Review of Number 12 Ciderhouse’s Chestnut Semi-Dry, a cider made from Minnesota apples and aged with toasted French oak spirals.  This is Number 12 Ciderhouse’s newest release, and the first cider I’ve tried from them.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Number 12.  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:  Chestnut Semi-Dry
Cidery:  Number 12 Ciderhouse
Cidery Location:  Buffalo, Minnesota
ABV:  7.4%
How Supplied:  750ml bottles
Style:  American craft cider from Minnesota apples (including Chestnut Crabapples), aged with toasted French oak spirals

 
<loving these labels!>

Availability:  Number 12 ciders are sold in these locations in Minnesota.

Cider Description:  Number 12 Chestnut Semi-Dry combines 5 local apple varieties with toasted French Oak. It features the Chestnut Crabapple, developed and introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1946. Hints of orchard honey and crisp apple come alive against a light sparkle and subtle tannins. This cider is approachable, balanced and delicious!

Cidery Description:  Balance is everything . . . In life, and in great ciders.  Number 12 is no different.  We are continuously experimenting to achieve a perfect balance.  Number 12 gets its namesake from the 12th recipe developed in 2011.  It became our first award winner and the beginning of our recognition from the cider community.  Since then, it has become more of a concept, our ideal if you will.  Number 12 represents the idea that greatness in cider is out there somewhere . . . To strive for, to create, to perfect!

They have a tap room in Buffalo Minnesota.

Price:  n/a (retails for $11)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  n/a

First Impression:  Hazy dark lemonade hue.  Moderate carbonation.  Smells of citrus, sourness, funk, and oak.

Tasting Notes:  Dry to semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness.  Low sourness.  Very high acidity.  Low funk.  Low tannins.  Notes of sharp crabapples, grapefruit, lemon, honey, and charred oak.  Moderate length finish.  Low to moderate apple flavor.  Low sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Moderate complexity.  Low oak influence.

My Opinion:  Well-made, but its not really a style I enjoy.  It reminds me of farmhouse-style cider, with its high acidity and some sourness & funk.

Most Similar to:  Other farmhouse-style dry acid-forward ciders such as Millstone Farmgate Dry, Sietsema Traditional Dry, and Angry Orchard Walden Hollow, except with an oak aged twist.

Closing Notes:   I’m glad I got to try this one.  Next up I have their Sparkling Dry and Black Currant Dry.

Have you tried Number 12 Ciders?  What did you think?