Review of Alpenfire’s Rosy Pommeau.  This is apple brandy from bittersweet & heirloom apples + cider from Aerlie red-fleshed apples.  It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, Shrub, Spiced Tonic Shrub, Traditional Heirloom Cider, Flame, Tempest, and Foxwhelp SV.

Cider:  Rosy Pommeau, 2015 vintage, 2018 release
Cidery:  Alpenfire
Cidery Location:  Port Townsend WA
ABV:  18%
How Supplied:  375ml tall bottles
Style:  American craft Pommeau from bittersweet & heirloom apple brandy + Aerlie red-fleshed apple cider, oak aged

  

Availability:  limited, 58 cases released in 2018, likely only available in WA, plus online sales

Cider Description:  Alpenfire’s Rosy Pommeau, Rich, red, high acid juice from Aerlie red apples is partially fermented before halting the fermentation with the addition of the eau de vie. The eau de vie is distilled from our estate organic cider varietals and locally grown organic heirloom apples. Once blended pommeau is aged in neutral oak for 15 + months before bottling. Great as an aperitif or accompanying dessert.

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:  $26.99
Where Bought:  Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing

First Impression:  Pink-orange hue.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells of caramelized strawberry alcohol.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-sweet to semi-dry.  Medium bodied.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness.  Low tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of strawberry, watermelon, kiwi, and rich apple.  Long finish.  Low to moderate apple flavor.  Very low sessionability.  Moderate to high flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked it.  However, I prefer Alpenfire’s red-fleshed apple cider Glow, or a Pommeau from typical apples, not so much this combination, as for me the fruity red-fleshed apple flavor competed a bit with the rich boozy Pommeau.  My husband really enjoyed it however.

Most Similar to:  I’ve never had Pommeau from red-fleshed apples, although I’ve had several ciders from red-fleshed apples (Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, Snowdrift Red, Tieton Russian Red) and several Pommeaux (from 2 Towns, Wandering Aengus, EZ Orchards, Etienne Dupont, Finnriver, and Stem).

Closing Notes:  My favorite Alpenfire dessert cider is Smoke.

Have you tried Pommeau?  What did you think?