Manoir de Grandouet AOP Pays d’Auge Cidre

November 6, 2017November 3, 2017 cidersays Manoir de Grandouet, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Manoir de Grandouet, Pays d'Auge, tasting notes

Review of Manoir de Grandouet AOP Pays d’Auge Cidre. It is my first time trying this one, but I previously tried Manoir de Grandouet’s Cidre Fermier Brut and have tried many other French ciders, such as these.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Winesellers, Ltd. 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: AOP Pays d’Auge Cidre
Cidery: Manoir de Grandouet
Cidery Location: Pays d’Auge, Normandy, France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: Norman French cidre

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd. Their cider portfolio also includes Le Brun, Domaine de la Minotiere, & Cidrerie Daufresne from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain. Or, if you are lucky enough to live in France, the Grandouet cidery’s website has a cider locator.

Cider Description: This bottle conditioned, AOP Pays d’Auge cidre is made in the most traditional cidre-making process. As a result, it is a very complex and natural product with aromas of baked apples, pears and other white stone fruit supported by complex notes of barnyard with dried herbs and leather. It presents a very slight bitterness and crisp acidity that helps dry out the cider on the finish.

Cidery Description: Grandouet is located in the heart of Pays d’Auge at 2 km from the village of Cambremer on the “Route du Cidre”. The terroir and the climate make it a privileged site for cider products. In this typical farm of the Pays d’Auge, dedicated to apple and milk AOC, the production remains faithful to the traditions and know-how transmitted to the Grandval family for three generations.

It is amazing how old and generational many French cideries are! Their website has more info on their family cidermaking history (it is in French, but the Chrome browser at least has a translate option, at the right side of the web address area).

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $13)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. High carbonation with foam. Smells of funk, must, and a hint of sweet bittersweet apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied with a fluffy fizzy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Low funk. Hints of bitterness. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet apple pomace and juice, orange, caramel, leather, earth, and must. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I wish I would have tasted this side by side with their Cidre Fermier Brut though, as with my notes from a couple weeks ago, I’m not identifying too many differences between the two. This one may be a bit smoother and less bitter.

Closing Notes: I have one more French cider from Winesellers, Ltd. left to try.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Tod Creek Coastal Blue

November 3, 2017October 23, 2017 cidersays review, Tod Creek blueberry cider, British Columbia, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Coastal Blue, hard cider, tasting notes, Tod Creek, Victoria

Review of Tod Creek’s Coastal Blue, a blueberry cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Tod Cider Vancouver Island and Mala-Hop.

Cider: Coastal Blue (blueberry)
Cidery: Tod Creek Cider
Cidery Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: Canadian craft cider from dessert apples, with local wild blueberries

Availability: Western British Columbia, Canada, such as in Victoria and Vancouver (see here)

Cider Description: We add local blueberry juice to our craft cider for an amazing west coast taste!

Cidery Description: Victoria’s newest Craft Cider maker. We are a farm based micro-cidery producing quality craft cider from apples sourced locally and throughout BC…We have grown so much in the last year because of the support of the private liquor stores, and restaurants, that have been carrying our cider. Many thanks to them, and please visit them to buy your cider. Or swing by our onsite store and tour our cidery at the same time! (in Victoria)

Price: I don’t remember (somewhere between $10 & $15 CAN?), but it was a good deal with the exchange rate being $1 CAD to $0.80 USD
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: A friend brought some to me a couple years ago. This time when I was in Victoria (cruise port stop), I spotted the blueberry variety, and picked some up as I had heard online that it was popular.

First Impression: Deep red/pink/purple hue. Nearly still. Smells tart with a hint of berry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. High tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins and sourness. No funk. Notes of blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate, lemon, and green apple. Moderate length tart finish. Moderate sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity. Low apple flavor.

My Opinion: I didn’t really care for this one as it was so tart (even more than Tod Creek’s flagship Tod Cider, a semi-dry citrusy cider). I was also surprised that it was fairly dry, but as Tod Creek’s other ciders are around the same level of sweetness, I shouldn’t have been. The blueberry flavor was nice though.

Most Similar to: Ole Swede Blueberry (which was also semi-dry and very tart, but had some different flavor notes). Most blueberry ciders I’ve tried were much sweeter, like Locust Smoked Blueberry, Schilling Blueberry Cobbler, and Woodchuck Summer Time. I’ve also tried one which was completely dry and a bit sour, WildCraft Blue River Blueberry.

Closing Notes: I’d recommend this to folks who like drier tart ciders which still retain a good bit of fruitiness.

Have you tried Tod Creek Coastal Blue? What did you think?

Domaine de la Minotiere Cidre Fermier Bio Brut

November 1, 2017October 29, 2017 cidersays Domaine de la Minotiere, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidre Fermier Bio Brut, Domaine de la Minotiere, France, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Domaine de la Minotiere’s Cidre Fermier Bio Brut. It is my first time trying this, but I have had the Doux version of this cider, plus many other French ciders, such as these.

Cider: Cidre Fermier Bio Brut 2015
Cidery: Domaine de la Minotiere
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: Norman French cidre, Organic, Brut (which means dry)

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd. Their cider portfolio also includes Manoir de Grandouet, Le Brun, & Cidrerie Daufresne from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain.

Cider Description: This organic farmhouse-style cider has a crisp, fresh, apple bouquet, with mix of citrus peel and musty floral notes, and fruity aromas of apricot and citrus fruits. A brisk, refined finish that lingers on the palate.

Cidery Description: Domaine de la Minotiere is a small 15-hectare single domaine of cidre orchards cultivated under 100% organic certification. The specialty is traditional farmhouse cidre produced both in a dry (Brut) and sweet (Doux) style. The Domaine de la Minotiere owns a long tradition and elaboration of farmhouse cider coming from the fruit of its orchards, in a place called the “Golden Triangle” – known to be the best area to produce cider.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $12)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. High carbonation and moderate foam. Smells mild, of French cidre from bittersweet apples, with a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Low tartness, acidity, and tannins. Hints of bitterness and funk. No sourness. Notes of apple pomace and juice, yeast, green apple, orange, and butterscotch. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Great! However, I preferred the Doux version of this cider, which likely due to the additional sweetness, was more flavorful. This was surprisingly dry for a Brut, but their Doux was also drier than I expected. Its a good option for folks who think most French cidres are too sweet. It also had a bit more light fruitiness than richness, and was much lower in funk than their Doux version. This did however have an extra 2% ABV over their Doux version,

Most Similar to: Domaine de la Minotiere Cidre Fermier Bio Doux, Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut, and L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut (very much so, although this is drier than all three of those), Manoir De Montreuil Cambremer, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge

Closing Notes: Its pretty cool that that both the Doux and Brut versions of this are Organic, which you don’t see much in cider, especially at this price point!

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Liberty Ciderworks English Style

October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 cidersays Liberty, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, English Style, hard cider, liberty, Liberty Ciderworks, Spokane, tasting notes, washington

Review of Liberty Ciderworks’ English Style. I previously tried this at events such as Cider Summit Seattle 2015 (see here), but I haven’t reviewed a bottle. I’ve also tried Liberty’s Manchurian Crabapple SV, Crabenstein, Abbess, Stonewall, Gravenstein, Cellar Series #G15, New World Style, Cellar Series (# unknown), McIntosh, Golden Russet SV, and Spokane Scrumpy.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Liberty Ciderworks. 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: English Style
Cidery: Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American craft cider from cider apples, English style

Availability: Year round, in Washington and Oregon (see a list of locations here). They also have online sales through Vino Shipper.

Cider Description: Classic cider varietals from the mother country – including Dabinett, Yarlington Mill and Ashton Bitter – come together for this dry, English-style cider. Complex, layered aromas, a hint of bittersweet apple flavor, balanced acidity, tannins and residual sweetness: it’s the perfect accompaniment for both appetizers and dinner. And like all of Liberty’s ciders, it’s made entirely by hand.

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: n/a (retails for ~ $12.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: one of the co-owners/cidermakers contacted me, Rick Hastings

First Impression: Light amber hue. Still. Smells of rich cider apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of caramel, leather, butterscotch, earth, orange, and lemon. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Great! This was a fun combination between a high acidity U.S. cider from heirloom apples and a rich tannic English cider. However, it seemes a bit drier and more acidic/sharp than previously. I preferred it slightly sweeter and less acidic, so the tannins and richness could better shine through.

Most Similar to: Eve’s Autumns Gold

Closing Notes: This cider is an awesome value, as cider apples are expensive, and ciders made from them usually cost more than this. However, my favorite remains their Manchurian Crabapple – a flavorful high ABV cider you’d think was brandy fortified, but is not. Next up I’ll be reviewing Liberty’s Hewes Crab cider.

Have you tried Liberty’s English Style cider? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Pear Cider

October 30, 2017October 27, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pear, pear cider, perry, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Pear Cider. This is a new release. See the press release here. Note that this isn’t perry as it is made from both pears and apples. I’ve previously sampled their Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry, Elderflower, Summer Honey, The Muse, Iceman, Stone Dry, The Old Fashioned, Knotty Pear, Walden Hollow, Easy Apple, Understood in Motion 01, Tapped Maple, Spiced Apple, Maple Wooden Sleeper, and Understood in Motion 02.

>>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: Pear Cider
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial pear cider made from dessert apples & pears

Availability: wide release, year round, since October 2017 (they have a Cider Finder)

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Pear Cider is delicately crafted to highlight the mellow sweetness of pears. Using apples and pears grown in the US, this hard cider blends ripe pear taste with crisp apple notes for a well-rounded and smooth drink.

Made from pear varieties including Bartlett, D’Anjou, and Bosc, and apple varieties including Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith.

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, malic acid, pear juice from concentrate, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, and sulfites

Price: n/a (retails for $7.99-9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: a cidery rep contacted me

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells of pear juice and apple juice.

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

My Opinion: I liked it. The finish was really surprising though, as the tartness lingered much more than I’d expect (maybe the malic acid?). It was easy to drink and it didn’t bore me, although tasted a bit commercial.

Most Similar to: Crispin Pacific Pear. Or, for a craft choice, Longdrop Tanager Pear Cider. Or in between, Flatbed Pear Cider.

Closing Notes: I was told that they will also still continue to make their Orchard’s Edge Knotty Pear (a pear cider with cardamom and oak barrel aging).

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

Domaine de la Minotiere Cidre Fermier Bio Doux

October 27, 2017October 29, 2017 cidersays Domaine de la Minotiere, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidre Fermier Bio, Domaine de la Minotiere, French, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Domaine de la Minotiere’s Cidre Fermier Bio Doux. It is my first time trying this, but I have had many French ciders, such as these.

Cider: Cidre Fermier Bio Doux 2015
Cidery: Domaine de la Minotiere
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 3.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: Norman French cidre, Organic, Doux (which means sweet)

Cider Description: This cider is full-bodied and slightly sweet, with subtle apple character and a beautiful balance of acid, tannin, and sugar. It has a mix of citrus peel, fruity aromas of apricot and citrus fruit, and musty floral notes.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $12)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me

First Impression: Light amber hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of funk and apple pomace.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied and frothy. Low tartness, acidity, tannins, and funk. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of apple pomace and juice, yeast, earth, caramel, and green apple. The main flavor of the cider dissipates fairly quickly, but a very light apple pomace flavor really lingers. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I was expecting this to be very sweet, but was pleasantly surprised. I loved the flavor profile. Similar to Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut, the funk/barnyard scent was quite strong, but didn’t transfer much to the flavor, and dissipated over time. It was also similar to the Grandouet in how the ripe apple yeasty funky characteristics of the Norman cider were expressed without any perceived sourness (yay!), and that it was more rich than fruity. This cider is also an excellent value for being imported and Organic.

Most Similar to: Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut and L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut (very much so, although this is sweeter than both of those), Manoir De Montreuil Cambremer, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge

Closing Notes: It seems odd to have a cider with only 3% ABV, but that is fairly common in France (some are even lower!). I found a post online of someone recommending this as a brunch cider, and I totally agree. They also have a drier (Brut) version of this cider that is 5% ABV, which I also plan to try.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Cidrerie Daufresne Poire

October 26, 2017October 21, 2017 cidersays Cidrerie Daufresne, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidrerie Daufresne, France, hard cider, perry, Poire, tasting notes

Review of Cidrerie Daufresne’s Poire, a French perry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had several other poires.

Cider: Poire
Cidery: Cidrerie Daufresne
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: Norman French poire (perry)

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd. Their cider portfolio also includes Manoir de Grandouet, Domaine de la Minotiere, & Le Brun from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain.

Cider Description: A perry pear is gritty, tannic and acidic, which makes it somewhat similar to acider apple. But that is where the similarities end. Perry pear tannins tend to be rounder than those found in cider apples, and the pears used for perry have less malic acid than cider apples, resulting in a beverage that is less tart and more delicate. The Daufresne Poiré offers clear, sparkling and persistent effervescence and aromas. Tastes of fresh pear fruit, hints of melon and citrus, natural sediments in glass, rustic with a clean pure sweetness, balanced by refreshing acidity.

Cidery Description: Located in the heart of the Pays d’Auge, at the gates of Lisieux, we can discover the area of 5 D, with its cider house at the foot of the orchards hills, formerly called the Pré des Vignes, in reference to the vines formerly exploited on this parcel. It is this beautiful south-facing exhibition that prompted Philippe Daufresne to plant his orchard in the 60s, instead of the old vines, for the production of his cider and calvados. For 4 years, retirement requires, the domain was taken over by Ghislaine Davy, who is resolutely committed to a quality and elegance approach. To develop the different cider products, 150 tons of apples are brewed each year on the estate.

The apples come from the orchards of the cider house but also from the different orchards around, which multiplies all the varieties used: Germaine, Blangy cemetery, red binet, bisquet, St Martin, Christmas fields, President descourt, windmill, mettais, rambault, and many others… In order to give each product a balanced aromatic bouquet, the varieties are carefully selected to find the right balance between the freshness of tart apples, the delicacy of sweet apples, and the corpus of bitter apples. The Daufrresne cider is a must at the tables of the Côte Fleurie. Well known to the Parisian resort clientele, he is regularly awarded at the Paris General Competition, with this latest gold medal at the Paris 2017 general competition.

Price: n/a (retails for $12)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me

First Impression: Dark straw yellow. Moderate to high carbonation. Smells of canned pear, sulfur, and funk.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low funk. Hints of tannins. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of canned pear, dried pear, green apple, and pineapple. Moderate length finish. High pear flavor and sessionability. Moderate complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked it. Very juicy and fizzy. The scent was off-putting at first, but it dissipated, and didn’t transfer to the flavor.

Most Similar to: Christian Drouin Poire, as it is of similar sweetness and flavor notes (although it is cleaner than Cidrerie Daufresne’s Poire, which has some funk).

Closing Notes: I also have a cider from Cidrerie Daufresne to try.

Have you tried French poire? What did you think?

Le Brun Poire

October 25, 2017October 21, 2017 cidersays Le Brun, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, French, hard cider, Le Brun, perry, Poire, tasting notes

Review of Le Brun Poire, a French perry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had Le Brun’s Brut and Organic cidres (and several other poires).

Cider: Poire
Cidery: Le Brun
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: Breton French poire (perry)

Availability: Semi wide release in the U.S. through Winesellers, Ltd (new to their portfolio as of October 2017). Their cider portfolio also includes Manoir de Grandouet, Domaine de la Minotiere, & Cidrerie Daufresne from France, Dunkertons from England, and Sidra Asturiana Mayador from Spain.

Description: LeBrun Cidres have been produced in Brittany, France since 1955. Cidres are made using the traditional method of natural fermentation of pure pressed juices from handpicked pears. It all starts with the fruit. The cidery selects superior quality pears.

The orchards are carefully looked after until maturation of the fruits. The pears are picked by hand in order to prevent any damage. Preparing the fruit before cider making is always a process. The pears are collected and aged in special wooden cases for about 3 weeks in order to enable the fruit to slightly dehydrate and concentrate its aromas. The pears are then ready to be mashed. Once this is done, the result (pulp plus juice) is left to rest in a tank. This helps balance the taste profile of the future perry by sweetening possible harsh overtones. The pulp/juice is pressed again to get pure juice.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $10)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer/distributor contacted me

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of candied dried pear and lemon.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. A hint of tannins. Notes of dried pear, candied pear, lemongrass, green apple, and honey. Moderate length finish with lingering lemon. Moderate pear flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Great! I was surprised with the dryness, lightness, and sharpness, as I was expecting something that was sweeter, fuller bodied, and lower acidity, like the others I’ve tried. Perries are usually on the sweeter end as pear juice has unfermentable sugars (sorbitol). I liked it however, especially the complexity. This would be especially nice in summer, at only 4% ABV (and its really affordable too).

Most Similar to: Not anything I’ve tried. The other poires I can remember trying were semi-sweet, such as from Christian Drouin, Dan Armor (the sweetest of these), Domaine Pacory, and Eric Bordelet (the driest of these).

Closing Notes: This is a great addition to Le Brun’s U.S. lineup, which already has “Brut” and “Organic” varieties of cider. Winesellers also offers a French perry / poire from Daufresne, which I will be trying soon.

Have you tried Poire? What did you think?

Liberty Ciderworks Spokane Scrumpy

October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 cidersays Liberty, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, liberty, Liberty Cider, Liberty Ciderworks, Spokane, Spokane Scrumpy, tasting notes

Review of Liberty Ciderworks’ Spokane Scrumpy. I previously tried this at Cider Summit Seattle 2017 (see here), but I hadn’t reviewed a bottle. It was made using community sourced apples and supports the Second Harvest food bank in Spokane Washington. Here is an article on its release. I’ve also tried Liberty’s Manchurian Crabapple SV, Crabenstein, English Style, Abbess, Stonewall, Gravenstein, Cellar Series #G15, New World Style, Cellar Series (# unknown), McIntosh, and Golden Russet SV.

Cider: Spokane Scrumpy
Cidery: Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 6.4%
Residual Sugar: 1.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American craft cider from community-harvested apples, wild yeast fermented

Availability: Special release. Their ciders are in general available in Washington and Oregon (see a list of locations here). They also have online sales through Vino Shipper (although at the time of review I didn’t see this one listed).

Cider Description: A hyper-local concoction of backyard, roadside and otherwise under-appreciated apples fermented wild for a light and refreshing, yet complex flavor profile. A partnership with Second Harvest food bank, a portion of proceeds goes toward helping feed people in need in our community. (WA sales only)

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

Price: n/a (probably ~ $15 like their other ciders)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: one of the co-owners/cidermakers contacted me, Rick Hastings

First Impression: Hazy lemonade hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells very mild.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness, tannins, and funk. No sourness. Notes of lemongrass, green apple, honey, butter, straw, and mineral. Long finish with a slightly sour aftertaste. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, flavor intensity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. The flavor was really interesting in a good way, but the aftertaste was a bit weird/different, although mild. Neither me or the two others I was tasting with could really describe it. I think it was likely a slight sourness that only showed up on the finish. Sourness wouldn’t surprise me, as this was a wild yeast fermented cider, which typically has significant sourness. The apple-forward flavor and the bit of residual sweetness may have just covered up the sourness until the finish.

Most Similar to: Nothing I can think of. The flavor profile was unique. This is a bit sweeter and less tart than most of Liberty’s lineup. I’d recommend this for folks who want a little something different.

Side Note: In the cider world, the term “scrumpy” has a range of definitions, but it currently seems most often used to describe a rustic Farmhouse-style cider made using traditional methods, often slightly cloudy (less filtered). They are most commonly found in England, but a number of U.S. cidermakers also use this term. Here is an article from CiderCraft pointing out five examples.

Closing Notes: Too bad they couldn’t repeat this recipe, as it was a mix of random apples (probably mostly dessert apples, with some heirloom and crab apples). Next up I have their English Style and Hewes Crab ciders.

Have you tried Liberty’s Spokane Scrumpy? What did you think?

Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut

October 23, 2017November 3, 2017 cidersays Manoir de Grandouet, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidre Fermier Brut, French, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Manoir de Grandouet, tasting notes

Review of Manoir de Grandouet Cidre Fermier Brut. It is my first time trying this one, but French cidre isn’t new to me; here are some of the ones I’ve tried.

Cider: Cidre Fermier Brut
Cidery: Manoir de Grandouet
Cidery Location: Pays d’Auge, Normandy, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: Norman French cidre, Brut (which means “dry”, but for French cider is typically semi-dry ish, vs. the sweeter “doux”)

Do you ever notice how French cidery and cidre names all seem to sound the same, and often even the labels look the same? I have a tough time remembering which ones I’ve tried! Having a list has definitely come in handy.

Cider Description: After a long and slow fermentation of about 5 months, the cider is bottled and kept in our cellars for more than a year. It develops tannic, smoked and slightly leather aromas. Lovers of traditional cider will appreciate this cider of character, rustic and drier. Yellow-orange, it has a slight bitterness which makes it a thirst quenching cider. This cider can be enjoyed during a meal, accompanied by dishes (meats, fish, seafood) or Norman cheeses (Camembert of Normandy AOP, Pont-L’Evêque PDO and Livarot PDO). It can also be enjoyed in kir, with a cream of fruits (raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant).

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $11)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer contacted me (I previously reviewed their Dunkertons cider)

First Impression: Moderate orange amber hue. Moderate carbonation and high foam. Smells of funky ripe yeasty French apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied, with a very frothy fluffy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins, bitterness, and funk. No sourness. Notes of ripe cooked bittersweet apples and pomace, residual yeast, orange, butterscotch, and earth/smoke. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Great! I loved how the ripe apple yeasty funky characteristics of Norman cider were expressed without any perceived sourness, which can be common (such as in Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche). I liked that this was more rich than fruity. It would make a great introduction to Normandy cider for someone who had only tried the easier to drink Breton ciders from Brittany France (which are typically completely clean, ie. free of funk and sourness, plus often sweeter). The funk in this cider was primarily in the scent, and subsided a bit over time, so if you find funk off-putting (like my husband), I’d recommend pouring the cider and letting it sit a bit before drinking. The level of sweetness was spot-on for me. It was quite frothy though, which slowed me down a bit while drinking it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Most Similar to: L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut (very much so), Manoir De Montreuil Cambremer, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge, or for a rare U.S. made French-style cider, 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider, as I’m not sure if it is available locally. I have several other French ciders from the importer/distributor to try next, including another from this same cidery.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 30 Tasting Notes

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 cidersays Alpenfire, Greenwood, review, Schilling, ^ 5 Cider cider, cider bar, cider flight, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, tasting notes, wa cider week, Washington Cider Week

Tasting notes from my 30th 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 Monday during Washington Cider Week. They had a Finnriver event with cider trivia that evening, but I left before it got underway. I got a flight, as usual. Four were new to me, and the two Alpenfire ciders were repeats that I’m always happy to retry.

Greenwood (Seattle WA) Blush (7.3% ABV): Hazy orange hue. This is also newly available in bottles (as well as their Dry, Hopped, and Huckleberry ciders). Smells of citrus, specifically, tangerine. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Low sourness, tartness, and acidity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. The flavor was odd for me, sour tangerine with a hint of berry, but my palate doesn’t like sour / it tends to overwhelm the other flavors for me.

^ Five (Portland OR) Hop Hearder (6.5% ABV): Hi Five is newly distributed to the Seattle area, and this cider is also available in cans (including at the Schilling Cider House). Dry. Moderate to strong hops flavor, plus citrus. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low to moderate bitterness. Moderate flavor intensity. I’ve been getting more into hopped ciders, but I think this was a bit much for me, between it being fully dry and quite hoppy.

Greenwood (Seattle WA) Peach (7.8% ABV): Another likely tap only release, left over from the Greenwood tap night. Semi-dry. Low tartness, acidity, and sourness. More citrus and general stone fruit than specific peach flavor. Low flavor intensity. It was a popular option for folks who like sour ciders, but I don’t.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Boysenberry Pommeau (21.5% ABV): This is a tap-only special release, probably from the Schilling Cider House’s 3rd birthday party the previous week. Pommeau is a mix of apple brandy (distilled) and apple cider (either fermented or non-fermented). Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. Intense berry and rich red wine flavor (I wouldn’t be surprised if it was apple brandy + apple juice + boysenberry juice, then red wine barrel aged). Long warming finish. High flavor intensity. This was really unique and tasty, and the first flavored Pommeau I can remember trying or even hearing about.

I’ve had the two Alpenfire ciders a number of times, but I always order their ciders if I see them on draft, as they don’t do many kegs (mostly Apocalypso and their Traditional Heirloom Cider series, plus some Glow every so often).

Alpenfire (Port Townsend WA) Apocalypso (6.9% ABV): This is a tap-only version of their Calypso rum barrel aged blackberry cider which has extra blackberries. Semi-sweet. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. Compared to other batches I’ve tried (like this one), it seems like it had less rum & oak influence, but more berry flavor. I liked it, but I wish it had been the other way around.

Alpenfire (Port Townsend WA) Glow (6.8% ABV): This cider is made from red-fleshed Hidden Rose apples. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Less flavorful than I remember, likely as this batch is drier than I remember as well. Small cideries often have some variation in their ciders batch to batch. However, it still had the characteristic strawberry and watermelon notes from the special apples, and maybe even a hint of kiwi type flavor and extra tartness this time around. See my previous review here.

My favorites were the Pommeau and the two Alpenfire ciders. I didn’t really care for the other three, as two were sour and the other was a bit too hoppy.

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

Rock Creek Dry Cider

October 18, 2017October 8, 2017 cidersays review, Rock Creek Big Rock, Canadian cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Rock Creek

Review of Big Rock Brewery’s Rock Creek Dry Cider. It is my first time trying this Canadian cider, and I had some on draft while in Victoria B.C.

Cider: Rock Creek Dry Cider
Cidery: Big Rock Brewery
Cidery Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six packs of 12oz cans, and draft
Style: Canadian commercial cider from cider apples

Availability: only in Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan)

Cider Description: One day back in 1993, Chris Turton drove 590 kilometers from Kelowna to Calgary, to show Ed McNally some apples. As soon as he surveyed the apples, Ed saw the possibilities. Chris grows apples you don’t see in the supermarket. The fragrant, sweet and succulent European varieties grown in Chris Turton’s orchards are fine examples of classic English-style cider apples. At the end of that meeting Ed and Chris shook hands. A year later, Big Rock’s first cider was in the keg.

Cidery Description: Big Rock Brewery is a Canadian public company with offices and a brewery located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Big Rock distributes its products in Alberta and several other Canadian provinces. The brewery was founded in 1985 by Ed McNally.

Price: ~ $7 CAN
Where Bought & Drank: Yates Street Taphouse in Victoria B.C.
How Found: They had this and Strongbow (British Dry), and I gave this one a try as I hadn’t had it previously (or even heard of it).

First Impression: Light amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, clean, and apple-forward.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple juice with a bit of citrus and apple pomace on the finish. Quick to moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was plenty drinkable and something I wouldn’t hesitate to order if it was the best option, but nothing special. I didn’t really pick up the cider apple flavor, but I imagine it was because it wasn’t bittersweet cider apple flavor, which has a very unique and prominent flavor (and darker hue).

Most Similar to: Strongbow British Dry (the original recipe, no longer offered in the U.S., but still available in Canada, and very commonly found in Victoria B.C. at least)

Random Note: Victoria bartenders seem to like garnishing cider with a slice of lime, as that happened with both ciders I ordered that day. The second cider order (at a different place) was even worse, as they served me a can of cider (Tod Creek’s Tod Cider) with a glass of ice with a lime, so I asked for a glass without ice (that has never made sense to me, unless it was a very sweet cider I wanted to water down). I’ve never been offered lime or ice in the U.S.

I picked up a number of bottles of cider that day as well, many of which were a great value as the exchange rate was $1.00 CAN to $0.80 US.

Closing Notes: They also offer Pear, Peach, and Strawberry-Rhubarb flavored ciders, but I only saw six packs, which was a bit too much of a commitment for me.

Have you tried Rock Creek cider? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Co. Ingrained

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. barred aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ingrained, tasting notes, Vermont Cider Co., Vermont Cider Company

Review of Vermont Cider Co,’s Ingrained, a limited release rye whiskey barrel aged cider. It is my first time trying this one, but I have had their Addison (flagship), Wassail, and Cerise.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by the Vermont Cider Co. 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: Ingrained
Cidery: Vermont Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four packs of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped), and 5.2 gallon kegs
Style: American commercial cider from fresh-pressed local dessert apples from Cornwall VT, aged 9 months in WhistlePig rye whiskey oak barrels

Availability: limited release (October 2017), part of their rotating line of barrel aged ciders, only sold in the Northeast United States

Cider Description: Ingrained uses 100% local apples from Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall, VT. After fermentation, this cider was aged for nine months in WhistlePig Rye Whiskey barrels from Shoreham, VT for an incomparable taste experience. Ingrained has balanced botes of American oak & rye whiskey over a crisp New England apple backdrop.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Co. introduced the U.S. to the craft cider category 25 years ago. Dedicated exclusively to cider making, they are the proud producers of the original American hard cider, Woodchuck®, the circus of ciders, Gumption®, the west coast native, Wyder’s® Cider, and importers of Magners® Irish Cider and Blackthorn®. With an unparalleled focus on quality and innovation, Vermont Cider Co. leads the category in releasing the most premium liquid and pioneering new ciders made from the finest ingredients. Under the watchful eyes of two award winning cider makers, Vermont Cider Co. produces and distributes from Middlebury, VT, blending together the passion of their consumers, their creativity, and their heritage within the green mountains.

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

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells very mild, with a hint of honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of honey, vanilla, green apple, and lemon. Long warming finish, which is the only time that I pick up the spirit and barrel influence. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low spirit and barrel influence.

My Opinion: I really liked it, but I had been hoping for (but not expecting) a more intense whiskey and oak flavor. However, as the intensity of the barrel aging is mild (likely as it was only partially barrel aged or aged in large barrels, as 9 months is a decent amount of time), and it is a sweeter cider, this would be a great introductory barrel aged cider. ie. a cider to have someone try that is newer to cider and interested in barrel aged ciders, but doesn’t have much experience with them.

Most Similar to: Thistly Cross Whisky Cask (actually, this is very similar). I’m shocked I don’t have a review of this Thistly Cross cider at Cider Says, but here is the cidery’s info page on it. However, I can say that Thistly Cross Whisky Cask was what got me interested in barrel aged ciders, and a few years ago it was one of my favorite ciders. Tastes evolve though.

Closing Notes: This was another nice selection from the Vermont Cider Co., and is a big step up from Woodchuck without too much of a price increase. However, their production & distribution is still rather small, so unfortunately not many folks will get to try it. Its pretty cool they used barrels from WhistlePig, which my husband tells me is a high end rye whiskey (plus its a Vermont distillery, keeping the entire cider very local as they also used local apples).

Have you tried any whiskey barrel aged ciders? What did you think?

2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche – 2016 Vintage

October 13, 2017November 15, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre bouche, french cider, French cidre, hard cider

This review is of 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche, a French-style keeved cider. This is their second release of this cider, the 2016 vintage (see my review here of the 2015 vintage). I’ve also tried many other ciders from 2 Towns (see here).

Keeving is a special labor intensive process of fermenting the cider slowly, starving it of natural nutrients. It results in an apple-forward, naturally sweet, lower ABV, and higher carbonation cider. This is typical for French cidre, but is very rare in the U.S.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by 2 Towns. 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: Traditions Cidre Bouche
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 375ml (12.7oz) fancy single bottles
Style: American craft French style cider, keeved, from cider apples, oak cask aged

Availability: Limited (310 cases of 12 bottles), although 2 Towns ciders are generally available in AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA, and Minneapolis MN & Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Inspired by the bittersweet ciders of France, Cidre Bouche is made using an old-world process called keeving. Starting with 100% traditional cider varieties like Kingston Black, Michelin, Reine des Pommes, Dabinett, and Muscat de Lense, we let the fruit ‘sweat’ and intensify in aroma. The apples are crushed and left to soak on the skins before the juice is fermented slowly over the course of a tear in French oak casks. When finished, this keeved cider is rich, thick, and brimming with overripe bittersweet apple character.

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

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $10)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Moderate amber hue. Low carbonation with some foam. Smells of sweet ripe French bittersweet cider apple juice, yeast, and a predominant funk / barnyard.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Low funk. Hints of bitterness. No sourness. Notes of rich ripe bittersweet cider apple juice and pomace, yeast, caramel, and orange. Low oak influence. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I really enjoyed it. The flavor was amazingly bold and rich, it remained free of sourness (which I’m not a fan of), and the funk added a bit of complexity but remained primarily in the scent.

Most Similar to: French cidres with a bit of funk but no sourness, such as Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge, L’Hermitiére Cidre Brut, and Manoir De Montreuil Cambremer

Closing Notes: I think this release was significantly better than last year’s version, and if I was tasting it blind, I would have guessed it was made in France, not Oregon! 2 Towns has really mastered their keeving technique. Its pretty cool to see a U.S. cidermaker use this old world French process. We may see more keeved ciders, especially in the Northwest, as the NW Cider Association took a group of cidermakers (using grant money) to France and England to learn about keeving in May/June 2017; see here.

However, the price is a bit high (although understandable due to the high cost of cider apples in the U.S., and that this was a very labor intensive and relatively small batch release). Many imported French cidres cost less per ounce. By the way, my favorite budget-friendly French cider is Dan Armor, only $5 / 750ml (only at Trader Joe’s). It is more simplistic (less complex) that this one however. I’m not sure if U.S. cideries will ever be able to compete with those sorts of prices on ciders from bittersweet cider apples.

Have you tried 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche? What did you think?

Farnum Hill Semi Dry

October 11, 2017October 23, 2017 cidersays Farnum Hill, review cider, cider tasting, Farnum Hill, hard cider, New Hampshire, Semi-Dry, tasting notes

Review of Farnum Hill’s Semi Dry. I got this as part of the September Cidrbox. I previously tried samples of their Extra Dry and Dooryard, plus I reviewed Extra Dry and Kingston Black from this Cidrbox.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Cidrbox. 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: Semi Dry
Cidery: Farnum Hill
Cidery Location: Lebanon NH
ABV: 7.4%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American artisan cider from cider apples, semi dry

Availability: In general their ciders are distributed in CT, NH, MA, ME, NJ, NY, and RI (see here). I haven’t seen their cider in the Seattle area for awhile.

Cider Description: Golden, gently bubbly, with a delicious array of tropic fruits, citrus, and mysterious aromatic notes in the nose and on the palate. Our Semi-Dry cider is much less sweet than semi-dry champagnes. On Farnum Hill, that much-abused word “dry” is taken literally, so our semi-dry balances the gentlest sweetness against sharpness, astringency, and fruit (which is different from sweet). Alcohol content 7.4% by volume. 750 ml bottle, mushroom cork finish with wire hood. The cork comes out by hand, with a genial pop.

Till recently, this of all our ciders was the most popular among people first encountering true cider flavors. It is richer, more complex, and less overtly tannic than Farmhouse. (Also much harder to make, mostly for horticultural factors in any given crop year – if we’re short of certain apple varieties that make the best possible Semi-Dry, we tend not to make Semi-Dry.) Lately the American taste for extremely dry ciders has seemingly grown, so that our Extra Dry gets as much approval from first-time tasters as the Semi. But if you’re a host wondering which to foist on your innocent guests, we’d still lean slightly toward this one.

We aim in all our blends to complement good food, not compete with it. With Semi-Dry, try: seafood, cheeses, ham, poultry, sausage, rabbit, pork, omelettes or quiches, herbed saucy dishes such as non-red pastas, etc. But don’t be surprised if it does good things for baked potatoes or other ordinary pleasures. And look for your own pairings.

Semi-Dry offers a long, clean, aromatic finish that refreshes the flavors of many savory foods. It enjoyably re-interprets many roles played by white or red wines, though not where a buttery, malolactic feel or a huge, “operatic” wine “experience” are wanted. Some chefs, and fans of Norman dishes (e.g. the world of crepes), contend that our ciders, even the Extra Drys, are charming with certain fruit tarts, custards, etc. People who make fruit ices might like to throw some Farnum Hill in, and pour some more alongside. Please post your discoveries — we’d love to try new ideas!

Cidery Description: On Farnum Hill, we use the word “cider” to mean an alcoholic beverage fermented from particular apples, just as “wine” is fermented from particular grapes. Cider is a word that covers an enormous variety of adult beverages made from apples. Our style is all about flaunting the delights of the fruit that grows best on this place.

Farnum Hill Ciders, at 6.5-7.5% alcohol, tend toward the dry, sharp, fruity and bountifully aromatic. We make them to gladden the moment and light up the flavors of food. During Prohibition, apple-growers urgently needed a new teetotal image. That PR problem helped cut the normal old word “cider” from its normal old meaning, and paste it to the sweet brown ephemeral juice of autumn, normally called “apple juice” or “sweet cider.” So even now, a lot of our fellow Americans find Farnum Hill ciders a bit startling.

We are proud of Farnum Hill Ciders, and delighted to see more and more small-scale cider-makers coming onto the U.S. cider scene. Meanwhile, we’re also encouraged to see skilled commercial apple-growers planting for cider. As in the wine world, cider-apple growers may want to make their own, or to sell their fruit to cidermakers. Already, the price of cider apples is many times the processing price that eating apples bring. That makes cider orchards valuable. Here’s hoping the future of distinctive American orchard-based ciders will outshine the past!

Here is a nice podcast with transcript from an interview by Cider Guide’s Eric West with Nicole Leibon, a cidermaker at Farnum Hill. Farnum Hill also worked with April White on a book, Apples to Cider – How to Make Cider at Home.

Price: n/a (retails for $17.99+)
Where Bought: n/a (through Cidrbox)
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve heard of Farnum Hill ever since I got into the cider world, as they were one of the first cideries in the new cider movement (around 1995).

First Impression: Light golden yellow. Very low carbonation. Flavorful scent, of rich cider apples and caramelized sugar.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acid. Hints of bitterness. Low to moderate tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of caramelized sugar, apple skin, brown sugar, and lemon. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, and complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this one. It was the most flavorful and richest of the three ciders, especially when drank at room instead of fridge temperature. I think a bit of residual sugar really goes a long way in a cider such as this to bring out the flavor.

Most Similar to: A mild English cider, or Dragon’s Head Traditional, Westcott Bay Semi-Dry, Eve’s Kingston Black, and E.Z. Orchards Williamette Valley.

Closing Notes: This concluded my Farnum Hill Cidrbox tasting. Semi Dry ended up being my favorite, as well as the group’s favorite at my cider tasting, as it was the most flavorful (as it was sweeter).

Have you tried Farnum Hill cider? What did you think?

Farnum Hill Kingston Black

October 9, 2017October 23, 2017 cidersays Farnum Hill, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Farnum Hill, hard cider, Kingston Black, New Hampshire, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Farnum Hill’s Kingston Black. I got this as part of the September Cidrbox. I previously tried samples of their Extra Dry and Dooryard, plus I reviewed Extra Dry from this Cidrbox.

Cider: Kingston Black Reserve
Cidery: Farnum Hill
Cidery Location: Lebanon NH
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American artisan cider, single varietal from Kingston Black

Availability: This is a special release so it will probably be more difficult to find, but in general their ciders are distributed in CT, NH, MA, ME, NJ, NY, and RI (see here). I haven’t seen their cider in the Seattle area for awhile.

Cider Description: Kingston Black technically is a “bittersharp” apple variety, which in the English-speaking cider world means that its high tannin and acid levels make it a suitable cider apple: however, its sugar level, at least growing here, regularly yields 8.5% alcohol. We release a hundred or so cases of ‘Special Reserve,’ made only from this apple, in years when our KB is showing all its charms.

This is a still cider, in a 750ml bottle with straight cork. Its aromatic and flavor hooks range from floral through fruity (muskmelon) through hormonal suggestions on to further sensory tricks, viz. whiffs of candle-flame and turning off the phone. Like many distinctive flavor signatures, that Kingston Black je ne sais quoi is loved by some but not all.

With food it performs a version of the FHC effect, lending savor and vividness to many different foods. However, unlike our other ciders, Kingston Black in our view belongs with subtle dishes, rather than with spicy or otherwise rowdy flavors. Note that not only Kingston Black’s alcohol but also its price is quite high for a cider. But it’s worth it when you have time to pay attention to the treats before you.

P.S. In old apple variety names, the word “black” means “extremely dark red.”

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still. Smells of rich cider apple.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, and tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of cider apple, caramel, brown sugar, lemon, and green apple. Moderate length finish. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity, sessionability, and apple flavor.

My Opinion: I liked this one. It was less rich/intense and thinner than I was expecting though, more similar to a NE American heirloom apple cider than an English cider. However, like the Extra Dry, it became more rich and flavorful at room temperature. I’d recommend this to folks of dry still cider.

Most Similar to: I’ve also had Kingston Black single varietals from Whitewood, Dragon’s Head, and Eve’s. My favorite of those was the Whitewood, as it was intensely flavorful, likely at least partially due to the whiskey barrel aging.

Closing Notes: Next up is Farnum Hill’s Semi Dry.

Have you tried Farnum Hill cider? What did you think?

Vacation Time

September 29, 2017September 24, 2017 cidersays misc

Hi everyone! This is just a quick note that I’ll be on vacation for the next week (another cruise – yay), so there won’t be any new posts. You can keep yourself occupied with my previous reviews though. Have you checked out my Ciders I’ve Tried page lately? Its a site index of sorts that literally lists every single cider I’ve tried, and the vast majority of them link to tasting notes or a review.

cruise-ship-holidays-cruise-vacation-68737

Farnum Hill Extra Dry

September 28, 2017October 9, 2017 cidersays Farnum Hill, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Extra Dry, Farnum Hill, hard cider, New Hampshire, tasting notes

Review of Farnum Hill’s Extra Dry. I got this as part of the September Cidrbox. I previously tried samples of their Extra Dry and Dooryard, but haven’t done a full review.

Cider: Extra Dry
Cidery: Farnum Hill
Cidery Location: Lebanon NH
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American artisan cider from cider apples, fully dry, lightly carbonated

Availability: This is their flagship cider so it is probably the easiest to find, but they appear to primarily be distributed in CT, NH, MA, ME, NJ, NY, and RI (see here). I haven’t seen their cider in the Seattle area for awhile.

Cider Description: Pale gold, bubbly, radically dry. Richly aromatic, suggesting myriad fruits of the earth, and the earth itself, with a complex, palate-cleansing balance of fruit, astringency, and acid. Sugar content zero, fruit notes rampant! Made, like Semi-Dry, from a range of specific apple varieties bred and/or selected for excellent cider.

Price: n/a (retails for $16.99+)
Where Bought: n/a (through Cidrbox)
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve heard of Farnum Hill ever since I got into the cider world, as they were one of the first cideries in the new cider movement (around 1995).

First Impression: Light gold yellow hue. Low carbonation. Mild scent, clean, with a hint of honey.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Very light bodied. Creamy texture. Low tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, floral, lemongrass, orange, and green apple. Moderate length warming finish. Low flavor intensity and apple flavor. Moderate complexity and sessionability.

My Opinion: I didn’t dislike it, but this cider was a bit underwhelming for me and the others which tasted it with me. It gained more flavor intensity and acidity as it warmed up from fridge to room temperature, which was helpful, so I’d recommend drinking it at nearly room temperature (and so does the cidery). It was also really different from the version of Extra Dry I tried a couple years ago (see here), which my notes say was more acidic, tannic, and carbonated. Craft ciders can really vary batch to batch. However, it was very well made and food friendly. I think it would appeal best to true dry cider lovers. If you typically drink semi-dry to semi-sweet like I do, the flavor just won’t be there for you, as this is a very nuanced cider. This is definitely a cider to take some time with to ponder.

Most Similar to: Alpenfire Pirate’s Plank (although that one is a bit more intensely flavored, possible as it is less filtered) and Brooklyn Cider House Still Bone Dry

Closing Notes: Next up are Farnum Hill’s Kingston Black and Semi Dry.

Have you tried Farnum Hill cider? What did you think?

Ramborn Cascade Hopped Cider

September 27, 2017September 27, 2017 cidersays Ramborn, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Luxembourg, Ramborn, Ramborn Cider, tasting notes

Review of Ramborn’s Cascade Hopped Cider. This is my first time trying any cider from this Luxembourg cidery. See my first post on their Perry for more info (I tried them at the same time).

>>This is a review of a bottle gifted to Cider Says by Ramborn. 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: Cascade Hopped Cider
Cidery: Ramborn Cider
Cidery Location: Born, Luxembourg
ABV: 7.4%
How Supplied: four packs of 330ml bottles
Style: cider from Luxembourg cider apples, with Cascade hops from Oregon (U.S.A.) – which hits quite close to home for this imported cider!

Availability: Mostly in Europe, although they are just starting to come to the U.S., as they launched in Milwaukee Wisconsin in August 2017.

Cider Description: We have taken some of our Luxembourgish cider and infused it with American-grown whole-cone Cascade hops. Cascade hails from Oregon in the USA’s Pacific Northwest. First released in 1971, it is loved by craft brewers the world over for its signature citrus/floral aroma. We specially selected a base cider to bring out the full characteristics of Cascade, which in turn compliments the crisp acidity of our traditional cider apples.

Cidery Description: Ramborn is the first Luxembourgish cider producer. We only ferment the freshly pressed juice of apples and pears grown exclusively in traditional orchards of large, standard trees. No concentrate. No industrial plantations.

Price: n/a (and unknown really)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery contacted me

First Impression: Light amber gold hue. Low carbonation. Smells of cider apple juice and hops.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low to moderate tannins, especially on the finish. No sourness or funk. Notes of rich cider apples, hops, floral, and citrus. Moderate length slightly bitter hoppy finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate complexity, sessionability, hops intensity, and overall flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked it but didn’t love it. The rich traditional English-like cider was an interesting combination with the hops that I hadn’t had before. I think if I had this on its own it would have stood out more, but I drank it right after their amazing perry. I can say however that it was balanced, and the main thing I didn’t care for was the bitterness on the finish (although the tannins helped make up for it).

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve had! I’ve only had hopped ciders which used dessert apples as the base (not cider applies), although I’ve heard of a few cideries in England picking up on this American trend, such as Oliver’s. As a whole, the flavoring of cider is an American thing, as we don’t have as many heirloom & cider apples, so dessert apples are often used. Some of my favorite hopped ciders have been 2 Towns Hop & Stalk (with rhubarb), Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, and Tod Creek Mala Hop, which in general had more citrus/floral/herbal flavor than bitter hop flavor.

Closing Notes: Its pretty cool than a European cidery did a hopped cider. I hope to see their ciders in the Seattle area soon, especially if they are at a four pack (instead of single bottle) price. The perry was amazing, so I’d like to try more straight ciders from cider apples or pears.

Have you tried Ramborn Cider? What did you think?

Cidrbox Cider Subscription Review

September 26, 2017January 19, 2018 cidersays Cidrbox, Farnum Hill, review cider, cider box, cider review, cider subscription, cider tasting, Cidrbox, Double Cider, hard cider

This time around I have a review of something fun, a one-time Cidrbox order. Cidrbox is a subscription service that features a different artisan cidery each month. Customers have the option of a one-time order, or to subscribe to 3, 6, or 12 bottles each month from that month’s featured cidery. I am reviewing their September 2017 box, which contained selections from Farnum Hill (Poverty Lane Orchards) in New Hampshire – Kingston Black, Extra Dry, and Semi-Dry.

>>This is a review of a sample box provided to Cider Says by Cidrbox. 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.<<

Order Process – Very easy, through their website. It asked for all the usual info such as name, address, and a credit card number. There are options for a one-time order (such as a gift), monthly subscription (3, 6, or 12 bottles), bi-monthly subscription (3 bottles), or gift card. A subscription can be paused, cancelled, increased, or decreased at any time. E-mail updates are provided throughout the process, such as at the time of order and at the time of shipment (with UPS tracking number). There is also the option to pre-pay for three months, and get free shipping each of those months. The website also clearly states the order deadline to get the next month’s shipment and when it will ship, which is great, as often when signing up for a subscription it can be unclear when it actually starts / what the first box will be.

Accessibility – Cidrbox can currently ship to 32/50 states. Orders ship from the cidery, so delivery time can vary slightly each month, but you’ll know when to expect it.

Pricing – $75, $135, or $265 for 3, 6, or 12 bottles per month, plus a flat $10 shipping (unless paying for 3 months in advance). The shipping cost is actually a good deal as from my experience, I expect it costs them more than $10 / box, especially for the larger quantity ones, as this is still a relatively small operation.

Selection – The best of the best. Most if not all cideries are orchard-based. These are the types of cideries that make small batch artisan ciders from heirloom and cider apples (no flavored ciders from dessert apples). Past selections have included Eden, South Hill, Alpenfire, Castle Hill, Kite & String, Windfall Orchards, Foggy Ridge, and Prima.

Rarity – These cideries don’t have a large distribution, and most don’t typically ship. I love trying new ciders, especially those which are very different from what I can get locally, so this is very cool.

Delivery – For me this was a bit of a negative, but only because they used UPS, which isn’t as alcohol-friendly. Someone over 21 must be home to sign for it, or it can be held at the main UPS facility (which is 40+ minutes away for me). In contrast, FedEx allows all packages to be held at any FedEx facility, and there is a FedEx Office place on my way home, so that would be so much easier for me.

Cidrbox’s website clearly states that someone 21 or over must be home to sign for it, so two thumbs up for full disclosure there. Some other options include leaving a note on your door to leave it with a neighbor (if they would be home to sign for it), have it delivered to work, or pay $8 through UPS My Choice to get a two hour delivery window (but they only offered something like 9am-11am or 11am-1pm to me, which I’d still have to take a half day off work for). There are typically three delivery attempts, but they tend to be at the same time of day. It is something to keep in mind when ordering though.

Packaging – The cider arrived in a typical box, with an insert made specifically to hold three bottles, plus inside an envelope there was an info sheet on the ciders, an info sheet on Farnum Hill, a booklet from Farnum Hill called “Inside Cider”, a 33 Mugs of Cider tasting notes book (see here for more info), an American Farmland Trust sticker, and a receipt/packing list. Everything arrived safely, and I liked that the inserts were protected in an interior envelope.

The Competition – I am only aware of one other monthly cider subscription currently available in the U.S., Double Cider, which I reviewed here. (For UK people, there is at least Crafty Nectar and Orchard Box.)

For comparison:

Cidrbox has the option of 3, 6, or 12 bottles a month (although with the 6 & 12 bottle boxes there will be some duplicates), where Double Cider only offers one option of 2 bottles per month.
Cidrbox features one cidery each month, while so far Double Cider has selected one cider from each of two cideries each month.
Both services have the option of a one-time order or a subscription (for Double Cider however to get a one-time order, you’d have to select that it is a gift, or cancel).
Double Cider also has an online store of some past selections.
Cidrbox starts at $75 + $10 shipping for 3 bottles per month (typically very high end 750ml), while Double Cider is $34.95 + $10 shipping for 2 bottles per month (typically moderate to high end 500-750ml).
Cidrbox currently ships to 32/50 states and Double Cider currently ships to 45/50 states.

Having tried both, I see pros & cons to each option. My favorite thing about both companies is that you know what you will be receiving in advance, so you can choose to purchase or skip the selection. Also, each offers additional backstory on the cideries and ciders.

The biggest negative I see to both is cost, as you are paying a premium on top of the retail price of the ciders, as a third party is curating the selection and they don’t work for free. Cidrbox at least actually goes and visits the cideries, which can’t be cheap. Plus you are typically paying for shipping. However, most of these selections wouldn’t have otherwise been available, which is a pretty big positive. I can also see several cases where folks would want to pay a bit of a premium to have top ciders selected for them, such as if they are new to cider or just plain busy.

Cidrbox appears to have a slightly higher end selection than Double Cider, focusing on orchard-based cideries, although Double Cider’s selections are still definitely craft (they have included some flavored ciders though). Although both services offer good information about the cideries and ciders, Cidrbox goes above and beyond with a monthly Meet the Maker page, videos, and even a monthly Cider Sessions tasting notes podcast. Also, kuddos to Cidrbox’s web designer, as it is a really classy looking webpage!

Another Option – If you want to expand your cider selection beyond what is available locally, but don’t want a subscription, are on a tighter budget, already know exactly what you want, and/or are picky and want to select exactly what to purchase, another option is to order cider straight from a cidery. A growing number of cideries have direct to consumer sales, typically online. That way you would also get to choose the exact selections from a cidery. Vino Shipper is a popular option; it has a directory of mostly wineries, but also a good number of cideries and meaderies, which you purchase directly from. This month’s Cidrbox at least was shipped through Vino Shipper (although Farnum Hill typically doesn’t ship).

One negative however is that because the cidery directly ships your order (ie. it doesn’t come from a warehouse), you can’t combine shipping between multiple cideries when using Vino Shipper. I have had cider shipped from cideries such as Eden (they have their own online ordering system and use FedEx), Eve’s (they use Vino Shipper and it comes UPS), and Tilted Shed (they don’t have an online ordering system, but take orders by e-mail or phone, and then e-mail you an invoice to pay online). There is still the shipping cost, which can often be quite high, but sometimes they have discounts. Eve’s for example has had a coupon code for free shipping at least twice in the last year, and that was the deciding factor for me placing an order both times.

Bottom Line – I was pleased with Cidrbox. I think they are an especially good option for people who are very open to trying all types of cider (ie. aren’t picky about style, sweetness, etc, such as folks just getting into higher end craft cider who may not yet know their preferences) and people who want to expand their cider selection. They have had an excellent line-up so far of top cideries. However, I am personally unlikely to subscribe to anything on a monthly basis as I am admittedly picky and cheap. I’ve been keeping an eye on the selections to see if anything sounds too good to pass up that month though. I likely would have been tempted by this selection if I hadn’t got a sample, as Farnum Hill only has limited distribution in my area, and I haven’t spotted anything from them for awhile.

Update – Unfortunately as of October 2017, Cidrbox had to suspend their operations, as they had difficulties with U.S. direct ship alcohol sale regulations as a third party. I hope they are able to resume sometime in the future!

Check out my reviews of each of the three Farnum Hill varieties – Kingston Black, Extra Dry, and Semi-Dry.

Cider Says

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

Author: cidersays

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