Review of 10 Barrel Brewing Company’s “Bubbly” Hard Apple Cider, from Bend Oregon.  This is made by a brewery and is their first cider.

Cider:  Bubbly Hard Apple Cider
Cidery:  10 Barrel Brewing Company (owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev)
Cidery Location:  Bend Oregon
ABV:  6.5%
How Supplied:  six pack of 12oz bottles
Style:  American craft hard cider made by a brewery from dessert apples

 

Availability:  Oregon and Washington

Cider Description:  Fix the paper jam in the printer? Finally topped your moms candy crush score? Time to break out the bubbly! The perfect complement to celebrate anything in life.

Bubbly is the creation of 10 Barrel brewer Tonya Cornett, who handpicked Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples from a small farm in Yakima, Washington, to create a blend of juice. Tonya then fermented it out with a wine yeast to create strong champagne characteristics. Hence the name Bubbly.

Made from Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples.

Price:  runs $10.99 / six pack
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  I had read about this online awhile back, but my husband spotted it and brought a bottle home.

First Impression:  Very pale straw yellow hue.  Low carbonation upon pouring.  Smells very mild, of apple juice, citrus, and a mild chemical type smell.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Still (no carbonation).  Medium bodied.  Mild tartness, acidity, and bitterness.  No sourness, funk, or tannins.  Juice-like and yeast forward, with hints of honey, citrus, and green grape notes.  Moderate length finish.  Moderate sessionability.  Low apple influence.

My Opinion:  Unfortunately this was undrinkable for me and two others who tried it.  The end of the flavor was just very “off”…it didn’t particularly taste like it had gone bad, but was just very weird and chemical.  Plus I was expecting more carbonation.

Most Similar to:  Nothing I’ve tried.

Closing Notes:   Disappointing, although I didn’t have too high of expectations for a cider made by a brewery.  There aren’t too many reviews online, but they don’t seem to be glowing.

Have you tried Bubbly?  What did you think?