Review of Woodchuck Pearsecco.  It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Woodchuck.  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:  Bubbly Pearsecco
Cidery:  Woodchuck
Cidery Location:  Middlebury VT
ABV:  6.1%
How Supplied:  six pack of 12oz cans
Style:  American commercial cider from dessert apples with pear

  

Availability:  wide release

Cider Description:  Inspired by sparkling wines, this dry pear cider is full of bubbles with a clean, crisp finish.

Cidery Description:  Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price:  n/a (retails for $9.99-10.99)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  it showed up

First Impression:  Light straw yellow hue.  Moderate carbonation.  Smells of yeast brought to the surface by carbonation.

Tasting Notes:  Dry to semi-dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Moderate tartness.  High acidity.  No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk.  Notes of green apple, pear, and pineapple.  Moderate length finish.  Low to moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and apple & pear flavor.  High sessionability.

My Opinion:  I liked it.  This is probably the driest cider I’ve had from Woodchuck, but it still wasn’t completely dry (not that I really expected that from a commercial cidery).  Fuller bodied than I expected for the dryness, but all of Woodchuck’s ciders seem to end up that way.  Nice light flavor, easy to drink, and higher carbonation.

Most Similar to:  A drier and more bubbly version of Crispin Pear or Angry Orchard Pear.  Its actually pretty rare to have a drier pear cider – looking at my list the only one I can think of is Neigel Vintners (now Pear UP) Half Past Prudent, which is no longer made.

Closing Notes:  Next up will be a review of their Rosé, released at the same time – both are said to be inspired by wine and have higher carbonation.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pearsecco?  What did you think?