Tasting notes from my 22nd visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA.  Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a random Thursday.  I started with a flight.

<left to right:  Cockrell Jonastar, Schilling Blueberry Cobbler, Seattle Cider Heirloom, and Snowdrift Seckel Perry>

Cockrell Brewing (Puyallup WA) Jonastar (6.9% ABV):  This is a single varietal from Jonastar apples, and is likely draft-only.  Slightly hazy medium straw yellow hue.  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Moderate tartness.  High acidity.  Hints of bitterness and sourness.  No funk or tannins.  Notes of lemon, grapefruit, floral, and green apple.  Low apple flavor.  Low complexity.  Low flavor intensity.  High sessionability.  I thought it was pretty average.

Schilling Cider (Auburn WA) Blueberry Cobbler (6.6% ABV):  This is a spiced blueberry cider, barrel aged 12 months, primarily available in bottles at Bartell Drugs (a collaboration; see here).  Cherry hue.  Semi-sweet.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk.  Notes of blueberry, pie spices, and a hint of vanilla.  No apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Low complexity.  I didn’t pick up any barrel influence, but I imagine the other flavors could have overwhelmed them.  This cider was a bit weird for my tastes.

Seattle Cider (Seattle WA) Washington Heirloom (7.0% ABV):  This is a special release made from heirloom and cider apple varieties, also available in bottles.  Higher carbonation.  Medium straw yellow hue.  Semi-dry to dry.  Moderate tartness.  High acidity.  No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk.  Notes of lemon, lime, floral, and herbal.  Low flavor intensity.  Low to moderate complexity.  Low apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability.  I thought it was pretty average.  There was more heirloom than cider apple flavor.

Snowdrift Cider (East Wenatchee, WA) Seckel Perry (8.6% ABV):  This is a single-varietal perry (no apples, only pears) made from Seckel pears, also available in bottles.  Slightly hazy light straw yellow.  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Hints of bitterness, tannins, and sourness.  No funk.  Notes of pear, citrus, green apple, and floral.  Moderate sessionability.  Moderate pear flavor.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Moderate complexity.  I enjoyed it (more than their regular Perry, which I found had a lot of bitterness).

Sarah also shared a bottle pour with me of a Spanish Sidra which is new to the U.S.

Pomarina (Asturias Spain, 7.0% ABV):  This Spanish Sidra was made in the style of methode champenoise (to naturally carbonate it).  Semi-dry.  Light bodied, frothy texture (although it had been open awhile so it didn’t have much carbonation left).  Moderate tartness.  High acidity.  Low sourness.  Hints of bitterness.  No tannins or funk.  Notes of citrus and green apple.  Moderate length finish.  Moderate sessionability.  Low apple flavor.  Low flavor intensity.  Low complexity.  I found this more approachable than most Sidra, as it was less sour.  I’m not a fan of sourness though, so I didn’t care for it.

The Snowdrift Seckel Perry was my favorite.

Stay tuned for more Schilling Cider House tasting notes here at Cider Says!  Have you had any good draft cider / cider flights recently?