Review of Longueville House cider, from Cork Ireland.  Its my first time trying anything from this cidery, although I’ve tried two other Irish ciders, Cragie’s Ballyhook Flier and Dan Kelly’s Irish Cider.

Cider:  Cider (flagship)
Cidery:  Longueville House
Cidery Location:  Cork Ireland
ABV:  5.0%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  Irish craft cider from cider apples

 

Availability:  semi wide release

Cider Description:  Longueville House Cider is a medium dry artisan cider made on our 500 acre farm in the Blackwater Valley, Co. Cork. Longueville House (ca 1720) has been owned by the O’Callaghan family since the 10th century except for the 200 years when they were driven to “Hell or to Connaught” by Oliver Cromwell. Our 100% natural cider is hand-made from Dabinett and Michelin apples and contains no artificial sweeteners, additives, colourings, or preservatives. In Autumn we crush and press our apples on the farm within hours of harvesting. The apple juice is then naturally fermented for four months by the action of a unique natural yeast and sugar. The result is a medium dry cider, rich in amber colour. It is best drunk well chilled with no ice and is an ideal accompaniment to fish and meat.

Cidery Description:  Longueville House Cider was first developed by the late Michael O’Callaghan back in 2000 as a means to an end in making his Apple Brandy. A pioneering spirit he planted 25 acres of Dabinett and Michelin cider apples at the north-west side of the property based in the heart of The Blackwater Valley. The apples are harvested in the autumn every year. Once picked the apples are crushed and pressed in an oak cider press machine located in the cider house on our farm. The pressed juice is naturally fermented over time incorporating natural sugars in the juice and natural yeast on apples and in the atmosphere, resulting in a rich amber coloured cider. The cider is then filtered, carbonated and pasteurised.

Price:  $9.99
Where Bought:  Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing

First Impression:  Light orange amber hue.  Very low carbonation.  Smells of cider apple juice, yeast, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes:  On the sweeter side of semi-dry.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness, acidity, funk, and tannins.  Hints of bitterness and sourness.  Notes of tannic rich cider apples, barnyard, brown sugar, orange, leather, yeast, and honey.  Moderate length finish.  Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked this cider.  I could have done without the funk, but it had some nice flavor from the cider apples.

Most Similar to:  Cider from Normandy France such as Christian Drouin Pays d’ Auge, due to the richness, flavor notes, and funk.

Closing Notes:  This is the only variety from this cidery I’ve seen locally.  However, I have another variety from Cragie’s to try (which is another Irish cidery).

Have you tried Longueville House Cider?  What did you think?