Review of 2 Towns Branch & Barrel, an Imperial-style cider made from heirloom apples, then barrel aged.  It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had most of their line-up (see here).

Cider:  Branch & Barrel
Cidery:  2 Towns Ciderhouse
Cidery Location:  Corvallis OR
ABV:  8.2%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style:  American craft Imperial-style cider from heirloom apples, barrel aged

Availability:  seasonal, in fall, in select states where 2 Towns is typically sold (Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Chicago, and parts of Minnesota & Montana)

Cider Description:  Pomona, goddess of orchards, blessed our crop this year with a bounty of eclectic heirloom apples which, when fermented & aged in French oak foeders, yield a deliciously aromatic cider fit for the gods!

Cidery Description:  At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider.

Price:  $6.99
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing; I was surprised to see this on shelves vs. usually receiving samples of their new releases in the mail (they did however send me an awesome holiday gift – a bottle of their Pommeau!)

First Impression:  Medium straw yellow hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells mild, dry, of complex heirloom apples.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  Notes of heirloom apple, stone fruit, and honey.  Moderate length tart finish.  Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked it, especially because they went a bit sweeter with this one than their others and its flavor profile.  It tasted sweeter than it smelled.  My husband was also a fan, especially due to it being Imperial-style (higher ABV), which is his favorite.

Most Similar to:  Tieton SV Harrison and Snowdrift Forefathers

Closing Notes:  2 Towns is always a good choice, as they make so many different varieties of ciders, and they are all pretty middle of the road, to appeal to the masses.

Have you tried 2 Towns Branch & Barrel?  What did you think?