Review of Two Rivers Huckleberry cider.  It is my first time trying this, although I’ve previously had their Gravenstein cider.

Cider:  Huckleberry
Cidery:  Two Rivers Cidery
Cidery Location:  Sacramento CA
ABV:  6.9%
How Supplied:  22oz bottles
Style:  American craft cider from dessert apples, with huckleberries

  

Availability:  Likely only in California

Cider Description:  A rare and wonderful fruit. The sweet aroma of berries and a delicious floral mouthful. You will enjoy it till the very last drop

Cidery Description:  Two Rivers Hard Cider Company was founded in 1996. With seventeen years as a publician, a long time home brewer and craftsman, as well as an international registered beer judge, Vincent Sterne was inspired and fascinated by the centuries old craft of Cider making. After many years of experimentation, he finally had what he wanted, a superior hard apple cider. Two Rivers original HARD APPLE CIDER is made from a blend of 100% fresh pressed apple juice from Barsotti ranch in Apple Hill. A proprietary blend of apples with a balance of tartness and sweetness to create a gold medal winning Hard Cider.

They have a tasting room in Sacramento CA.

Price:  $7.59
Where Bought:  a natural grocery store outside of Sacramento CA, over Christmas break
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing

First Impression:  Light brown-pink hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells of mild sweet berries.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness and berry tannins, especially on the finish.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of just huckleberries.  Low apple flavor.  Low complexity.  Low to moderate flavor intensity.  Moderate to high sessionability.

My Opinion:  I thought this was average, a bit on the boring side for my personal preferences.  Fans of drier berry ciders would probably like this though.  I mostly picked it up as their cider isn’t available locally (not so much that I was interested in the huckleberry variety).

Most Similar to:  Greenwood Huckleberry Wedding Cider (also semi-dry) and Swift Cider Marionberry (dry to semi-dry).  The only other huckleberry cider I’ve had was from One Tree, but that was very sweet.  My favorite berry ciders so far are probably AEppeltreow Blackbird and Alpenfire Calypso & Apocalypso.

Closing Notes:  Its always fun to pick up new ciders when travelling that I can’t find locally.

Have you tried Two Rivers Huckleberry?  What did you think?