Foggy Ridge Serious Cider

February 6, 2018February 4, 2018 cidersays Foggy Ridge, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Foggy Ridge, hard cider, Serious Cider, tasting notes, Virginia

Review of Foggy Ridge’s Serious Cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery. I picked it up at a cruise port stop in San Francisco CA last fall.

Cider: Serious Cider
Cidery: Foggy Ridge
Cidery Location: Dugspur VA
ABV: 7.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from heirloom & cider apples

Availability: At least in NY, MD, DL, DC, VA, NC, SC, TN, AL, and GA (and CA)

Cider Description: Foggy Ridge Cider began in 1997 with a cider apple orchard in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. Founder Diane Flynt “grows ingredients”—bitter and acidic apples like Hewe’s Crab, Harrison, Tremlett’s Bitter, Ashmead’s Kernel and Dabinett, all full of complex flavor. For over a dozen years, the Foggy Ridge crew has crafted traditional cider apples into fine cider using all the skill and expertise of modern fermentation.

Cidery Description: Serious Cider mixes traditional English cider apples like Tremlett’s Bitter and Dabinett with tart American favorites like Ashmead’s Kernel and Roxbury Russet. This crisp light food friendly cider is a refreshing aperitif paired with cheesy nibbles. Cidermaker Notes: “Rich apple and citrus aroma with a touch of apricot and apple blossoms. Serious Cider is bright and lively on the palate with creamy layers. It is full bodied with soft minerality and hints of peach and lime zest. Focused acidity combined with textured dusty tannin create a long and pleasantly dry finish.”

Price: $19.99
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had heard of Foggy Ridge, but haven’t seen them in WA.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of acidic tropical fruit.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of pineapple, stone fruit, white grape, green apple, lemon, and mineral. Long acidic finish. Low apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, dry acidic ciders just aren’t a style I love. I was hoping for some rich bittersweet apple flavor, but I only picked up the heirloom apples (high acidity with hints of bitterness and tannins). All in all this is well made and will likely appeal to folks who enjoy dry acidic ciders.

Most Similar to: Eve’s Beckhorn Hollow

Closing Notes: Unfortunately Foggy Ridge is no longer making cider, as their lead cidermaker Diane Flynt recently retired. You may be able to still find some of their bottles in stores for a bit, but they have stopped online sales (out of inventory).

Have you tried Foggy Ridge cider? What did you think?

Left Field British Dry

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 cidersays Left Field, review British Dry, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Left Field, tasting notes

Review of Left Field’s British Dry. I picked this up at a cruise port stop in Victoria B.C. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Little Dry before.

Cider: British Dry
Cidery: Left Field
Cidery Location: Logan Lake, B.C., Canada
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider from B.C. apples, including bittersweet varieties

Availability: Year round, only in B.C. and Alberta Canada

Cider Description: Our English Dry cider is dominated by bittersweet cider apple varieties which originated in the United Kingdom. The result is a cider that balances bitter tannins and stringency with rich apple aromatics.

Cidery Description: Family-owned and operated by sisters Theresa and Kate, Left Field focuses on a small batch approach to traditional cider-making which brings out the natural characteristics of the apples. We make handcrafted, artisanal English-style cider by blending English and French cider varieties with BC dessert apples.

They have a tasting room open seasonally.

Price: $9.05 CAN (~ $7.35 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells acidic and of citrus.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of juicy tart green apple, lemon, and mineral. Moderate length acidic finish. Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, complexity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked the juicy flavor. However, I was disappointed by the lack of perceived bittersweet cider apple flavor and English cider qualities – it tasted more like a mix of dessert and heirloom varieties to me. That said, I imagine the bittersweet apples added to the flavor of the final product, despite them not being individually identifiable.

Most Similar to: Left Field Little Dry and Virtue Cider Michigan Brut

Closing Notes: I’d recommend Left Field to fans of dry cider who live in B.C. They remain one of the best choices for true craft cider in the area, along with Sea Cider, Tod Creek, etc. Stay tuned for more reviews of B.C. cider here, as I picked up a number of bottles when I was there.

Have you tried Left Field cider? What did you think?

Citizen Cider Tulsi

January 31, 2018January 29, 2018 cidersays Citizen Cider, review basil cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Citizen Cider, hard cider, tasting notes, Tulsi, Vermont

Review of Citizen Cider’s Tulsi, a holy basil infused cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Wit’s Up, Mr. Burlington, and Ms. Burlington.

Cider: Tulsi
Cidery: Citizen Cider
Cidery Location: Burlington VT
ABV: 5.4%
How Supplied: 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from Vermont dessert apples, with holy basil (tulsi)

Availability: limited, but in general their ciders are sold in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Metro Philadelphia (see their cider locator)

Cider Description: Tulsi, more commonly known as Holy Basil an aromatic perennial. Harvested in the summer of 2017 right here in Burlington at Hallow Herb Farm. We add this local herb to our off-dry cider blend and let it steep letting the aromatic basil complement the fresh apple cider. Once a house favorite only shared locally, now a cider to share with the Citizens.

Cidery Description: Justin Heilenbach, Bryan Holmes and Kris Nelson founded Citizen Cider in 2010 on a hunch and some good old-fashioned hard work. Kris was working as a wine salesmen, Bryan as a chemist and Justin as a small farmer. All discontent for one reason or another, they started pressing sweet cider in Kris’s barn and fermenting test batches of hard cider in Bryan’s basement. As it happens, they discovered that their ideas about hard cider translated into some pretty unique and interesting finished products.

See more about their story here. Citizen Cider has a tasting room in Burlington Vermont.

Price: n/a (but retails for ~ $9.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mildly herbal.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Herbal (basil and botanical) notes with lime, lemon, and green apple. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. This was a very mildly flavored cider, but the herbal citrus mix was nice.

Most Similar to: I’ve had two ciders with basil (Seattle Cider Basil Mint and One Tree Lemon Basil), but neither was similar to this. It was however similar to Citizen’s Ms. Burlington.

Closing Notes: I preferred this to their other releases I’ve tried. However, so far my husband is a bigger fan of their ciders than I am (as he enjoys mild dry ciders more than I do).

Have you tried Citizen Cider Tulsi? What did you think?

Phillippi Fruit Snow Dance

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 cidersays Phillippi, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Phillippi, Pommeau, Snow Dance, Snowdance, tasting notes

Review of Phillippi Fruit Snow Dance, an apple brandy fortified cider (aka Pommeau). I tried this at a tasting event a couple years ago (see here), but hadn’t ever seen it in stores, so I was thrilled to find a bottle when traveling.

Cider: Snowdance
Cidery: Phillippi Fruit
Cidery Location: Wenatchee WA
ABV: 16%
How Supplied: 750ml cork-top bottles
Style: Pommeau (cider + apple brandy)

Availability: very limited, likely only in central WA

Cider Description: We love winter for the snowpack in can bring to the Cascades. In fact, we are dependent on snowy winters for skiing, whitewater, and the agriculture we enjoy here. Sometimes winter needs a little help, and that’s where Snow Dance come in. Inspired by the French pommeau de normandie, Snow Dance is a hard cider containing 19% alcohol by volume. We fortify partially fermented cider with double distilled apple brandy to preserve the fresh-off-the-farm aroma. Snow Dance brings a wonderful flavor while not being cloyingly sweet. We’re pretty sure this is going to be your new winter warmer!

Cidery Description: Welcome! At Phillipi Fruit, we craft spirits and cider from the world famous tree fruits that surround us in Wenatchee, Washington. With six generations of fruit growing experience to our name, starting a ciderhouse and distillery was a natural extension for us as well as a way to express ourselves, share our heritage, and showcase one of the world’s premier growing regions. Find the perfect place, surround yourself with people you love, have fun, and great things will happen. We’re excited for what’s next for Phillippi Fruit, and look forward sharing it with you. Cheers!

Price: ~ $23 ?
Where Bought: Broken Barrel in Leavenworth WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about this shop online when planning a repeat visit to Leavenworth (a Bavarian-themed mountain town about 2.5 hours East of Seattle). We went in December so all the lights were up, but mid-week, without the crowds. Broken Barrel focuses on wine and cider. The cider selection (both on tap and in bottles) was great, and I picked up this bottle plus a new to me cider. The shopkeeper said I chose her two most expensive ciders – I guess I have good taste!

First Impression: Light gold hue. Still. Smells of alcohol, honey, and apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, ripe apple, caramelized sugar, oak, and tropical fruit. Long finish. Low apple flavor, sessionability, and barrel influence. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity. High spirit influence.

My Opinion: Awesome! I love the flavor of this. Definitely alcohol-forward, but for me it drank more like a sweetish wine than a Pommeau, meaning that I sipped on it all evening, not just after dinner. It also reminded me a lot of cyser (made from honey + apples), as I found it to have a lot of honey flavor.

However, note that I found this didn’t keep as well as I expected for a high ABV beverage. I’d recommend finishing the bottle within a few days. I left the last little bit sit for over a week, and it tasted like the flavor was sucked out of it, leaving only the alcohol. Previously I had found ice cider and Pommeau and the like to maintain their flavor pretty well for up to 1-2 weeks.

Most Similar to: This was lighter / less rich than most of the Pommeaux I’ve had (such as from 2 Towns, Etienne Dupont, EZ Orchards, Finnriver, Stem, and Wandering Aengus). I found it most similar to an Imperial style cider which also had a lot of honey flavor, Central City Limited Edition Imperial Cider.

Closing Notes: It doesn’t appear that Phillippi makes any regular cider, but they also list an Applejack (unaged apple brandy), Kirschwasser (cherry brandy), and Pear Brandy on their website.

Have you tried Phillippi Fruit Snow Dance? What did you think?

Portland Cider Cans – Apple, Hop’Rageous, and Sangria

January 26, 2018December 15, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review canned cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Hop'Rageous, portland, Portland Cider, sangria, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider’s three current canned varieties – Apple, Hop’Rageous, and Sangria. I’ve tried these all before, but had previously only had Hop’Rageous and Sangria in bottles (see my previous reviews of Apple, Hop’Rageous, and Sangria). Their Sangria is new to cans (and is currently also still sold in 22oz bottles), but the Apple and Hop’Rageous have been around in cans for awhile (and “Apple” has only ever been sold in cans). I have also tried their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, London Dry Gin, Crooked Cock Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Mojito, and Cranberry ciders.

>>This is a review of sample cans provided to Cider Says by Portland Cider. 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: Apple, Hop’Rageous, and Sangria
Cidery: Portland Cider
Cidery Location: Portland Oregon
ABV: 5.5% or 6.5%
How Supplied: four or six pack of 12oz cans of a single variety (it appears they are moving from four packs to boxed six packs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with nothing (Apple), Citra hops (Hop’Rageous), or fruit added (Sangria)

Availability: year round, in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado

Descriptions:
Apple – An authentic medium-dry cider classic, bursting with juicy crisp apple taste.
Hop’Rageous – Dry hopped with Citra Hops then infused with bitter orange peel to reinforce the citrus notes. Delicious & Hop’Rageous!
Sangria – Blend our delicious cider with the juices of orange, strawberry, pear, passionfruit, elderberry, and lime, to get our Sangria cider. It’s your new favorite fruit punch, for grown-ups!

Cidery Description: Portland Cider Company was started in October 2012 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing cider, handcrafted in the English tradition, to the Northwest.

They have two tap rooms in the Portland area.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $7.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

Apple: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of tart apples with a hint of honey. On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. The flavor was pure apple with hints of honey & citrus. Quick finish. Mild to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. I liked how this had a lot of juicy apple flavor without tasting like alcoholic apple juice (which I think many commercial ciders do) or being too sweet. Most similar to Jester & Judge American Apple.

Hop’Rageous: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of citrus and floral with a hint of hops. On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk or tannins. The flavor was very citrus (orange and lemon) with hints of hops and floral. Moderate length finish with more citrus than hops. Mild to moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. High sessionability. I liked how refreshing it was, with only a mild hops flavor, and lacking bitterness. I used to think I didn’t like hopped ciders, as I don’t like beer and the first couple hopped ciders I tried were very intense, but since then I’ve found a few hopped ciders I enjoy, like this one. Most similar to Tod Creek Mala-Hop and Incline The Explorer.

Sangria: Pink hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells deliciously fruity. On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of strawberry, kiwi, white grape, lime, and passion fruit. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity. I liked the flavor variety and complexity, with all the different fruit flavors. This would be perfect in summer! Most similar to Bull Run Strawberry Fields and Portland Cider Strawperry.

Closing Notes: Canned cider is becoming popular, and I’m seeing a lot of cideries launch with only canned products, add cans to their lineup, or switch to cans, even cideries that you’d never expect to.

Have you tried Portland Cider’s canned ciders? What did you think?

Chatter Creek Barrel Roll

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 cidersays Chatter Creek, review barrel aged, barrel roll, Chatter Creek, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Chatter Creek’s Barrel Roll, a bourbon barrel aged cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Pilot Project Batch ‘1’ Golden Cider and Chaider Clipper.

Cider: Barrel Roll
Cidery: Chatter Creek
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 9.4%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle, crown cap, attached flip top
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: Seattle WA area, plus online sales (to AK, AZ, CA, DC, HI, IL, MN, MO, OR, and WA)

Cider Description: This cider was aged for 4 months in American oak barrels that had been used to age JP Trodden Bourbon Whiskey. It is bone dry and displays the balance of oak and apple aromas. About a third of the apples used in the blend are Granny Smith, which provide the nice snap in the finish. Only 4 barrels of this were produced and it is only available through the winery tasting room or a few select taps around town.

Cidery Description: Gordon Rawson has been making grape wine since the 80s, and started Chatter Creek in 1996. Cider is a more recent venture however. All the cider names and labels are aviation-themed. They have a tasting room in Woodinville WA, Northeast of Seattle.

Price: $9.99
Where Bought: Brigid’s Bottleshop in Edmonds WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This was my first time visiting this bottle shop. They had a great bottle selection, but had higher prices than anywhere else I’d seen. They also had 1 rotating cider on tap I think.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of alcohol (bourbon).

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bourbon, oak, vanilla, and lemon. Long boozy finish. Low flavor intensity, apple flavor, barrel influence, and sessionability. Moderate bourbon influence. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked the bourbon flavor. However, overall the cider was a bit harsh for my tastes, between the dryness and high ABV, and I prefer a higher flavor intensity. I think backsweetening with honey would have been great (to end up with a flavor profile like Big B’s Grizzly Brand or 2 Towns The Bad Apple). I’d recommend this for folks who enjoy bourbon / spirits.

Most Similar to: Locust Bourbon Barrel Aged (although that was higher ABV) and Carlton Cyderworks Slake (although that was semi-dry)

Closing Notes: Of the three ciders I’ve tried from Chatter Creek so far, my favorite was Pilot Project Batch ‘1’ Golden Cider.

Have you tried barrel aged cider? What did you think?

Portland Cider Concord Grape

January 22, 2018January 21, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Concord Grape, grape cider, hard cider, portland, Portland Cider, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider’s new seasonal Concord Grape cider. This was a follow up to a Concord grape cider they made for the Willamette Week Beer & Cider Pro-Am in October 2017. It was my first time trying this, but I have had their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, Hop’Rageous, London Dry Gin, Apple, Crooked Cock Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Sangria, Mojito, and Cranberry.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Portland Cider. 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: Concord Grape
Cidery: Portland Cider
Cidery Location: Portland Oregon
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Concord grapes

Availability: Seasonally, January thru April, in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado

Cider Description: A deliciously tart bend of 100% NW apple cider and fresh pressed Concord Grapes. The result is a delightful treat, reminiscent of your childhood grape juice box.
Apple Varieties: gala, honeycrisp, golden delicious, and fuji

They have two tap rooms in the Portland area.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $6.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light purple-red hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of grape juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of tart green apple (although that wasn’t listed as a variety), purple grape juice, lemon, and pomegranate. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it – flavorful and refreshing without much sweetness. The grape flavor was real, but more present in the scent than flavor, and I would have preferred a bit more (I actually picked up more tart apple than grape).

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve tried, as it was cider not perry (vs. Elk Horn Brewing Grape Perry), and wasn’t very sweet (vs. Attila Rapture).

Closing Notes: I prefer Portland Cider’s Sangria, which has more variety in the flavor and is slightly sweeter.

Have you tried Portland Cider Concord Grape? What did you think?

Strongbow Limited Edition Minis

January 19, 2018January 8, 2018 cidersays review, Strongbow Artisanal, canned cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, mini cans, Strongbow, tasting notes

Review of Strongbow’s Limited Edition Minis. I’ve previously tried their British Dry (original version), Gold (U.S. version), and Red Berries, Ginger, and Honey Apple.

Cider: Limited Edition Minis
Cidery: Strongbow
ABV: 4.5-6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 5.1oz cans
Style: American commercial cider (with color and flavor)

Availability: wide release, in the U.S. (see here)

Gold Apple Description:  Crisp, refreshing taste with a hint of golden apple and a smooth, elegant finish.
Orange Blossom Description:  Spring-like fresh orange blossom aroma with a touch of sweetness and a juicy apple finish.
Cherry Blossom Description:  A cherry blossom aroma with a subtle sweetness and a ripe apple finish.
Artisanal Blend Description:  Crafted with semi-sweet, cold-pressed heirloom apples.

Price: $0.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had read about these online, but only saw them at Total Wine, several months after other folks talked about it.

Artisanal Blend Notes: Hazy hue. Low carbonation. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acid. Apple-forward but mildly flavored, with hints of honey and citrus. I didn’t get any sort of heirloom apple flavor or complexity out of this.

Cherry Blossom Notes: Light pink/red hue. On the sweeter side of semi-sweet. Slightly cherry cough syrupy, with a moderate flavor intensity, and little to no apple flavor.

Orange Blossom Notes: Light orange hue. Semi-sweet. Reminiscent of orange soda, with a moderate flavor intensity, and little to no apple flavor.

Gold Apple Notes: Light gold hue. Sweet. Medium bodied. Overly apple juice like, with a moderate to strong flavor intensity.

My Opinion: The Artisanal was my favorite by far, and something I actually wouldn’t mind drinking again, unlike everything else Strongbow makes. However, it wouldn’t be anywhere near my first choice.

Most Similar to: The overall style/flavor and sweetness of Strongbow Artisanal reminded me of Angry Orchard Easy Apple, but Easy Apple was significantly more complex.

Closing Notes: I’d recommend these for folks who typically drink sweet commercial cider, like Angry Orchard or Woodchuck.

Have you tried the U.S. version of Strongbow? What did you think?

Art+Science Symbiosis

January 17, 2018January 20, 2018 cidersays Art+Science, review Art+Science, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, grape cider, hard cider, Symbiosis, tasting notes, wild fermented

Review of Art+Science Symbiosis cider, 50% apple + 50% grape. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Symbiosis, 2015
Cidery: Art+Science
Cidery Location: Sheridan OR
ABV: 10.8%
How Supplied: 750ml crown capped bottle with attached flip top
Ingredients: 50% foraged apple + 50% Grüner Veltliner white grape
Style: American craft apple & grape wine, wild yeast fermented, ancestral method, white wine barrel aged for 10 months, secondary fermentation in bottle

Availability: Oregon (especially Portland), California, Washington, New Orleans LA, and New York NY, plus online sales

Cider Description: Symbiosis: any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different species, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic. Symbiosis is made from foraged apples in the Willamette Valley and Grüner Veltliner grown at Johan Vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Grüner Veltliner is the most widely planted white grape in Austria. The apples are milled and pressed and the apple juice is added to the destemmed and crushed Grüner Veltliner. It is 50% apples and 50% white grapes and is naturally fermented with native yeast on the skins of the gruner for 3 weeks then aged in used white wine barrels for 10 months. Then it is re-sweetened and put in bottle to finish a secondary fermentation to add some carbonation. This beverage is made with no added acid, no forced carbonation and no pasteurization. It is the most vinous cider we produce with great mid pallet weight. Take a sip and take a breath of fresh air…..

Cidery Description: Welcome to Art+Science! We are natural cider, perry, and wine producers using primarily foraged fruit & fermenting with indigenous yeast in rural Yamhill County, Oregon. We are working towards building a tasting room in 2018, but we welcome visitors by appointment to drink at our kitchen table with us!

They are associated with Roshamboart Farm and started commercially making wine in 2011 and cider in 2013.

Price: $12.99 (looks like I got a good deal, as the online price is $28)
Where Bought: K&L Wines in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, while we were in port during a cruise

First Impression: Moderate hazy yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of citrus, vinegar, and yeast.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low sourness, tannins, bitterness, and funk. Notes of grapefruit, lemon, honey, yeast, white grape, vinegar, oak, must, and cork. Long warming sour finish. Moderate flavor intensity. Low apple & grape flavor, barrel influence, and sessionability. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I was ambivalent about this cider. I didn’t dislike it, but I wouldn’t choose it again. It was definitely nice to try though, and very unique, wine-like. A lot of effort obviously went into producing it. I would recommend this cider for folks who enjoy a more rustic farmhouse-style cider and/or Spanish Sidra. Note that this was the front of the palate sourness, not as brash (to me at least) as Sidra, but did have a bit of that vinegar type flavor.

Most Similar to: The only white grape cider I think I’ve had is 2 Towns Cidre Moscato (with Muscat grapes), but I’m not sure that was co-fermented, and it was a completely different style. However, the rustic (wild fermented) style of this cider reminded me of Runcible Cider Light of the Moon, Alpenfire Pirate’s Plank, Angry Orchard Walden Hollow, and Wrangletown Cider Co.’s lineup. The other ciders I’ve had with a white grape flavor were sweeter & fruity, which this cider was not.

Closing Notes: At the same shop I also picked up a bottle of Art+Science’s 100% Quince cider (although in that case it would just be fruit wine). Their website says they are distributed in WA, and I was told it was through ‘Walden’, but I don’t think I’ve spotted anything made by them yet.

Have you tried Art+Science Symbiosis? What did you think?

Liberty Reserve Series Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal

January 15, 2018December 29, 2017 cidersays Liberty, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, liberty, Liberty Ciderworks, Porter's Perfection, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Liberty’s Reserve Series Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal. 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, and Hewe’s Crab.

Cider: Reserve Series #0216 Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal
Cidery: Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 8.6%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: American craft cider from Porter’s Perfection cider apples, barrel aged

Availability: In general you can find their ciders in Washington and Oregon (see a list of locations here). However, this variety was very limited (12 cases), mostly just their tap room and cider club members, plus possibly online sales through Vino Shipper (although at the time of review it was not listed)

Cider Description: Porter’s Perfection apples are another UK favorite, valued in blending and as a stand-alone. Dry, tannic and satisfying, our 2015 Porter’s is a blend of apples from both our Palouse-based suppliers (Bishops’ Orchard & Steury Orchards). Aged in a used whiskey barrel (already stripped of whiskey by our award-winning Stonewall cider), this cider pairs beautifully with smoked poultry, pork and red meat dishes. (12 cases bottled still in 750 ml bottles, RS 0.2%)

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: $15.75
Where Bought: Capitol Cider in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Perusing their cider bottle list. I was surprised to find this, as I didn’t think the Reserve Series left their tap room.

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of bittersweet apple juice, caramel, and tannins.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. Moderate tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet apple, caramel, brown sugar, orange, and leather. Long dry tannic finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, I think I would have liked a bit more body and residual sweetness, as I think that would have brought out more flavor. However, as-is, it is incredibly food friendly.

Most Similar to: Eve’s Kingston Black, Farnum Hill Kingston Black, and Alpenfire Ember (which is sweeter)

Closing Notes: Next up I have their Pink Pearl to try, another Reserve Series single varietal.

Have you tried any single varietal ciders? What did you think?

Oliver’s Gold Rush Cider

January 12, 2018January 16, 2018 cidersays Oliver's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, Gold Rush, hard cider, Oliver's, tasting notes, United Kingdom

Review of Oliver’s Gold Rush Cider, batch #2. This was a collaboration between Tom Oliver (of Oliver’s Cider and Perry in the UK) and Gregory Hall (of Virtue Cider in Chicago). I’ve previously tried Oliver’s Herefordshire Perry and Desire.

Cider: Gold Rush
Cidery: Oliver’s Cider and Perry
Cidery Location: Herefordshire United Kingdom
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 750ml twist-top bottle
Style: English still cider from cider apples, wild yeast fermented, oak aged, secondary fermentation

Availability: limited, although in general Oliver’s can at least be found in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, and USA (see here).

Cider Description: Have you noticed similarities between Tom Oliver’s wild yeast- fermented ciders and traditional lambics? You aren’t the only one. During a visit to Oliver’s farm in 2011, Greg Hall – former brewmaster at Goose Island, and current cidermaker at Virtue Cider in Chicago – proposed a collaborative cider made in the traditional way, but with a lambic yeast thrown in for further complexity. The result is the Gold Rush: a…sparkling, medium dry cider with a deep, burnished color made from 100% bittersweet and sharp vintage cider apples from traditional Herefordshire farms. The juice was slow fermented by wild yeasts in old oak barrels through a cold winter and underwent malolactic fermentation in the warm spring. Oliver then added fruit sugar and lambic yeasts for a second alcoholic fermentation, adding a touch more alcohol and complexity. It was finished in oak, for maturity, before final blending and bottling. The first transatlantic cider that is everything a bittersweet cider should be.

Cidery Description: Oliver’s strives to produce premium products, while valuing the health and well being of its consumers, its employees, the earth’s natural resources, and the environment. In fact, Oliver’s have created a charter that they hope all cider makers will follow. Its tenets are these:

To help secure the future of UK orchards and their ecosystems
Preserve the integrity of cider and perry as valuable products of recognized quality using only UK fruit
Declare ingredients (with traceability), based on a minimum juice content of 85%, control and minimize additives and use only natural products.”

Price: $14.99
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing during a cruise port stop.

First Impression: Moderate amber hue. Still (no carbonation) with some froth. Smells amazingly complex, of bittersweet apple juice, caramel, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, and bitterness. High tannins. Hints of funk. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet apple, caramel, leather, orange, brown sugar, must, and spice. Long finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and complexity. Low sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Amazing! This was crazy rich and complex. I love the color too – it is so rare to find such a naturally dark cider. I was surprised to not find more funk or any sourness, which is rare for a wild fermented cider. This is now one of my favorite English ciders. Best drank at cellar temperature (in between fridge and room temperature).

Closing Notes: I hope I get the opportunity to try more varieties from Oliver’s! I liked this one just slightly more than Desire (as Gold Rush was more tannic and complex).

Have you tried Oliver’s Gold Rush? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 31 Tasting Notes

January 10, 2018January 10, 2018 cidersays review, Schilling cider, cider bar, cider flight, cider house, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 31st visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a Tuesday afternoon with my husband, during our Winter Break. I got a flight, as usual.

Dragon’s Head (Vashon WA) Manchurian (6.9% ABV): This is made from Manchurian Crabapples, and also available in bottles. Dry. Moderate tartness and high acidity. Mild flavor, with notes of citrus, honey, stone fruit, and floral.

Number 6 (Seattle WA) Peach (unknown ABV): This appears to be a draft-only cider, but I couldn’t find anything online about it. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Definite moderate peach flavor, but it finished with an odd sourness I wasn’t a fan of.

Sea Cider (Saanichton, B.C., Canada) Sassamanash (9.9% ABV): This is a new seasonal release, with cranberry and hibiscus, and also available in bottles. On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Mild cranberry flavor with a hint of floral. I enjoyed this more once it warmed up a bit, and you’d never guess it was nearly 10% ABV.

Alpenfire (Port Townsend WA) Traditional Heirloom (6.9% ABV): This is the name for their rotating draft-only cider from heirloom apples. Dry. Low tartness and moderate acidity, with some mild tannins. The flavor was very mild, mostly citrus with some floral. This one was also more enjoyable once it warmed up a bit, as it was less sharp. I’ve had this previously, but it was likely a different batch; see here.

Elemental (Woodinville WA) Acai (6.0% ABV): This appears to be a tap-only release. Semi-dry. I don’t know what acai tastes like, but I found it to have a mild pomegranate-cranberry flavor. Moderate tartness and acidity.

2 Towns (Corvallis OR) Nice & Naughty (10.5% ABV): This is an imperial spiced cider, also available in bottles. Semi-dry. Apple-forward with some mild pie spices. I’ve had this before, see here (and I’ve also had the draft-only barrel aged version of it; see here).

I also got a larger pour of Reverend Nat’s The Passion, which I’ve had previously (see here). Then, my friend and manager of the cider house Sarah shared some ciders.

Reverend Nat’s (Portland OR) The Passion (6.9% ABV): This cider is made using passion fruit juice, coconut, and vanilla, and also available in bottles. On the drier side of semi-sweet. Moderate tartness. Moderate passion fruit flavor with hints of coconut, vanilla, and pineapple. Yummy!

Carlton Cyderworks (McMinnville OR) Summer Set (7.1% ABV): This is made from heirloom apples. Semi-dry. Moderate tartness and high acidity. Sharp heirloom apple flavor, with notes of citrus, floral, and honey.

Oliver’s (Hereford UK) Desire (4.2% ABV): This is a keeved English cider, which drank similar to a French cider, except it was still. Semi-sweet. Lovely rich bittersweet apple flavor with some caramel and brown sugar notes, and even some tannins. Awesome!

My favorites were the selections from Sea Cider, Alpenfire, Reverend Nat’s, and Oliver’s.

Stay tuned for more Schilling Cider House tasting notes here at Cider Says! Have you had any good draft cider / cider flights recently?

Central City Limited Edition Imperial Cider

January 8, 2018December 27, 2017 cidersays Central City, review barrel aged, Canada, Canadian cider, Central City, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Central City Brewers and Distillers’ Brewer’s Reserve Small Batch Series Limited Edition Imperial Cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery. I picked it up in Victoria in September, when we were in port for a cruise.

Cider: Limited Edition Imperial Cider
Cidery: Central City Brewing
Cidery Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 11.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Canadian cider from local apples, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: limited seasonal release, since fall 2016, only in British Columbia (although in general their products are available throughout Canada; see here)

Cider Description: Central City Brewers & Distillers’ Oak Aged Craft Cider is a limited edition, small batch apple cider. Made from 100% Okanangan Valley apples, oak aged with subtle bourbon tones. The resulting flavour is complex with notes of vanilla bringing balance to a rich, crisp apple character. The effervescent finish makes for a refreshing and flavourful cider experience.

Cidery Description: This brewery opened in 2003. In addition to beer, they also produce spirits and cider.

Price: $16.44 CAD (~ $13.00 U.S.)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never heard of this producer, and it sounded like a cider I’d like.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of alcohol, oak, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, lemon, bourbon, oak, and caramelized sugar. Long boozy finish. Low oak influence, apple flavor, and sessionability. Moderate bourbon flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I loved the flavor profile of this cider. It was quite alcoholic, but well balanced and tasty. The bourbon was definitely noticeable, which I liked, but not overwhelming. I shared it with a friend on Christmas day, and it was a great choice. The high quality surprised me, as I haven’t enjoyed too many ciders from breweries. Often they are rather beer-like.

Most Similar to: (1) Moonlight Meadery Little Apples (the new canned version like this, but without the first batch can liner issue; it remains much drier than their previous draft version); (2) Eden Specialty Ciders Cellar Series Guinevere’s Pearls (except it lacks bourbon); and (3) 2 Towns Bad Apple (except it also lacks bourbon)

Closing Notes: I hope to be able to find this again. It was an awesome value too!

Have you tried Central City’s Imperial Cider? What did you think?

Eric Bordelet Sidre Tendre

January 5, 2018October 21, 2018 cidersays Eric Bordelet, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Eric Bordelet, french cider, French cidre, sidre, Sidre Tendre, tasting notes

Review of Eric Bordelet’s Sidre Tendre. It is my first time trying this one, but I’ve previously tried Bordelet’s Poire Authentique and Nouvelle Vague Sidre.

Cider: Sidre Tendre
Cidery: Eric Bordelet
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 3.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: sweet sparkling French cidre from cider apples, wild yeast fermented

Availability: Semi wide release. In addition to France and the U.S.A., the website says their ciders are available in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brasil, and South Africa.

Cider Description: Smooth fruity citrus cider with aromas of wild apples from low alcoholic autumn – 3.5% / vol. (Accompanies perfectly on desserts and pastries).

They also make a Brut (dry) version of this cider. The only difference between the two is that this sweeter version has the fermentation stopped early, while the Brut is allowed to ferment dry.

Cidery Description: The Bordelet family’s biodynamic orchards are in southern Normandy. The orchards as well as the cider making is undertaken by former Paris sommelier Eric Bordelet. All tolled, the orchard is 37 acres, seven and a half of which bear apple and pear trees 50 years old. The estate holds 20 varieties of apples and 15 varieties of pear. This is cider you are going to want to make a special effort to seek out.

See here and here for more information.

Price: 50% off $17.99
Where Bought: Downtown Spirits in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, after attending a cider tasting class taught by Rev Nat. The shop had a 50% off shelf filled with all sorts of awesome ciders!

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Low carbonation with some foam. Smells of complex sweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of overripe bittersweet cider apple, yeast, and orange. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! Although this lovely cider is rather juice-like and lower complexity, it is far from boring. This would make a wonderful introduction to fine cider for someone who is used to drinking sweet commercial cider. It retained the apple & yeast forward qualities of French cider, but lacks any of the more difficult to appreciate qualities often found in Normandy French cider, such as sourness & funk. It is amazing that Bordelet can create such a clean cider with wild fermentation.

This would also make a nice brunch cider, due to the lower ABV, and its complex simplicity would make it food-friendly. Also, although it is rather sweet, it drank like a drier cider (I drank the entire bottle myself and it wasn’t a sugar overload).

Most Similar to: Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge and Eric Bordelet’s Nouvelle Vague Sidre, although both of those are significantly drier. Clos des Ducs is sweeter than this, but Eric Bordelet’s ciders are far superior in flavor and complexity.

Closing Notes: I hope I can find more Eric Bordelet varieties to try!

Have you tried Eric Bordelet sidre? What did you think?

Sancho Libre Peach Sangria

January 3, 2018December 24, 2017 cidersays Boonville, review Bite Hard, Boonville, cider, cider review, cider sangria, cider tasting, hard cider, peach sangria, tasting notes

Review of Bite Hard’s Sancho Libre Peach Sangria. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their regular Bite Hard cider.

Cider: Sancho Libre Peach Sangria
Cidery: Bite Hard Cider
Cidery Location: Boonville CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 12 or 16oz cans (I got a single 16oz can, but they appear to have since moved on to 12oz cans)
Style: peach flavored cider-based beverage

Availability: unknown

Cider Description: Crisp and refreshing, Sancho Libre Peach blends citrus tang with stone fruit sweetness. Slightly sparkling and refreshing.

Cidery Description: Welcome to the world of Sancho! It gives me great pleasure to know you want to learn more about my sangria. I have crafted them special just for you. Be sure to tell your friends just how much you enjoy your Sancho.

Price: ~ $12.99 / four 12oz cans
Where Bought: a bottle shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Pale peach hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of peach-flavored candy.

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

My Opinion: I liked it. However, this is something best drank quickly on a hot day, not savored in the evening with dinner. It tastes rather commercial, which is how I’d describe it, as they add sugar and flavor.

Most Similar to: Portland Cider’s Sangria, although that is more natural tasting, and I preferred its flavor.

Closing Notes: They also have a “Red” variety of this sangria.

Have you tried Sancho Libre? What did you think?

Cockrell Colonial Winter

January 1, 2018January 1, 2018 cidersays Cockrell, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cockrell, Colonial Winter, hard cider, new england style, Puyallup, tasting notes

Review of Cockrell Brewing’s Colonial Winter, a New England style cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Valley Red, Original, Edgewood Heirloom, Pub Cider, Johanna Star, Call Me Dusty, and Raspberry Habanero.

Cider: Colonial Winter
Cidery: Cockrell Brewing
Cidery Location: Puyallup WA
ABV: 9.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft New England style cider (fermented with brown sugar and raisins)

Availability: seasonably, in winter, likely only in WA (in general their ciders are sold at locations such as these)

Cider Description: This traditional New England cider is produced with brown sugar and raisins for a full bodied winter warmer. Think of our forefathers and enjoy!

Cidery Description: Hand crafted Hard Apple Cider from our farm to your table.
They have a tasting room on their farm in Puyallup WA. Also, here is an article on their opening in 2014.

Price: ~ $11 ?
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA

Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, last year (this year’s release is available now).

First Impression: Moderate caramel amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells rich and sweet, of caramel, brown sugar, and raisins.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry (but I’m guessing it would measure higher and the acidity is balancing some of the sugar). Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of caramel, brown sugar, baked apple, raisins, orange, and a hint of oak. Long warming acidic finish. Moderate to high flavor intensity. Moderate complexity and apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. The flavor was especially awesome. My only note would be that I would have preferred less tartness, but I think then the perceived sweetness would have ticked up.

Most Similar to: Seattle Cider’s New England style cider, although that one wasn’t as intensely flavorful. Also, Reverend Nat’s Winter Abbey Spice, although it had a bit of an odd sourness. Or, for a much drier, modern, and subtle example of the style, Tilted Shed’s Barred Rock Barrel Aged.

Closing Notes: This was a great cider choice for winter, and an excellent value too. The next New England style cider I’d like to try is Alpenfire’s new release, “Tempest”.

Have you tried a New England style cider? What did you think?

My Favorite Ciders of 2017

December 29, 2017February 3, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, Alpenfire, Angry Orchard, Cidrerie du Vulcain, Cockrell, Dan Armor, Domaine de la Minotiere, Eden, Eve's Cidery, favorite ciders, Finnegan, Finnriver, Henney's, L’Hermitiére, Newton Court, Pierre Huet, Ramborn, review, Schilling, Snowdrift, Spire Mountain, Woodbox 2017, cider, cider list, cider review, cider tasting, favorite cider list, favorite ciders, hard cider, tasting notes

Happy New Year! Now that it is 2018, it is time for a list of some of my favorite ciders of 2017. This is becoming a tradition; see here for my list from 2016 and here for my list from 2015. To make it a bit different and easier, I put them into categories instead of trying to do a top ten list or similar.

Note that I wouldn’t try to make a list of the best ciders, just those I enjoy, as it would be an impossible task to try every cider out there and be impartial. The cider world is very regional, so likely only readers in the NW would have a similar selection. My only criteria for this list is that I drank the cider in 2017. Some of the categories overlap. Truth be told, for the most part, I made the list first, then determined categories to put them in!

Budget-Friendly French Cidre: Dan Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut (Brittany) or L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut (Normandy) – These selections retail for $4.99 and $7.99 respectively. The Dan Armor is only sold at Trader Joe’s. Both are on the sweeter side of semi-dry and are true to their respective styles (although the Normandy one is more beginner friendly than many others, as it lacks sourness and only has minimal funk). The Dan Armor is one of my top picks to introduce folks to good cider with, as it is different from sweet commercial selections, but not so out there as to turn folks off to it. Its also a nice gauge on sweetness, as it is in the middle of the range.

Fancy French Cidre: Domaine de la Minotiere Cidre Fermier Bio Doux or Pierre Huet AOC Pays D’Auge Cidre – I tried so many amazing French cidres this year that I had to include more than one! These selections cost a tad more than the previous two, $12 and $19.99 respectively, but also have more complexity. Both of these are low ABV selections, and the Doux was significantly sweeter, as expected for the classification.

English Cidre: Newton Court Gasping Goose (330ml bottles) or Henney’s Vintage (500ml bottles) – Both of these English imports are very budget friendly and tasty. A bit sweeter than some English ciders (on the sweeter side of semi-dry), rich, and tannic, but not bitter. Newton Court is available in Seattle, but I’ve only seen the Henney’s in Portland (and only tried the one bottle).

Swiss cider: Cidrerie du Vulcain Premiers Emois – This cider from Switzerland reminds me of French cidre, but has a style all its own. It was made from Organic native heirloom apples, and wild yeast fermented using traditional methods. The result was a semi-sweet cider with an awesome fluffy texture and complex fruitiness (but with less apple and yeast forward flavor as most French cidres).

European-Style U.S. cider: 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche – This cider is by far the closest to a French cidre than any other U.S. cider I’ve tried. It was a noticeable improvement from last year’s vintage as well. Lots of rich ripe bittersweet apple flavor. Unfortunately it costs more than most French cidres, as even with the import cost, their production costs are lower, as cider apple varieties aren’t rare like they are here.

Perry: Ramborn Perry – I tried two selections from Ramborn Cider in Luxembourg. This perry was complex and amazing, with notes of canned pear, dried pear, mango, pineapple, and guava. Like most perries, as pears have unfermentable sugars, it was a bit sweeter, semi-sweet to semi-dry.

New England style: Cockrell Colonial Winter – This cider is of true New England style, a high ABV cider with the addition to raisins and brown sugar. Rich, complex, and perfect for winter. It is my favorite version of this style so far.

Food-Friendly Cider: Eden Semi-Dry or Eden Guineveres Pearls – Of these, the Semi-Dry is drier, much easier to find, and less expensive. Both however are excellent selections, quite flavorful, but without anything that would overwhelm or clash with most meals. They are also some of the most tannic on this list, same as the English selections.

Rosé: Alpenfire Glow – This sweet cider is made from rare red fleshed apples, and similar to Eve’s Rustica (listed below), is amazingly fruity, with a high flavor intensity. Here the flavor notes were watermelon, strawberry, and rhubarb. It was a perfect Valentine’s Day cider (a gift from my husband – he knows me well)!

Barrel Aged: Finnriver Fire Barrel – Note that this pertains to the previous releases of this cider. I haven’t been nearly as big of a fan of Fire Barrel once they moved to 750ml bottles, as it was not nearly as flavorful (plus the price increased significantly). In the older version, I love the complexity, intense barrel aged flavor (which is rarely found in cider), and high tannins.

Fruity: 2 Towns Prickle Me Pink ^2 – This cider was made using prickly pear cactus fruit, plus, new for this year, watermelon. The result is a fluorescent pink fruity cider which is surprisingly complex and flavorful, yet fairly dry.

Rich: Angry Orchard Maple Wooden Sleeper – This cider was made from bittersweet apples, with Crown maple syrup, then bourbon barrel aged for 12 months. It resulted in a 12% ABV cider, super rich and complex, with a flavor profile including caramel, brown sugar, maple, oak, vanilla, bourbon, and molasses. This was a truly artisan small batch cider, worlds away from their typical commercial releases.

Spicy: 2 Towns Man Gogh – I’ve never been a fan of spicy ciders, but I finally found one I could enjoy! Here the hint of spice (from habaneros) was balanced by the fruitiness, sweetness, and acidity of the cider with mango. This was an imperial cider, but way too easy to drink.

Commercial: Spire Mountain Dark & Dry – I typically drink craft ciders, but I still drink commercial ciders from time to time. This one is far from dry (more like semi-sweet), but is dark, and has some great molasses flavor. It pairs really well with greasy food, like a burger or fish & chips.

Unique: Eve’s Rustica – This is Eve’s sweetest cider (besides their ice cider), and my favorite. I loved all the flavor they were able to showcase without any additions (just apples & yeast), with notes of honey, cream, vanilla, melon, strawberry, watermelon, pineapple, and peach.

Unexpected: Snowdrift Cidermaker’s Reserve – This cider was made from heirloom & cider apples, but in contrast had a very unique unexpected flavor profile, with pomegranate, white grape, stone fruit, leather, butterscotch, and citrus notes. It is unique, complex, and bubbly. My husband is also an especially big fan of this cider.

Value: Schilling King’s Shilling – I’ve picked up a 22oz bottle of this for as low as $4 (at Total Wine, actually cheaper than at the Cider House), which is a steal for a tasty barrel aged brandy infused cider. This is more sessionable than you’d expect too. Semi-dry and semi-sweet, with notes of honey and citrus, plus hints of maple syrup, oak, and spice.

Unexpected & Value: Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend – This was another unexpectedly awesome cider which was also a great value. I picked this up in Portland, for just over $7 for 500ml of cider from cider apples. Semi-dry, with richness, high carbonation, and notes of rich ripe apples, caramel, leather, orange, stone fruit, honey, oak, and apple brandy.

Favorite from a New-to-Me cidery: Woodbox Double Barrel Whiskey Barrel Ice Cider – This was the first (and only) cider I have tried from Woodbox, at Cider Rite of Spring in Portland. I bought a bottle, but haven’t wanted to open it yet. Lots of whiskey flavor in addition to caramel, vanilla, oak, and more. It was rather budget-friendly for an ice cider too, at $17 / 375ml.

Pommeau: 2 Towns Pommeau – This remains my favorite Pommeau. Super flavorful, rich, and complex, with notes of ripe apples, oak, dried fruit, leather, brown sugar, caramel, burnt sugar, vanilla, tropical fruit, and peaches.

Ice Cider: Eden Cellar Series The Falstaff – This year I was spoiled with an amazing treat, a bottle of Eden’s 7! year barrel aged ice cider. This ties with Alpenfire Smoke for the most complex cider I’ve ever drank. The flavor was all over the place, from molasses, caramel, and brown sugar, to tart green apple and lemon, to raisin, to pie spices.

Overall: Alpenfire Smoke – This 16% ABV sipping cider has an amazing complexity, with rich oaky smokey flavor. If I had to name just one favorite cider, this would be it. However, it is not an everyday sort of cider. They recently released a new batch of it, but I haven’t tried it yet (I’m still working on my stockpile of the old version).

Other: Also, while I’m at it, my favorite cider event in 2017 was Cider Summit Seattle, my favorite (and only) class was by Rev Nat, and my favorite bottle shop & bar was Schilling Cider House.

Well, there you have it, a list of 26 of my favorite ciders from 2017. They have a lot in common–most are rich and full-flavored. What are some of your favorite ciders?

Cidrerie du Vulcain Premiers Emois

December 27, 2017December 24, 2017 cidersays Cidrerie du Vulcain, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidrerie du Vulcain, hard cider, Swiss, Swiss cider, Switzerland, tasting notes, Vulcain

Review of Cidrerie du Vulcain’s Premiers Emois, from Switzerland. Its my first time trying this cider, but I have previously tasted their Transparente.

Cider:  Premiers Emois
Cidery:  Cidrerie du Vulcain
Cidery Location:  Le Mouret, Switzerland
ABV: 7.1%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: Swiss Doux (sweet) sparkling cider, with Organic native heirloom apples, wild yeast fermented, made using traditional methods

Availability: unknown

Cider Description: Delicate aromas of apples. A note of ash. A note of something the color green: mountain plants that change with air into walnut husk. But everything is hinted at. It’s aptly named. Premiers Emois: the first stirrings of love, of infatuation. It’s a blushing bouquet. On the front palate it is a little weightier than Transparente and it is a tad sweeter. But even though it says doux, it tastes demi-sec. It is the softest of the bunch, with great fruit, no astringency, and the least pronounced saltiness. Lovely, affectionate, secretive. It’s like holding hands, like one’s premiers emois. Pair after winter with the first warm rays of sun, and with all spring afternoons thereafter.

Here is more info on the cider.

Apple Varieties: Bohnapfel, Pomme Raisin, Boskop, and Engishofer

Cidery Description: Cidrerie du Vulcain was started in 2006 by Jacques Perritaz. The cidery’s name is from the local Vulcan butterfly that feeds on the juice of fallen apples. Here is a more info on the cidery.

Price: 50% off $18.99
Where Bought: Downtown Spirits in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, after Rev Nat’s cider class during WA Cider Week 2017. They had a great selection of ciders on a 50% off shelf, and I bought most of them (including Eric Bordelet, Slyboro, Alpenfire, and this one).

First Impression: Light orange gold hue. Moderate to high carbonation, tiny bubbles, with some foam. Smells fruity, of yeast, with a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied with a fluffy texture. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of tannins and funk. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of pear, pineapple, strawberry, mango, and a hint of creaminess. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity and and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I drank this entire bottle by myself, and it disappeared way too quickly. I especially loved the flavor and texture. It was very complex and immensely fruity.

Most Similar to: The texture (natural high carbonation) and scent reminded me of French cider, but it was missing the apple and yeast forward flavor of a French cider. The most similar U.S. cider I’ve had is Eve’s Rustica, which I also really enjoyed.

Closing Notes: This is the only Swiss cidery I’ve seen ciders from in the U.S.

Have you tried any Swiss ciders, such as from Cidrerie du Vulcain? What did you think?

Ideas for Ciders as an Alternative to Champagne for New Year’s Eve

December 25, 2017December 25, 2017 cidersays review

The end of 2017 is near, and what better a beverage choice to ring in the New Year than sparkling cider? Although my choices are probably skewed towards the Northwest, I thought I’d share. I think these would all be crowd-pleasing selections, and I’ve grouped them by sweetness.

For drier selections:

Alpenfire Cinders – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in Washington from red-fleshed apples, which naturally adds hints of fruitiness. They also make a sweeter version of this cider (which I prefer as I find it more flavorful), called Glow, but it is not sparkling.
Dragon’s Head Methode Champenoise Perry – This method champenoise sparkling perry (from pears, no apples) is made in Washington. Like many of these drier selections, this semi-dry perry it is more subtle in flavor intensity, with some hints of floral & honey in addition to pear.
Eden Specialty Ciders Dry – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in Vermont from heirloom & bittersweet apples. It has hints of perceived residual sweetness, and notes of citrus, mineral, and herbs, with some tannins.
Finnriver Artisan Sparkling Brut – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in Washington. It is fully dry, with notes of citrus, floral, and green apple, and very champagne-like.
Scandi Cider’s Scandinavian Green Apple Cider – This cider is from Estonia (in Northern Europe). I found it to be very fizzy and tart, with green apple, citrus, and pineapple flavor.
Tieton Cidermaker’s Reserve – This cider was made in Washington, from bittersweet cider apples, and aged 2 years in Bourbon barrels. It has notes of vanilla, bourbon, and oak.

For sweeter selections:

Bertolinos Cider – This Italian cider isn’t quite as sparkling, but its likely to be a crowd-pleaser. It has notes of honey, pineapple, and grapefruit, and I’ve found it very affordable, under $10.
Cidrerie du Vulcain Premiers Emois – This Swiss selection has some similarities to French cidre, but less apple and yeast forward. It is intensely fruity and complex, with a lovely frothy texture. My review is still forthcoming on this one.
Eve’s Rustica – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in New York. It has some unique notes of honey, cream, vanilla, and fruit, all just from apples and yeast.

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For in between:

AEppelTreow Winery Appely Doux – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in Wisconsin. It is semi-dry to semi-sweet, and flavorful, with notes of citrus, green apple, and honey. They also make a Brut (dry) version of this cider that I haven’t tried.
Eden Speciality Ciders Semi-Dry – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in Vermont. It is similar to their Dry version, plus a bit of ice cider. It has notes of tropical fruit, apricot, peach, honey, and green apple. This is probably the most tannic selection featured in this post.
Snowdrift Cidermakers Reserve – This methode champenoise sparkling cider is made in Washington. It is semi-dry, and has a very unique flavor profile, with notes of pomegranate, white grape, and stone fruit, and a fluffy texture.

For some other suggestions, check out articles from last year from Cider Journal and CiderCraft, or a more recent article featuring European ciders from Cider Explorer.

Slyboro Night Pasture

December 22, 2017December 20, 2017 cidersays review, Slyboro cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Hicks Orchard, New York, Night Pasture, Slyboro, tasting notes

Review of Slyboro’s Night Pasture. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Old Sin and Hidden Star.

Cider: Night Pasture
Cidery: Slyboro
Cidery Location: Granville NY
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: American artisan cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, still, dry

Availability: Currently sold out for the year, but typically sold year-round, in limited markets

Cider Description: Subtly complex, dry, with hints of spice and caramel, made from Golden Delicious, English Bittersweet varieties and Northern Spy apples. Named after our oldest orchard, where earlier farmers once turned out their livestock at the end of the workday. Now a favorite spot for painters, dancers, apple pickers, skiers and red foxes.

Cidery Description: Named for the centuries-old hamlet that is home to Hicks Orchard, Slyboro Ciderhouse re-introduces the lost craft of traditional American ciders. Just as grapes are transformed into wine, our ciders are fermented from our own orchard-grown apples; unlocking the full potential of the apple by creatively blending a a distinctive range of delicious, award-winning ciders. We at Slyboro Ciderhouse are dedicated to reclaiming cider – “true cider” – as America’s favorite drink. We invite you to explore and discover the flavors and delights of Slyboro Ciders. In any season, for special occasions, or to enrich the moment, “consider cider.”

Slyboro has a tasting room open seasonally, July through Christmas.

Price: $10 (50% off of $20, although the cidery lists it for $11.99, now sold out)
Where Bought: Downtown Spirits in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I visited the store for a cider class taught by Rev Nat during WA Cider Week 2017, and stocked up on all the awesome ciders on their 50% off shelf. Unfortunately the higher end ciders from cider apples can sell slowly even where cider is popular, such as here in the Seattle area.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue, with some particulates. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of rich caramel and earth.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry (but that was just perceived, likely due to the ‘juiciness’, as their website says 0% residual sugar). Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness and funk. No sourness. Notes of caramel, earth, smoke, wax, cork, lemon, and a hint of herbs. Long slightly warming acidic finish. Low to moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, and sessionability. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. This was much more doable for me than many of the other dry East Coast ciders I’ve tried, which tend to be much more acidic and less intense in flavor than the Washington ciders I am used to. This would be very food friendly, and likely appeal to wine lovers as well. It had a really unique flavor profile.

Most Similar to: Understood in Motion 02 and Farnum Hill Kingston Black

Closing Notes: My favorite from Slyboro remains their Old Sin, due to its higher flavor intensity, richness, and sweetness.

Have you tried Slyboro Night Pasture? What did you think?

Cider Says

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

Author: cidersays

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