As Californians, the couple who entered Spokane’s Liberty Ciderworks taproom one Sunday afternoon were well-versed in the nuances of wine. However, since they were visiting Washington, the largest apple-growing region in the United States, they decided to try cider. As owner and founder Rick Hastings began explaining the breadth and range of flavor profiles within cidermaking, they were astonished. “They began to get excited about what they could pair with different varieties,” says Hastings.