We were recently asked to collaborate on a short blurb about hellbenders for a new label from the Tumbling Creek Cidery Company: HELLBENDER - HOPPED HARD CIDER. Working with Dr. JJ Bresowar, one of the founders of TCCC and a professor at E&H, we built this fun bit that will be featured on the background of their bottle:

“Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis - eastern hellbender, snot otter, mud dog, gampus, Allegheny alligator; all names for this large cryptic salamander found in cool, clear streams and rivers. It can be docile, but is nearly pure muscle with tough claws to grip slippery rocks, strong jaws to clamp down on its preferred prey of crayfish, and a keeled tail to propel it through rushing waters. Hellbenders are brown with darker spots along their backs, a camouflage in their clear stream habitats. They are found during the day under large rocks, with adults coming out at night to hunt. As the largest amphibian in North America, this ancient giant is resilient, surviving the rise and fall of dinosaurs, ice ages, and the dawn of humans. It shares a common ancestor with the Asian giant salamanders dating back over 130 million years. Its legend as a feared creature of the underworld stems from Appalachian folklore, but more accurately, this unique species is a charismatic icon and bellwether of our cherished cold-water ecosystems. Hellbenders were once found from the Mississippi River to New York State, though most are now restricted to the Appalachian region. Hellbenders remind us of the importance of clean waters and wooded mountainsides in preserving our natural heritage.”

Check out this neat group continuing a deep-rooted apple tradition in the Southern Appalachians: https://tumblingcreekcider.com/our-cider/

Label for the new Tumbling Creek Cider Company’s Hellbender Hopped hard cider.