Review of 2 Towns’ Imperial Hop and Stalk, a seasonal release with Citra hops and Crimson Red rhubarb.  I’ve tried most of their line-up; see my reviews here.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by 2 Towns.  Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free.  The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue.  I love free stuff, especially cider!  Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here?  Contact me.<<

Cider:  Hop and Stalk
Cidery:  2 Towns
Cidery Location:  Corvallis OR
ABV:  8.0%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles and kegs
Style:  American Imperial (high ABV) craft cider made from dessert apples, with Citra hops and Crimson Red rhubarb

 

Availability:  Seasonably (May-Aug) in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA.

Cider Description:  An outrageous amount of Citra hops, locally grown Crimson Red rhubarb, and fresh-pressed NW apples create a trenchant hard cider with huge floral, citrus & passion fruit notes. The outspoken dry-hopped character of this cider is best when fresh, so make sure to exercise your Stalk Hoptions before they expire!

Cidery Description:  At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider.

Price:  n/a (runs $7-$9)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  n/a

First Impression:  Medium straw yellow.  Low to moderate carbonation upon pouring.  Smells primarily of citrus, with some hops and strawberry-rhubarb.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Medium bodied.  Low carbonation.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness.  No sourness, tannins, or funk.  Moderate length finish.  Moderate hoppiness, although with less bitterness and lingering flavor than many hopped ciders.  Notes of citrus (lots!), hops, strawberry, rhubarb, passion fruit, honey, and floral.  Low apple flavor.  Moderate to strong overall flavor intensity.  Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion:  I wasn’t expecting to like this cider as I wouldn’t call myself a fan of hops or rhubarb.  However, I really enjoyed it–I loved the complexity and uniqueness.

Most Similar to:  Hopped ciders with lots of citrus notes and some fruitiness.  Portland Cider Hop’Rageous also uses Citra hops, so you get more citrus & floral than bitter hops.  Tod Creek Mala-Hop also had a lot of citrus notes, but used Chinook, Sterling and Centennial, not Citra hops.  This is the most citrusy hopped cider I’ve tried though, and the only one with another fruit addition.

Closing Notes:   Another winner from 2 Towns!

Have you tried 2 Towns Hop and Stalk?  What did you think?