Review of Ramborn’s Cascade Hopped Cider.  This is my first time trying any cider from this Luxembourg cidery.  See my first post on their Perry for more info (I tried them at the same time).

>>This is a review of a bottle gifted to Cider Says by Ramborn.  Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free.  The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue.  I love free stuff, especially cider!  Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here?  Contact me.<<

Cider:  Cascade Hopped Cider
Cidery:  Ramborn Cider
Cidery Location:  Born, Luxembourg
ABV:  7.4%
How Supplied:  four packs of 330ml bottles
Style: cider from Luxembourg cider apples, with Cascade hops from Oregon (U.S.A.) – which hits quite close to home for this imported cider!

 

Availability:  Mostly in Europe, although they are just starting to come to the U.S., as they launched in Milwaukee Wisconsin in August 2017.

Cider Description:  We have taken some of our Luxembourgish cider and infused it with American-grown whole-cone Cascade hops. Cascade hails from Oregon in the USA’s Pacific Northwest. First released in 1971, it is loved by craft brewers the world over for its signature citrus/floral aroma.  We specially selected a base cider to bring out the full characteristics of Cascade, which in turn compliments the crisp acidity of our traditional cider apples.

Cidery Description:  Ramborn is the first Luxembourgish cider producer. We only ferment the freshly pressed juice of apples and pears grown exclusively in traditional orchards of large, standard trees. No concentrate. No industrial plantations.

Price:  n/a (and unknown really)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  the cidery contacted me

First Impression:  Light amber gold hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells of cider apple juice and hops.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Low to moderate tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Low bitterness.  Low to moderate tannins, especially on the finish.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of rich cider apples, hops, floral, and citrus.  Moderate length slightly bitter hoppy finish.  Low apple flavor.  Moderate complexity, sessionability, hops intensity, and overall flavor intensity.

My Opinion:  I liked it but didn’t love it.  The rich traditional English-like cider was an interesting combination with the hops that I hadn’t had before.  I think if I had this on its own it would have stood out more, but I drank it right after their amazing perry.  I can say however that it was balanced, and the main thing I didn’t care for was the bitterness on the finish (although the tannins helped make up for it).

Most Similar to:  Nothing I’ve had!  I’ve only had hopped ciders which used dessert apples as the base (not cider applies), although I’ve heard of a few cideries in England picking up on this American trend, such as Oliver’s.  As a whole, the flavoring of cider is an American thing, as we don’t have as many heirloom & cider apples, so dessert apples are often used.  Some of my favorite hopped ciders have been 2 Towns Hop & Stalk (with rhubarb), Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, and Tod Creek Mala Hop, which in general had more citrus/floral/herbal flavor than bitter hop flavor.

Closing Notes:  Its pretty cool than a European cidery did a hopped cider.  I hope to see their ciders in the Seattle area soon, especially if they are at a four pack (instead of single bottle) price.  The perry was amazing, so I’d like to try more straight ciders from cider apples or pears.

Have you tried Ramborn Cider?  What did you think?