Review of Reverend Nat’s Revival.  I’ve tried this cider before in 500ml bottles and draft, but not a six pack.  I’ve also previously tried his ¡Tepache!, Hopland #5 / Envy, Newtown Pippin, Ciderkin, Winter Abbey Spice, Hallelujah Hopricot, Deliverance Gin & Tonic, Revival Dry, Sour Cherry, The Passion, and Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant.

 

 

Cider:  Revival
Cidery:  Reverend Nat’s
Cidery Location:  Portland Oregon
ABV:  5.8%
How Supplied:  six pack of 12oz bottles (and 500ml bottles & draft)
Style:  American craft cider from dessert apples, with Mexican piloncillo sugar and two yeast strains

 

Availability:  Year round in AK, CA (Southern), HI, ID, OR, and WA, as well as B.C. Canada, Singapore, and Tokyo & Nagano Japan, although the 500ml bottles are easiest to find.

Cider Description:  My newest release is Revival Hard Apple and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you. I start with a secret blend of Washington-grown apples and add piloncillo, dark brown evaporated cane juice, purchased direct from Michoacan, Mexico. I ferment this dark base to all the way to dry using two exotic yeast strains: a beer yeast known for the round mouthfeel in Saisons and a rarely-used secret culture which produces aromas of pineapple, guava and peaches. This cider is brilliantly golden in color and deeply complex while remaining subtly familiar, with just the right amount of sweetness and acidity to be an everyday beverage.

Cidery Description:  Reverend Nat is a single-minded cider evangelist who searches the world for superior ingredients to handcraft the most unusual ciders that no one else will make.

Price:  $13.99
Where Bought:  Target
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  Its easy to find the single 500ml bottles, but this is only the second time I’ve seen the six packs.  The first was at Whole Foods, but only once.  Per ounce the six packs are a good deal.  I was very surprised to see it at Target, which otherwise only had commercial ciders.

First Impression:  Light amber hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells of apples and yeast.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-sweet to semi-dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Low to moderate tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of apple juice, apple pomace, yeast, brown sugar, and honey.  Slight richness.  Quick finish length.  Moderate to high apple flavor.  High sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion:  Yum!  This is a tasty everyday cider.  It varies quite a bit batch to batch, more than any other cider I’ve tried (but that is typical for craft ciders).  Sometimes I like it better than other times, but its always good.

Most Similar to:  Breton French cider, as it is apple-forward and yeast-forward, although less carbonation.

Closing Notes:   This is Reverend Nat’s most typical cider, and my favorite from him.

Have you tried Reverend Nat’s Revival?  What did you think?