Review of Alpenfire Foxwhelp single varietal.  It is my first time trying this cider, but I’ve had most of their other ciders – Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, Shrub, Spiced Tonic Shrub, Traditional Heirloom Cider (batch 1 or 2), Flame, Traditional Heirloom Cider (unknown batch), Tempest

Cider:  Foxwhelp SV
Cidery:  Alpenfire
Cidery Location:  Port Townsend WA
ABV:  6.9%
How Supplied:  750ml bottles
Style:  American craft orchard-based organic cider from Foxwhelp apples

   

Availability:  limited, probably only in Washington, plus online sales

Cider Description:  Our first 100% estate single varietal, produced from our organically grown Foxwhelp apples. The Foxwhelp is an English bittersharp cider apple, known for its aromatics and versatility, one of the oldest surviving cider apples still in use, originally from the Gloucestershire area. Historically a single strength cider from this apple would fetch the same price on the market in London as imported French Wine.

Cidery Description:  We invite you to experience the distinctive flavors of our estate grown ciders. Shaped by our maritime climate’s mild summers and tempered by the foggy mist rolling off of Discovery Bay, our apples maintain the qualities they’ve been treasured for by generations of cider lovers.  Soft tannins, high sugars, hints of bitterness, and an incredible flavor range are the tools the apples bring us.  Slow, cool fermentation, lengthy maturation, and attention to detail is the way we say thank you!

Price:  $16.99
Where Bought:  Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I’m always game to buy anything Alpenfire, as they make some awesome ciders.  They have been coming out with all sorts of new varieties lately.

First Impression:  Medium straw yellow.  Smells very mild, acidic and musty.  Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes:  On the sweeter side of dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness and funk.  Low to moderate tannins.  No sourness.  Notes of acidic heirloom apple, lemon, must, nut/wood, yeast, and mineral.  Moderate length finish.  Low to moderate apple flavor and sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked it.  I had expected more of a rich cider apple flavor, as Foxwhelp is a bittersharp, but this tasted more like an heirloom apple cider than a cider apple cider.  I enjoyed it though, as it was less acidic and more tannic than most heirloom apple ciders, so despite it being fairly dry, it wasn’t at all harsh for my tastes.  However, I still prefer a bittersweet cider apple cider, more like Alpenfire’s Ember.

Most Similar to:  This reminds me of some of Eve’s ciders, although the flavor notes were different.

Closing Notes:  I’m interested to try more of Alpenfire’s new ciders.  I already have a bottle of their Rosy Pommeau at home for example.

Have you tried a single varietal cider?  What did you think?