Double Cider Review

January 23, 2017January 19, 2017 cidersays Double Cider, honest abe, ratel cider, review cider, Cidrbox, Double Cider, hard cider, honest able, ratel cider, subscription

This time around I have a review of something a little different, a one-time Double Cider subscription (their January 2017 box, containing selections from Honest Abe and Ratel Cider). Double Cider is a cider subscription service, which selects and ships two ciders each month.

Order Process – Very easy. It was all through their website. It asked for all the usual info such as name, address, and a credit card number to keep on file. E-mail updates are provided throughout the process, such as at the time of order and at the time of shipment (a UPS tracking number is provided). They also have an option to give someone the gift of Double Cider. There are currently 2 options, to be billed month to month or every 3 months (which saves $4.90 / 3 months). It can be canceled at any time before the 20th of the month to not receive the next month’s cider. The website also clearly states the order deadline to get the next month’s shipment, which is great (often when signing up for a subscription it can be unclear when it actually starts).

Accessibility – Double Cider can currently ship to 46/50 states (all except Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, and Illinois). Orders ship from Paso Robles CA within the first 10 days of the month.

Pricing – For 2 large bottles: $34.95 + $10 shipping if billed monthly, or $99.95 + $30 shipping if billed every 3 months. I had a coupon for a free sample box. Although this is probably more than you’d typically pay for 2 bottles of cider in the store (where 750s of local craft cider can run anywhere from $12-20+), there is understandably a markup for the service. I also imagine they are subsidizing shipping somewhat in the price as it is unlikely it costs only $10 to ship two bottles across the country, unless you are a high volume shipper.

Selection – To be determined, as this is the first month. They have however announced the second month will include 101 Cider House Stone Fence and Mission Trail Champagne Style. So far all four cideries have been in California, but I doubt that will continue long term. With a subscription there is always the chance you will get a style of cider you won’t prefer, but that can also happen when buying from a store. A subscription is especially suited to folks who are new to cider (and still learning what they like and dislike) and/or those who enjoy a wide range of cider. I had never heard of either of these cideries in the January box.

Rarity – Double Cider focuses on ciders which don’t have a large distribution and can’t be ordered online. I really like this part as the majority of cideries are small outfits, often not even distributed out of their own state. I love trying new ciders, especially those which are very different from what I can get locally.

Delivery – Here is unfortunately where it took a downturn for me. They use UPS, which like every shipper, requires an adult signature for alcohol. However, FedEx allows the package to be held at a FedEx location (including a FedEx Office mailing center down the street from me), even for alcohol. If you miss UPS’ delivery attempts, the only option is to go to the main hub, which for me is up to 45 minutes each way with traffic. If the package doesn’t contain alcohol, UPS would then allow it to be held at UPS Store locations. I see no reason UPS can’t allow alcohol to be held at non-hub locations, as they require ID when picking up a package anyways. Unfortunately many cideries use UPS (including everyone who goes through Vino Shipper), and it is pretty much 50-50 between getting UPS or FedEx.

This is more of something to be aware of than a true negative, if you like many folks work outside of the home during UPS’ delivery hours. Double Cider’s website also clearly states that someone 21 or over must be home to sign for it, so two thumbs up for full disclosure there. Consider having your order delivered to work if possible. UPS has some for-cost delivery options, but they aren’t very helpful. Delivering on a different business day (they will try multiple times anyways) or having a 2 hour window (only between 8:30am and 2:30pm, not even a late afternoon option). doesn’t help the issue of delivery only being available during typical business hours.

Packaging – The cider arrived in a typical box, with wine bottle cutout packaging, an info sheet on each cider, and some nice additions as this was the first box (a hand-written thank you note and some stickers). It arrived safely, but the bottles could move around in the cutouts/box if you shook it lightly, so I wonder if they will have any breakage long term.

The Competition – I am only aware of one other monthly cider subscription currently available in the U.S., Cidrbox.

Cidrbox has the option to receive 3, 6, or 12 bottles a month (although with the 6 & 12 bottle boxes there may be some duplicates), instead of only 2 bottles.
Cidrbox costs significantly more, starting at $75 + $10 shipping per month (although for 3 bottles, typically 750ml unless its is a specialty variety).
Cidrbox currently ships to only 19 states, significantly less than Double Cider.
Cidrbox has the entire box of 3, 6, or 12 bottles from the same cidery (this can be good or bad, if it turns out you really like or really dislike the cidery’s style), while Double Cider offers 1 cider from each of 2 different cideries.

I have not tried Cidrbox. However, Double Cider has a big advantage on price, $44.95 vs. $85 including shipping, although you only get 2 bottles.

The biggest thing I like about both companies is knowing what you will be receiving in advance, so you can choose to purchase (or skip) the selection. Also, each offers additional backstory on the cideries and ciders.

Another Option – If you want to expand your cider selection beyond that which is available locally, but don’t want to commit to a subscription, another option is to order cider straight from a cidery. A growing number of cideries have direct to consumer sales, typically online. Vino Shipper is a popular option; it has a directory of mostly wineries (but also a good number of cideries and meaderies) which you purchase directly from. The only negative is that because the cidery ships your order (ie. it doesn’t come from a warehouse), you can’t combine shipping between multiple cideries. I have had cider shipped from cideries such as Eden, Eve’s, and Tilted Shed (they don’t have an online ordering system, but e-mail or call to confirm they ship to your state, and if so, they will send you an invoice to pay online).

Bottom Line – I was pleased with Double Cider. I am personally unlikely to subscribe every month to a service like this, due to the cost and admittedly being picky about what I drink. However, I really like the idea, and will keep an eye on the monthly selections from both Double Cider and Cidrbox to see if a certain month’s options sound interesting. Both offer an option to just order one month (by canceling to prevent the subscription from renewing), and post in advance what the selection will be, so it is perfect for me.

Stay tuned for reviews of the Honest Abe flagship and Ratel Cider Dry Hopped ciders!

Carlton Cyderworks Carry Nation

January 20, 2017January 15, 2017 cidersays Carlton, review Carlton, Carry Nation, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyderworks, hard cider, oregon, tasting notes

Review of Carlton Cyderworks’ Carry Nation. It is my first time trying this cider, although I have tried their Black Currant Scrumpy, Sugar and Spice, Slake, First Fruits, AHH!!! Apricot Honey Habanero, Bourbon Barrel Peachy Keen, Citizen, and Impearial.

Cider: Carry Nation
Cidery: Carlton Cyderworks
Cidery Location: McMinnville OR
ABV: 6.25%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft semi-sweet cider, with cane sugar added to backsweeten

Availability: Only in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: In honor of the resolute and tenacious Carry Nation, we craft this refreshing and unique Northwest cider. Made from a blend of apples grown in the fertile soils of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, our cider is approachable, sprightly, with a hint of sweetness – the exact opposite of the original Carry Nation. So drink to the memory of a woman who smashed bars with a hatchet – while carrying a bible. Drink to the memory of this leader who was banned from Kansas City for life. Honor her memory in the best way possible – with a bottle of Carry Nation!

Cidery Description: Family-owned Micro Cidery. We make some traditional cider. We make some modern cider. It’s all good stuff.

They have a taproom in McMinnville Oregon with their ciders and many others.

Price: $8.00
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its one of the few ciders from them I hadn’t tried.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells apple-forward, with a hint of tannins.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. This apple-forward cider also has notes of mango, pineapple, green apple, honey, and mineral. Quick finish. High sessionability. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This is an above average flagship semi-sweet cider. I liked that it had a bit more complexity and was very flavorful without being overly sweet.

Most Similar to: Soultree Authentic Dry Cider, Vermont Cider Co. Addison and William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider.

Closing Notes: This is probably tied with their Bourbon Barrel Peachy Keen for my favorite Carlton cider. However, I think it is more suited for a multipack than $8 / 500ml.

Have you tried Carlton Carry Nation? What did you think?

Soultree Authentic Dry Cider

January 18, 2017January 14, 2017 cidersays review, Soultree Canada, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Soultree, tasting notes, Whistler

Review of Soultree Authentic Dry Cider, from Whistler Canada. It is my first time trying it.

Cider: Authentic Dry Cider
Cidery: Soultree
Cidery Location: Whistler CA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: Canadian commercial cider from cider apples, sweetened with apple juice concentrate, with natural flavor

Availability: semi wide release

Description: We believe the old ways are still the best. Our authentic dry cider is made from genuine cider apples, sourced from an old growth orchard. So Soultree is a cider that’s crisp, natural, & real. Because for us, quality still matters. We know you’ll taste the difference.

Price: $11.99 / four pack
Where Bought: a natural grocery store in Northern CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of apple juice concentrate and white grape.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of apple juice concentrate, white grape, pineapple, green apple, and mineral. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I thought it was pretty average. It definitely tasted rather commercial, but wasn’t too sweet, and had some nice flavor. I’d prefer this to a lot of the overly sweet commercial ciders.

Most Similar to: Vermont Cider Co. Addison and William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider, which were slightly sweeter but had some very similar flavor notes

Closing Notes: I’m not sure if I’ll ever see cider from this cidery again, but I’d be game to try anything else they make (I’ve heard of them also making a ginger variety).

Have you tried Soultree cider? What did you think?

Clos des Ducs French Cidre

January 16, 2017January 13, 2017 cidersays Clos des Ducs, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Clos des Ducs, France, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Clos des Ducs, a French cider. It is my first time trying this one, although I’m a fan of French cider.

Cider: Premium Hard Cider
Cidery: Clos des Ducs
Cidery Location: Brittany, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles (and 330ml bottles)
Style: commercial French cidre

Availability: wide release

Description: A traditional farmstead product, made with a blend of sweet, tart, dry, and bitter apples.

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve seen it before but never tried it for whatever reason.

First Impression: Medium orange amber. Low carbonation and foam. Smells of sweet concentrated apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium to full bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, funk, or sourness. Hints of tannins. Notes of primarily apple juice concentrate (concentrated overly “appley” flavor), with hints of orange & honey. Quick finish length. Very high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Very low complexity.

My Opinion: I wasn’t too impressed with this one. However, if you like a very sweet, apple juice forward, and easy to drink cider, you may enjoy it. They also offer a pear variety.

Most Similar to: Other French ciders, although this is sweeter than any other one I’ve had, less carbonated, less yeast-forward, and more commercial tasting (less complex). This one doesn’t have as many of the characteristics I’ve come to associate with French cidre. For an easy drinking French cidre, I think I’ll stick with Celt and Dan Armor.

Closing Notes: I should have read the Nutrition Facts on this one before purchase, as 16g of sugar per 8oz is well over what I prefer.

Have you tried Clos des Ducs? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Smoked

January 11, 2017January 7, 2017 cidersays review, Tilted Shed california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, smoked, smoked cider, Tilted Shed

Review of Tilted Shed’s Smoked cider. It is my first time trying it, although I’ve had their Lost Orchard and Barred Rock. This cider is made with some smoked apples.

Cider: Smoked
Cidery: Tilted Shed
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, some of which were smoked

Availability: Released March 2015. Tilted Shed ciders are sold primarily in California, but also in New York, New Jersey, and Portland Oregon (see here).

Cider Description: An unorthodox cider blend that marries the natural complements of apples and wood smoking. Blend of six varieties of fresh-pressed Sonoma County organic heirloom and tannic cider apples from the 2014 harvest. Fermented to dryness in small batches, then blended with a batch of cider infused with wood-smoked apples. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, minimal sulfites. Straw gold, dry, aromatic, tannic, tart, and bright, with a light effervescence and mellow smoky finish. Like drinking a brut champagne near a bonfire. Pair with aged and funky washed-rind cheeses, pork, charcuterie, grilled meats, and seafood. Use care in serving with any smoked foods, as that can diminsh the smokiness of the cider. Serve in a white wine glass at 55°F to heighten the aromatics.

Cidery Description: We started Tilted Shed Ciderworks in 2011 out of an obsessive love for apples and cider. All of our apples are organically grown within 35 miles of our cidery, primarily in west Sonoma County. At our Sebastopol farm, we have planted 100 varieties of traditional cider apples and perry pears—a pomological research station on the edge of the Pacific. As cider evangelists, we are devoted to making ciders of individuality, integrity, artistry, and elegance. It’s thrilling to explore our unique terroir and the transformative powers of fermentation, and experience how our ciders shapeshift over time. We hope you’ll find our ciders to be a beautiful revelation of what the apple can do.

Price: $15
Where Bought: ordered online
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read great things about their ciders and wanted to try them, but they aren’t available locally yet.

First Impression: Low carbonation. Dark straw yellow hue. Smells acidic & tannic, with hints of smoke & oak.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of smoke, oak, honey, lemon, grapefruit, mineral, and green apple.. Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low sessionability. Low smoke. Moderate oak.

My Opinion: I liked this, although I had been expecting something more in your face (like Alpenfire’s Smoke, which drinks more like a port than a cider with its 16% ABV and intense flavor). I think I would have enjoyed it even more if it had more tannins & less acidity (such as using more cider than heirloom varieties), and even more smoke & oak. Oddly enough I perceived more oak than smoke. This is a well made and balanced cider, but more nuanced than I prefer. I agree to drink this one above fridge temperature, as the flavors become more intense.

Most Similar to: Many dry barrel aged ciders. I found it very similar to Tilted Shed’s Barred Rock, although with smoke instead of whiskey notes with the oak.

Closing Notes: This concludes the reviews of the three bottles I ordered from Tilted Shed (I also tried Lost Orchard and Barred Rock). I think I liked their Lost Orchard best of the three (which is odd as I’m a bigger fan of barrel aged oaky & smokey ciders than funky ciders, although they are growing on me). However, honestly I don’t think Tilted Shed’s cider style matches my taste preferences…they are more wine like and high acid. They are however selling some awesome ciders at awesome prices, and I’m more than willing to try the rest of their lineup.

Have you tried Tilted Shed Smoked? What did you think?

Cragie’s Irish Cider Dalliance 2012

January 6, 2017January 3, 2017 cidersays review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cragie's, Dalliance, hard cider, ireland, irish cider, tasting notes

Review of Cragie’s Irish Cider Dalliance 2012. Its my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Ballyhook Flyer cider. I’ve also tried some other Irish ciders, Dan Kelly’s, Longueville House Cider, and Magner’s.

Cider: Dalliance 2012
Cidery: Cragie’s Irish Cider
Cidery Location: Blessington, Wicklow, Ireland
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles (and 750ml bottles and draft)
Style: Irish large-craft cider from Irish dessert apple varieties (60% Falstaff, 30% Elstar, and 10% Jonagold)

Availability: year round, semi wide release

Cider Description: 2012, a dry sparkling cider, it is pale green in colour, light-medium bodied with a mixture of fresh citrus and green apple flavours and a touch of fennel. It is more akin to a sparkling wine in texture and flavour than a traditional cider and possesses the same palate refreshing qualities. Dalliance is the second blend in the Craigie range of ciders and as the name suggests is a playful flirtation with what each vintage has to offer. This vintage is a blend of dessert apples and is very different in style to the Ballyhook Flyer. It was released later than the Ballyhook Flyer as it spent fifteen months on its fine lees in order to develop and enhance its aromatic qualities. Like the Ballyhook Flyer it is a sparkling cider that is very refreshing with a long, complex finish. Dalliance is a great match for dishes such as charcuterie, turbot or creamy Irish cheeses such as Cooleeny.

Cidery Description: Welcome to Craigies Cider, Irish craft cider made in County Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland. 7 varieties, 6 growers, 5 counties: 100% Irish. From seed to tree and from soil to season our aim is to express the unique characteristics of Ireland’s magnificent apple orchards. No added water, no added sugar, just pure apple juice, passionately crafted into fine, complex ciders. We make our ciders using the juice of 100% pressed, Irish-grown apples and never from concentrate. Our ciders are vintage – we make them once a year – vegan, naturally gluten free, and made from apples grown in some of the best orchards in the world.

Price: $7.00
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells like acidic musty apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Very low tannins. No sourness. A hint of funk. Notes of primarily apple juice, with hints of green apple, pineapple, must, and honey. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I thought this was ok, albeit underwhelming. I was expecting more complexity, but I guess especially since it is made from dessert apples I set the bar too high. From my tasting notes on their Ballyhook Flier cider, I actually found that one more complex (and drier, more tannic, and more bitter).

Most Similar to: Semi-dry apple juice-forward simple ciders, such as Elemental Carbon. Comparing Dalliance to the other Irish ciders I’ve had, this was actually more similar to Magner’s than Cragie’s Ballyhook Flyer, Dan Kelly’s, or Longueville House Cider, as it wasn’t overly complex (although it remained drier and more craft tasting than Magner’s).

Closing Notes: I’m curious if this is a cider which is better drank fresh, as my tasting experience differed from the description (and some other reviews). However, it appears this cider was released fairly recently, probably 2015 (not 2012), so that isn’t too old. I’ll have to give it another chance sometime. Interestingly enough they only make the two varieties, Ballyhook Flier and Dalliance, and I’ve now tried both.

Have you tried Cragie’s cider? What did you think?

Sonoma Cider Winter Mix 4-Pack (The Cutter gingerbread cider & The Sleigh spiced cider)

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 cidersays review, Sonoma Cider california, cider, cider review, Cutter, gingerbread, hard cider, Sleigh, Sonoma Cider, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of Sonoma Cider’s Winter Mix 4-Pack, which consists of two 22oz bottles each of The Cutter (a gingerbread cider) and The Sleigh (a winter spiced cider).

>>This is a review of sample bottles provided to Cider Says by Sonoma 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: The Cutter & The Sleigh
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 5.5% (both)
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: American Organic large-craft spiced cider

Availability: These are limited run ciders with less distribution, but Sonoma Cider is generally available in these areas

The Sleigh Description: The Sleigh incorporates seasonal spices such as all-spice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg combined with organic apple cider. The aromas of warm apple pie followed by buttery cinnamon notes on the nose are sure to conjure up some Yuletide memories.

The Cutter Description: The Cutter captures the best of fresh baked gingerbread – bright, light aromas of ginger, with wellrounded notes of molasses and spiced baked apples in the body. It’s the perfect companion for the holiday season.

Cidery Description: Sonoma Cider was founded in 2013 by 20-year veteran Cidermaster, David Cordtz, with his son and Cofounder, Robert Cordtz. Together they combine decades of industry expertise with next generation dynamism. Sonoma Cider handcrafts the only full line of organic ciders in the U.S., each made with distinctive, all natural, gluten-free ingredients. Sonoma Ciders are produced from freshly squeezed, organic apples in micro batches to deliver intensity of flavor and a refined experience for this rapidly growing category. Sonoma Cider offers four, award-winning “Core Ciders” which are available year-round. This includes the signature, apple cider “The Hatchet,” pear-based “The Pitchfork,” bourbon-flavored “The Anvil”, and sarsaparilla-vanilla “The Washboard”. Sonoma Cider also offers other unique flavors through the “Limited Run” series and “Cidermaker Reserve” series.

Price: n/a (retails for ~$24 for the four 22oz bottles)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I was contacted about it

The Cutter First Impression: Medium hazy amber. Still (no carbonation). Smells lovely, rather strongly of gingerbread (starch, spices, ginger, sugar) and baked apples.

The Sleigh First Impression: Medium amber. Still (no carbonation). Smells milder, of spices (primarily cinnamon).

The Cutter Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of gingerbread (starch, spices, ginger), baked apple, and citrus fruit. Long finish length with lingering spice, including a slight amount of ginger at the back of the throat. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. Mild to moderate spice intensity.

The Sleigh Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No sourness or funk. Hints of tannins and bitterness. Notes of spice (not just cinnamon, but prevalent allspice & cloves), a mild to moderate intensity. Moderate finish length with lingering spice. Moderate flavor intensity, sessionability, and apple flavor. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I preferred The Cutter to The Sleigh, which is interesting as I don’t like ginger; I liked the stronger flavor and higher perceived sweetness (although both have the same residual sugar content). Both however had a stronger scent than flavor. Both were also best when served between fridge and room temperature (which I’ve noticed with most other spiced ciders). I’m not the biggest fan of spiced cider, but I’d call these pretty average & typical of the style.

Most Similar to: Other spiced ciders, such as 2 Towns Nice & Naughty (which is probably my favorite spiced cider), AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced, Carlton Sugar and Spice, and Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple. The gingerbread had far less ginger than most other ginger ciders I’ve had, which was nice (and no burn).

Bottom Line: If you are a fan of spiced cider but don’t like your cider as sweet and/or desire an Organic cider, you may enjoy these.

Closing Note: I’m surprised they decided to do 22oz bottles, as it really brings up the price tag (over $20! for the 4-pack). Maybe they were thinking more of holiday parties than a couple sharing it?

Have you tried either of these Sonoma Cider varieties? What did you think?

Sonoma Cider The Jax

January 2, 2017September 10, 2017 cidersays review, Sonoma Cider breakfast cereal, california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Jax, Sonoma, Sonoma Cider, tasting notes

Review of Sonoma Cider’s The Jax, a limited run cider inspired by Apple Jacks breakfast cereal. This Organic cider is made with buckwheat, cinnamon, and honey. It is my first time trying The Jax, although I’ve sampled most of Sonoma Cider’s bottled lineup (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Sonoma 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.<<

I love this packaging with the bright blue!

Cider: The Jax
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 6.0%
Residual Sugar: 1.6 BRIX
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: Organic American large-craft breakfast cereal inspired cider

Availability: This is a limited run cider with less distribution, but Sonoma Cider is generally available in these areas

Cider Description: The Jax Breakfast Cereal is part of the brand’s Limited Run series, a collection of unique flavors that express the team’s creativity and inventive nature. Hard cider made from Organic Pacific Northwest apples is combined with gluten-free buckwheat, cinnamon and honey to create this full-bodied cider. Scents of toasted grain and apple-cinnamon and the taste of sweetened honey and tart apples embody this cider leaving you wanting more. The flavors of The Jax- Breakfast Cereal make a perfect complement to Pop Tarts, mac n cheese and strawberry ice cream.

Cidery Description: Sonoma Cider was founded in 2013 by 20-year veteran Cidermaster, David Cordtz, with his son and Co-founder, Robert Cordtz. Together they combine decades of industry expertise with next generation dynamism. Sonoma Cider handcrafts the only full line of organic ciders in the U.S., each made with distinctive, all natural, gluten-free ingredients. Sonoma Ciders are produced from freshly squeezed, organic apples in micro batches to deliver intensity of flavor and a refined experience for this rapidly growing category. Sonoma Cider offers four, award-winning Core Ciders which are available year-round. This includes the signature, apple cider The Hatchet, pear-based The Pitchfork, bourbon-flavored The Anvil, and sarsaparilla-vanilla The Washboard. Sonoma Cider also offers other unique flavors through the Limited Run series and Cidermaker Reserve series.

They have a tap room in Healdsburg California.

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: co-founder Robert Cordtz contacted me

First Impression: Moderate amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mildly of starch, cinnamon, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of cinnamon, honey, starch, lemon, and grapefruit. The flavor starts with citrus, then finishes with breakfast cereal. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, this is definitely more of a novelty cider that I wouldn’t really choose to drink again. I had expected it to be much sweeter, but it remained fairly dry, which was great. The Apple Jacks flavor was definitely there, real tasting, and not overwhelming.

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve tried. There have been a couple ciders I’ve had that tasted a bit starchy, and I’ve had plenty of ciders with honey and/or cinnamon, but this one is unique.

Closing Notes: Next up are two winter seasonal ciders from Sonoma Cider, The Sleigh and The Cutter.

Have you tried Sonoma Cider The Jax? What did you think?

My Favorite Ciders of 2016

December 30, 2016February 3, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, AEppelTreow, Alpenfire, Angry Orchard, Aspall, Bertolinos, Celt, Christian Drouin, Cidergeist, Cidrerie du Vulcain, Dan Armor, Doc's, Dunkertons, Dupont, E.Z. Orchards, Eden, EZ Orchards, Farnum Hill, favorite ciders, Gowans, Honeywood, Jester & Judge, Longdrop, One Tree, Rev Nat's, review, Schilling, Sea Cider, Sheppy's, Thatchers, Wandering Aengus 2016, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

What an awesome year 2016 was in the cider world! Cider Says has now been up for a year and a half. Like other cider bloggers, I thought it would be fun to make a list of my favorite ciders of 2016. See 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 enjoyed, as it would be an impossible task to try every cider out there and be impartial. My only criteria for this list is that I drank the cider in 2016.

Multi pack: Reverend Nat’s Revival – This one is complex for being made from dessert apples, with lots of unique flavor just from the yeast varieties used. Celt – I always keep this easy drinking apple & yeast forward French cider in the house as its convenient & affordable. Thatchers Green Goblin – For how commercial it is, I ended up really enjoying this sweeter simple English cider.

Canned: One Tree Crisp Apple – I don’t usually go for plain flagship ciders, but this one had some nice unfiltered apple juice flavor without being over the top sweet. Cidergeist Semi Dry – This reminded me of French cider; too bad it isn’t available locally. Long Drop Vanilla Honey – Awesome honeycomb flavor.

French: Dan Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut – A $5 selection from Trader Joe’s which doesn’t disappoint and has some great apple forward sparkling goodness. Christian Drouin Pays d’ Auge – I loved the bittersweet apple flavor, and that the funk remained mild.

English: Aspall Imperial – Rich flavor, high ABV, and a low price tag. Dunkertons Dry (awesomely tannic) and Black Fox (nice fruity twist on an English cider), which I hope to find locally now that they are distributed in the U.S.

Italian: Bertolinos – My first Italian cider, which I found to be simple but tasty, and budget friendly too.

Swiss: Cidrerie du Vulcain Transparente – My first Swiss cider, which reminded me of French cider, in between the typical Brittany & Normandy styles.

Canadian: Sea Cider Ruby Rose – This fruity high ABV cider is made with rhubarb and rose hips, making it a unique summer sipper.

Fruity: Doc’s Draft Sour Cherry – A cherry cider is difficult to pull off without tasting medicinal, but the flavor is spot-on with this one. Jester & Judge Pineapple Express – Although simple, this cider has some awesome pineapple flavor, a nice frothy texture, and a hint of lime.

Rosé: Eden Imperial 11 Rosé – This drier cider with red currant is high ABV and amazingly fruity. Alpenfire Glow – This sweeter cider is made from rare red fleshed apples and also amazingly fruity, with a high flavor intensity.

Limited Release: Angry Orchard & Eden collaboration, Understood in Motion: 01 – This cider is only available at Angry Orchard’s Walden NY cider house, and was made from Vermont heirloom apples, barrel aged, and mixed with some ice cider; awesome!

Hopped: 2 Towns Hop & Stalk – I wouldn’t call myself a fan of either rhubarb or hops, but for whatever reason I really enjoyed this cider; the flavors really complimented each other and created a unique and surprisingly complex cider (I’m also a sucker for Imperial / high ABV ciders).

High ABV: Alpenfire Smoke – This 16% ABV sipping cider has an amazing complexity, with rich oaky smokey flavor. If I had to name just one favorite cider, this would probably be it, although its not an everyday sort of cider. I hope it gets released again soon, as I’m down to only one bottle!

Oaked: Sheppy’s Oak Matured – I love the strong oak flavor in this cider; as a bonus, it is budget friendly too.

Barrel Aged: Reverend Nat’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant – This was my favorite cider from Cider Summit Seattle 2016, with awesome berry, oak, and whiskey flavor.

Sparkling: AEppelTreow Appely Doux – This methode champenoise cider has a wonderful texture & flavor, and would be a great champagne alternative.

Perry: EZ Orchards Poire – I’m not a huge Perry fan, but those I do like tend towards the French Poire style; this one has a creamy texture and complex fruitiness.

Pommeau: Etienne Dupont Pommeau – This is their Cidre Bouche aged in Calvados barrels with Calvados added, and is flavorful, rich, and complex. Wandering Aengus Pommeau – Milder in flavor than some other Pommeaus, but still rich and complex.

Ice Cider: Eden Heirloom Blend Apple Brandy Barrel Aged – I’ve enjoyed all of Eden’s ice ciders, but this is my favorite, as it had the added depth from barrel aging in addition to all the rich complexity of their typical ice cider.

Great Value: Schilling King’s Shilling – I’ve picked up a 22oz bottle of this for as low as $4 (and as high as $7), which is a steal for a tasty barrel aged brandy infused cider.

Wine-like: Honeywood Winery Hard Apple Cider – Quite different than I was expecting, but I liked it; this one reminded me of dessert wine with the white grape notes, higher ABV, and sweetness.

Draft-only: Wandering Aengus Bittersweet – An amazingly rich and tannic cider made from bittersweet apple juice from Poverty Lane Orchards (Farnum Hill); wild fermented but it wasn’t funky.

Unexpected: Gowans 1876 Heirloom – This cider almost seemed to good to be true, as it was so full flavored and apple forward.

Well, there you have it, a list of 32 of my favorite ciders from 2016. They have a lot in common–most are rich and full-flavored. Still, it seems like so many great ciders didn’t make the cut, which is unfortunate.

What are your favorite ciders?

Burrow Hill Medium Dry Cider

December 28, 2016December 30, 2016 cidersays Burrow Hill, review Burrow Hill, cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Somerset, tasting notes

Review of Burrow Hill’s Medium Dry Cider, from Somerset England. It is my first time trying this cider, although I’m a fan of English cider.

Cider: Medium Dry Cider
Cidery: Burrow Hill
Cidery Location: Somerset England
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apples

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: A blend of at least 11 varieties of vintage apples “the cider-maker’s craft at its best”. Medium Dry.

Update – The cidery informed me (based on the label style) that this bottle is at least four years old.

Cidery Description: The ancient craft of blending vintage Somerset cider apples to produce fine ciders has been handed down through generations. In our orchards we grow 40 varieties on more than 7,000 apple trees. In the autumn the fruit s harvested, blended, and pressed. The juice is then fermented and matured in oak vats. At Burrow Hill we sell traditional prize winning ciders direct from wooden barrels.

Price: $8.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This is the only English cider brand that gets distributed here that I haven’t tried.

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of cider apples, tannins, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. No tartness. Low acidity. Moderate tannins. Low bitterness. No sourness. A hint of funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apples, apple pomace, caramel, brown sugar, leather, and orange. Long tannic finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. It was well balanced, although slightly commercial tasting and a bit on the watery side (although plenty tannic). Its not one of my favorite English ciders though, which would be Aspall Imperial, Sheppy’s Oak Matured, and Dunkertons Dry & Black Fox.

Most Similar to: I found this very very similar to Ross on Wye Medium Dry Lightly Carbonated Cider.

Closing Notes: I’ll have to see what else I can find from this cidery.

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

Longueville House Cider

December 26, 2016December 22, 2016 cidersays Longueville, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cork, hard cider, ireland, irish cider, Longueville, tasting notes

Review of Longueville House cider, from Cork Ireland. Its my first time trying anything from this cidery, although I’ve tried two other Irish ciders, Cragie’s Ballyhook Flier and Dan Kelly’s Irish Cider.

Cider: Cider (flagship)
Cidery: Longueville House
Cidery Location: Cork Ireland
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Irish craft cider from cider apples

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Longueville House Cider is a medium dry artisan cider made on our 500 acre farm in the Blackwater Valley, Co. Cork. Longueville House (ca 1720) has been owned by the O’Callaghan family since the 10th century except for the 200 years when they were driven to “Hell or to Connaught” by Oliver Cromwell. Our 100% natural cider is hand-made from Dabinett and Michelin apples and contains no artificial sweeteners, additives, colourings, or preservatives. In Autumn we crush and press our apples on the farm within hours of harvesting. The apple juice is then naturally fermented for four months by the action of a unique natural yeast and sugar. The result is a medium dry cider, rich in amber colour. It is best drunk well chilled with no ice and is an ideal accompaniment to fish and meat.

Cidery Description: Longueville House Cider was first developed by the late Michael O’Callaghan back in 2000 as a means to an end in making his Apple Brandy. A pioneering spirit he planted 25 acres of Dabinett and Michelin cider apples at the north-west side of the property based in the heart of The Blackwater Valley. The apples are harvested in the autumn every year. Once picked the apples are crushed and pressed in an oak cider press machine located in the cider house on our farm. The pressed juice is naturally fermented over time incorporating natural sugars in the juice and natural yeast on apples and in the atmosphere, resulting in a rich amber coloured cider. The cider is then filtered, carbonated and pasteurised.

Price: $9.99
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of cider apple juice, yeast, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness, acidity, funk, and tannins. Hints of bitterness and sourness. Notes of tannic rich cider apples, barnyard, brown sugar, orange, leather, yeast, and honey. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked this cider. I could have done without the funk, but it had some nice flavor from the cider apples.

Most Similar to: Cider from Normandy France such as Christian Drouin Pays d’ Auge, due to the richness, flavor notes, and funk.

Closing Notes: This is the only variety from this cidery I’ve seen locally. However, I have another variety from Cragie’s to try (which is another Irish cidery).

Have you tried Longueville House Cider? What did you think?

Loic Raison Brut

December 23, 2016December 23, 2016 cidersays Loic Raison, review Brittany, Brut, cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Loic Raison, tasting notes

Review of Loic Raison 1923 Brut, a French cidre. Its my first time trying this one, although I’ve tried a number of other French ciders.

Cider: Brut
Cidery: Loic Raison
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: French cidre

Availability: wide release

Description: I couldn’t find one. Note that Brut simply means dry (although at 5 grams of sugar per 8oz this isn’t completely dry).

Price: $10.49
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This is one of the major French cidre brands and commonly available in the U.S.

First Impression: Deep orange amber. Very low carbonation. Smells of bittersweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Simple flavor notes, just apple juice and yeast. Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was nice and definitely easy to drink, but it tasted flat (like it used to have higher carbonation) and overly juice-like. I’d rather pay half as much and pick up some Dan Armor at Trader Joe’s, or better yet, as it is in single serve bottles, Celt.

Most Similar to: Dan Armor and Celt, which are also both Brittany France cidre varieties. They have a very similar flavor profile to Loic Raison, but a higher carbonation and lower cost.

Closing Notes: I’m a fan of Brittany more than Normandy France cidres, Brittany cidres are typically apple & yeast forward, clean (no funk or sourness), and have a higher carbonation level.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

D’s Wicked Baked Apple

December 21, 2016December 18, 2016 cidersays D's Wicked, review baked apple, cider, cider review, cider tasting, D's Wicked, hard cider, Kennewick, tasting notes, washington

Review of D’s Wicked flagship Baked Apple cider. I’ve tried this before, but only on draft. I’ve also tried their Chanilla and Cranny Granny.

Cider: Baked Apple
Cidery: D’s Wicked
Cidery Location: Kennewick WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and bottles & draft)
Style: American craft unfiltered spiced cider

Availability: Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Reno Nevada, New Jersey, and New York (per this page).

Cider Description: d’s Wicked Baked Apple™ is a premium, artisanal, hand crafted cider made with natural flavors and the freshest Washington State grown apples. Off-dry with a hint of spice, Baked Apple™ hosts the flavors of Red Delicious and Honey Crisp apples, finishing with a perfect touch of allspice and cinnamon. Just like the apple pie Grandma made, only WICKED!

Cidery Description: We started brewing cider because we love great ciders! Try the wicked delicious flavors that inspired us…wicked good ciders…wicked good times! Using the very best apples from Washington State, we let the unique character of each apple variety guide our crafting, resulting in our sinfully delicious varietals. d’s ciders are crisp with the freshness of just picked apples, not too sweet, not too tart, just playful layers of flavor that are just plain WICKED GOOD. d’s ciders are naturally gluten free, rough filtered to maintain the richest apple flavor, contain no colorants, and use natural ingredients.

Note – cider is fermented like wine – not brewed like beer (no heat involved).

Price: ~$2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Hazy dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of baked apples and cinnamon.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium to full bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of baked apple, apple skin/pomace, cinnamon, and a hint of citrus. Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low spice level.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty average. Its a dessert cider for me as I found it quite sweet (12oz was more than enough). I can see why it is appealing, but its not a favorite type of mine.

Most Similar to: Downeast Original Blend and One Tree Crisp Apple, as they have the unfiltered slightly spiced flavor, although both are drier.

Closing Notes: This definitely isn’t off-dry as described, but it is a very popular cider, probably because it is sweet. People often say their want a drier cider, but sweet sells.

Have you tried D’s Wicked cider? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Barred Rock

December 19, 2016December 18, 2016 cidersays review, Tilted Shed Barred Rock, barrel aged, california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Sebastopol, tasting notes, Tilted Shed

Review of Tilted Shed’s Barred Rock. Its my first time trying this one, but I previously had their Lost Orchard. See here for a writeup from Cidercraft on Tilted Shed. I ordered three bottles to be shipped, as their ciders aren’t yet available in Washington.

Cider: Barred Rock
Cidery: Tilted Shed
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 9.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from heirloom apple varieties, whiskey barrel aged

Availability: 24 barrels released in November 2015. Tilted Shed ciders are sold primarily in California, but also in New York, New Jersey, and Portland Oregon (see here).

Cider Description: Blend of fresh-pressed, late-season Sonoma County organic heirloom apples from the 2014 harvest. Fermented to dryness in the New England style, with organic raisins, molasses, and brown sugar, then aged in Heaven Hill Kentucky rye whiskey barrels for four months. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, minimal sulfites. A rich, spiritous, bold, dry cider with excellent aging potential as it shapeshifts over time. Clear, light golden hue; moderate effervescence. Aroma of vanilla bean and light smoke. Bright acidic backbone. Mouth-filling notes of creme brûlée and caramel apple. This cider should mellow as it ages over the next two years, developing a creamier mouthfeel with lingering vanilla finish. Serve at 60°F in a white wine glass. The warmer, the richer. Pair with rich creamy cheeses and fruit-based desserts, such as apple crisp or baked pears.

Price: $16
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read so many good things about their ciders online, and was glad to hear they can ship to Washington.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Still. Smells of whiskey, oak, and rich bittersweet apples.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of whiskey, oak, smoke, honey, citrus, and leather. Long warming spirituous finish. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability. Low oak flavor. High whiskey flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this. It won’t be for everyone though, as it has an intense whiskey flavor and 9% ABV. I actually think I liked it better the day after I opened it, as the flavor smoothed out / acidity decreased some. I had a bit left on a third day though, but I have to say it peaked on day 2. If I had any criticism, I’d say I’d want a bit more oak flavor (for example, I love the oak in Sheppy’s Oak Matured), a bit less whiskey flavor, and more cider apple than heirloom apple flavor.

Most Similar to: Liberty Ciderworks Stonewall, and to a lesser extent, Stem Whiskey Barrel Aged Apricot & Carlton Cyderworks Slake & Finnriver Oak&Apple. However, this is by far the most intense whiskey flavor I’ve tasted in a cider. Most cidermakers err on the side of caution and keep the barrel and/or spirit flavor on the mild side.

Closing Notes: This cider is an amazing value! I have one bottle left – Smoked.

Have you tried Tilted Shed cider? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Company Wassail

December 12, 2016December 9, 2016 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company, Wassail, Woodchuck

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Wassail. This and Addison are their first two releases, described as “ultra-premium”. Vermont Cider Company is part of Vermont Hard Cider (along with Woodchuck, Magner’s, Wyder’s, Hornsby’s, and Blackthorn).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Vermont Cider Company. 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: Wassail
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped)
Style: commercial cider from American dessert apples with mulling spices, rum barrel aged (note that I personally classify this as commercial not craft as it is made by a large company, the first ingredient is “hard cider” not apple juice, and they added apple extract for color)

Availability: This is a limited edition cider, only available in the Northeastern U.S., released December 2016

Cider Description: Wassail is inspired by the age-old tradition of celebrating with the orchards to ensure a good crop. Wassail begins with small batch hard cider infused with traditional mulling spices, including vanilla bean, ginger and cinnamon. The cider is then aged in rum barrels to produce a unique, rich cider that is ideal for the holidays. Like Addison, Wassail is made only from 100 percent fresh pressed Vermont and Northeastern apples.

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

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard about it online and requested samples.

<No, this color isn’t only from the barrel aging – they added “apple extract” for coloring.>

First Impression: Still (no carbonation). Caramel amber hue. Smells of sugar, spices, rum, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of brown sugar, burnt caramel, cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, and vanilla. Moderate length finish. Moderate spice. Moderate rum flavor. Low oak flavor. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability. Mild complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. My favorite component was the rum flavor. I’m usually not too into spiced ciders, but I don’t dislike them. I could have done without the ginger here (I really dislike the stuff, although here it was very very mild) and had the mulling spices toned down a bit (although I wouldn’t say it was overpowering). One of the spice additions was Cardamon, but I picked it up as allspice and cloves, which are more recognizable. Overall it still tasted a bit commercial though, more like something Crispin would make as a special release, but its a good value for the price point (ie. I wasn’t expecting a cider on par one to I would pay $20 / 750ml for). I think the mulling spices and rum barrel aging paired well together.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of spiced ciders (such as Sea Cider Wassail, 2 Towns Nice & Naughty, Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple, Tieton Spice Route, Reverend Nat’s Winter Abbey Spice, AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced, and Carlton Cyderworks Sugar & Spice) and some rum barrel aged ciders (Crispin 15 Men, Sea Cider Prohibition, and Alpenfire Calypso), but not combined.

Closing Notes: Next up, a review of Vermont Cider Company’s Addison.

Have you tried Vermont Cider Company’s Wassail? What did you think?

Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders Collaboration – Understood in Motion: 01

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 cidersays Eden, review Angry Orchard, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, tasting notes, Understood in Motion

Review of the first collaboration between Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders, Understood in Motion: 01. It is the first in a series of planned releases, made by head cidermaker Ryan Burk of Angry Orchard and co-owner & cidermaker Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Ciders. It is named for the motion of apple harvest and the cider making process.

The apples were grown and pressed in Vermont at Eden’s cidery, then the juice was shipped to Angry Orchard’s Innovation cidery in New York for fermentation and six months of aging (some in tanks and some in Calvados barrels). After that, Ryan and Eleanor met to blend the cider with some three year old Eden ice cider.

Here is an article with more information on the cider, and here is an article about Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House releases in 2016.

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

Cider: Understood in Motion: 01
Cidery: Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Walden NY & Newport VT
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottles
Style: American craft cider from Vermont heirloom apple varieties, a mix of tank & Calvados barrel aging, and mixed with ice cider

Availability: Limited release, only at Angry Orchard’s Walden New York Innovation Cider House, since November 18

Cider Description: This cider was born of friendship among two Northeast cider makers, as well as a shared commitment to raising awareness of the American cider industry. With Understood in Motion 01, we worked with our friends at Eden Specialty Ciders (VT) to combine techniques and favorite ingredients to develop something completely new, while paying homage to the American cider making tradition.

This cider is made from a carefully selected blend of heirloom apples from Vermont, including Ananas Reinette and D’Arcy, resulting in a still, semi-dry cider with balanced acidity and low tannin, aged in Calvados barrels for 6 months.

It recently won Gold in the Cider/Mead/ Perry at the FoBAB Competition.

Price: n/a (retails for $25)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about it online.

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells rich, of brown sugar, honey, and baked apples.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of baked apple, brown sugar, honey, lemon, and grapefruit. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low oak influence.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. I was expecting more tannins and less citrus, but it worked. It tasted like a high acidity citrusy cider mixed with some rich ice cider. I actually enjoyed it even more the second day. Because it is still, it didn’t have carbonation to go flat. The acidity also seemed to calm down a bit, bringing out more richness.

Most Similar to: This reminded me of Eden’s Semi-Dry cider (which also mixes ice cider into dry cider), as well as Slyboro Old Sin.

Closing Notes: I feel privileged to have got a bottle of this limited release cider! Special thanks to Diana Mask at Angry Orchard for hooking me up. These two cideries would have been my last guess for a collaboration match up, but I can see how it benefits them both. Angry Orchard is trying to improve their image from just a mass market sweet simple cider maker. Eden is a small artisan cidery startup without the budget for marketing campaigns or nationwide cider releases. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

Have you tried Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders Collaboration – Understood in Motion: 01? What did you think?

2 Towns Return of the Mack

December 5, 2016December 3, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Corvallis, hard cider, oregon, Return of the Mac, Return of the Mack, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns Return of the Mack, a limited release unfiltered oak aged cider made with McIntosh apples. I previously tried an earlier release of this on draft (see here). I’ve also tried many other ciders from 2 Towns (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by 2 Towns. Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free. The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.<<

Cider: Return of the Mack
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 8.4%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft unfiltered cider with McIntosh apples, aged 12 months in oak foeders

Availability: Limited release, but 2 Towns ciders are generally available in AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA, and Minneapolis MN & Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Rich and complex, Return of the Mack is a specialty cider aged for 12 months in 1800 liter oak foeders and finished with McIntosh apples. So good. Yes, I cried, yes, I cried.

From Dave Takush, head cider maker for 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Return of the Mack is super rich, exceptionally juicy and has a big oak tannin backbone. It makes a great pairing with dark and stormy nights, and 90s slow jams.

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

Price: n/a (retails for $7.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: It showed up at my door (I’m spoiled!).

First Impression: Hazy dark pumpkin straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells like tart unfiltered apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Smooth with a well-hidden ABV. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, lemon, orange, honey, and a hint of floral. Quick to moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low oak influence (I expect it smoothed the flavor out more than adding any significant overt oak flavor).

My Opinion: I enjoyed Return of the Mack, but it is more of a basic easy drinking cider which I would expect to find in a multi pack, vs. a single bottle specialty release.

Most Similar to: I’d call this a sweeter, more boozy, and slightly more complex version of 2 Towns Out Cider.

Closing Notes: 2 Towns makes some great stuff. My favorites are Traditions Bourbon Barrel 2012, Bad Apple, Hop & Stalk, Traditions Cidre Bouche 2015, and Pommeau 2015.

Have you tried 2 Towns Return of the Mack? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Lost Orchard

November 30, 2016November 30, 2016 cidersays review, Tilted Shed california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lost Orchard, Sebastopol, tasting notes, Tilted Shed

Review of Tilted Shed’s Lost Orchard. It is my first time trying this cider, and my first time trying any of Tilted Shed’s cider. See here for a writeup on their cidery. I ordered three bottles to be shipped, as their ciders aren’t yet available in Washington.

Cider: Lost Orchard, 2014 vintage
Cidery: Tilted Shed
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from Organic cider apple varieties

Availability: 40 cases released November 2016. Tilted Shed ciders are sold primarily in California, but also in New York, New Jersey, and Portland Oregon (see here).

Cider Description: Blend of very rare, feral English, French, and Old American traditional cider apples gleaned from lost cider orchards in Sonoma County. Varieties include Nehou, Muscat de Bernay, Porter’s Perfection, Yarlington Mill, Foxwhelp, Tremlett’s Bitter, and Roxbury Russet. Organically grown, from the 2013 harvest. Fermented to dryness in small batches by variety, then blended, aged, and bottle conditioned using organic cane sugar as dosage. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, minimal sulfites. A bone-dry, earthy, dense, savory, contemplative cider more reminiscent of orchard floor than of apples. Hazy, golden hue. Leesy, earthy aroma. Pours with a fine, lingering mousse that heightens the astringency. Notes of leather, cedar, lemon thyme, damp earth, cooked apple. Elegant tannic structure. Chill well prior to opening. Contains sediment. Pour carefully off the lees. Serve at 55° to 60°F in a white wine glass. Pair with well-aged cheese, pork, Dungeness crab, lamb, roasts, hearty seasonal fare.

Price: $20
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read so many good things about their ciders online, and was glad to hear they can ship to Washington.

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of rich earthy cider apples, funk, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Moderate funk. Hints of sourness. Low to moderate tannins. Notes of baked apples, earth, honey, grapefruit, orange, hay, yeast, and leather. Long funky slightly sour finish. Moderate apple flavor. High complexity. Low to moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. However, this funky earthy complex cider won’t be for everyone. My husband for example wasn’t a fan as he doesn’t like funk (but he likes sourness and I don’t).

Most Similar to: Lost Orchard tends towards a farmhouse style or a wild fermented cider, although it is more funky than sour. Very few ciders are made entirely from cider apple varieties, but the most similar I’ve tried is probably something from Farnum Hill, or Dragon’s Head Wild Fermented or Alpenfire Pirate’s Plank.

Closing Notes: This is an incredible value for a cider made entirely from cider apple varieties which has been bottle conditioned for so long. Stay tuned for reviews of their Barred Rock and Smoked ciders.

Have you tried Tilted Shed Lost Orchard? What did you think?

2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche – 2015 Vintage

November 25, 2016November 28, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cidre, cidre bouche, French, hard cider, keeved, tasting notes, Traditions

Review of 2 Towns Traditions Cidre Bouche, a French-style keeved cider. This is one of two ciders which they released to start off their new Traditions line. Their Traditions line will replace their separate Traditions brand and focus on barrel aged vintage cider from heirloom apples. The other is Riverwood, which I’ll be reviewing next. Two others will soon be released, Afton Field and La Mûre. Its my first time trying this cider, although I’ve tried many other ciders from 2 Towns (see here).

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

Cider: Traditions Cidre Bouche
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles
Style: American craft French keeved style cider from heirloom apples, oak aged

Availability: Limited (only 240 cases of 12 bottles), although 2 Towns ciders are generally available in AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA, and Minneapolis MN & Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Oregon grown bittersweet heirloom apples. Old world keeving method. Aged in French oak casks….Inspired by the bittersweet ciders of France, Cidre Bouché is made with an Old World process called keeving. We start with 100% traditional cider apple varieties like Kingston Black, Michelin, Reine des Pommes, Dabinett and Muscat de Lense, and then let the fruit ‘sweat’ and intensify in aroma. Next, the apples are crushed and left to soak on the skins before the juice is fermented slowly over the course of a year, and aged in French oak casks. When finished, this keeved cider is rich, thick and brimming with overripe bittersweet apple character. Pairs well with classic French fare— think savory crepes, pork terrine, camembert and blue cheese.

Price: n/a
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy medium orange amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells slightly funky and apple forward.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate to high acid. Low funk and tannins. Hints of sourness and bitterness. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, apple pomace, honey, orange, grapefruit, and butterscotch. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it, and thought it paired well with Thanksgiving dinner. It got a bit funkier as it warmed up, so I preferred it cold. I’m a fan of these sorts of bold and rich ciders, and of (not too funky or sour) French cidre.

Most Similar to: French cidre. It definitely seemed true to the style, in between Normandy and Brittany French cidre as it was a bit funky (as Normandy cidre can tend to be), but not overly so. However, it was a bit higher acidity and more fruity though (although the grapefruit I picked up might have been more from the high acidity than anything else), which was a nice twist.

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying the other ciders in their new Traditions line. I think they made a great choice to release them in smaller 375ml bottles, as it will reduce the price point and increase the number of bottles available. I also think the switch to keep these under their 2 Towns brand but in a separate category was a smart move.

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

Cidrerie du Vulcain Transparente

November 21, 2016November 13, 2016 cidersays Cidrerie du Vulcain, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidrerie du Vulcain, hard cider, Swiss, Switzerland, tasting notes, Transparente

Review of Cidrerie du Vulcain’s Transparente, from Switzerland. Its my first time trying their cider.

Cider:  Transparente (2014)
Cidery:  Cidrerie du Vulcain
Cidery Location:  Le Mouret, Switzerland
ABV: 7.1%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: Swiss semi-dry sparkling cider from native heirloom apples, wild yeast fermented, made using traditional methods

Availability: unknown

Cider Description: Tart apples, peeled and sliced, just starting to brown, waiting to be arranged in a pie crust. With air: cinnamon —the pie is baking. The iron that you’d expect on Cidre de Fer. Floral. Slight animal. Near dry rather than off-dry. Heirloom fruit flavors. The acidity is savory like that of a bright rosé. Salt. A perfectly balanced trinity of salt, acidity, and delicate fruit, delivered with such lightness of texture —that Alpine feeling: not diluted but elusive and aerial, and incredibly refreshing.

Apple Varieties: Transparente de Croncels, Reinette de Champagne, Pomme Raisin, and Rose de Berne

Cidery Description: The cidery was started in 2006 by Jacques Perritaz; here is a great writeup.

Price: $19
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its the first time I’ve seen cider from this cidery or Switzerland.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Smells funky, yeast-forward and apple-forward.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Moderate carbonation, medium bodied, with a smooth frothy texture. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. Mild funk. Hints of sourness, bitterness, and tannins. Notes of apple pomace, yeast, honey, green apple, and grapefruit. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I was a bit put off by the funky scent, but it wasn’t as apparent in the flavor as it was in the scent. Great apple-forward flavor without tasting like alcoholic apple juice.

Most Similar to: A combination of typical ciders from Normandy and Brittany France.

Closing Notes: Fun fact – the cidery’s name is from the local Vulcan butterfly that feeds on the juice of fallen apples. Too bad I haven’t seen any of their other ciders locally. This was the first time I saw this one, so hopefully more will make it here soon.

Have you tried any ciders from Cidrerie du Vulcain? What did you think?

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