Nomad Cider The Original

Review of Nomad Cider’s The Original. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: The Original
Cidery: Nomad Cider
Cidery Location: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 473ml cans
Style: Canadian craft cider from dessert & heritage apples

Availability: probably only in B.C. Canada (see here)

Cider Description: Crafted with care using local, fresh-pressed heritage cider and dessert apples. An honest Okanagan-Similkameen expression with it’s crisp and refreshing fruit forward apple aroma and palate. Primarily fermented with natural wild yeast.

Cidery Description: We are nomads, endlessly exploring food, drink and culture. Our thirst for knowledge and new experiences continually inspire us to create great tasting regional centric ciders. We are a farm-to-glass Summerland, BC craft cidery passionate about making cider the way it was traditionally crafted; by hand with only fresh pressed apples and pears. We are devoted to producing exceptional cider made only from local apples and pears grown by us and our dedicated farming partners in the Okanagan-Similkameen region of BC. Our focus is to be nomadic in global cider culture by stylistically representing cider regions from around the world.

Price: ~ $3-4 canadian / 1 can?
Where Bought: some bottle shop in downtown Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. We were on a cruise port stop and visited a number of bottle shops while walking around downtown.

First Impression: Low carbonation. Light straw yellow. Smells of sharp dry apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apple, lemon, and a hint of pineapple, with a bit of a chemical-like taste mid-sip. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: meh. This was plenty drinkable, but I didn’t really enjoy it. The non-specific chemical-like taste was off-putting. Maybe its from the wild fermentation? It didn’t have that funky and sour sort of flavor I’d expect though. In contrast it was very undrinkable for my husband.

Most Similar to: Dominion Magic Hour

Closing Notes: There is also an unrelated Nomad Cidery in Michigan in the U.S.

Have you tried British Columbia Canadian cider? What did you think?

Kite & String Baldwin Cider

January 9, 2019January 1, 2019 cidersays Kite & String, review baldwin, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finger Lakes, hard cider, Heritage Cider, Kite & String, New York, tasting notes

Review of Finger Lakes Cider House’s Kite & String (formerly Good Life Cider) Baldwin. This is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Baldwin
Cidery: Kite & String
Cidery Location: Interlaken, New York
ABV: 11.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American craft heritage cider from Baldwin & Wickson crabapples, semi-dry, traditional method (methode champenoise)

Availability: likely only in the Northeast, plus online sales

Cider Description: Made from Baldwin apples, with a modest addition of Wickson Crab, this blend highlights the bright tropical notes and intense acidity of these varieties. The high alcohol and robust flavor come from the cryoextraction process (similar to Ice Cider) used to concentrate this juice to 20 brix prior to fermentation. It is then fermented slowly to retain maximum esters and polyphenols, and aged for only a short time to best showcase its fresh and bright, fruit-forward nature.

Semi Dry, Traditional Method. Pineapple, lime, and Riesling on the nose. Bursting with bright, tropical fruitiness and slight perceptive sweetness on the front palate, moving to thirst quenching mid palate and bracing acidity with a dry, weighty finish.

Cidery Description: ‘Kite’ means light, playful, balanced, fun. ‘String’ means grounded to a place, our small farm. Kite & String Ciders are produced at Finger Lakes Cider House on our organic and diversified farm in Interlaken, New York. Please come and visit us in the tasting room any time of the year.

Price: $18
Where Bought: online
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard they were doing free shipping for the holidays, and I’ve always read good things about their ciders, so it was an easy choice to place an order. Plus, they have a nice wide selection for all tastes (although it looks like they sold out of this variety since I purchased it). I also picked up their Honeoye and Royal Cider.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate to high carbonation. Smells of sharp apples and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. High tartness and acidity. Low tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apple, lemon, grapefruit, mineral, and hints of floral. Long tart warming finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I wasn’t super into this cider. I thought the acidity, carbonation, and ABV overpowered the fruitiness, and it was mouth-puckering tart for my tastes. Actually it tasted more like champagne than cider. However, my husband loved it. If you are into drier, super tart, highly carbonated champagne-alternative ciders, I’d recommend it. I tried this at multiple temperatures and seemed to like it closer to room temperature to tone down the tartness some.

Most Similar to: Finnriver Artisan Sparkling Brut cider

Closing Notes: Despite being too tart for my liking, this was a great New Year’s Eve selection, as it is bubbly, and with a higher ABV, one bottle lasted all night. I bet any leftovers would make good mimosas too, although we didn’t have any left…

Have you tried Kite & String cider? What did you think?

Red Branch Hard Black Cherry

January 7, 2019January 1, 2019 cidersays Red Branch, review cherry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Red Branch, tasting notes

Review of Red Branch Hard Black Cherry cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Peach cider.

Cider: Hard Black Cherry
Cidery: Red Branch
Cidery Location: Sunnyvale CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with honey, sugar, and cherry

Availability: likely only in Northern California, plus online sales

Cider Description: Our most popular cider, our Black Cherry is the perfect balance between sweet and tart and delicious. When we made the first batch we didn’t know what to think – now we can’t make enough of the stuff. Be a hero, bring this to the next party you attend. Trust us!

Cidery Description: We believe that producing a quality hard cider of any variety is 90% art and 10% science. Toss in a bit of sweat and heartburn for good measure and you’ll have a typical small cidery. Crafting cider is a lot like crafting many other beverages, and our love of quality ingredients drives us to produce more than just an average cider, but what we believe, is the finest cider possible. Our passion is to create something special from one of the most natural substances on earth, and share it with everyone.

Quality and consistency are the most important aspects of our products, if they aren’t good enough for us to drink or offer to our own friends and family, then we won’t sell it to you! Red Branch Cider Company offers both traditional and seasonal ciders with an innovative honey twist.

They were established in 1995 and have a tap room in Sunnyvale CA.

Price: ~ $7-8 / bottle
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: at my in-laws
How Found: I got this as a Christmas gift

First Impression: Smells of fake cherry flavor. Medium cherry red hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation).

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of fake cherry flavor with a hint of cranberry. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability.

My Opinion: I didn’t like this, and neither did any of the other folks I shared it with. The cherry flavor was too artificial / cough-syrup-like. It was borderline undrinkable for me.

Most Similar to: Wards and Strongbow cherry ciders, both of which also had a similar medicinal cherry flavor

Closing Notes: I’m surprised this is their most popular, as no one I tasted it with enjoyed it. I think cherry ciders are one of the more difficult flavors to pull off. However, I didn’t really like Red Branch’s peach cider either, so maybe their cidermaking style just isn’t for me. That is ok though, as everyone won’t like every cider.

Have you tried Red Branch cider? What did you think?

Eric Bordelet Nouvelle Vague Sidre 5L Keg

January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 cidersays Eric Bordelet, review Bordelet, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, Nouvelle Vague Sidre, sidre, tasting notes

Review of Eric Bordelet’s Nouvelle Vague Sidre, in a unique format, a 5 liter keg. I previously tried this cider on tap (see here), plus I’ve had his Poire Authentique, Sidre Tendre, and Sidre Brut Tendre.

Cider: Nouvelle Vague Sidre
Cidery: Eric Bordelet
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 5L mini (party) keg
Style: French sparkling cider from cider apples

Availability: likely limited

Cider Description: Eric Bordelet’s newest creation is going to be a big hit. This fresh, off-dry (but closer to dry) apple cider from his younger trees is fermented in a fresher style than his bottled ciders. Less skin maceration, makes for a more refreshing cider that will be even more versatile. Presented in 5L, re-closeable aluminum “kegs,” just put this in your fridge and the cider will stay fresh and vibrant for up to two weeks after opening. We bet it doesn’t last that long!

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: ~$90
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: at my in-laws house over xmas break
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells super funky.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. Very high funk. Hints of sourness. Notes of bittersweet cider apple juice and pomace, orange, and leather. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Although I enjoyed the cider and had no problem finishing it, I was disappointed. It wasn’t nearly as sparkling as I expected (vs. all other French ciders I’ve had, plus photos and videos of this specific kegged cider), and it was super funky. Very different from when I tried it previously. For the price, based on what I saw online, and my previous trial, I had high expectations. I had planned to share it with others for Christmas dinner, but no one liked it as it was so funky. Thankfully I had a week to finish it myself. However, I understand that due to the style of cider (wild yeast fermentation), there will be variations batch to batch. Also, maybe there was some user error with the keg as far as getting it to be sparkling (although we followed the instructions).

Most Similar to: With it being nearly flat and super funky, this actually reminded me more of English than French cider.

Closing Notes: I think I’ll stick to bottled Bordelet ciders in the future, as those have all been superb.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Lonetree Apple Peach

January 2, 2019January 2, 2019 cidersays Lonetree, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lonetree, peach, peach cider, tasting notes

Review of Lonetree’s Apple Peach cider. It is my first time trying anything from this Canadian cidery.

Cider: Apple Peach
Cidery: Lonetree
Cidery Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: cans
Style: Canadian cider from heirloom apples, with peaches

Availability: likely only in British Columbia, Canada

Cider Description: Our Peach apple cider recipe is bursting with the taste of fresh & juicy BC peaches. We know you’ll taste the difference.

Cidery Description: We are a small, BC-owned company, making cider the old-fashioned way. We start with real BC apples from old growth orchards, deep in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Our authentic dry ciders are natural and real – from apples that are crushed and fermented, then filtered fresh clear and pure – much like a premium quality wine. We believe in local, natural, and sustainable farming. Our business concept started when we were introduced to 3rd generation family orchardists in Kelowna. To this day, we work with that same family, but have also expanded to work with BC Tree Fruits Co-Op which is made up of over 500 grower families in BC for our apple supply. We selected the name “Lonetree” because we think we stand alone in our belief in a 100% BC quality product. And we use the phrase “old growth orchard” because many of the apple trees are nearly 80 years old. We believe the old ways are still the best. We know you will taste the difference.

Price: ~ $3-4 CAN / 1 can
Where Bought: Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: When in port during a cruise. I was able to buy a number of single cans downtown, mostly 16oz, which is awesome as cans pack the easiest (can fit in a gallon Ziploc baggie).

First Impression: Pale peach yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of sweet peach puree.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of sharp heirloom apples and pomace, peach, and hints of citrus & apricot. Moderate length tannic finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Awesome! Great peach flavor with a tannic finish, very unique. Not overly tart either, which I appreciate. Most cideries don’t use cider apples when making flavored ciders. This is a bit of a mix between a heritage and modern cider, and I liked it.

Most Similar to: I’ve tried over a dozen peach ciders (see here and search for ‘peach’), and Tieton Bourbon Peach is the closest to this, except the finish on that was bourbon instead of tannic apple.

Closing Notes: I’m bummed this isn’t available locally, as I’d stock up. Hopefully I can find it when I’m in Vancouver in May.

Random Note: Lonetree’s ciders were apparently available in the U.S. for a short while under the name Soultree (due to a naming conflict). However, the distributor went under, so their ciders are no longer available in the U.S. I actually tried Soultree Dry previously, but I much prefer this peach one.

Have you tried Lonetree Apple Peach? What did you think?

My Favorite Ciders of 2018

December 27, 2018February 3, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, Alpenfire, Central City, Eric Bordelet, favorite ciders, Ferme de Beau Soleil, Finnriver, Fresh Cut Cider, Herout, Kystin, La Chouette, Liberty, Manoir du Parc, Merridale, misc, Newton Court, Oliver's, One Tree, Phillippi, Pierre Huet, Portland Cider, review, Schilling, Somersby, Tieton, Woodbox, Woodchuck 2018, cider, cider list, cider review, cider tasting, favorite ciders, favorite ciders list, hard cider, tasting notes

Happy New Year! Now that it is nearly 2019, it is time for a list of some of my favorite ciders of 2018. This is a tradition here at Cider Says; see here for my list from 2017, 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 2018. Some of the categories overlap. However, I cheated a bit, as I made the list first, then determined categories to put them in!

barrel aged: Tieton Bourbon Peach – This has more juicy peach flavor than bourbon, but the two go well together, and there is some nice complexity for being made from dessert apples.

botanical-infused: Finnriver Lavender Black Currant – This mouth-puckering tart cider is primarily black currant flavored, but also has hints of lavender.

brewery-made: Central City Limited Edition Imperial Cider – Most ciders I’ve tried that were made by breweries were disappointing, but this one was awesome, complex, imperial-style, and bourbon barrel aged.

canned commercial: Woodchuck 802 Collection ‘Lil Dry – Many commercial ciders are overly sweet and uninspired, but this was semi-dry, flavorful, and craft tasting.

cyser: Merridale Cyser – This cyser was imperial style and had some nice flavor and complexity, beyond just tasting like apple and honey.

draft commercial: Somersby Apple Cider – As much as I enjoy craft cider, sometimes a commercial cider really hits the spot, plus often that is all you can find. This cider is from Denmark but I tried it in Canada on vacation. Apple forward and not too sweet.

everyday English cider: Newton Court Gasping Goose – I’m a huge fan of English cider, and this was a go-to of mine, although unfortunately it is no longer available. Tannic, rich, flavorful, clean, and sessionable.

fancy English cider: Oliver’s Gold Rush batch #2 – This cider is crazy rich and complex, and a lovely deep hue too. A steal at $15/bottle. Wish I could find more. I picked some up on vacation, and got lucky when I returned the next year and they still had 1 bottle left, but haven’t seen it locally.

French cidre: Eric Bordelet Sidre Brut Tender and Ferme de Beau Soleil Cidre Fermier Bio Brut – I’m also a big French cider fan, and tried a number of great selections this year, but these stood out.

French perry: Pierre Huet Poire Demi-Sec – This French perry is unique, with its fluffy texture, tartness, great real pear flavor, and a bit less sweet. I haven’t found any American perries like the French ones I’ve had.

French Pommeau: Hérout à Auvers Pommeau de Normandie AOC – I tried this awesome Pommeau (cider + apple brandy) at Cider Summit. I’m looking forward to opening the bottle of it that I bought.

fruity: Portland Sangria – Very fruity, with unexpected complexity, a fruit salad sort of cider.

ginger-infused: Kystin Kalysie – I’m not a ginger fan, but I actually enjoyed the hint of ginger in this French perry.

ice cider: Woodbox Double Barrel – This is a less sweet ice cider, with rich concentrated flavor, and a twist, having been whiskey barrel aged.

large craft cider made with cider apples: Schilling Excelsior – This was made using bittersweet cider apples in addition to regular varieties, but remains beginner-friendly, staying a bit sweeter and clean and such. I’m seeing more mainstream ciders being made using cider apples, although often it seems like it must have been a small amount. The cider apple influence was definitely noticeable in Excelsior though.

New England style: Alpenfire Tempest – The style is characterized by the use of brown sugar and raisins, and this is a great example. It even reminded me of English cider.

pineapple cider: 2 Towns Pacific Pineapple – This cider is bursting with real fresh pineapple flavor, yet its less sweet.

Pommeau: Phillippi Fruit Snow Dance – This U.S.-made Pommeau is super flavorful and complex, and reminiscent of cyser.

rosé: Manoir du Parc Authentic Rosé and La Chouette Cidre Rosé – Both of these sweet French rosés are made from red-fleshed apples plus pears, and have a lovely fluffy texture. I’m not sure if I could even tell them apart in a taste comparison, they are so similar.

single varietal: Liberty Kingston Black – Made from only Kingston Black cider apples. Tart, rich, and complex, with a hint of sweetness, which I appreciated, as often these sorts of ciders go completely dry.

tannic cider: Finnriver Fire Barrel version 1 – Super tannic, flavorful, and complex, reminiscent of English cider. I wasn’t as much of a fan of their more recent version 2 of it though.

tropical: One Tree Staycation – I loved the complexity of this, which was unexpected for a cider from dessert apples. I drank way too much of this over the summer!

unexpected: Fresh Cut Watermelon Cider – Based on the can design and flavor, I was expecting this Canadian cider to be fake and syrupy, but this was superbly done, real tasting and semi-dry.

unique: Kystin Cuvée XVII – 16 varieties of apples plus chestnuts are used in this unique, complex, tannic, and nutty French cider.

Well, there you have it, a list of 26 of my favorite ciders from 2018. They have a lot in common – most are mid-level sweetness, rich, complex, and full-flavored. What are some of your favorite ciders?

Locust New England Amber

December 25, 2018December 16, 2018 cidersays Locust, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Locust, New England Amber, new england style, tasting notes

Review of Locust’s New England Amber. It is my first time trying this, but I previously tried their Original Dry, Green Tea Infused, Sweet Dark Cherry, Washington Dessert Apple, Bittersweet Reserve, Pumpkin, Thai Ginger, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Winesap, Alder Smoked Apple, Mango, Elder & Oak, Wabi Sabi, Apricot 1, Sweet Aged Apple, Berry Session, Smoked Blueberry, Vanilla Bean, Winter Banana, Chili Pineapple, Seckel Perry, Hibiscus, Honey Pear (drier), Apricot 2, Watermelon, Pineapple, and Honey Pear (sweeter).

Cider: New England Amber
Cidery: Locust
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 7.1%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft New England style cider from dessert apples, with brown sugar and dates

Availability: seasonal (winter), with semi wide distribution in the U.S.

Cider Description: Inspired by New England style ciders, Washington apples are blended with brown sugar and dates for a complex but smooth and balanced flavor.

Cidery Description: Family owned and operated out of Woodinville, WA since 2015, we believe in making real cider accessible for real people. We specialize in modern ciders made with all locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients, adding an innovative spin on classic cidermaking methods to bring out the best in the everyday apple.

They have a cidery & taproom in Woodinville WA, taprooms in Seattle and Tacoma WA, and a cidery & taproom in Ft Worth TX.

Price: ~$3 / single can (runs $8.99 / four pack of cans)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing – Total Wine is awesome as you can get a single can/bottle from most any multipack

First Impression: Moderate pumpkin amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells sweet and rich.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of rich apple, caramelized sugar, molasses, honey, and orange. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. Nice flavor and even some complexity, but not too sweet. Dates were substituted for raisins here, which would be more traditional, but I think it was a nice choice. I didn’t specifically pick up date flavor, but I imagine it added to the overall profile. The ABV was lower than is typical for the style.

Most Similar to: Cockrell Colonial Winter

Closing Notes: This is a great selection at an awesome price.

Have you tried Locust New England Amber? What did you think?

Dominion Magic Hour

December 21, 2018December 16, 2018 cidersays Dominion, review British Columbia, Canada, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dominion, hard cider, Magic Hour, tasting notes

Review of Dominion’s Magic Hour. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Magic Hour
Cidery: Dominion Cider
Cidery Location: Summerland British Columbia Canada
ABV: 6.6%
How Supplied: 16oz cans
Style: Canadian craft cider from heirloom, bittersweet, & crab apples

Availability: probably only in parts of B.C. (they have a list here), year round, since summer 2018

Cider Description: A refreshing session cider made with our first-press of early season apples blended with French bittersweets and foraged crabapples. Featuring bright acidity and mellow tannins, this cider is best shared with friends in the afternoon sun.

Cidery Description: Dominion is a name that means heritage, collaboration, and innovation — values that inspire us in our orcharding and cidermaking.

Price: ~ $4 CAN / 1 can ?
Where Bought: Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of tart heirloom apple.

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

My Opinion: I wasn’t a fan of this, but only because I don’t like super dry & tart ciders. My husband enjoyed this though, as he loves those types of ciders.

Most Similar to: a more tart version of Eden Heritage Cider

Closing Notes: My husband and I visited several shops in the tourist area of Victoria, and I picked up a number of single cans, so I’ll have more reviews of Canadian ciders soon.

Have you tried Dominion cider? What did you think?

Bishop Nectar

December 19, 2018February 16, 2019 cidersays Bishop, review Bishop, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dallas, hard cider, Nectar, tasting notes, Texas

Review of Bishop Cider’s Nectar. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Nectar!
Cidery: Bishop Cider
Cidery Location: Dallas TX
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American modern cider from dessert apples, with honey

(sorry these photos are pretty bad – I had to use my phone camera flash since the power was out during a wind storm here)

Availability: probably only in Texas, plus online sales

Cider Description: It was good enough for the gods and it’s good enough for you. Nectar is a filtered, semi-sweet apple cider made from different varietals of Pacific Northwest Apples and a touch of Texas honey to usher in divine intervention.

Note that it doesn’t appear they are currently producing this variety, as I didn’t see it on their website.

Cidery Description: When our founders, Joel and Laura Malone, started making cider at home, it was out of necessity. The commercially available cider in Texas was trash. Just plain awful. Overly sweet, artificial candy drinks. They sought to redeem cider. At Bishop, we make cider with ingredients that we can stand behind, rather than hide from. We do not add additional sugar to our ciders. No cane sugar, fructose syrup, brown sugar, or even honey. The only form of “sugar” is juice and it is all sourced domestically from the Pacific Northwest. All of our ciders are gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and made by Texans. They are currently available across all of Texas. To find the locations nearest you- Cider Finder.

They have a tasting room.

Price: ~$2 / can (runs $9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: my husband picked this up when he was in Texas for business

First Impression: Hazy light pumpkin hue. Low carbonation with foam. Smells of sweet rich apple with a hint of honey.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of sweet apple and pomace, yeast, and honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor and overall flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this. It had some uniqueness (reminded me of both beer and French cider), more complexity than expected, and was flavorful but not too sweet.

Most Similar to: a cross between Downeast (sweeter apple forward unfiltered ciders) and French cider (apple and yeast forward)

Closing Notes: Craft ciders seem to be cheaper in Texas than they are here in Washington, by a few dollars per six pack, at least from Austin Eastciders and Bishop, despite them having to transport in the apples or juice from Washington. Strange. I’m guessing it mostly comes down to the cost of doing business being higher here (like employee wages and building rent), and that we probably tax alcohol higher.

Have you tried Bishop Nectar? What did you think?

Eden Ezekiel Kingston Black

December 17, 2018December 16, 2018 cidersays Eden, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, Eden Specialty Ciders, Ezekiel, hard cider, Kingston Black, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Eden’s Cellar Series #8 ‘Ezekiel’ Kingston Black. It is my first time trying this, but I have had many varieties from Eden – Sparkling Dry, Cinderella’s Slipper, Heirloom Blend Ice Cider, Sparkling Semi-Dry, Northern Spy (Barrel Aged) Ice Cider, Honeycrisp Ice Cider, Imperial 11 Rosé, Heirloom Blend Apple Brandy Barrel Aged, Guinevere’s Pearls, Windfall Orchard Ice Cider, Two Ellies (collaboration with Tilted Shed), The Falstaff, Heritage (canned), and Siren Song.

Cider: Cellar Series #9, Ezekiel
Cidery: Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Newport, VT
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American heritage cider, Kingston Black single varietal

Availability: probably just online, although their regular ciders are sold in stores

Cider Description: This cellar series cider is named after Ezekiel Goodband, the orchardist at Scott Farm who grew the apples from which it is made. 100% Kingston Black apples – a classic British cider variety that is known as one of the few apples that has sufficient sugar, acid and tannin to make a balanced single variety cider. Rare apples, pressed at harvest, carefully fermented and bottle-conditioned with our ice cider produce a cider that is exquisitely delicious and unique.

Winner: 2017 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition, Silver Medal. 2016 Harvest. 100% Kingston Black, grown at Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont. Bottle-conditioned, naturally sparkling, residual lees…Limited run: Only 100 cases produced

Cidery Description: Eden Orchards and Eden Ice Cider began on a trip to Montreal in 2006 when we first tasted ice cider and wondered why nobody was making it on our side of the border. We had dreamed for years of working together on a farm in the Northeast Kingdom; it was a dream that had vague outlines including an apple orchard, cider, and fermentation of some sort. That night we looked at each other and knew ice cider was it. In April 2007, we bought an abandoned dairy farm in West Charleston, Vermont and got to work. Since then we have planted over 1,000 apple trees, created 5 vintages of Eden Vermont Ice Ciders, and have introduced a new line of Orleans Apertif Ciders. Out goals are to create healthy soils and trees in our own orchard, to support out Vermont apple orchard partners who do the same, to minimize our carbon footprint, to contribute to the economic and environmental health of our employees and our Northeast Kingdom community, and most of all to make world-class unique ciders that truly reflect our Vermont terroir.

They have a Tasting Bar in Newport VT, and a Boutique Taproom & Cheese Bar in Winooski VT. Their current product line includes ice ciders, Aperitif ciders, sparkling ciders, and Cellar Series releases.

Price: $20
Where Bought: their online store
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, as I wanted to check if they had any new varieties since I last looked, and they did, so I ordered some, then they e-mailed to say they were offering free shipping! (through Dec 20 2018, on 3 or more bottles)

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of sharp tart apple.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. High tartness and acidity. Low tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apple and pomace, lemon, mineral, and honey. Moderate length tart finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, flavor intensity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: This was a bit too tart and sharp for my liking. Also, less rich than all the other five Kingston Black SVs I’ve tried, but the KB is a bittersharp not a bittersweet cider apple variety, so rich flavor notes shouldn’t be a given. My husband was a big fan though, and happy to finish the bottle.

Most Similar to: many of the drier tart heritage ciders from heirloom cider apples available in the NE

Closing Notes: My favorite Kingston Black SV so far is from Liberty, although I’ve also tried ones from Farnum Hill, Eve’s, Dragon’s Head, and Whitewood.

Have you tried a Kingston Black single varietal? What did you think?

Austin Eastciders Texas Honey

December 13, 2018December 9, 2018 cidersays Austin Eastciders, review Austin Eastciders, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, honey cider, tasting notes, Texas Honey

Review of Austin Eastciders Texas Honey cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Texas Honey
Cidery: Austin Eastciders
Cidery Location: Austin TX
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 6 and 12 packs of of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert & bittersweet apples, with honey

Availability: year round in Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of the Northeast (see their cider locator here)

Cider Description: Austin Eastciders Texas Honey Cider is a blend of bittersweet apples and dessert apples with Texas honey to create a delicious cider with a hint of sweet.

Cidery Description: Could we move to an apple producing region, grow our own apples and make cider? Sure, but it wouldn’t be the delicious and complex cider we make today in good ol’ Texas. The most important thing to us is sourcing the best cider apples and using only high-quality natural ingredients.

See here for more info. They have a taproom in Austin Texas.

Price: ~$2 / can ? (runs $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: my husband picked this up for me while in Texas for business

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of sweet apple with a hint of honey.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of sweet rich apple and honey with hints of apricot and floral. Quick finish. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this. Nice flavor, with more complexity than I was expecting, and a perfect amount of sweetness. I’m curious what percentage of the mix the bittersweet cider apples were, as it seemed slightly richer than I’d expect using only dessert apples, but the price point seems low for much to be used. Speaking of price, their ciders are much less than the going rate for similar ciders here in the Seattle area, by a few dollars per six pack.

Most Similar to: This reminded me some of Finnriver Honey Meadow, Tieton Lavender Honey, and Seattle Cider Olympic Honey.

Closing Notes: I have their Pineapple cider to try next.

Have you tried Austin Eastciders? What did you think?

Eden Cellar Series #9 Siren Song

December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 cidersays Eden, review Cellar Series, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, Eden Specialty Ciders, hard cider, Siren Song, tasting notes, Vermont

Review of Eden Cellar Series #9, Siren Song. It is my first time trying this, but I have had many varieties from Eden – Sparkling Dry, Cinderella’s Slipper, Heirloom Blend Ice Cider, Sparkling Semi-Dry, Northern Spy (Barrel Aged) Ice Cider, Honeycrisp Ice Cider, Imperial 11 Rosé, Heirloom Blend Apple Brandy Barrel Aged, Guinevere’s Pearls, Windfall Orchard Ice Cider, Two Ellies (collaboration with Tilted Shed), The Falstaff, and Heritage (canned).

Cider: Cellar Series #9, Siren Song
Cidery: Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Newport, VT
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft orchard-based heritage cider

Availability: probably just online, although their regular ciders are sold in stores

Cider Description: In Greek mythology the songs of the Sirens were enough to entice a Mariner to jump off his trireme, only to meet his end in the depths of the Adriatic Sea. This cider will beguile you with fruit, spice and smoke, cradled in an illusion of residual sweetness. As you follow it down to the depths of your glass, the tannins reveal themselves in astringency rather than bitterness. The complexity derives from a mix of over 20 apple varieties, harvest-pressed and fermented slow and cold as are all our heritage ciders. The curvaceous balance derives from skillful blending by our enraptured Cider team. Another glassful calls.

Limited run: Only 80 cases produced. Winner 2018 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) Gold: Heritage Dry Cider. 2017 Harvest. 20 variety blend of tannic cider apples, including Kerr and Dolgo crabs, Russets and high acid heirlooms. Filtered and carbonated. 7.5% ABV, 1.2% residual sweetness.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of tart tannic rich apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low to moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apple, caramel, lemon, mineral, earth, and butterscotch. Moderate length finish. Moderate flavor intensity, sessionability, and apple flavor. High complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. Nice complexity with a unique flavor profile, a little of everything. I definitely picked up more influence from crab and heirloom apples than bittersweet apples though. I had this after dinner, but I think it would be even better suited to pair with a meal, nearly anything.

Most Similar to: Liberty Ciderworks Hewe’s Crab SV

Closing Notes: I also purchased Eden’s newish Extra Sec and Cellar Series Ezekiel (Kingston Black SV), both of which I’ll review soon, and another bottle of Guinevere’s Pearls, which I have to say I prefer over Siren Song.

Have you tried Eden Siren Song? What did you think?

South City Ciderworks Original Blend

December 6, 2018December 6, 2018 cidersays review, South City california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, South City, South City Cider, South City Ciderworks, tasting notes

Review of South City Ciderworks’ Original Blend cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Original Blemd
Cidery: South City Ciderworks
Cidery Location: San Bruno CA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: probably only in Northern California, plus online sales

Cider Description: The Original Blend is our very first cider, formerly known as “South City Cider”. We started the company because we wanted an easy-drinking cider we could bring camping, while hanging out at the beach, to the dog park, or really anywhere that glass wasn’t a good idea, and this blend was the result. This semi-sweet, dry finishing cider is known for it’s easy drinkability without being overly sweet. The Original Blend is available in 12-ounce cans and kegs.

Cidery Description: We founded South City Ciderworks in 2015 as an urban cider company to make great cider and a difference. Using only fresh-pressed, West Coast apples our ciders are crafted to be well balanced and easy drinking. We support non-profits focused on helping the community, animals, and the environment. We’re here to Make Cider Make A Difference.

Price: ~$3 / can
Where Bought: at the ferry terminal in San Francisco CA (they have a bunch of cool shops, many with local stuff – this was from a shop which had wine and some single bottles/cans of beers & ciders, but no idea which one unfortunately)
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Moderate straw yellow hue. Low carbonation with some foam. Smells mild, of sweet apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of non-specific apple with hints of lemon and floral. Quick finish. Low flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, it was a bit boring, like most unflavored ciders from dessert apples (ie. those without fruit/hops/spices/etc) are to me. At least they made it a bit sweeter, as that does help these sorts of ciders have some flavor, but wasn’t anywhere near too sweet.

Most Similar to: a bit like Blackfin Splash

Closing Notes: I bet this selection would have a wide appeal, being mid level sweetness and no qualities to not make it entry level (like sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins).

Have you tried South City cider? What did you think?

Cidrerie Milton CID Original Cider

December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 cidersays Milton, review Canadian, Canadian cider, CID, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Ciderie Milton, hard cider, Quebec, tasting notes

Review of Cidrerie Milton’s CID Original Cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: CID Original Cider
Cidery: Cidrerie Milton
Cidery Location: Quebec Canda
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 355ml bottles
Style: Canadian cider from heirloom apples

Availability: unknown

Cider Description (translated): Developed from Mcintosh and Spartan apples, our Cid Original is the essential cider to keep the doctor away! Gerald the moose, the biggest animal in the province, must consume 30 bottles of original cid per day to satisfy his needs! Refreshing. Light. Fresh apples. Perfect balance of acidity and sweetness.

Price: ~$4 / bottle?
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing – this was a random selection as I couldn’t read the bottle (I assume its in French), but I thought I might as well give it a try

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells very mild, of sweet apple.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of non-specific apple with some pineapple and lemon. Quick finish. Low apple flavor, complexity, and apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. I had been expecting something more commercial tasting, but this was quite nice, with some light flavor.

Most Similar to: a more refined and light version of Woodchuck 802 Collection ‘Lil Dry

Closing Notes: I think this may be the first regular Quebec cider I’ve tried (although I think I had some ice cider from there). Also, their website shows updated bottle labels, so who knows how old this bottle is.

Have you tried Canadian cider? What did you think?

Hard Row to Hoe The Other Cider of the Lake

November 30, 2018November 25, 2018 cidersays Hard Row to Hoe, review Chelan, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Hard Row to Hoe, tasting notes, The Other Cider of the Lake, washington

Review of Hard Row to Hoe’s The Other Cider of the Lake. It is my first time trying anything from this winery (they primarily makes grape wine).

Cider: The Other Cider of the Lake
Cidery: Hard Row to Hoe
Cidery Location: Chelan, WA
ABV: 4.7%
How Supplied: 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: likely limited to the Chelan area, plus online sales

Cider Description: The Other Cider of the Lake is our seasonal, small-batch, premium hard cider. Made with Granny Smith, gala, fuji and honeycrisp apples and finishes dry and crisp. The name harkens back to the Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards namesake story about a copper mine, a row boat and a brothel on the other side of the lake [Chelan]. This cider comes in a 4 pack of 16 ounce cans.

Cidery Description: Making Serious Wines with a Lighthearted Approach

Price: ~ $4 / can
Where Bought: my husband picked this up for me at the winery when wine tasting
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Nearly clear. Still (no carbonation). Smells of sweet green apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Very light bodied. Very low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple with a hint of pineapple. Short finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Very low flavor intensity. Very high sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was average, plenty drinkable, but it didn’t hold my interest. A bit watery and light in flavor, probably due to it being drier and made from non-cider apples. My husband was a bigger fan.

Most Similar to: Ulee’s Light Cider Dry and Number Six Dry 99

Closing Notes: For the most part I haven’t been impressed by ciders made by wineries or breweries.

Have you tried The Other Cider of the Lake? What did you think?

Sicera Cidre de Normandie Florentin

November 28, 2018November 28, 2018 cidersays review, Sicera Florentin cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidre de Normandie, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Sicera Florentin, tasting notes

Review of Sicera Cidre de Normandie’s Florentin It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Florentin
Cidery: Sicera Cidre de Normandie
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: French cidre

Availability: unknown

Cider Description (translated): The Florentine is a cider with a fruity and fresh nose in the mouth. There are notes of citrus and pine. The varieties of apple that make up this cider: Red Binet, Caillouel, Clos Renaud, Judor, Petit. The Florentine is the result of a fermentation on native (natural) yeast for 5 months. The yeasts present in the fruit and atmosphere of the cellar are called indigenous yeasts.

Cidery Description: The family property “Amfreville” is located in Eturqueraye in Calvados appellation area, in the heart of Normandy, between the Seine Valley and the Risle Valley. The apples are all from our family orchards. We work 10 hectares of tall orchards and 10 hectares of low stems. We grow 15 varieties of apples belonging to the groups: bitter, sweet, bittersweet and tart. Each cider is made up of several varieties of apples, each of which has its importance: the bitter ones bring structure, the bittersweet their aromas, the sweet ones for the sugar and finally the acidulated ones structure the product and bring freshness.

Price: ~$20 CAN ?
Where Bought: Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, at a cruise port

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

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied with a fluffy texture from the natural carbonation. Low tartness, acidity, tannins, and funk. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of apple pomace, apricot, and lemon. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. Drier and less rich (more fruity) than most other French ciders, which made it unique.

Most Similar to: Kystin Opalyne

Closing Notes: I thought this was a neat find in Victoria, one that I hadn’t seen previously, and such a pretty label.

Have you tried French cider? What did you think?

Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry Barrel Select

November 26, 2018November 23, 2018 cidersays Newton's Folly barrel aged, Barrel Select, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Newton's Folly, tasting notes

Review of Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry Barrel Select. This is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, made at the Woodchuck facility, and appears to be a barrel aged version of their regular Newton Folly Semi-Dry canned cider, which I reviewed here.

Cider: Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry Barrel Select
Cidery: American Hard Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottle
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, barrel aged

Availability: only at Trader Joe’s

Cider Description: Hard Cider has a history that reaches back hundreds of years in Vermont, where our Newton’s Folly Cider is fermented and bottled. Newton’s Folly Barrel Select Semi-Dry delivers an oaky, bourbon taste perfect for enjoying with family and friends. We do offer a heads up however. Enjoy this fine cider directly under an apple tree at your own risk.

Price: $5.99
Where Bought: Trader Joe’s
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

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

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple juice, honey, tropical fruit, and hints of oak & bourbon. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity. Low barrel influence.

My Opinion: I liked it. I wished there was more barrel influence, but I say that about nearly every barrel aged cider. Also, the cider profile isn’t really the type that is ideal for barrel aging (more fruity than rich).

Most Similar to: a slightly barrel aged version of Bertolinos (except Newton’s Folly is lower carbonation), Bite Hard Semi-Sweet, or Woodchuck 802 Collection Lil’ Dry

Closing Notes: Like Trader Joe’s Dan Armor (French cider), this is a tasty budget-friendly cider that likely would have wide appeal, and be a perfect cider to serve at a gathering.

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

Embark Dream Cicle Field of Dreams

November 23, 2018November 25, 2018 cidersays Embark, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dream Cicle, Embark, Embark cider, Field of Dreams, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Embark Cider’s Dream Cicle, Field of Dreams. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery (or even seeing their products in person, although I heard about them online). Note that they also have another cider in the ‘Dream Cicle’ series, called The Topics, a hopped mango version, with a green can label, as described in this article.

Cider: Dream Cicle (series), Field of Dreams
Cidery: Embark Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Williamson, NY
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, unfiltered, with strawberries, blackberries, peaches, and milk sugar

Availability: likely limited

Cider Description: Fermented with milk sugar and blended with strawberries, blackberries, and white peaches.

Cidery Description: We focus on what makes a great hard cider: local passion, unique heritage & quality apples.

They have a tap room in Williamson NY.

Price: $13.99 / four pack
Where Bought: Cheese Plus in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, on a cruise port stop (this shop is across the street from The Jug Shop, and both are awesome)

First Impression: Hazy pink hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of berry.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk (although it seemed to have a lot of the qualities of a sour cider without the actual sourness itself). Notes of non-specific berry (but not peach), lemon, malt, and yeast. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: This cider grew on me. Overall I’d say I liked it, but just barely. Its definitely beer-inspired, super unique, and was quite difficult for me to try to describe. The only reason I bought it is because I was intrigued by the use of milk sugar (I assume lactose). I’ve heard of it being used in home cidermaking as it is a non-fermentable sugar so you don’t have to worry about cider fermentation restarting and creating “bottle bombs”. I’m wondering if the milk sugar significantly contributed to the overall flavor profile, or whether that was from something else. If the description had said it was beer-inspired I probably wouldn’t have bought it.

Most Similar to: nothing I’ve had!

Side Note: I bought about 2 cases of cider on my last cruise. Good thing we didn’t have to fly. And of those, this was the only cider I bought a multi-pack of. Most everything else I bought was either a single large format bottle, or a single 16oz can (in Victoria B.C. – probably split by the shops for convenience as we were in a downtown/tourist area). Plus I realized I wouldn’t be able to get nearly as many selections if I bought multipacks.

Closing Notes: I’d be interested in trying a more traditional cider from them.

Have you tried Embark Dream Cicle? What did you think?

Woodchuck 802 Collection Lil’ Dry

November 21, 2018November 16, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck 802 collection, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lil' Dry, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck 802 Lil’ Dry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Woodchuck. Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free. The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.<<

Cider: 802 Collection Lil’ Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.1%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from fresh-pressed Vermont apples

Availability: only in Vermont to start, then limited in Maine and New Hampshire

Cider Description: A traditional cider made with only fresh pressed Vermont juice from our orchard partners. Enjoy this semi-dry cider with good friends and good company.

See this article for detailed info.

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

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

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of sweet green apple.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, honey, and tropical fruit. Moderate tart finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. Never would have guessed it was Woodchuck actually, as it lacks the characteristics that I associate with every Woodchuck cider, as to me they all have a bit of the same baseline flavor (likely the same apple blend), and a fuller body than expected for the level of sweetness. This tastes like it was made with a different blend of apples, maybe some heirloom ones thrown in with the dessert ones. The quality was characteristic of their ‘Vermont Cider Company‘ line (released in 2016 and 2017).

Most Similar to: Vermont Cider Co, Addison, although this was a touch drier, lighter bodied, and more craft tasting

Side Note: They previously had a cider called ‘802’, a caramelized brown sugar type cider, but that was discontinued a few years back. They also did this previously, re-using the name Summer Time, but having it be a different cider, ginger pear instead of blueberry. As cool as using the ‘802’ area code is, I could see it being confusing.

Closing Notes: Too bad it doesn’t sound like this will make it out to the PNW (or at least not soon).

Have you tried Woodchuck 802 Lil’ Dry? What did you think?

Pick Cider Ideas for Thanksgiving 2018

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns, AEppelTreow, Alpenfire, Bertolinos, Dan Armor, Domaine de la Minotiere, Eden, Eric Bordelet, Eve's Cidery, Kystin, La Chouette, L’Hermitiére, Liberty, Manoir de Grandouet, Pierre Huet, review, Slyboro, Snowdrift, Tilted Shed, Wandering Aengus, Whitewood cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pick cider, pickcider, thanksgiving, thanksgiving cider

I actually remembered to do a Thanksgiving cider article this year, so here it goes! A list of some suggestions (at least for folks who can get these in their area) for Thanksgiving-dinner friendly ciders. Besides pairing with a variety of foods, I think the ideal holiday cider will appeal to a wide audience (presuming you will share it with the table). However, these selections will of course sway towards my personal tastes.

French ciders – French ciders are inherently food-friendly, and have a wide appeal, typically being mid-level sweetness and apple-forward, but often having surprising complexity. Its fun to share something unique (imported) with guests too. Plus, they have a lower ABV, which can be ideal for meals earlier in the day. Some of my favorites are from Domaine de la Minotiere, Eric Bordelet, Kystin, La Chouette, L’Hermitiére, Manoir de Grandouet, and Pierre Huet. I recently picked up a 5L mini keg of Bordelet, but I’m saving that for Christmas. The easiest French cider to find for some may be Dan Armor, sold at Trader Joe’s, and at only $5 / 750ml, its an excellent value, and something I wouldn’t hesitate to serve at my house. My top American-made French-style cider pick is 2 Towns Cidre Bouche.

AeppelTreow Appely Doux – This Wisconsin methode champenoise (naturally sparkling) selection is mid-level sweetness with a flavor profile of citrus, green apple, honey, and floral. It would make a nice champagne alternative anytime.

Alpenfire Spark! – This Washington cider is a great introduction to heritage ciders, with some rich notes of apple pomace, honey, orange, and leather, but remaining mid-level sweetness and clean.

Bertolinos Hard Cider – This Italian cider is mid-level sweetness, has some good fizz, and notes of honey, pineapple, and grapefruit. Especially wide crowd appeal from my experience.

Eden Specialty Ciders – This Vermont cidery may have started with ice ciders (which I cover later), but they make some amazing regular ciders with wide appeal, such as their super complex Sparkling Semi-Dry, rich Guinevere’s Pearls, or new canned Heritage cider, which has to be the highest quality cider I’ve ever seen in a can.

Eve’s Rustica – This New York mid-sweetness cider has some unique notes of honey, cream/vanilla, and fruit, all expertly crafted just from the apples and yeast.

Liberty Kingston Black – This Washington single varietal is made only from the iconic Kingston Black apples, yet I think it would have a wide appeal, as it retains some sweetness (semi-dry), is flavorful, and doesn’t cross over into funky/sour/bitter territory.

Slyboro Old Sin – This New York semi-dry cider has some rich tannic flavor reminiscent of English cider, with notes of butterscotch, caramel, and tropical fruit, and is another selection which would make a great introductory heritage cider. Lovely color to it too!

Snowdrift – This Washington cidery has several Thanksgiving-worthy crowd-pleasing cider selections, such as their Cidermaker’s Reserve (semi-dry, sparkling, fruity, and complex), Seckel Perry (mid-level sweetness, made only from Seckel pears), and Cliffbreaks Blend (semi-sweet, tart, and fruity).

Tilted Shed Smoked – This dry cider hails from California, and is unique, nuanced, oaky, and slightly smokey. Probably a bit less likely to be widely appealing, but I think it would be appreciated by certain audiences, and to me seems uniquely suited to Thanksgiving dinner.

Wandering Aengus Bloom – This Washington cider is mid-level sweetness and made from heirloom apples, but has widely appealing familiar notes of honey, green apple, and tropical fruit.

Whitewood Jonathan – This Washington cider is a single-varietal of Jonathan apples, and dry to semi-dry, but super approachable, being apple-forward with notes of citrus and honey.

ice cider – For a special treat with dessert, try ice cider. It is made from naturally concentrating apple juice using cold to increase the sugar content before fermenting, resulting in a higher ABV sweet dessert cider bursting with flavor. One of my favorites is Eden Brandy Barrel Aged Heirloom.

Pommeau – Also, Pommeau (cider + apple brandy) is another great dessert cider option. It is made by fortifying cider (either fermented or unfermented juice) with distilled apple juice (brandy). Like ice cider, it is a nice sipping option, although it is available in a wide range of sweetness. Some of my favorites are from 2 Towns, Etienne Dupont, EZ Orchards, Herout, and Wandering Aengus.

Visit the Pick Cider campaign website for lots more great info, and try your local fine bottle shop or online, such as through Cider in Love or VinoShipper. No matter which cider/s you choose, I’d encourage you to pick up some extra bottles, as a good cider can easily turn even those who have sworn off cider into cider lovers, holidays are holidays, and plus with the lower ABV, a bottle doesn’t go as far as wine.

Cider Says

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

Author: cidersays

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