Review of Square Mile’s Spur & Vine hopped cider.  I’ve previously tried their other variety, Original.

Cider:  Spur & Vine
Cidery:  Square Mile (part of Craft Brew Alliance)
Cidery Location:  Portland OR
ABV:  6.7%
How Supplied:  six packs of 12oz bottles and 22oz bottles
Style:  American craft cider made from dessert apples, with Galaxy hops

  

 

Availability:  Year round in WA, OR, CA, HI, AK, NV, AZ, TX, MT, ID, MI, & CO

Cider Description:  Spur & Vine puts a Northwest twist on our classic American hard cider.  Starting with the same apples and yeast as The Original, we added a generous amount of Galaxy hops during cold conditioning.  Since no heat is applied to the hops, our cider takes on flavors and aromas of peach, melon and honeysuckle but none of the traditional hop bitterness.  Spur & Vine is best served straight up to allow the complexities of this cider to shine.

Cidery Description:  Inspired by the pioneering spirit of those who traveled the Oregon Trail in the pursuit of a dream, we offer Square Mile Hard Cider.  We set out to reinvigorate an enduringly classic American beverage with a blend of apples hand-selected for the perfect balance of sweet and tart.  Our hard cider pays homage to the fortitude and perseverance of the original pioneers.

They were founded in 2013.

Price:  $1.99 / single bottle (runs ~ $9 / six pack)
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  A couple people have told me they liked this, and its even won awards, but I held off for awhile as I didn’t care for their Original cider.

First Impression:  Dark straw yellow.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells of hops, floral, and citrus.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Low bitterness.  Hints of tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of citrus (lemon), hops, floral, herbal, mineral, lemongrass, and honey.  Moderate to long finish.  Moderate hoppiness, apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion:  I’m a fan.  Nice hops flavor without going too overboard, and without the bitterness.  Oddly enough I found this less beer-like than their Original cider.  Its probably my favorite hopped cider to date.  This category has grown on me.  I think I started off on the wrong foot, not liking beer, then having Reverend Nat’s Envy (an intensely hopped bitter dry cider) being the first I tried.

Most Similar to:  Other hopped ciders.  This one has a nice balance of citrus, floral, and herbal flavor from the hops.  Some other hopped ciders sway only towards citrus or floral.

Closing Notes:  Now I’ve tried both offerings from Square Mile; oddly enough they only make two.

Have you tried hopped cider?  What did you think?