Review of Anthem Hops.  It is my first time trying this one, although I have previously tried their flagship cider, Raz & Boyz, Ap-Bee-Cot, Rose Pinot, and Cherry.

Cider:  Hops
Cidery:  Anthem (Wandering Aengus)
Cidery Location:  Salem Oregon
ABV:  5.8%
How Supplied:  four pack of 12oz bottles (and draft)
Style:  American large craft cider from dessert apples, finished with Cascade hops

  

Availability:  CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, MI, MT, NJ, NM, OR, PA, TN, TX, UH, VA, WA, and WA D.C.

Cider Description:  Anthem Cider’s tribute to the Northwest’s love of hops, Anthem Hops is a gluten free cider dry hopped with Oregon grown Cascade hops for over three weeks. The result is a light lagerish cider with all the beautiful citrus and floral aromas of Cascade hops with a only slight bitterness on the finish. Shy of Dry. Mild Tart. 10 IBU. 5.5% to 6.9% ABV. GLUTEN FREE.

Cidery Description:  We only use fresh pressed apples and other fruits, herbs sourced from the Pacific Northwest of known varieties – they are listed on every bottle and keg. To make great real cider, the varieties of apples, fruit additions and herbs matter. As does where the ingredients are grown and how far removed they are from their original form (degrees separated through processing from the farm to the bottle).

The fresh pressed apples we use provide all the sugars for fermentation and the malic acid (source of the tartness). Any and all residual sweetness in Anthem is provided by the apples we started with or the fruits we finish with.  The result is a line up of real ciders made the way you expect; apples pressed and fermented.

Price:  ~$3.50 / single bottle
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I’ve been getting into hopped ciders, and realized I hadn’t tried this one.

First Impression:  Light straw yellow hue.  Very low carbonation.  Smells mild, of hops, citrus, and floral.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Low to moderate tartness.  Moderate to high acidity.  Moderate bitterness.  Hints of tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of lemon, grapefruit, hops, green apple, mineral, and a hint of floral.  Moderate to long finish.  Low apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability, flavor, and complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked the flavor, but it was a bit too bitter for my preferences.

Most Similar to:  Square Mile Spur & Vine and Incline Explorer (although both are less bitter)

Closing Notes:  Hopped ciders have really grown on me.  I like the citrus flavors they impart, and especially enjoy them when they aren’t bitter.

Side Note:  After purchasing it, I realized the bottling date was June 2015 (batch 64).

Have you tried Anthem Hops?  What did you think?