Hérout Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique

November 15, 2018June 10, 2019 cidersays Herout, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Herout, tasting notes

Review of Hérout’s ‘Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique’, a French Calvados cask fermented cidre. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Cotentin Extra-Brut, Cotentin Brut, and Pommeau.

Cider: Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique
Cidery: Hérout
Importer: Beauchamp Imports, French Cider Inc.
Cidery Location: Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, France
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 375ml corked bottles
Style: Organic craft French cidre from cider apples, Calvados cask fermented

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online sales though their French Cider Inc. website (but this one isn’t specifically listed – I’m guessing it is very new). Also see Hérout’s Cotentin Brut, Cotentin Extra-Brut, Pommeau, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and gift pack.

Cider Description (translated): The vintage Thunderbolt is the latest Cider House Herut.
100% pure juice, it naturally fermented in Calvados casks. The exchange with the Calvados cask brings to this cider clog an aromatic complexity broad and slightly reinforced in alcohol. The vintage Coup de Foudre is rather raw and serves as an aperitif, but will also delight your “Happy Hours”!

Always in search of original and elaborated flavors, the corked Normandy organic ciders of the Hérout House combine authenticity and novelty. Thus the Coup de Foudre vintage respects the tradition of natural fermentation and bottled foam; but it brings a novelty by letting fermentation take place in oak barrels that have contained Calvados. Non-gasified and unpasteurized, the cask in Calvados boosts the alcohol content giving body to the cider, while exalting raw and authentic flavors.

Cidery Description: Since the 1940s, Hérout cidre has been produced by the Hérout family on the Cotentin Peninsula on the Northwest coast of Normandy France, in Auvers, where apples thrive in its lush and oceanic climate. They are the newest cidre AOC in France, since May 2016. The cidermaker Marie-Agnes Herout was just awarded the highest civilian honor in France for her 16 years of work getting the AOC recognized – Le Croix de Chevalier, Legion d’Honneur (Knights Cross for the Legion of Honneur).

See here for more information on the cidery.

Price: $16
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium orange hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of tart apple, cork, and funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins, bitterness, and funk. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet cider apple, oak, cork/earth, orange, leather, and alcohol. Long tannic finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Low to moderate sessionability. High complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this because of its uniqueness. You don’t see a Calvados (French apple brandy) cask fermented cider very often. Most French ciders are rather similar to each other (apple and yeast forward, mid level sweetness, carbonated, etc), but this was quite different (tart, earthy, more complex, higher ABV, less carbonated). It was nice to try, but not really something I’d drink regularly, especially with the price point. My husband was an even bigger fan.

Most Similar to: French cidre with a hint of Pommeau and more earthiness & complexity

Closing Notes: I liked this better then Herout’s Cotentin Extra-Brut and Cotentin Brut, but so far my favorite from them is the Pommeau, by far. Also, the Pommeau is an excellent value.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Alpenfire 3 Pommes (Apple, Pear, Quince)

November 12, 2018November 5, 2018 cidersays Alpenfire, review 3 Pommes, Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, tasting notes

Review of Alpenfire’s 3 Pommes, made with apples, pears, and quince (which is a pomme fruit most similar to pears and apples). It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, Shrub, Spiced Tonic Shrub, Traditional Heirloom Cider, Flame, Tempest, Foxwhelp SV, and Rosy Pommeau.

Cider: 3 Pommes – Apple, Pear, Quince (2016 vintage, released 2018)
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from estate pomme fruit (apples, pears, & quince)
Varietals: Muscadet de Dieppe, Dolgo Crab, Vilberie, Dabinett, & Pink Pearl apples; Bosc, Hendre Huffcap, & Romanian pears; Quince

Availability: likely limited to Western Washington, plus online sales

Cider Description: A blend of estate bittersweet apples, perry & wild foraged pears, and locally grown quince. The early pears, crab apples and quince are hand pressed macerated and fermented in stainless. The late season apples are pressed and fermented then blended with the early fruit for aging. Very light bottle conditioning gives this cider a petulant carbonation, just enough to tease the nose.

Cidery Description: We invite you to experience the distinctive flavors of our estate grown ciders. Shaped by our maritime climate’s mild summers and tempered by the foggy mist rolling off of Discovery Bay, our apples maintain the qualities they’ve been treasured for by generations of cider lovers. Soft tannins, high sugars, hints of bitterness, and an incredible flavor range are the tools the apples bring us. Slow, cool fermentation, lengthy maturation, and attention to detail is the way we say thank you!

Price: ~ $17.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells primarily of canned pear.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low to moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness and funk. No sourness. Notes of pear, tropical fruit, tart heirloom apples, and honey. Long tannic finish. Low apple flavor, Moderate pear flavor, flavor intensity, complexity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it, and so did the others I tasted it with. Way unique. Wine-like. Fruity, but barely sweet. However, it wasn’t sparkling like I had expected per the label, although it worked as a nearly still cider, and was probably easier to drink.

Most Similar to: I’ve had cider with quince from Eaglemount and CiderHead, and this had some of the same tart tropical & honey notes, but the pear was more prominent.

Closing Notes: Alpenfire is one of my favorite PNW cideries, and has a wide variety of unique selections. My favorites however are probably their richest selections, Smoke and Ember.

Have you tried cider with quince? What did you think?

Le Pere Jules Cidre de Normandie

November 9, 2018November 4, 2018 cidersays Le Pere Jules, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Le Pere Jules, tasting notes

Review of Le Pere Jules Cidre de Normandie. I previously tried this (see here), but it was a bad bottle, so especially as I was able to find a small bottle, I wanted to give it another go.

Cider: Cidre de Normandie
Cidery: Le Pere Jules
Cidery Location: Normandy France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 11.2 oz bottle
Style: French cidre from bittersweet cider apples

Availability: semi wide release, although easier to find in 750ml corked bottles

Cider Description (translated): Pours a hazy amber color with a thin ring of head. Aroma of dry apples, mild barnyard, hay, glue and vinous notes. The taste is sweet apples, tannic notes, mild must and vanilla. Medium bodied, good balance, soft carbonation.

Cidery Description (translated): Since 1919, quality and rigor are the key words of four generations of producers, faithful to ancestral traditions and lovers of their craft. Their one and only wish, to offer you great products. All our products are elaborated from varieties of apples and pears carefully selected from traditional orchards high stems in zone protected designation of origin.

Price: ~$5 / single bottle
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Dark orange hue, Moderate to high carbonation. Smells of bittersweet apple juice and yeast.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness, funk, and tannins. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet apple juice and pomace, orange, and yeast. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor. Moderate sessionability and flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. Distinctively French and easy to drink.

Most Similar to: A slightly less complex version of Kystin Opalyne

Closing Notes: I’m glad I gave this one another try.

Have you tried Le Pere Jules? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 34 Tasting Notes

November 7, 2018November 7, 2018 cidersays Cider Riot, Liberty, Moonlight Meadery, review, Schilling, Wildcraft cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tap room, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 34th visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Its actually been a few times more than that as sometimes I just pop in to buy bottles. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

<“firkin” options from Wildcraft Ciderworks – my husband tried both and liked them, but I don’t do 20% ABV at room temperature>

I was there on a Friday afternoon with my husband and two out of town friends, after taking the day off and visiting Pike Place market. I got another awesome poke (sushi) bowl from Just Poke a few doors down to share with my husband. I ordered a couple flights for our friends and a few tasters for me, getting about half of the 32 ciders on tap (basically everything but the driest and sweetest ones).

Its awesome even with how many ciders I’ve tried, they always have at least a few new to me selections. And they always have some really interesting stuff too, like Earl Grey tea infused, rhubarb-hops, and grapefruit gin, plus occasionally some imported selections (this time they had Louis Raison – see my previous tasting notes here). I only have tasting notes on the few I ordered just for myself though.

Moonlight Meadery (Londonderry NH) Last Apple (16% ABV): A barrel aged cyser (cider from apples + mead from honey). Also available in bottles, such as on their website, $27-28 / 375ml. See my previous full review here. Sweet. Full bodied. Full flavored sweet rich apple and honey notes with a quick finish. I didn’t detect any barrel influence this time, but I’m guessing it smoothed out the flavor and contributed to the well-hidden ABV. I may have drank it a bit too cold – warmed may have maximized its complexity.

Cider Riot! (Portland OR) La Luna (7.0% ABV): Made from bittersweet cider apples with some dessert apples, then oak barrel aged. Also available in bottles, but probably only in their taproom. Completely dry. Predominately oaky (more so than most barrel aged ciders I’ve had) with a hint of rich bittersweet cider apple flavor. Low tartness and tannins. I think I would have liked this more with some sweetness, as it had a low flavor intensity, especially in comparison to the next selection – the oak was my favorite part.

Liberty Ciderworks (Spokane WA) Kingston Black (8.0% ABV): A single varietal from Kingston Black cider apples. Previously available in bottles for ~ $15, although they don’t have any current availability on their website, and I haven’t seen it locally, so this specific batch may be draft-only. On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Lovely bold bittersweet cider apple flavor with hints of honey and oak. High tartness and moderate tannins. I liked that they went a tad sweeter with this, as often they seem to go full dry, which can make a cider seem a bit harsh, especially if it is tart.

Both me and my husband loved the Liberty Kingston Black – its probably my favorite Kingston Black single varietal to date (including from Farnum Hill, Eve’s, Whitewood, and Dragon’s Head). So, we split a pint.

I picked up some awesome bottles to take home, and even an Eric Bordelet (French cidre) 5L mini keg! A bit spendy, but a rare opportunity. Unfortunately it is getting more difficult to get English ciders, like Newton’s Court Gasping Goose and Dunkertons Black Fox, due to distributors going out of business or dropping cideries, but at least I was able to pick up some Worley’s Mendip Hills, my favorite of their four varieties available in the U.S.

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

Portland Cider Cranberry 2018

November 5, 2018November 2, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, portland, Portland Cider, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider Company’s Cranberry seasonal cider. I had this last year, plus I’ve had their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, Hop’Rageous, London Dry Gin, Apple, Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Sangria, Mojito, Concord Grape, Perfect 10, and Pumpkin Spice.

Cider: Cranberry
Cidery: Portland Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 22oz clear bottles (and draft)
Style: seasonal American craft cider from dessert apples, with cranberries

Availability: seasonably (~ Nov-Jan), in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Our cranberry cider is a blend of fresh NW grown cranberries & apples, Slightly tart & semi-sweet, with a rich apple taste at its core. Tastes like fresh cranberry relish!

Cidery Description: Authentically crafted Cider with quality Northwest ingredients. Our business is based on the belief that good cider comes from good fruit, honest practices, and attention to detail. Our cider starts with fresh pressed juice from 100% Northwest grown apples. We then carefully ferment it, using yeast that protects the delicate characteristics of the fruit. The results are ciders that are high quality – easy to drink, refreshing, and downright delicious. That’s why we say, Drink it, it’s Good!

They were founded in 2012 and have tap rooms in Hawthorne and Clackamas in Portland Oregon.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $6.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery contacted me

First Impression: Red-pink hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mild – fruity and tart.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of berry and citrus to start, then distinctive tart cranberry on the long finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This had some great real cranberry flavor. However, due to that, if you are like me and not really a fan of cranberry, it may not be appealing. If you like cranberry, you are likely to enjoy it.

Most Similar to: Tieton Ciderworks Cranberry, Apple Outlaw Cranberry Jewel, and d’s Wickled Cranny Granny (which is sweeter).

However, I prefer the less intensely cranberry ciders, like Downeast Cranberry Blend, Finnriver Cranberry Rosehip, and Schilling Mischief Maker Pom-Cran,

Closing Notes: The cidery has three suggested cocktail recipes – one with vodka (similar to a Cosmo), a cranberry Sangria, and another with Vodka & ginger.

Do you like cranberry cider? What did you think?

Fresh Cut Watermelon Cider

November 1, 2018October 28, 2018 cidersays Fresh Cut Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Fresh Cut Cider, hard cider, tasting notes, Watermelon cider

Review of Fresh Cut Watermelon Cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Watermelon Cider
Cidery: Fresh Cut (by Central City Brewers + Distillers)
Cidery Location: Surrey B.C. Canada
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: single 500ml can
Style: Canadian craft? cider from dessert apples with natural watermelon flavor

Availability: likely only in British Columbia

Cider Description: Bursting with flavour like a fresh cut watermelon, Fresh Cut is a fruity, lightly sweet and delicious twist on apple cider. Chill, relax and enjoy Fresh Cut Watermelon with friends.

Cidery Description: Fresh Cut is a fruity, lightly sweet and delicious twist on apple cider. Try Fresh Cut Cider in flavours like fresh cut pineapple and watermelon. Chill, relax and enjoy Fresh Cut Pineapple with friends!

Price: ~ $4 CAN
Where Bought: a shop in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing during a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light pink hue. Low carbonation. Smells like a hint of watermelon.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of watermelon, strawberry, and lemon. Quick finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. My expectations were low, as from the packaging and flavor (and the high prevalence of non-cider “ciders” in the area), I had assumed this would be commercial (fake) tasting and super sweet. However, it had some nice light flavor and a mid-level sweetness.

Most Similar to: Locust Watermelon

Closing Notes: I didn’t realize it at the time of purchase, but this cidery is part of Central City Brewers, which made a cider that I bought last year in B.C. that was amazing (probably my favorite cider of the couple cases I purchased, and my favorite cider ever made by a brewery), and I was super disappointed not to find it again this year – Central City Limited Edition Imperial Cider. Central City Brewers also makes Hopping Mad Cider, although I haven’t spotted it in Victoria.

Have you tried Fresh Cut Cider? What did you think?

Heidrun Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Honey Mead

October 29, 2018October 28, 2018 cidersays Heidrun Meadery, not cider, review Heidrun, honey wine, mead, mead review, meadery, tasting notes

Review of Heidrun Meadery’s Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Varietal Honey Naturally Sparkling Mead. It is my first time trying anything from this meadery. Not cider, I know, but mead is another alternative beverage I enjoy.

Mead: Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Varietal Honey Naturally Sparkling Mead
Meadery: Heidrun
Meadery Location: Point Reyes Station, CA
ABV: 12.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: American craft mead from Hawaiian macadamia nut honey (and water), dry, naturally sparkling (methode champenoise)

Availability: likely limited to Northern California (although they have online sales – this one is currently listed at $25 + shipping of course)

Mead Description: A few years ago, we had the pleasure of visiting an apiary on the Big Island of Hawaii. Beekeepers here alternate between pollinating cultivated crops and allowing their bees to forage freely in the native tropical flora. The Macadamia is a cultivated tree, of course, and honey produced from its nectar is as succulent and rich as the macadamia nut itself. That richness results in a full-bodied, brut dry mead of subtle complexity and exceptional balance that pairs with a wide variety of foods, from raw oysters to smoked duck.

Meadery Description: We produce naturally sparkling varietal meads using the traditional French Méthode Champenoise. Our trademark Champagne-style of mead is light, dry, delicate and refreshing, with subtle exotic aromas and flavors found
only in the essence of honey. The Meadery was founded in 1997 in Arcata, California. In 2011, the meadery relocated to a farm in Point Reyes Station (just across the
Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco) to develop its botanical and agicultural programs.

Price: $21.99
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing – they had a large selection of meads from this meadery, from just under $20 up to $50

First Impression: Very high carbonation. Light caramel hue. Smells of tart burnt honey.

Tasting Notes: It was very difficult to determine the perceived sweetness level with the high carbonation & tartness and sweet flavor notes, but I settled on dry to semi-dry. Light boded with a fluffy texture. High tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, caramel, wood, nut, citrus, and burnt/smoke. Moderate length finish. Moderate honey flavor and flavor intensity. High complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked the flavor, but with the tartness, carbonation, and dryness, it was a bit much for me. It mellowed out a bit the next day though (less carbonation and tartness). My husband was a bigger fan. This was super complex and interesting, and a memorable purchase, but I usually prefer the sweeter still meads.

Most Similar to: The complexity of a fine mead (such as from Superstition Meadery in AZ), except methode champenoise (a labor intensive method for natural carbonation).

Closing Notes: This is my first methode champenoise mead – all the others I’ve tried have been either still (usually sweeter and higher ABV) or force carbonated (usually drier and lower ABV, “session” style).

Have you tried mead? What did you think?

Eric Bordelet Sidre Brut Tendre

October 25, 2018October 21, 2018 cidersays Eric Bordelet, review Bordelet, cider, cider tasting, cidre, Eric Bordelet, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Sidre Tendre, tasting notes

Review of Eric Bordelet’s Sidre Brut Tendre. I’ve previously had the non-Brut (sweeter) version of this same cider (see here), as well as his Poire Authentique and Nouvelle Vague Sidre.

Cider: Sidre Brut Tendre
Cidery: Eric Bordelet
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: French craft cider from cider apples, sparkling, brut (dry), naturally fermented

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

Cider Description: Traditional semi dry cider.

They also make a non-brut (sweet) version of this cider. I’ve read the only difference between the two is that this drier version was allowed to ferment fully, while the sweeter version has fermentation stopped early.

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: $12
Where Bought: Cheese Plus in San Francisco CA (across the street from The Jug Shop) – I highly recommend both shops
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, on a cruise port stop – it was a really neat store, with lots of fancy wine and other beverages (they probably had 8 cider varieties, national, Spanish, and French – I also picked up some cans of Embark cider), cheese, charcuterie, and other fine foods – perfect to pick up items for a dinner party, or just a sandwich for lunch

First Impression: Moderate gold hue. Low carbonation. Smells of apple pomace.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Moderate tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apple juice and pomace, yeast, caramel, oak, and orange. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I think I enjoyed this more than the sweeter version. I loved the complexity (more than the sweeter version). Completely clean (no sourness or funk), so it would be a great introduction to French cider. It is amazing that Bordelet can create such a clean cider with wild fermentation. This would also make a nice brunch cider, due to the lower ABV, and it is food-friendly (I had it with some smoked salmon).

Most Similar to: Bordelet Sidre Tendre (non-brut), Bordelet Nouvelle Vague Sidre, and Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge

Closing Notes: It looked like this bottle sat around for awhile in the store, as the label was messed up (and it was at a lower price than I’d expect). It was also a bit less carbonated than I’d expect, which can happen over time. However, it was still awesome. Ciders like this can even improve with age.

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

Montana Ciderworks Darby Pub Cider

October 22, 2018October 20, 2018 cidersays Montana Ciderworks, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Darby Pub, hard cider, Montana, Montana Cider, Montana Ciderworks, tasting notes

Review of Montana Ciderworks’ Darby Pub Cider. I previously tried this at Cider Summit (see here), and have also had their North Fork Traditional, Spartan Dry-Style, and Small Batch Dolgo.

Cider: Darby Pub Cider
Cidery: Montana CiderWorks
Cidery Location: Darby MT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from Montana-grown cider, heirloom, & crab apple varieties, back sweetened with juice & fructose

Availability: Year round in CO, MT, and WA (see here)

Cider Description: Semi-Dry New World Style Cider. An approachable, effervescent cider made for sharing with friends. By coaxing subtle flavors from a blend of Bitterroot Valley apples through a gentle fermentation process, then adding back a bit of sweet juice, we created a fruit-forward experience perfect for drinking anytime. Appley with wood, spice & Mac notes; a medium semi-dry cider….Darby Pub Cider was awarded a Gold medal at the 2018 Great Lakes International Cider Competition, a Gold medal at the 2017 Royal Bath & West Show (United Kingdom), Best of Show at the 2016 Portland International Cider Cup, and a Silver medal at the 2015 GLINTCAP. SIP Northwest magazine awarded it Best Traditional Apple Cider in 2016. The crisp clean flavor of Darby Pub Cider is a prefect complement to light fare, and a wonderful après de lawn mowing refreshment.

Cidery Description: Montana CiderWorks is a bonded winery located in Darby, Montana. We offer exceptional English-style ciders crafted from Bitterroot Valley apples and other local fruits. We support sustainable agriculture and the preservation of open spaces in our beautiful valley. We increase the value and usefulness of Montana’s orchards so that they may support and delight future generations.

Here is a nice article from CiderCraft on Montana Ciderworks. The owner and cidermaker is Lee McAlpine, who I’ve met at Cider Summit Seattle.

Price: $9.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing – I realized I’ve had tastes of this, but never reviewed a bottle

First Impression: Dark straw to light gold hue. Low carbonation. Smells of tart heirloom apples.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp tart heirloom & crab apples, butterscotch, wood, earth, and lemon. Long tart finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, I seemed to remember liking it more previously. It seemed a bit more tart and dry this time. That might have been my fault though, as I drank it at cellar temperature, like I do for most ciders of this style (vs. flavored ciders from dessert apples), but maybe this would be better at fridge temperature.

Most Similar to: Finnegan Cider Semi-Dry and Grizzly Ciderworks The Ridge

Closing Notes: This is a great selection at a nice price point. I like that they use local cider-specific apples yet make ciders which are approachable. I think my current favorite is North Fork Traditional (also available at Total Wine in my area). As much as I like to support local bottle shops, Total Wine is very convenient, as they have a semi real time online inventory and keep their stock of cider pretty steady (vs. some of the smaller shops which may get some cooler smaller batch ciders, but also tend to have some items out of stock at times). So, I go to both.

Have you tried Montana Ciderworks cider? What did you think?

Finnegan Cider Semi-Dry

October 18, 2018October 18, 2018 cidersays Finnegan, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finnegan, Finnegan Cider, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Finnegan Cider Semi-Dry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Harvest Blend.

Cider: Semi-Dry
Cidery: Finnegan Cider
Cidery Location: Lake Oswega OR
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American orchard-based cider from cider apples, semi-dry

Availability: Oregon, Washington, and California (per Cider Journal, as of 2015, although I have not seen them in the Seattle area), and appear to be distributed through Shelton Brothers

Cider Description: Our semi-dry cider is fermented to near-dryness and uses a blend of authentic, old-world English, American, and French cider apples such as Yarlington Mill, Foxwhelp, Domaines, Roxbury Russet, and others. Our cider is a balance of the crucial elements of distinguished cider: tannin, acidity, and aromaticity. Finnegan cider features aromas of honeysuckle, melon, and ripe apples, with flavors of peach, apricot, and cognac. It pairs superbly from appetizer to entree.

Cidery Description: An artisan crafted hard cider using only traditional cider apples – Our commitment to a quality-cider experience.

Finnegan Cider has been around since 2010, and planted their own orchard in 2012. The owners/cidermakers are Colleen Finnegan and Josh Johnson. Here is a nice writeup from Beervana, who visited with Josh Johnson at their orchard.

Price: $22
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light gold hue. Low carbonation. Smells of rich sweet caramelized apple.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low tannins, bitterness, and funk. Hints of sourness. Notes of caramelized apple pomace, butterscotch, orange, lemon, and wood. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it, especially the flavor notes. However, I would have preferred more sweetness and/or less tartness & acidity, as it was a bit harsh.

Most Similar to: Wandering Aengus Wickson and Eve’s Scatterseed

Closing Notes: I preferred their Harvest Blend, plus that one was much lower priced (although I bought them from different stores in different states, several years apart).

Have you tried Finnegan cider? What did you think?

Moonlight Meadery Virtue

October 16, 2018October 16, 2018 cidersays Moonlight Meadery, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyser, hard cider, Moonlight, Moonlight Meadery, tasting notes, Virtue

Review of Moonlight Meadery’s Virtue, a cyser (25% honey + 75% apple). It is my first time trying this, although I’ve had their How do you Like them Little Apples, How do you like them Apples, Boys N Berries, Last Apple, Crimes of Passion, and Thirteen 5.

Cider: Virtue
Cidery: Moonlight Meadery
Cidery Location: Londonderry NH
ABV: 18%
How Supplied: 375ml bottle
Style: American craft cyser (from honey & apples), barrel aged

Availability: limited, although their products are sold in ~ 28/50 states (see here), and their online store ships to ~ 36/50 states (see here, although I didn’t see it listed)

Cider Description: Conditioned in our Utopian barrels for up to six months. Hints of vanilla and coconut from the oak, blend with the apple and honey. A deep rich apple with the hints of bourbon and a smooth honey finish. Clearly something of special worth.

Cidery Description: We are a world class meadery from Londonderry, New Hampshire. We specialize in meads, the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage made from honey, and ciders. The diversity of our offerings often leave people speechless, while the flavors have them coming back time and time again. It all started back in 1995 when Michael, our founder and head mead maker, tried a cyser (apple and honey mead) for the first time.

Price: $27
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still. Smells of honey, apple, caramel, and alcohol.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. No sourness, funk, or bitterness. Notes of honey, apple, caramel, oak, alcohol, and a hint of floral. Long finish. High complexity. Low sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity and honey flavor. Low to moderate apple flavor.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, but with the price and description, I was expecting a bit more. I didn’t pick up the vanilla & coconut that the description enticed me with – we all taste things slightly differently though.

Most Similar to: Moonlight Meadery Last Apple

Closing Notes: I picked up more honey than apple, surprising with the 25-75 ratio.

Have you tried cyser? What did you think?

Woodchuck Rosé

October 11, 2018October 8, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Rosé. 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: Bubbly Rosé
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.1%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with “red” (red-fleshed?) apple juice, and purple carrot for color

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: A bubbly, fruit-forward blush cider made with a blend of red apples delivering a crisp mouth feel.

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 $9.99-10.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Pink hue. Low carbonation. Smells mildly fruity.

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

My Opinion: I liked it. Fruity and easy to drink. However, I’m curious if I really tasted fruitiness from red-fleshed apples (looks like their unfermented juice was used to back-sweeten a drier cider), or my brain saw the pink hue and assumed it would be fruity.

Most Similar to: Angry Orchard Rosé

Closing Notes: This is yet another rosé cider release – it looks like every commercial cider brand has now jumped on the trend.

Have you tried Woodchuck Rosé? What did you think?

Woodchuck Pearsecco

October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Pearsecco, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

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

Cider: Bubbly Pearsecco
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.1%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with pear

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Inspired by sparkling wines, this dry pear cider is full of bubbles with a clean, crisp finish.

Price: n/a (retails for $9.99-10.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of yeast brought to the surface by carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of green apple, pear, and pineapple. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and apple & pear flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. This is probably the driest cider I’ve had from Woodchuck, but it still wasn’t completely dry (not that I really expected that from a commercial cidery). Fuller bodied than I expected for the dryness, but all of Woodchuck’s ciders seem to end up that way. Nice light flavor, easy to drink, and higher carbonation.

Most Similar to: A drier and more bubbly version of Crispin Pear or Angry Orchard Pear. Its actually pretty rare to have a drier pear cider – looking at my list the only one I can think of is Neigel Vintners (now Pear UP) Half Past Prudent, which is no longer made.

Closing Notes: Next up will be a review of their Rosé, released at the same time – both are said to be inspired by wine and have higher carbonation.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pearsecco? What did you think?

Somersby Apple Cider

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 cidersays review, Somersby cider, cider review, cider tasting, Denmark, hard cider, Somersby, tasting notes, Victoria

Review of Somersby Apple Cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Citrus Fruit cider.

Cider: Apple Cider
Cidery: Somersby
Cidery Location: Copenhagen Denmark
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: draft (and cans and bottles)
Style: commercial cider from dessert apples, back sweetened

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Somersby Apple is refreshing cider made from fermented apple juice and natural apple flavouring. No artificial sweeteners, flavours or colourings. Its uniquely juicy apple taste makes it a tasty and natural choice for the relaxed moments with your friends. Best served over ice for maximum happiness… Enjoy!

Cidery Description: Lord Somersby is the father of many great discoveries – but the most famous of them all is probably Somersby cider, which was once known as the favorite drink of celebrities like Napoleon, Cleopatra and Newton. Or at least that is what we have heard.

Available in many different delicious variants but the most popular variants of the Somersby portfolio is Apple, Pear and Blackberry. Somersby has obtained a reputation of spreading joy and sunny togetherness where ever it is served and attracting curious and open-minded people from all over the world.

If you are attracted to Somersby – but not exactly in the mood of travelling all over the world to taste one, don’t worry. You can enjoy a refreshing bottle of Somersby in more than 43 countries.

Price: ~ $7 CAN / pint
Where Bought & Drank: a bar in Victoria B.C. Canada
How Found: this was their only cider on draft

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells of apple juice. Served with a few ice cubes.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of apple juice with a hint of grapefruit. Quick finish. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was surprisingly tasty. It really hit the spot after walking around all morning. Way better tasting than their ‘Citrus Fruit’ variety (which I found to be overly sweet and artificial tasting). Yes it is definitely in the alcoholic apple juice category, but for me this one wasn’t overly sweet, syrupy, fake, etc, and a better choice than many other commercial ciders. As much as I enjoy craft and especially heritage ciders, sometimes you just want something easy to drink and/or have to drink whatever is the best available option.

Most Similar to: Stella Artois Cidre

Closing Notes: I don’t think I’ve seen this sold in my area, but I believe it is available in some other parts of the U.S.

Have you tried Somersby? What did you think?

Portland Cider Pumpkin Spice

September 20, 2018September 18, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, portland, Portland Cider, Pumpkin Spice, pumpkin spice cider, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider’s Pumpkin Spice, a seasonal spiced cider (no pumpkin, just pie spices). It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, Hop’Rageous, London Dry Gin, Apple, Crooked Cock Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Sangria, Mojito, Cranberry, and Concord Grape.

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

Cider: Pumpkin Spice
Cidery: Portland Cider
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: craft cider from dessert apples with pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, clove, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg)

Availability: seasonally, in fall (Sept-Nov), in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Take the flavors of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Allspice, and Ginger, blend them in just the right proportions, and you get our Pumpkin Spice cider. Full of all the spices of your favorite pumpkin pie, this cider is a delicious tribute to the flavors of autumn. A familiar Fall spice blend blended to pair perfectly with a classic American semi-sweet apple cider made with 100% Northwest apples.

Cidery Description: Portland Cider Company was started in October 2012 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing cider, handcrafted in the English tradition, to the Northwest. It has two taproom locations: Portland Cider House at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214; and Portland Cider Co. Taproom & Cidery at 8925 SE Jannsen Rd, Bldg. F, Clackamas, OR 97015.

Price: unknown
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of sweet apple juice and spice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of tart apple, pie spices, and citrus. Moderate length finish with a hint of ginger. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Low to moderate spice level.

My Opinion: I liked it. Definitely drier than expected based on the style and the scent. It also interestingly seemed to have more of a fresh tart apple flavor than the baked apple flavor which I more often pick up with spiced ciders, although maybe that is more of a perceived thing? Spiced cider isn’t my favorite, but my husband enjoys it, and was especially a fan of this one, due to it being on the drier side.

Most Similar to: Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple

Closing Notes: I always find it interesting when products are labeled as “pumpkin spice”, as I think pumpkin + spice, when the convention is just referring to the spices that go with pumpkin pie. There are a handful of ciders that actually add pumpkin though, like Tieton Smoked Pumpkin, Woodchuck Pumpkin, Doc’s Pumpkin, Locust Pumpkin, and 2 Towns Hollow Jack.

Have you tried spiced cider? What did you think?

Portland Cider Perfect 10 Imperial Apple

September 18, 2018September 18, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, imperial cider, Perfect 10, portland, Portland Cider, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider’s Perfect 10 Imperial Apple, an imperial-style (high ABV) cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, Hop’Rageous, London Dry Gin, Apple, Crooked Cock Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Sangria, Mojito, Cranberry, and Concord Grape.

Cider: Perfect 10 Imperial Apple
Cidery: Portland Cider
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 10%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and draft)
Style: imperial-style craft cider

Availability: year-round in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Crafted in the style of a traditional English Scrumpy or Imperial Cider, with a clean Northwest finish. It’s a blend of 100% NW apples, fermented cold and slow to preserve fresh apple flavors and aromas. The cider makers allow the cider to rest for more than two months to further develop the rich flavors. The cider is then sweetened with a touch of juice and balanced with a little acidity to round out the higher tannin profile.

Price: unknown
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light gold hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of high-ABV apple-forward cider.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of alcohol and apple juice, with hints of wood and citrus. Long finish. Moderate apple flavor and overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it, but it was a bit alcohol-forward for my tastes, as expected with an imperial style cider. My husband was a bigger fan, as this is one of his favorite styles. I recommend drinking this cider very cold.

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Bad Apple, although that is a bit more complex, with some honey & vanilla, while Perfect 10 is more apple-forward

Closing Notes: This is a neat addition to their line-up, and the first imperial-style cider I can remember them releasing in bottles. My favorite Portland Cider selection probably remains Sangria, which has a ton of different fruity notes.

Have you tried imperial style cider? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 33 Tasting Notes

September 14, 2018September 9, 2018 cidersays Channel Marker, Honey Moon, review, Schilling cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 33rd visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Its actually been a few times more than that as sometimes I just pop in to buy bottles. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a Thursday afternoon, before the event for the 4th anniversary of the cider house. It has been so long since my last visit as its not on my way home from work anymore, as I now both live and work up North, so its a bit of a long drive. I got a flight, as usual. Its pretty sweet that even with all the ciders I’ve tried, there were still plenty of new-to-me varieties (I skipped some which didn’t sound interesting though).

Schilling (Auburn WA) Passionfruit Lime (8.0% ABV): This is a draft-only trial of a passionfruit cider with lime. Semi-sweet. Full bodied, and juice-like. Notes of tart passionfruit and orange with a lime finish. Hidden ABV. I especially enjoyed the lime flavor.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Imperial Passport (8.5% ABV): This is a draft-only trial of an imperial (higher ABV) version of their “Passport” cider, pineapple-passionfruit. Very similar to the one above, except with pineapple instead of lime. On the sweeter side of semi-sweet. Full bodied, and juice-like. Tart notes of passionfruit with hints of pineapple and mango. Hidden ABV. I like both this and the original version of Passport (see my review of a similar cider here).

Channel Marker (Seattle WA) Cucumber Blackberry (7.0% ABV): This is my second time trying their cider. On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Very tart. Slightly fruity, but to me it was more cranberry-pomegranate than blackberry, and I didn’t pick up any cucumber. I thought it was average.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Impearial (8.5% ABV): This is a draft-only trial version of sweeter version of their new Excelsior (see my review here), except with pear. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Notes of tart pear, bittersweet apple, and oak. Hidden ABV. I liked this, especially as it is less tart as the canned version of Excelsior.

Honey Moon Mead & Cider (Bellingham WA) Cider Head Pineapple Rum (6.1% ABV): This appears to be a draft-only new release. Nearly clear and nearly scent-less. On the drier side of semi-dry. Mild pineapple flavor with an alcohol-forward rum & oak finish. I would have preferred more flavor with this one.

My favorites were the three Schilling releases. I also got a pint of the Passionfruit Lime, but didn’t finish it, as it was a bit filling and sweet to have in that quantity. I was able to pick up some bottles to take home, but they were out of my favorite English ciders, so I guess I’ll just have to come back! I tried a new food option this time, a poke bowl from Just Poke (a few doors down the street), which was awesome.

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

Cider Summit Seattle 2018 Post 2/2 – Tasting Notes

September 12, 2018September 7, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, Angry Orchard, Blue Mountain, Brownrigg, Chelan Craft, Cider Riot, Cider Summit, D's Wicked, Herb's, Herout, Idun, Manoir du Parc, Miloslawski, Ole Swede, One Tree, Pear UP, Possman, review, Ruwet, Schilling, Seattle Cider, Tieton cider, cider summit, cider summit seattle, cider tasting, cider tasting event, hard cider, seattle, tasting notes

This is post 2/2 on Cider Summit Seattle 2018, with tasting notes on 21 ciders. Post 1/2 covered the event. Sorry some of these photos aren’t that great, but this isn’t a photography blog…

The Tasting Notes

2 Towns (Corvallis OR) Pommeau – I’ve had their Pommeau (cider + apple brandy) a number of times (see my full review here), and have a bottle in my “cellar”, but its probably my favorite U.S.-made Pommeau. Both me and my husband didn’t want to pass up a sample. Semi-sweet, rich, easy to drink despite the high ABV, and awesome as always.

Angry Orchard (Walden, NY) Dear Brittany – This is one of the small batch ciders made at their Innovation Cider House, a French-style keeved cider. Semi-dry, tart, and funky, with a hint of sourness, although I picked up more heirloom than bittersweet apple flavor. As expected for a keeved cider, it was very apple-forward and flavorful in general for not being very sweet.

Blue Mountain (Milton-Freewater, OR) Pete Limely – Semi-dry to dry with notes of tart citrus (especially lemon-lime). This was a bit too dry and mildly flavored for me, but I liked the overall flavor notes.

Brownrigg (Seattle WA) Rum Barrel Aged – This is apparently not a new cidery (I read they started in 2014), but this is my first time seeing them, and my first time trying their cider. Dry. Very mild flavor, slightly tart, with a rum finish. I think I would have liked this better if it was a bit sweeter.

Chelan Craft Cider (Chelan WA) Cider with Lemon – This is a new cidery, and my first time trying their cider. Semi-dry, with lots of tart refreshing lemon flavor. I liked it. ~~I’m curious how they will do in the market though, as their bottles were listed for $23 / 750ml~~ [update – I was told that was a mistake and the real price is $15/bottle]. I couldn’t tell what type of apples they used – maybe dessert, maybe heirloom. The price would be more in-line with heirloom~~, but still on the high end of what I see in store~~s.

Cider Riot! (Portland OR) Everyday Passionfruit – Awesome tropical scent, on the drier side of semi-dry, but the passionfruit flavor was very mild and mostly on the finish, which was a bit of a let down.

d’s Wicked (Kennewick WA) Tropical – On the sweeter side of semi-dry, tart, with notes of orange, pineapple, and passion fruit. I liked how flavorful it was without being sweet.

Herb’s Cider (Bellingham WA) Triplet Special Reserve French Oak Aged Semi-Dry – This is a new cidery, and my first time trying their cider. Semi-dry to dry, thin bodied, super mild flavor intensity, with notes of heirloom apples and hints of oak. This was a bit too mildly flavored for me.

Hérout à Auvers (Normandy France) Pommeau de Normandie AOC – Imported by Beauchamp Imports (French Cider Inc.) – they have online sales too by the way. This Pommeau is made from 3/4 apple cider and 1/4 Calvados (French apple brandy), then aged at least 14 months in oak barrels. Semi-sweet, both rich/oaky/earthy and fruity (both my husband and I agreed on strawberry), clean (no funk or sourness), easy to drink for the higher ABV, and overall awesome. I bought a bottle to take home, and think it was an awesome value at $40 / 750ml (as most local Pommeaux run $25 / 375ml). Pommeau keeps very well by the way, and you can leave a bottle open for months and just have a bit at a time – I think this will be perfect at cellar temp in my cider fridge. They also brought La Chouette Rosé, Kystin Opalyne, and Herout AOC Cotentin Extra-Brut, which I’ve previously sampled.

Idun Cider (Seattle WA) Heirloom Dry – This is a new cidery, and my first time trying their cider. They currently only have this single flagship release. On the sweeter side of semi-dry, medium bodied, very apple forward, but overall mild in flavor. I didn’t really taste the heirloom apples (this is listed as having Gravenstein, Winesap, and Newtown Pippin), but I kinda liked it.

Manoir du Parc (Normandy France) Authentic Rosé – Made from red-fleshed apples and pears. Semi-sweet, lovely fluffy natural carbonation, and notes of strawberry, watermelon, and pear. Very reminiscent of La Choute Rosé. Awesome!

Manoir du Parc (Normandy France) Authentic Cidre – I also re-tried their flagship cidre. On the drier side of semi-dry, funky and tannic, apple and yeast forward, with a hint of sourness. My husband surprisingly liked this (usually he dislikes funk, like I dislike sourness). I think it was because the cidermaker? (or at least some very knowledgeable French dude) was telling us all about it during the tasting. That sort of experience is what makes me love Cider Summit.

Miloslawski (Poland) Perry – Imported by Browar Polska Imports. Semi-sweet to semi-dry, with a very mild canned pear flavor. I surprisingly liked it. I was expecting it to be super sweet, but it was a perfect sweetness level for me.

Ole Swede (Tonasket, WA) Bada Bing! Cider – 90% apple and 10% cherries, co-fermented. Semi-dry, tart, with a mild real cherry flavor. They also have a Cherry Perry, which I thought I had tried, but I can’t find anything that I wrote about it, so I guess not!

One Tree (Spokane WA) Tropical – Semi-sweet, full bodied, juice-like, with a very very similar flavor to Schilling’s Imperial Passionfruit that I tried the night before (as it was made using the same puree from Oregon Fruit Products), but with a hint of pineapple (which One Tree added in addition to the puree and apple juice). I really enjoyed it, and think it would have been awesome to use it in a cocktail with rum.

Pear UP (Wenatchee WA) Barrel Hoppin Pear – A barrel aged version of their hopped perry (100% pears, no apple). On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Smooth, mild flavor, with hints of pear, hops, and oak. I usually don’t go for the mild flavored ones, but that worked well for this one, as hops isn’t something you want to go too overboard with.

Possmann (Germany) Pure Cider Rosé Black Currant – Imported by Browar Polska Imports. Semi-sweet with a light fruity flavor, although I couldn’t specifically identify black currant. I surprisingly liked this, despite the commercialness.

Ruwet (Belgium) Cidre – Imported by Browar Polska Imports. Semi-dry, mild overall flavor with apple & citrus. It tasted a bit commercial to me though, and I would have liked more flavor intensity. I think this is my first Belgium cider, very cool.

Schilling (Auburn, WA) Red Wine Barrel Aged Pommeau (paired with chocolate) – Semi-dry, smells of red wine barrel, but for me the flavor was mostly apple-flavored alcohol burn. A bit too boozy for my liking. My husband was a bigger fan. They also have this on tap at Schilling Cider House right now.

Seattle Cider (Seattle WA) Red Wine Barrel Berry – On the drier side of semi-dry, super mild, with hints of berry, oak, and botanicals, and a red wine finish. Characteristically Seattle Cider. Surprisingly complex, but for some reason I didn’t really like it, although I couldn’t say why.

Tieton Ciderworks (Yakima, WA) Oak Barrel Aged Cider Summit Collaboration – Semi-dry, higher carbonation, tart, super mild smooth citrus & oak flavor.

In Summary

It was impossible to taste all the ciders at the event (or even one from each producer), so I’d also like to share previous tasting notes and reviews of ciders from the other cideries I didn’t get to highlight: Alter Ego, Anthem, Avid (previously Atlas), Bad Granny, Chatter Creek, Double Mountain, Dragon’s Head, Eaglemount, Eden, Elemental, Finnriver, Hi-Wheel, Incline, Jester & Judge, J. Seeds, Liberty, Locust, Longdrop, Louis Raison, Maeloc, Montana, Moonlight Meadery, Portland, Reverend Nat’s, Samuel Smiths, Sea Cider, Snowdrift, Steelhead, Swift, Wandering Aengus, Washington Gold, WildCraft, and Worley’s

My favorites of the day were Herout Pommeau, 2 Towns Pommeau, One Tree Tropical, d’s Tropical, and Manoir du Parc Authentic Rosé.

This event is always the highlight of Washington Cider Week, and the biggest and best cider event of the year in the Seattle area!

Cider Summit Seattle 2018 Post 1/2 – The Event

September 10, 2018September 12, 2018 cidersays Cider Summit, review cider, cider event, cider summit, cider summit seattle, cider tasting, hard cider, seattle

Epic! This was my fourth year attending (see here for previous posts), but was the ninth annual Cider Summit in Seattle Washington. It took place on Friday & Saturday September 7th & 8th. This is post 1/2, covering the event. Post 2/2 will cover tasting notes on the dozens of ciders I tried [update – post 2/2 is now up – see here].

Photo Sep 07, 2 17 17 PM

Info

See my preview here. I attended Friday afternoon, which is awesome as it isn’t too crowded yet, especially the VIP hour (2pm-3pm). See here for the full event info and here for the full list of cideries (~50?) and ciders (~150-200?). There were some substitutions and even some cidery cancellations / no-shows, but there were plenty of options, even for someone like me who had tried most of the lineup from most of the cideries. There was even ice cider, Pommeau, non-apple fruit wines, mead, cyser, and cider cocktails.

Although most ciders were from the PNW, there were a good number of national and international ones as well. Also, the selections were primarily on the craft (vs. commercial) end. Angry Orchard made its first appearance at the event, although they mostly brought their fancy ciders. The biggest changes this year were that the pour size was cut from 4oz to 2oz (and they used plastic not glass), and the number of tickets was doubled. I really liked that change, as it was easier to try more ciders, and I didn’t have to request small pours. I wonder if it created longer lines on Saturday though (as folks would be trying more ciders), so it’ll be interesting to see if they repeat it next year.

Entry included a tasting glass, tickets (16 for regular and 24 for VIP, each one good for a 2oz pour of most ciders, less for Pommeau and such though), and wristband. A cool feature of this event is that in addition to in & out privileges, one entry fee gets you in both days (and you can even skip the line on the second day). This event is very well organized, by far the best I have gone to. It is also very consistent year-to-year.

Everything from detailed pre-event information online (even a full cider list) to signage at the event to thinking of the little things like having rinse water available and standing tables in addition to seating. It is crazy to think about how much work goes into an event of this magnitude…renting a space, tables, canopies, and even fencing…finding volunteers, hiring staff for liquor enforcement and safety (at emergency exits), having extra ice and cider available, etc.

Another thing about this event that I really like is that the folks pouring the cider are associated with the cidery (cidery employees, sometimes even the cidermakers, or the distributor), so you can ask about the cidery and cider. The crowd was really varied, from cider enthusiasts like myself to people who just wanted to drink. There were also lots of vendors trying ciders (as it was common for a cidery to bring 2-3 people and swap out). A number of people brought their dogs.

Photo Sep 07, 2 17 23 PM.jpg

Layout

Besides the main attraction of cider booths, they had an event store (with t-shirts and such), an audio booth where they did interviews with some of the cidery reps, food for sale from Capitol Cider, Nutflours Bakery, and a german-style pretzel place (my hubby and I shared a giant pretzel and it really hit the spot, although they were festival priced), some other vendors (jerky, bottled water, Amazon Restaurants, Imperfect Produce, Bark Thins, Drink Cider towels), a dog lounge, and info from the Northwest Cider Association. The amenities were also above average for an outdoor event, with multiple food options for sale, standing tables, tables & chairs (some covered), port-a-potties (and outdoor sinks), and free water.

Photo Sep 08, 12 09 41 PM.jpg
<my haul from the event store, combined with what I got from Schilling Cider House the night before>

My Tips

Friday is typically much less busy than Saturday, especially earlier in the afternoon. My game plan this year involved sleeping in, having a big lunch, visiting all the cidery booths in order, taking breaks to sit & snack, and getting through all the ciders I wanted to try before dinner time.

I recommend good walking shoes, as you are on your feet for most of these types of events, and there was uneven dirt and patches of grass at this site. Also, pants with pockets, to put your tasting tickets and cell phone and such in. I also like bringing my own snacks, especially something starchy, like crackers. Other must-haves for me are a water bottle, hat & sunblock & sunglasses, notebook & pencil, and some baggies to put the tasting glasses in afterwards when they are sticky. Its nice having a bag to put all that stuff in, as well as any free swag you want to collect (handouts, stickers, bottle opener keychains). ID is required to get in, and cash never hurts, although some places (like the Summit store) take cards.

There are also a number of restaurants (and Whole Foods) within walking distance, so another food option is leaving, then coming back after a bit. I have done that before, but this year we were done by dinnertime on Friday when we left. Then my husband and I dropped stuff at the car (we parked under the Whole Foods, which is the most convenient and secure, but pricey, $15 after getting $6 off for a validation after buying stuff at Whole Foods), and walked to Rocco’s pizza (mmmm).

A great way to get free admission is to volunteer; they had several shift options each day, and I heard that if you work closing on Saturday you may even get leftover bottled cider. For the best ticket price, buy them in advance, although there are taxes & fees for online sales. Although VIP tickets are online sales only, if you want the best price on a regular ticket, you can go to Capitol Cider to avoid the fees. The event didn’t sell out as far as I know, but the ticket price was higher at the door. Designated driver tickets ($5) were only available at the door.

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In addition to Seattle, there are Cider Summits in Chicago IL (February), San Francisco CA (April), and Portland OR (June).

Alpenfire Rosy Pommeau

September 6, 2018September 3, 2018 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Pommeau, port townsend, rosy pommeau, tasting notes

Review of Alpenfire’s Rosy Pommeau. This is apple brandy from bittersweet & heirloom apples + cider from Aerlie red-fleshed apples. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, Shrub, Spiced Tonic Shrub, Traditional Heirloom Cider, Flame, Tempest, and Foxwhelp SV.

Cider: Rosy Pommeau, 2015 vintage, 2018 release
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 18%
How Supplied: 375ml tall bottles
Style: American craft Pommeau from bittersweet & heirloom apple brandy + Aerlie red-fleshed apple cider, oak aged

Availability: limited, 58 cases released in 2018, likely only available in WA, plus online sales

Cider Description: Alpenfire’s Rosy Pommeau, Rich, red, high acid juice from Aerlie red apples is partially fermented before halting the fermentation with the addition of the eau de vie. The eau de vie is distilled from our estate organic cider varietals and locally grown organic heirloom apples. Once blended pommeau is aged in neutral oak for 15 + months before bottling. Great as an aperitif or accompanying dessert.

Price: $26.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Pink-orange hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of caramelized strawberry alcohol.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of strawberry, watermelon, kiwi, and rich apple. Long finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Very low sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I prefer Alpenfire’s red-fleshed apple cider Glow, or a Pommeau from typical apples, not so much this combination, as for me the fruity red-fleshed apple flavor competed a bit with the rich boozy Pommeau. My husband really enjoyed it however.

Most Similar to: I’ve never had Pommeau from red-fleshed apples, although I’ve had several ciders from red-fleshed apples (Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, Snowdrift Red, Tieton Russian Red) and several Pommeaux (from 2 Towns, Wandering Aengus, EZ Orchards, Etienne Dupont, Finnriver, and Stem).

Closing Notes: My favorite Alpenfire dessert cider is Smoke.

Have you tried Pommeau? What did you think?

Cider Says

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

Author: cidersays

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Alpenfire Rosy Pommeau

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