Review of Honey Moon Mead & Cider’s CiderHead hard apple cider from Bellingham WA.

Cider:  CiderHead Hard Apple Cider
Cidery:  Honey Moon Mead & Cider
Cidery Location:  Bellingham WA
ABV:  5.5%
How Supplied:  six pack of 12oz cans (and 750ml bottles)
Style:  American flagship dry craft cider

  

Availability:  Year round, only in WA

Description:  We’ve been part of the cider revolution since we first opened our doors in 2005.   CiderHead is an English style cider, made from fresh local apples with no added sugar or concentrate.  And while our line-up has expanded to meet demand, our commitment to quality craft cider remains simple and true.  It feels good to be a cider head.  A CiderHead is a person who loves hard cider – a lot.  We believe there are two types of people: (1) those who are ciderheads, and (2) those who will be ciderheads.  If you are in the latter group, it’s time to taste our CiderHead and get on with things.  

We make all of our ciders using only fresh fruit.  We do not add sugar.  We do not use concentrate.  Just real craft cider made from fresh apples.  Naturally gluten free.  Our dry CiderHead is crisp and refreshing.  Unlike most of the ciders out there, it’s bone dry, but because we carefully select fruit with an acid profile it retains a tart, apple note. 5.5% ABV, it pairs perfectly with chicken, fish and pasta.

Made from a blend of cider and culinary apples.  They have a tasting room in Bellingham for their ciders and meads (and also serve wine and dessert) which is known for events such as live music and open mic nights.

Price:  ~$2.50 for a single can
Where Bought:  Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I’ve seen this brand, but hadn’t got around to trying it, and now that at least the flagship variety is sold in cans (since last summer, although they took a bit longer to make it into my area), it was less of a commitment.

First Impression:  Pale straw yellow hue with a hint of pink.  Low carbonation with a combination of small & large bubbles.  Smells of citrus & honey, and dry, funky, tart, sour, & acidic.

Tasting Notes:  Dry.  High acidity.  Moderate tartness.  Low sourness, tannins, bitterness, and funk (but a clean funk).  Light bodied.  Notes of honey and citrus.  Long warming finish (tastes like a higher ABV than labeled).  Low apple influence.  Low sessionability.  Mildly flavored.

My Opinion:  This isn’t a style of cider I care for (I like more flavor and sweetness, and am not big on sourness or funk).  However, folks who like a truly dry local craft cider in the convenience of cans may be a fan.

Most Similar to:  Dry acidic slightly funky craft ciders such as Sixknot High Desert Dry, Boonville Bite Hard, and Attila Scourge of God.

Closing Notes:   I’m glad I finally got to try one of their ciders.  Maybe I’ll get around to trying something else from them next time, maybe even a mead.

Have you tried Honey Moon CiderHead?  What did you think?