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Starcut Ciders is a new division of Short's Brewing Co.

(Courtesy)

BELLAIRE, MI — A new division of Short’s Brewing Co. will produce craft ciders.

Creation of Starcut Ciders was announced by the popular Antrim County microbrewery on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Starcut will make cider using northern Michigan apples, under the direction of Short’s head brewer Tony Hanson. The new company is owned by Short's Brewing Co.

The cider will be poured only at Short’s pub in Bellaire to begin with. The company hopes to begin bottle distribution across Michigan at some point in the future, according to Bridgett Beckwith, marketing director at Short’s

The company is celebrating the new cider division with a 10-cider tapping party with live music on Nov. 14, 15 and 16.

“We’re kind of getting some feedback from this event,” said Beckwith. “If there’s interest and demand for it, we would like to be able to provide it to the rest of the state sooner rather than later.”

Short's, which has a production facility in Elk Rapids, only distributes in Michigan.

The name Starcut is a reference to the pattern revealed when an apple is cut across the middle to reveal a star shape created by the fruit’s seeds.

Garret Ellison covers business, government and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram