict rules against hard-cider consumption on school grounds.
The idea of a hard-cider team came out of burgeoning interest in hard cider, in general. Coach Paul is widely recognized as a hard-cider expert, but until recently had not considered cider-making a competitive sport.
No more. With Harvard apples to work with, the Bromfield cider team had a clear advantage, and when Paul saw and tasted the ciders other towns’ teams were producing, he knew Bromfield kids would have a good shot at the title.
“Harvard apples are just better, for eating or cooking or cider-making,” Paul said. “I hate to sound arrogant, but I don’t see any serious competition as we head into the state taste-offs.”
