Cider:  Half Sour
Cidery:  Brooklyn Cider House
Cidery Location:  Geneva NY
ABV:  5.8%
How Supplied:  750ml bottles (this is the first time I’ve seen a twist-top; usually they use crown caps and sometimes corks for cider; I imagine it would work well for ciders with low carbonation)
Style:  American craft dry slightly sour cider

Availability:  Only in New York; see this page of retailers.

Cider Description:  Half Sour is our most thought-provoking cider. It begins with the aromas of wild flowers and honey, followed by a hint of pickled pear. Take a sip and pow! It hits the palate with a wave of citrus fruit flavors that are edgy, refreshing and tickle your tongue – ultimately providing endless possibilities for pairings. Our Half Sour answers to no one.

Each of their ciders are made from a blend of 7-9 apple varieties, ranging from table apples (like Macintosh and Cortland) to bitter apples and crab apples.

Cidery Description:  All our ciders are born out of traditions from Spain, France, and America. They are made as naturally as possible from apples hand picked in upstate New York. Our apples are simply crushed and their juice left to ferment the same way the traditionalists do it in Europe and the way it used to be done in Brooklyn before the Temperance Movement ended the party.

Like fine wines our ciders are expressions of place, but unlike wine our ciders are meant to be gulped not sipped! Some are bubbly, some are dry, and some have a hint of natural sugar, but all are meant to celebrate the simple pleasures. So join us in a toast to tradition, friendship and, of course, to Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Cider House was started in 2014.  They have an orchard and tasting room in the Hudson Valley in New Paltz New York, Twin Star Orchards.

Price:  $10
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  n/a

First Impression:  Very light straw yellow, nearly clear.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells mild with hints of sour & citrus.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to dry.  Very light bodied.  Low tartness and acidity.  Hints of sour and funk.  No bitterness or tannins.  Notes of green apple, citrus, and mineral.  Quick finish.  Low apple flavor.  Low flavor intensity.  Subtle wine-like complexity.  High sessionability.

My Opinion:  Less sour than I was expecting from the description (I’d say more like 10% than 50% sour cider…nowhere near that of an Austrian Spanish cider), which was good for me as I’m not a sour cider lover.  I found this to be too bland for my liking (and my three friends and husband agreed).  I think its an ideal cider for food pairing (we had some cheese with it).  I’d also recommend it as a base for cider cocktails or mimosas.

Most Similar to:  Slightly sour ciders, such as from WildCraft in Eugene Oregon.

Closing Notes:   I think this cider is a great value for a $10 retail price, being that its a craft product made from local fresh-pressed New York apples.  I’d recommend it for folks who like a unique cider whose flavor won’t overpower food pairings and who don’t mind a touch of sourness & funk.

Have you tried Brooklyn Cider House ciders?  What did you think?