La Chouette Cidre Rosé

April 11, 2018April 8, 2018 cidersays La Chouette, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, La Chouette, rose, tasting notes

Review of La Chouette Cidre Rosé, a French rosé cidre, made from apples (including red-fleshed) and pears. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Demi-Sec (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Beauchamp Imports / French Cider Inc. 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:  Rosé
Cidery:  La Chouette Cidre
Cidery Location:  Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 330ml (12oz) single bottles
Style: French cidre from apples (including red-fleshed) and pears, demi-sec

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website. In addition to La Chouette’s Rosé, they also offer their Demi-Sec.

Cider Description: La Chouette Cidre Rosé is an all-natural craft cidre made from red-fleshed apples and pears – giving it a beautiful rose color and a bright, crisp demi-sec flavor. Thirst quenching and easy to drink, our 2018 prediction is that it will become one of your favorites. No gluten, no added sugar and no added flavoring.

Cidery Description: La Chouette—which means “the Owl” in French—refers to the surprising bond between this elusive night bird and French cidre. Traditionally, many farmers in the northwest of France made their own cidre with apples from their orchards. Often, the farmers made their cidre in barns, where the owls could be seen watching over the production from their perches under the roof. Thus La Chouette has always looked after French cider and continues to look over our cidre today.

See here for more on the cidery, and here for more on the cider.

Price: n/a (retails for $5.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer Joan Harkins contacted me (we met at Cider Summit Seattle 2017)

First Impression: Moderate red hue. Smells of pear, watermelon, and strawberry. Moderate carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Light bodied, with a fluffy texture. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of canned pear, watermelon, strawberry, green apple, and lemon. Long tart fruity finish. Moderate complexity. High sessionability. Moderate to high pear flavor and flavor intensity. Low apple flavor.

My Opinion: Awesome! I really enjoyed everything about it – flavor, texture, complexity, and balance. The flavor has a lot of the notes from the red-fleshed apples, plus pear. You can tell that this is naturally (not force) carbonated, as it has such a fluffy texture, which helped make it seem lighter bodied than is typical for this level of sweetness.

Most Similar to: nothing I’ve had, as this was like a combination of French poire (perry) and cider from red-fleshed apples

Closing Notes: I found this far superior to most American commercial rosé selections. It was more on par to ciders from red-fleshed apples (such as Alpenfire Glow and Snowdrift Red), although it had the added French and pear components.

Have you tried French cidre or rosé cider? What did you think?

Pierre Huet Poire Demi-Sec

April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 cidersays Pierre Huet, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, French perry, French Poire, hard cider, perry, Pierre Huet, Poire, tasting notes

Review of Pierre Huet Poire Demi-Sec, a French perry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Cidre Bouche Brut and AOC Pays D’Auge.

Cider:  Poire Demi-Sec
Cidery:  Pierre Huet
Cidery Location:  Pays d’Auge, Normandy, France
ABV: 2.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: French poire (perry), from dessert & perry pears

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website. In addition to Poire Demi-Sec, they also offer Pierre Huet’s Cidre Bouche Brut, Pays D’Auge Cider, Calvados AOC Pays d’Auge VS, Calvados AOC Pays d’Auge XO, and Pommeau de Normandie AOC.

Cider Description: This delicious, demi-sec poiré is the perfect combination of four varieties of sweet and bitter pears. Slowly fermented for one to three months before being bottled, it achieves the perfect balance of semi-sweetness and roundness.

Cidery Description: Pierre Huet is a 5th generation family-owned cidery who has been producing cidre, Calvados, and Pommeau since the 1800s in the Pays d’Auge region of Normandy France. They grow 25 varieties of apples on 75 acres.

See here for more information on the cider, and here for more information on the cidery.

Price: n/a (retails for $19.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer Joan Harkins contacted me (we met at Cider Summit Seattle 2017)

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of canned pears.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied with a fluffy texture. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. Hints of tannins and funk. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of canned pear, dried pear, lemon, and honey. Moderate length finish. High pear flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Great! I enjoyed the texture most of all – so fluffy and frothy that it made it seem lighter bodied. It was a bit more tart than most other poires I’ve had, which balanced well with the sweetness. The pear flavor was really nice too; I like how French perries seem to capture the fruit more than just tasting like an alcoholic pear juice. I agree with their website that this would be a great mimosa alternative for brunch.

Most Similar to: Christian Drouin Poire and Cidrerie Daufresne Poire

Closing Notes: French Cider Inc. has a great lineup of French ciders, poires, calvados, and pommeaux; I look forward to trying more.

Frecon Farms Scrumpy

April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 cidersays Frecon, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Frecon, hard cider, Pennsylvania, Scrumpy, scrumpy cider, tasting notes, wild yeast fermented

Review of Frecon Farms Scrumpy cider, part of their Estate line. This is my first time trying anything from this cidery. I picked up this Pennsylvanian cider when I was in California. Note that “Scrumpy” is a term used traditionally in English cider to describe a “rough” cider from unselected apple varieties, and to “scrump” means to steal fruit from an orchard.

Cider: Scrumpy
Cidery: Frecon Farms
Cidery Location: Boyertown PA
ABV: 7.8%
How Supplied: 750ml flip top bottle
Style: American craft cider from dessert, heirloom, cider, & crab apple varieties, wild yeast fermented, barrel aged

Availability: limited, at least partially through Shelton Brothers, plus some online sales (although they have a cider finder, I only saw Philadelphia PA location on it)

Cider Description: True to it’s west country heritage, this batch of Scrumpy features a diverse blend of unselected cider apples from England and the US. Barrel aged, this traditional english dry style has a nice coated mouth feel with a smooth but strong finish. The apples in this blend are Dolgo Crab, Gold Rush, Kingston Black, Ashmeads Kernel, Yarlington Mill, Wickson Crab, Roxbury Russet, Winesap, Northern Spy, Golden Russet, and Golden Delicious! Grown and Harvested in 2016 in the Piedmont region of Pennsylvania.

Cidery Description: We make traditional cider using classic techniques & use apples from our family orchard, which as been growing quality tree fruits since 1944. Using a blend of dessert, cider & aromatic apples, both heirloom & modern, our cider makers select the best balances to ferment into the final product. We’re proud to continue an American tradition of fine ciders that feature great aroma & flavor, recently recognized with bronze medals for the Hogshead and Crabby Granny by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association.

Price: $13.99
Where Bought: K&L Wines in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, when we were in San Francisco on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of acidic heirloom apples, with citrus and a hint of sourness.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low sourness. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No funk. Notes of sharp heirloom apple, lemon, grapefruit, mineral, and pineapple. Moderate length sour finish. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Moderate to high complexity. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low overt barrel influence, but I’m guessing it smoothed out the flavor.

My Opinion: I don’t like sour, so I wasn’t personally a fan of this selection. I was hoping for English style based on the description, but it was closer to farmhouse style. Every cider isn’t for everyone though, and I’m glad I got to try it. I’d recommend this to folks who like dry sour cider (farmhouse-style, rustic, wild yeast fermented, Spanish Sidra, etc).

Closing Notes: A number of times now I’ve seen cider described as English-style when it isn’t really close, primarily due to the use of different apples (dessert or heirloom instead of bittersweet cider apples). At times it appears the term is used just to describe that it is dry and/or more rustic in style, and varies from the majority of U.S. cider which is sweeter and clean (no sourness or funk). This is a great example of our need for consistent terminology, which will likely just take time.

Have you tried Frecon Farms cider? What did you think?

Boulevard Brewing Co. City Market Cider

April 2, 2018April 1, 2018 cidersays Boulevard Brewing, review Boulevard Brewing, cider, cider review, cider tasting, City Market Cider, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Boulevard Brewing Company’s City Market Cider. This is my first time trying anything from this brewery. City Market Cider is their first cider, and was released in November 2017.

Cider: City Market Cider
Cidery: Boulevard Brewing Co.
Cidery Location: Kansas City, MO
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles
Style: cider from dessert apples, with concentrate added

Availability: semi wide release (see here)

Description: The city market represents a place where chefs and home cooks come together to show and taste the best flavors in the region. Our brewing team captured this spirit in City Market Cider, our first ever cider release. This local blend combines juice from Jonathan and Fuji apples sourced directly from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill in Sibley, Missouri. City Market Cider is fermented with our house English ale yeast strain resulting in a crisp, dry cider with just a touch of sweetness contributed by juice held back for blending.

Pouring a slightly hazy golden, City Market Cider offers bright aromas of sweet/tart apples that are answered by bold, juicy flavors with Jonathan apples taking the spotlight with Fuji supporting with a soft acidity reminiscent of apple skin tartness. Featuring a slight blend back of fresh Fuji juice (2.8% of the total blend) to lend a balancing sweetness, City Market Cider’s finish lingers, alternating between sweet and tart apple character that begs for another sip.

Price: ~$3 / bottle?
Where Bought: Special Brews
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband put this in my Christmas stocking.

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells very mild, of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry (4g sugar / 12oz). Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of watered down unsweetened apple juice, apple pomace, yeast, and orange. Moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I thought this was rather average. I think I would have liked it a bit sweeter, because as-is it was lacking a bit on flavor. However, that is pretty typical for a cider from dessert apple varieties, and why they are very commonly flavored.

Most Similar to: A low quality drier less carbonated French cider (due to the apple and yeast forward flavor).

Closing Notes: I’m curious about how well this will sell. Compared to what is available in the Northwest, this isn’t too impressive. However, there are fewer local ciders in the Midwest, so with less competition, this may do better there.

Have you tried City Market Cider? What did you think?

Honesty Box Cidre with Pear

March 29, 2018March 26, 2018 cidersays Honesty Box, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Honesty Box, New Sealand, pear cider, tasting notes

Review of Honesty Box Cidre with Pear, from New Zealand. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Cidre with Pear
Cidery: Honesty Box (which appears to be made by Boundary Road Brewery)
Cidery Location: Auckland New Zealand
ABV: 7%
How Supplied: 440ml can
Style: New Zealand commercial cider, pear-flavored apple, with added sugar

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Honesty Box Cider with Pear is a refreshing pear cider with the flavours of Bartlett pear. Honesty Box Cider with Pear from New Zealand is light with a dry, crisp finish. It is crafted with only the most succulent pears. The sort you might find in a local honesty box only we paid for ours.

Cidery Description: At Honesty Box we do things differently. We only use the juice of single varietal apples to craft an authentic taste you can recognise. The result is a cider with true depth of character. Honesty Box has a range of ciders that vary from semi-sweet to dry, complex and full flavoured. Now there’s an apple cider variety to suit everybody’s taste.

Price: $3.39 CAN / can ($2.64 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, while we were on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Dark gold yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of pear & apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium to full bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple juice, green apple, canned pear, pineapple, and honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor, pear flavor, and flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability, but moreso in that it is easy to drink, not that I’d want to drink multiple cans.

My Opinion: For what it was, I liked it, although it was obviously commercial (processed) tasting, and syrupy sweet. However, it did have a touch of complexity, which was unexpected and appreciated.

Most Similar to: Scandi Pear, Wyders Pear, and Flatbed Pear

Closing Notes: It looks like they have redesigned their cans since they manufactured this.

Have you tried Honesty Box cider? What did you think?

Blue Moon Winery Raven’s Moon Ragged Ass Road

March 26, 2018March 25, 2018 cidersays Raven's Moon, review Blue Moon, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ragged Ass Road, Raven's Moon, tasting notes

Review of Blue Moon Winery’s Raven’s Moon Ragged Ass Road, a bourbon infused cider. Its the first time time I’ve tried this cider, although I’ve had their Apple and Raspberry varieties.

Cider: Ragged Ass Road
Cidery: Raven’s Moon, by Blue Moon Winery
Cidery Location: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider, bourbon infused

Availability: mostly British Columbia Canada, plus a few locations in the U.S.; see a list of retailers on their website. They also have an online store, although it wasn’t clear where they can ship to.

Cider Description: Who wouldn’t love this? Named for a famous street in Yellowknife, where proprietors George and Marla have spent a lot of time, this is a combination of delightful Raven’s Moon apple cider carefully infused with rich golden Kentucky straight Bourbon. It’s a fabulous marriage of crisp dry apple with toasted white oak, rustic smoke and vanilla hints of this special whiskey. Rich, flavourful and savoury – this is a cider for bonfires and good times!

Cidery Description: At Blue Moon Winery and Ciderworx we grow, gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you hand-crafted award winning spirited fruit wines and sparkling ciders. Our inspiration comes from the scrumptious organic fruits collected from Vancouver Island, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our award winning fruit wines and ciders are crafted from 100% BC organic fruit, picked at the peak of the harvest and created in small batches.

They have a tasting room in Courtenay British Columbia.

Price: $7.74 CAN ($9.56 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, when there for the day on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of bourbon and Chardonnay?

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of lemon, green apple, honey, bourbon, and butter/cream. Long finish. Low apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate bourbon flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I would have preferred some richer flavor notes with the bourbon flavor (like vanilla and caramel), but as this appears to be bourbon infused not bourbon barrel aged, it made sense. As-is, the flavors didn’t quite seem to go together. It wasn’t as sharp as their other two ciders I’ve tried though, which I liked.

Most Similar to: Big B’s Grizzly Brand and Virtue Cider The Mitten multipack

Closing Notes: This was one of a couple dozen ciders I picked up last September on a cruise, and I still have a number of them left; hopefully I’ll finish them before this September’s cruise.

Have you tried Raven’s Moon cider? What did you think?

Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry

March 22, 2018March 18, 2018 cidersays Newton's Folly, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Newton's Folly, tasting notes, Trader Joe's

Review of Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry. This is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, made at the Woodchuck facility, and appears to replace their two previous versions in 12oz bottles (red & green labels).

Cider: Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry
Cidery: American Hard Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, partially from bittersweet apples

Availability: only at Trader Joe’s

Cider Description: Hard Cider has a history that reaches back hundreds of years in Vermont, where our Newton’s Folly is fermented and canned. Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry uses bittersweet apples to deliver a cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another! We do offer a heads up, however. Enjoy this fine cider under an apple tree at your own risk.

Price: ~$2.50 / can ?
Where Bought: Trader Joe’s
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple, honey, apple pomace, pineapple, and lemon. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. Easy to drink, but it had some complexity and wasn’t too sweet. I thought it was far better than their previous “Authentic” version, which just tasted like a slightly watered down version of Woodchuck Amber. However, although the can mentioned bittersweet apples, I believe only a small amount were used.

Most Similar to: Bertolinos (except Newton’s Folly is lower carbonation) and Bite Hard Semi-Sweet

Closing Notes: This was far better than I had been expecting, a nice surprise.

Have you tried Newton’s Folly? What did you think?

Alpenfire Tempest New England Style

March 19, 2018March 17, 2018 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, new england style, port townsend, tasting notes, Tempest, washington

Review of Alpenfire Tempest, a newish special release, New England Style (with raisins & brown sugar, high ABV, aged). It is my first time trying this, although I’ve had other New England Style ciders, and tried most of Alpenfire’s line-up (see here).

Cider: Tempest
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 10%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American artisan New England Style cider (4 week fermentation, tank aged 5 months, bottle conditioned)

Availability: special release in fall 2017 (55 cases), likely only available in Western WA, although they have online sales (but I didn’t see this one at the time of review)

Cider Description: Alpenfire’s Tempest, a new release from the 2016 harvest. Phenolic and spiritous, rounded and warming. A proper fall cider, estate apples refermented with raisins and brown sugar. Create your own tempest in a tea cup with this winter warmer.

Apple Varieties: Muscadet de dieppe, Kingston Black, Liberty, Republican, Democrat, plus many more

Cidery Description: Alpenfire Cider, the West’s first certified organic cidery, growing traditional cider apples since 2003. Family owned and operated.

Price: $15
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium pumpkin orange amber. Still. Smells of bittersweet & heirloom apples with a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low funk and tannins. Hints of bitterness. Notes of bittersweet apple, apple pomace, must, orange, and leather. Long finish with a hint of sourness and an herbal quality. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity and complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Awesome! This really reminded me of English cider, with the cider apple flavor, slightly higher sweetness, and funk. I loved the flavor and style. It really had all my favorites qualities all in one package, which is rare (rich, complex, flavorful, mid level sweetness, cider apples, and higher ABV). I’m also a fan of the 500ml bottles, as I’m more likely to buy them (plus it probably reduced the price of this cider from ~$20 to $15).

Most Similar to: New England style cider isn’t too common so I’ve only tried four others that I can remember, but this is my favorite by far, likely due to its similarity to English cider. Otherwise, Alpenfire Tempest was similar to Cockrell’s Colonial Winter, more flavorful & complex than Seattle Cider’s New England Style, less sour than Reverend Nat’s Providence, and more traditional than Tilted Shed’s Barred Rock.

Closing Notes: I am really excited to try more of Alpenfire’s new releases, which have been very plentiful of late, as they are are my favorite Washington cidery.

Have you tried New England Style cider? What did you think?

Manchester Road 42

March 16, 2018March 10, 2018 cidersays Manchester Road, review british style, Chelan, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Manchester Road, tasting notes, washington

Review of Manchester Road’s “42”. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery. They appear relatively new, only available in a limited area of Washington, and to only have released this one cider. Despite the name and theming, this is a locally owned and operated cidery, although the cidermaker is British.

Cider: 42
Cidery: Manchester Road Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Chelan WA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American cider from dessert apples, medium sweet

Availability: Very limited, in parts of WA, such as Chelan, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Orondo, and Cashmere (see here)

Cider Description: 42 is Manchester Road’s leading cider and our first to bring to market. This cider is light and refreshing with full apple flavor. The recipe was developed over the last decade reminiscent of a modern, British draft, style cider. 42 tastes great with all types of food and is especially delicious on a warm, summer afternoon. 42 – a smooth, medium sweet, sparkling cider.

Cidery Description: Our production facility sits in the heart of Washington’s apple country with over 170,000 acres of orchards surrounding us. We are able to make our cider locally and with the best apples in the world. What truly makes us unique is the combination of Washington apples and a British cider maker. With over 30 years of experience enjoying and making cider and growing up where cider originated, our cider maker was inspired by north central Washington apples to create a modern, refreshing cider that is popular today in British pubs.

Price: ~$5.99
Where Bought: Dan’s Food Market in Leavenworth WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, when we visited in early Dec 2017

First Impression: Light amber hue. Nearly still. Smells of sweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of concentrated baked apple with honey and pear, and hints of spice. Quick finish length. High sessionability. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. However, it didn’t remind me of English cider in the least. English cider would typically be made from bittersweet cider apples, and thus have their characteristic flavor (plus it is often drier and higher in tannins). The flavor was most similar to a typical American craft cider from dessert apples.

I did however notice “natural flavoring” on the ingredient list, which puzzled me, as it is typically only found in commercial cider. Maybe apple flavor? This was quite apple-forward, but ciders of this style are often significantly back sweetened with unfermented apple juice, to impart an apple-forward flavor which can be muted when using dessert apples and fermenting to dryness (which is the easiest way to make cider), add sweetness, and reach a target lower ABV.

Most Similar to: a mix of Locust Honey Pear and Locust Aged Apple

Closing Notes: I’m interested to see what they release next.

Have you tried Manchester Road Cider? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Rosé

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Rosé, their newest release. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had most of their line-up (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Angry Orchard. 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: Rosé
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial rosé-style cider

Availability: wide release, year round, since February 2018 (they have a Cider Finder)

Cider Description: The red flesh apples in Angry Orchard Rosé are from France. Each apple is crisp, juicy and red to the core, adding an irresistible rosy blush and apple-forward taste with a refreshing, dry finish. Angry Orchard Rosé can be enjoyed outside with friends or at the dinner table.

Apple Varieties: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and red-fleshed apples sourced in France

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor; colored with red flesh apples, sweet potato, radish, and hibiscus

Price: n/a (retails for $7.99-9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I spotted it in a grocery store, then read about it online, then some showed up

First Impression: Moderate pink hue. No carbonation. Smells very mild, fruity and floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of watermelon, strawberry, floral, and green apple. Quick finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, its more on the easy drinking on a hot summer day end of the scale. Also, I think this would have benefited from carbonation, as it was a bit flat and full bodied for not being too sweet. I liked that they went all-natural on the color, but I wish the ingredient list as a whole was more natural as well.

Most Similar to: This is much less complex and refined than something like Alpenfire Glow or Snowdrift Red (both made from red-fleshed apples) or Sea Cider Ruby Rose (with rhubarb and rose hips). It was closest to Square Mile Rosé, except sweeter.

Side Note: I’m getting annoyed with cideries advertising the cider was “made from/using/with X apples”, when very little of that cider apple variety was used. I get why though – consumers are becoming better educated, and are pushing the market. Data shows commercial cider sales are down and craft cider sales are up.

Marketing tactics are something all consumers should be aware of. For example, if a cider says it is made from bittersweet cider apples but it is closer to clear than amber, then more dessert and/or heirloom apples were likely used than bittersweet apples. The press release for this cider focuses on the use of red-fleshed apples, but from the ingredient list and low price, it is apparent that very few were used. There is nothing wrong with that…I just think it is deceptive marketing. Unfortunately it is quite common.

Closing Notes: Rosé seems to be the latest cider trend, with all the big names releasing one – Angry Orchard, Crispin, Strongbow, and more. However, the style isn’t yet defined for cider. So far the term has been used for everything from a cider with fruit or hibiscus added, up to the good stuff made 100% from red-fleshed apples (like Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, and Snowdrift Red). In wine it refers to a white wine that receives color & flavor from red grape skins. In cider, so far it seems to just refer to the color.

Have you tried any rosé ciders? What did you think?

2 Towns Passion Statement

March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Corvallis, hard cider, oregon, Passion Statement, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ newest limited release, Passion Statement. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had nearly every cider they’ve ever made (see here).

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Cider: Passion Statement
Cidery: 2 Towns Cider House
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.2%
How supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, D’Anjou pears, and Yellow Maracuyá passion fruit

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Availability: limited release, in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Chicago and parts of Minnesota (see their cider finder)

Cider Description: Sensational & exotic, Passion Statement stands out from the crowd, pairing stunning Yellow Maracuyá passion fruit with fresh-pressed Northwest pears and apples. With a pleasant tropical tang, this show stopping cider will turn heads, and pint glasses!

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.

They were founded in 2010 and have a tap room in Corvallis Oregon.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $5.99 / 500ml bottle)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

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First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. No carbonation. Smells intensely of sweet passion fruit.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of passion fruit, pineapple, canned pear, lemon, and green apple. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, it was a bit tart for my tastes. I think more sweetness could have helped smooth out the initial mouth-puckering tartness. Interestingly, it was much less tart the second day, after being left in the fridge overnight, and I enjoyed it more then.

Most Similar to: Reverend Nat’s The Passion, which I prefer (although it is sweeter, less tart, and also has vanilla and coconut). Portland Cider Passion Fruit, which is milder. Also, Schilling Pineapple Passion, although that is more pineapple than passion fruit.

Closing Notes: 2 Towns has been on a role, releasing many popular ciders. Everyone won’t like every cider, but I think they do a great job creating ciders that have a wide appeal.

Have you tried 2 Towns Passion Statement? What did you think?

Finnriver Fire Barrel

March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 cidersays Finnriver, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finnriver, Fire Barrel, hard cider, tasting notes, washington

Review of Finnriver Fire Barrel. I’ve tried the previous version of this (see here) as well as this new version on tap (see here), but now I’m reviewing a new bottle in more detail. I’ve also tried most of Finnriver’s lineup (see here).

Cider: Fire Barrel
Cidery: Finnriver
Cidery Location: Chimacum WA
ABV: 9.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottle (and draft)

Availability: Limited release. Finnriver ciders are sold in WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, TX, IL, CO, and Alberta & BC Canada (detailed info here). They also have an online store (which can ship to WA, OR, CA, AK, CO, MN, FL, & WA D.C.), but I didn’t see this one at the time of review.

Cider Description: A robust, bold and balanced taste of traditional cider apples— with a whisper of whiskey and rye spice; smoky aromas; notes of caramel and vanilla; and a mature, tannic finish.

100% Finnriver orchard organic cider apples: Chisel Jersey, Brown Snout, Harry Master’s Jersey, Medaille d’Or, Frequin rouge, Dabinette & Major.

Carefully farmcrafted and fermented with a blend of homegrown Finnriver orchard organic cider apples and white wine yeast in stainless steel tanks. Once the fermentation is complete, we cask the cider in Washington rye whiskey barrels for 5 months to impart depth and character. This award-winning cider was inspired by PNW cidermaker Drew Zimmerman, whose mentorship and cider apple trees helped us establish our orchard.

After chilling, allow the cider to warm slightly and serve; we favor Fire Barrel in a Belgian-style tulip glass. Try it with roasted pork, slow roasted brisket, a blue cheese burger, cured meats, smoked cheeses or any other hearty, savory fare. Caramelize an onion with Firebarrel cider and add to a dish for a feisty meal.

Cidery Description: At Finnriver we gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you farmcrafted hard ciders and spirited fruit wines. We are inspired by the allure of the fruit, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our mission is to inspire a deeper connection to the land that sustains us….Some of these ciders are small-batch, seasonal and labor-intensive. Others are produced with contemporary methods and more readily available year-round…Finnriver grows over twenty varieties of traditional and heirloom apples in our organic orchard, to feature in our traditional and specialty ciders.

Finnriver has a great illustrated product guide (see here). They have a tasting room and are on the Olympic Pennsylvania cider route, along with the Eaglemount and Alpenfire cideries.

Price: $25
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband got this for me for Christmas! He didn’t know I had already tried this new release, but had remembered me loving the old one.

First Impression: Light caramel amber hue. Nearly still. Smells of cider apples, caramel, and bourbon.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Very light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Low to moderate bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apples, caramel, brown sugar, leather, orange, bourbon, smoke, and oak. Long bitter finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Low barrel influence and sessionability. Low to moderate bourbon influence. Moderate to high complexity.

Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, compared to the old release, this is a disappointment. The price is significantly higher, it is drier, less flavorful, more bitter, and thinner bodied. I agree to serve this at cellar temperature (between fridge & room temp), as colder would mute the flavor. I even enjoy ciders of this style at room temperature.

Most Similar to: Other ciders from bittersweet cider apples. This reminds me of English cider, but with the added bourbon and oak.

Closing Notes: I am curious about next year’s release, and if it will be more like the previous version that I absolutely love.

Have you tried Finnriver Fire Barrel? What did you think?

Woodchuck Tank Series Pear Ginger

March 5, 2018March 2, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Pear Ginger, Tank Series, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Pear Ginger, the first release in their new “Tank Series”, about which they said “Woodchuck has always been synonymous with innovation and our cider makers honor this pioneering spirit with the Tank Series.” I’ve tried most of their lineup; 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: Pear Ginger
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and kegs)
Style: American commercial cider with ginger and pear flavors

Availability: wide release for 3-4 months, then replaced by the next Tank Series

Cider Description: A crisp ripe pear cider bursting with ginger for a taste that is light and refreshing.

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 ~ $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of sweet pear juice with spicy ginger.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of syrupy pear, pineapple, spicy ginger, and a hint of citrus. Moderate finish with lingering ginger. Low apple flavor. Mild to moderate ginger flavor (more spicy than burning). Moderate pear flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Mild complexity.

My Opinion: I’m not a ginger fan, so I was a bit ambivalent, but my husband really liked it. Light and refreshing, with the mild ginger made even milder with the sweet pear.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Out On a Limb Ginger Lovin’, except with more ginger and the added pear.

Closing Notes: This was originally released in summer 2017, as a new version of their Summer Time (which was previously blueberry). They also plan to have two more Tank Series releases this year.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pear Ginger? What did you think?

Liberty Ciderworks Pink Pearl SV

February 28, 2018February 25, 2018 cidersays Liberty, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, liberty, Liberty Ciderworks, Pink Pearl, single varietal, Spokane, tasting notes

Review of Liberty Ciderworks’ Pink Pearl, a single varietal cider from red fleshed Pink Pearl apples. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Manchurian Crabapple Single Varietal, Crabenstein, English Style, Abbess, Stonewall Dry Fly Whiskey Barrel Aged, Gravenstein, Cellar Series #G15, New World Style, Cellar Series (unknown), McIntosh, Golden Russet SV, Spokane Scrumpy, Hewe’s Crab, and Porter’s Perfection.

Cider: Pink Pearl SV
Cidery: Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 7.9%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: American craft cider, single varietal from Pink Pearl apples

Availability: In general you can find their ciders in Washington and Oregon (see a list of locations here). However, this variety was very limited (16 cases), released awhile back, and mostly just their tap room and cider club members, and online sales through Vino Shipper (listed in stock for $14.99 at the time of this review – I’m surprised any is still in stock as I think I bought this 6 months ago)

Cider Description: Pink Pearl apples are a rare, red-fleshed varietal we just had to try, since some red apples yield beautiful rosé-colored ciders. Though this cider retained only a hint of pink coloration, the flavors are still quite lovely, with hints of floral, grassy aromatics and soft raspberry flavors. Apples grown near Brewster, WA. (16 cases bottle conditioned in 750 ml bottles, RS 1.0%)

Cidery Description: Located in the largest apple-growing region on the continent, Liberty Ciderworks is all about the apple, showcasing the diversity and wonders of locally grown fruit. From well known apples like McIntosh and Jonathan to rare, cider-specific fruit like Kingston Black and Dabinett, Liberty ciders put apples in their proper place: Front and center. We started Liberty Ciderworks in 2013 with a simple, two-part mission: 1) Using apples from local farms and fields to create unique, wonderful ciders, and 2) Sharing them with friends and neighbors across the great Pacific Northwest. Welcome to the cider revolution.

They have a tap room in Spokane WA, which also now has a bottle shop of selections from around the world.

Price: $17.99
Where Bought: Capitol Cider in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light tangerine hue. Nearly still. Smells nearly of apple brandy (ie. a higher ABV), and midly fruity.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of blush grape, strawberry, rhubarb, watermelon, and a hint of richness/brandy. Low apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. I found it to be a unique dry fruity complex mild food-friendly cider. My new ish cider fridge got it to the recommended 55-60 deg serving temperature, which I enjoyed. I think serving it ice cold would have muted the flavor, but I didn’t try it.

Most Similar to: a drier version of Snowdrift Red, Alpenfire Glow, or Tieton Russian Red (I slightly prefer these, especially Alpenfire’s, as I usually go for a semi-dry to semi-sweet cider), or even rosé wine (which I don’t have any experience with)

Closing Notes: I was surprised with the complexity and flavor, and I didn’t mind the dryness due to those factors. If I didn’t know better I would have guessed this had a hint of brandy in it too, as it especially smelled much higher ABV than it drank.

I think it would be a fun cider to share with folks who haven’t had drier complex ciders, as it is unique, but lacks qualities such as high acidity, bitterness, tannins, sourness, or funk which can often be off-putting at least at first. I actually wished I had brought it to the dinner party I went to the night before.

Have you tried Liberty Ciderworks Pink Pearl SV? What did you think?

Argus Apple Bomb

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018 cidersays Argus, review Apple Bomb, Argus, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Texas

Review of Argus’ Apple Bomb, part of their ‘Fermentables’ line. It is my first time trying this cider, but I have had their Ciderkin, Ginger Perry, and Perennial 2013.

Cider: Apple Bomb
Cidery: Argus Cidery
Cidery Location: Austin TX
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: multipack of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider

Availability: this is a newish year round release, in over 20/50 states; see here

Cider Description: Apple Bomb is a demi-sec, or slightly sweet, full bodied cider that delivers a blast of fruit and finishes big with a tannic, fruity pucker. This is not a subtle cider, but a fresh apple explosion derived from a collection of fermentation techniques and patience. Cans and draft offerings available.

Cidery Description: Argus Cidery was founded in 2010 in Austin, Texas, simply because the dry, effervescent ciders we liked to drink weren’t available to us. We set out to create ciders that would [hopefully] make one rethink how an American hard cider should taste. Our roots began working only with Texas apples, utilizing a medium that was often overlooked and never before used in cider available for public consumption within our great state. Those small release, large format-only days afforded us the time to figure out how to work with fruit we love and yield ciders and other fruit fermentables that are distinctly dry, bright, and, at the end of the day, excite us.

Price: $2.83 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband put this in my Christmas stocking!

First Impression: Moderate yellow hue. Moderate to high carbonation with some foam. Smells mild, of yeast and a hint of sulfur.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness, tannins, sour, and funk. Notes of sharp apple (crabapple?), lemon, grapefruit, mineral, yeast, and must. Long slightly bitter finish. Low apple flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I didn’t care for this one at all, and neither did my husband. However, it was in line with the rest of their lineup (especially Perennial). It was interesting that they called this demi-sec / sweet. Maybe in relation to their very dry lineup? To me it was on the dry end of the spectrum. It was also way more complex than I’d expect for a canned cider, as they are typically of the more easy drinking variety.

Most Similar to: This was like a more complex & sour/funky/bitter version of their Ciderkin.

Closing Notes: After four of their ciders, I think I can conclude that Argus’ ciders aren’t for me. There is nothing wrong with that, as each cider won’t be for everybody. I would recommend their ciders for folks of truly dry, sparkling, subtle, unique ciders. Their Ciderkin (at least when I tried it 2-3 years ago) was the most easy to drink and my favorite so far. However, I like ciders a bit sweeter and more flavorful. Argus has really expanded distribution since I first heard of them in 2015.

Have you tried Argus Apple Bomb? What did you think?

2 Towns Pacific Pineapple

February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Pacific Pineapple, pineapple cider, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ newest release, Pacific Pineapple. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Bright Cider, Bad Apple, Serious Scrump, Out Cider, Cherried Away, Made Marion, Cidre Moscato, Throne of Thorns, Reserve #1 Barrel Select Blend, Prickle Me Pink, Nice & Naughty, Nice & Naughty Bourbon Barrel Aged, Dark Currant, Riverwood Brut 2014, Rhubarbarian, Pommeau, Ginja Ninja, Sun’s Out Saison, Return of the Mack, Hop and Stalk, La Mûre, Cot in the Act, Hollow Jack, Traditions Cider Bouche 2015, Traditions Riverwood 2015, Flight of the Kiwi, Prickle Me Pink ^2, Afton Field, Traditions Cidre Bouche 2016, and Man Gogh.

Cider: Pacific Pineapple
Cidery: 2 Towns Cider House
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.0%
How supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs and cans)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Costa Rica gold pineapples

Availability: year round, in Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii, Chicago and parts of Minnesota (see their cider finder)

Cider Description: Juicy and tropical, Pacific Pineapple rolls ripe Costa Rica golden pineapples into fresh-pressed Northwest apples. This refreshingly juicy and easy drinking session cider will relax your state of mind, no matter your locale!

Ripe Costa Rica Gold pineapples drop in on a fresh-pressed wave of Northwest apples in Pacific Pineapple, a tropical cider made possible by the diverse climate of the vast Pacific. Temperate conditions of the Pacific Northwest nurture apple orchards, whereas proximity to the equator further south creates the consistently warm temperature required to grow pineapples. Connected to apples only by name, pineapples have a radical history traveling the world after being discovered by Western explorers, who named them for their resemblance to the pine cone. Popular wherever it landed, the pineapple was regarded as an exotic delicacy, even becoming a symbol of hospitality, as only the most generous of hosts presented their guests with a pineapple. So #BeMorePacific and show your friends the hospitality of a Pacific Pineapple!

They were founded in 2010 and have a tap room in Corvallis Oregon.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $5.49 / 500ml bottle)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium yellow hue. Smells of fresh pineapple. Very low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of fresh pineapple (not pineapple juice) and citrus. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Great! Refreshing, with real pineapple flavor. This would be especially nice in summer, and at 5% and not being too sweet, it would be almost too easy to drink. Its a tad drier than all the other pineapple ciders I’ve tried, but just as flavorful.

Most Similar to: Reverend Nat’s Viva La Pineapple (and to a lesser extent, Schilling Pineapple Passion, Jester & Judge Pineapple Express, Locust Pineapple, and Ace Pineapple)

Closing Notes: I’ve been really impressed with 2 Towns lately, as they have delivered many flavorful ciders at just the right level of sweetness for me.

Have you tried 2 Towns Pacific Pineapple? What did you think?

Merridale Cyser

February 16, 2018February 11, 2018 cidersays Merridale, review British Columbia, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyser, hard cider, Merridale, tasting notes

Review of Merridale Cyser (made from apple juice and honey). It is my first time trying this, but have previously had their Scrumpy and House Craft Cider.

Cider: Cyser
Cidery: Merridale
Cidery Location: Cobble Hill, B.C., Canada
ABV: 10%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian cyser

Availability: mostly in Southwest British Columbia (see here)

Cider Description: A rich blend of aromatic cider apples and local wildflower honey from our own orchard. Inspired by the finest tradition of Medieval England, where the Normans and Celts credited cyser with magical powers. Aged for several months to a year after bottling…Winner of Silver Medal at the North American Beer Awards, and won ‘Best in Show’ at the 2013 Portland International Cider Cup.

Cidery Description: Since 1990, we have been making our unique ciders from heritage varieties of English, French, and German cider apples. These apples have been used in the cider regions of Europe for many hundreds of years. Each of our ciders is a blend of apples aimed at a particular palate. Our orchard has a wide range of bittersharp and bittersweet apples allowing us to create our distinctive family of products. Some, like the House, Merri Berri and Traditional are designed to be enjoyed as a glass or a pint, with or without food. Others, like our Scrumpy and Cyser are rich in history from medieval times of Olde England. As always, our cider is made without artificial flavours or colours and no added sulphites.

In addition to cider, they also run a farm and distillery under the same name.

Price: $9.49 CAN (~$7.55 USD)
Where Bought: Liquor Express in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. High carbonation. Smells of acidic apples and honey.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of baked apple, honey & honeycomb, floral, lemon, and butterscotch. Long boozy finish. Moderate apple flavor, honey flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I really liked it. Great apple and honey flavor with a bit of an extra kick with the high ABV. However, it was a tad harsh due to that higher ABV; I think barrel aging this would have been awesome.

Closing Notes: This was an excellent value. I look forward to trying more from them.

Have you tried Merridale Cyser? What did you think?

Cidre de Rhuys Brut

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 cidersays Cidre de Rhuys, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, French, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Cidre de Rhuys Brut, from France. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Brut
Cidery: Cidre de Rhuys
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 330ml and 750ml bottles, and kegs
Style: French cidre from the Brittany region

Availability: semi wide release (see here)

Description: For three generations our family has perfected the craft of making artisanal natural cider. Made from only freshly harvested fruit, each apple is carefully selected and hand picked. A slow fermentation allows the cider to develop its rich fine flavours and gentle acidity without the use of added sulfites or pasteurization. Award winning in both regional and international competitions, please enjoy our cider fresh and lightly chilled.

Price: ~$4?
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was the only French cidre available at the time in single serve bottles, and I hadn’t tried it.

First Impression: Moderate brown amber hue. Very high carbonation with some foam (I ended up spilling about 1/3 of the bottle upon opening!). Smells of sweet bittersweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied with a fluffy texture. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of primarily apple pomace, with some brown sugar and caramel. Moderate length finish. Moderate flavor intensity, apple flavor, and sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, its not one of my favorite French cidres. It smelled quite sweet and of apple juice, but the flavor was surprisingly dry and mild, of apple skin, with some hints of richness. With the flavor profile I think I would have liked it a bit sweeter.

Most Similar to: Herout AOC Cotentin Extra-Brut and Aval. However, for a single serve Brittany France cidre, I prefer Celt (this has a bit less sweetness and more complexity though) as well as Lefevre Winter Cidre.

Closing Notes: This also comes in a Doux version, and in larger bottle sizes, but I’ve only seen this one.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Salt Spring Wild Cider Semi-Dry

February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 cidersays review, Salt Spring Wild Cider British Columbia, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Salt Spring, Salt Spring Wild Cider, Semi-Dry, tasting notes

Review of Salt Spring Wild Cider’s Semi-Dry. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Semi-Dry
Cidery: Salt Spring Wild Cider
Cidery Location: Salt Spring Island, B.C., Canada
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider from heirloom apples

Availability: In B.C. Canada, such as in Salt Spring, Pender, Victoria, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Okanagan Valley (see here)

Cider Description: Our ciders are made with the wild apples and pears that grow on Salt Spring Island, and with apples from regional organic orchards. We never add any water. Our process involves slow-fermenting single varieties and allowing each to mature until it has fully developed. The ciders are then carefully blended for complexity and depth of flavor; our Dry and Semi-Dry ciders are each blends of over 10 different apple varieties! While the blending process is crucial (and arduous), the special character of our cider is due to the wealth of heritage cider apples that grow on Salt Spring, and to our commitment to making fully organic ciders. In general, you’ll find that we tend to make our ciders quite dry, with delicate flavors (including our berry and plum ciders), and that’s the way we like them!

Cidery Description: Crafted from handpicked Salt Spring Apples, this refreshing cider brings just a touch of sweetness to brighten up your day. Light-hearted citrusy notes are offset by earthy undertones, making this a well balanced cider that’s great for any occasion. Viva la Cidré!

They have a tasting room on Salt Spring Island.

Price: $14.19 CAN (~$11.28 USD)
Where Bought: Liquor Express in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, while we were in port during a cruise

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of acidic heirloom apples and citrus.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of baked apple, lemon, herbs, and straw. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, it was fairly simple and more acidic than I prefer. I was hoping for a bit of cider apple flavor based on the bottle label description, but I just picked up the heirloom apples. I’d recommend this for folks who like drier acidic unflavored ciders, but want something a bit more complex than the more commonly found ciders from dessert apples.

Closing Notes: Salt Spring has a large lineup of ciders I’d be interested in trying if I spot them on a future trip to B.C.

Have you tried Salt Spring Wild Cider? What did you think?

Scenic Road Razz

February 8, 2018February 4, 2018 cidersays review, Scenic Road cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, raspberry cider, Razz, Scenic Road, Scenic Road Cider, tasting notes

Review of Scenic Road Cider’s Razz, a raspberry flavored cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Razz
Cidery: Scnenic Road Cider
Cidery Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider from dessert apples, with raspberries added

Availability: in Western Canada (see their cider locator here)

Cider Description: A unique blend of traditional apple varieties from the Okanagan Valley pressed and fermented with Fraser Valley raspberries. This sparkling cider has a distinct well- balanced aroma that leaves a hint of raspberry after each sip.

Cidery Description: Scenic Road’s orchards have produced eight decades of harvest. Our backyard is home to the apple varieties found in our small-batch, hand crafted ciders. Follow the Scenic Road to our tasting room and savour the taste of the good life!

Price: $8.17 CAN (~$6.58 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, while we were on a cruise port stop. This is a gem of a bottle shop near downtown Victoria and the port, with a little bit of everything.

First Impression: Light red hue. Nearly still / very low carbonation. Smells like real raspberries.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of fresh/real raspberry and tart green apple. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. I’m glad this didn’t get the sweet raspberry candy scent/flavor which I’ve commonly found with fruity ciders. However, this is a rather simple easy-drinking cider, which I think may be better suited for cans (although the price for a 500ml bottle was pretty reasonable).

Most Similar to: Raven’s Moon Apple Raspberry, which is also a B.C. cider, although that one was significantly more tart and less sessionable (and a bit more complex); I think Scenic Road has the edge over Raven’s Moon for raspberry cider. All the other raspberry ciders I’ve had have been significantly more sweet.

Closing Notes: This would be great especially in spring/summer, for folks who want a fruity and flavorful cider without much sweetness.

Have you tried Scenic Road Cider Razz? What did you think?

Cider Says

A cider enthusiast blog focusing on cider reviews, based in Seattle WA.

Author: cidersays

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Boulevard Brewing Co. City Market Cider

Honesty Box Cidre with Pear

Blue Moon Winery Raven’s Moon Ragged Ass Road

Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry

Alpenfire Tempest New England Style

Manchester Road 42

Angry Orchard Rosé

2 Towns Passion Statement

Finnriver Fire Barrel

Woodchuck Tank Series Pear Ginger

Liberty Ciderworks Pink Pearl SV

Argus Apple Bomb

2 Towns Pacific Pineapple

Merridale Cyser

Cidre de Rhuys Brut

Salt Spring Wild Cider Semi-Dry

Scenic Road Razz

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