Review of Scandi Cider’s Pear variety, from Estonia (in Northern Europe, on the Baltic Sea).  I’ve previously tried their Apple and Green Apple ciders.

Nice looking bottles!

Cider:  Scandi Cider Pear
Cidery:  Vohu Vein AS
Cidery Location:  Vohu village, Estonia, in the south Baltic Sea shore
ABV:  5.4%
How Supplied:  four pack of 12.7oz corked champagne bottles
Style:  Norman-style cider made with Baltic apple & pear varieties in Estonia

 

Availability:  semi wide release

Ingredients:  fermented apple juice, fermented pear juice, carbonated water, sugar, malic acid, citric acid, sulfites 

(Note that the addition of water typically means they use apple juice concentrate, which allows them to produce cider year round even though they only harvest once a year.  However, there are different types of concentrate processes, some very commercial and some more craft, and I’ve heard its the norm in Europe.)

Cider Description:  What makes Scandinavian cider a unique one?  Special North Europe apples blend. Three basic elements create a structure for cider – acid, tannin, and sweetness. We use our specific mix of Baltic varieties of apples, including (but not limited to) – Tellisaare “,” Alwa “,” Suislepp “,” Liivi Kuldrenett “,” Krugeri tuvioun “,” Talvenauding “, and this gives a unique combination of acid, tannin, and sweetness. The cider professionals came to conclusion that the apples for the production of the specific type of cider must grow precisely in the climate and on the soil where cider will be produced.

Cidery Description:  Vohu winery, the producer of Scandinavian Cider, was built in 1967 in Laane-Virumaa county, Vohu village, Estonia, located in the south Baltic Sea shore. Variety of apples grown on the Baltic Sea shores, added to the Nordic traditions of cider producing, make Nordic ciders unique. Almost 50 years of experience gained by Vohu winery makes sure that the Scandinavian cider is consistent with both traditional recipes and modern requirements of the European Union.

Price:  ~$4 / single bottle
Where Bought:  Whole Foods
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I enjoyed Scandi Cider’s other two varieties and it is available in a relatively affordable (but small) single bottle, so it was an easy purchase to make.

First Impression:  Light straw yellow hue.  Moderate carbonation.  Smells of sweet pineapple and pear.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-sweet to sweet.  Medium bodied with a frothy mouthfeel.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk.  Notes of pear, pineapple, green apple, and lemon.  Quick finish.  Moderate pear flavor.  Low apple flavor.  Moderate flavor intensity.  High sessionability.  Low complexity.

My Opinion:  This was a tasty dessert cider.  Definitely sweeter than their other two offerings, but pear ciders often are.  It tasted a bit on the commercial side though, and I could definitely tell that sugar was added.  I really enjoy the texture of their ciders, as well as the higher carbonation, which isn’t found too often here in the U.S.  This pear cider varies from most as they fermented the pear juice in addition to the apple juice.  It is more common to add unfermented pear juice to the fermented apple juice.  However, it is not a perry as apple juice was added.

Most Similar to:  This had some of the sweet pear-forward flavor of ciders such as Crispin Pacific Pear, NV Cider Pear Essentials, Flatbed Pear Cider, Wyder’s Dry Pear, Steelhead Peargatory, Angry Orchard Knotty Pear, and Bull Run Pear Ice Wine.  However, the texture and level of carbonation was completely different.

Closing Notes:  I’ve enjoyed all three of their ciders, but the Apple was my favorite.  I believe they only make those three varieties.

Interesting Tidbit:  Oddly enough this cider appears to be made in Estonia exclusively for export to the U.S.  Probably a smart business choice as if I had to guess, cider would fetch a higher price in the U.S. than Estonia, even considering the high costs of shipping and such.

Have you tried Scandi Cider?  What did you think?