Review of Oregon Mead & Cider’s Free Press Cyser (a cross between cider & mead).  It is my first time trying this, although I’ve had their Dry and Hopped ciders, and I’ve had cyser from Eaglemount, Finnriver, Moonlight (Last Apple and How Do You Like Them Apples), and Stem (Blood Orange).  Note that Oregon Mead & Cider used to be called Stung Fermented.

Cider:  Free Press Cyser
Cidery:  Oregon Mead & Cider
Cidery Location:  Portland OR
ABV:  6.5%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  American craft cyser (apples + honey)

 

Availability:  Year round in Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Georgia

Cider Description:  Hard Cider Made Easy. Our ciders were born from the bounty of the Northwest and the pioneering spirit of our grandparents. A perfect balance of dry and tart, our ciders are made by the people, for the people. Press on.

Cidery Description:  Our award-winning dry, sparkling meads and ciders are naturally gluten free, and we treat our Pacific Northwest honey and apple juice with respect: we never boil, filter, or add sulfites.

They were founded in 2013 and have a tasting room.

Price:  $7.99
Where Bought:  The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing

First Impression:  Moderate carbonation.  Dark straw yellow hue.  Smells acidic and mildly of honey.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to dry.  Light bodied.  Carbonated mouthfeel.  Very high acid.  Moderate to high tartness.  Hints of sourness and bitterness.  No tannins or funk.  Notes of honey, citrus, and floral.  Long beer-like finish (my husband said it was like a Kolsch).  Moderate apple and honey flavor.  Low to moderate flavor intensity, sessionability, and complexity.

My Opinion:  I thought it was pretty average.  Refreshing, but a bit mouth-puckering.  Its not really a style I enjoy, but everyone has different tastes.

Most Similar to:  Not much.  All the other cysers I’ve tried have been much sweeter.  I have sampled some drier meads before, but I usually like my beverages more full-flavored, so for mead I tend towards sweeter ones.  It reminds me a bit however of Angry Orchard Walden Hollow.

Closing Notes:  I’ve now tried their current full cider lineup, and to be honest, I don’t think they are for me (although my favorite of the three was the Hopped).  If you like a dry, acidic, and more heavily carbonated cider (or mead), give them a try.

Have you tried cyser?  What did you think?