Tasting Notes on Merridale House Craft Cider, Gowans 1876 Heirloom, and Raven’s Moon Apple Raspberry

June 21, 2016June 22, 2016 cidersays Gowans, Merridale, Raven's Moon, review cider, cider review, Gowans, hard cider, Merridale, Raven's Moon, tasting notes

At the same time I had friends over to try the 2 Towns La Mure and three ciders from Brooklyn Cider House, we opened up a few other bottles. All three were picked up out of state by some friends; two from British Columbia Canada and one from California.

Merridale (Cobble Hill B.C. Canada) House Craft Cider (6.0% ABV): This Canadian cider is uniquely sold (only in British Columbia) in a 1 liter plastic bottle (which is common especially for affordable ciders in England). It was very very carbonated, dry, sour, and off tasting. The description mentioned English & French cider apples, so we were confused. Then we noticed the “always refrigerate” note on the label…it appears the cider may have re-fermented in the bottle due to the lack of refrigeration. Its rare to find a cider sold commercially that isn’t shelf stable, but some exist. It certainly didn’t taste good, so I won’t bother with tasting notes. Hopefully we can try a new bottle some other time. I recently tried their Scrumpy cider (see here) and enjoyed it.

UPDATE: Merridale confirmed that their ciders in plastic bottles are unpasturized / unsulfited, so need to stay refrigerated or risk re-fermentation.

Gowans (Napa CA) 1876 Heirloom (6.1% ABV): Gowans has been in the apple business in California since 1876, but only recently got into cider. Only sold in CA. Dark straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells sweet, rich, and of caramel, reminding me of ice cider. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Caramel, honey, and vanilla notes. Very apple-forward. Moderate length warming finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. The scent of this cider was quite luscious, and seemed too good to be true, like it was added. We ended up seeing the ingredient includes water and sugar…which often means the cider is made from apple juice concentrate (why else would you add water to cider?). The use of concentrate is common in Europe even with high quality ciders made from high tannin cider apples, but you only hear of it here in the U.S. for commercial ciders. For $15 for 500ml (a friend picked this up in CA), the ingredient list is disappointing [UPDATE: Apparently the retail price is $10; it was $15 for Cider Summit San Francisco]. The flavor was awesome and the clear winner of the popularity contest of these three ciders, but we had doubts about this being a true craft cider.

UPDATE: Sharon Gowan responded to my e-mail with some additional information:

Here’s some background on our family farm: We’re celebrating our 140th harvest this year! We are 100% estate grown farm to table! Gowan’s is a ‘Grand Cru’ Orchard, one of the oldest heritage orchards in California. Warmer days and cool nights provide a longer growing season—the very best for flavor development. Plus we have older orchards-also great for tannin development.

What apple varieties are used?

….that’s kind of a secret family blend! Over the last few years we’ve fermented hundreds of small batch single variety apples paired with different yeasts, in a huge experiment to discover the best pairing between apple and yeast. We’re not divulging these results just yet…

I’ve never had a cider that smelled so delicious besides cider,,,how were you able to get such a strong rich scent?

Wow! Yeah!! So glad you like it! We’re honored. You’d recognize these rich aromatics if you visited our orchards in October! The secret is the varieties we grow, the terroir, and our 6 generations of orcharding expertise on this family farm. For a 140 years our family has been curating this unique collection of heirloom apples on this same land. You probably wouldn’t believe the endless debates around kitchen tables about how one variety is better than another; better earlier, mid, or late season; better this year vs last year. As farmers we may only replant an orchard 1-2 times in our lifetime—picking the right apple is important. So 6 generations have continued to select, plant trees, graft, grow and harvest the apples to produce the best flavor in this terroir. And of course the 80 plus heirloom varieties we grow. We don’t use any flavorings of any sort.

I was surprised by the ingredient list. I’ve only seen commercial ciders add water and sugar, due to the use of apple juice concentrate. Why is water listed as an ingredient? Was juice or concentrate used? Was the sugar added before or after fermentation?

If there was more consistency in ingredient labeling across the industry, you probably wouldn’t be surprised at all. The FDA is in charge of labeling ciders under 7% ABV, but they don’t pay much attention to it, and the rules are open to broad interpretation.

No ingredient label is required if “the person claiming the exemption employs fewer than an average of 100 full-time equivalent employees and fewer than 100,00 units. www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm053857.htm (for cider under 7% ABV : FDA regulations) We are definitely a small producer, and qualify for this exemption, but chose to list all ingredients anyway.

No ingredient label is required if sold within the state (for cider over 7% : TTB regulations), If sold interstate, only required to declare few of things. See the info that the TTB presented to cidermakers at Cidercon this year.) It’s a confusing mishmash of regulations that the industry struggles with, and at best is incomplete for consumers.

We simply take the apples we grow, and ferment them, and let the cider mature. Then, if it’s a ‘beer style’ cider we blend, sweeten, add water to reduce the alcohol—like beer. A beer-style cider makes a great ’session’ drink ( 4-6% ABV). A pint to quench a thirst, or a couple of of 8 oz glasses with dinner works great, but won’t get you tipsy. We believe it is extremely important to have a low alcohol option.

Our apples naturally range from 7-11% alcohol. There is no way to produce a ‘beer style’ (lower alcohol) cider from our tree ripened apples without water, unless we harvest our apples before they are ripe. But you get much better flavor from ripe apples, as you’ve noticed! Truly dry ciders are seldom palatable. We chose to back sweeten with sugar because it is neutral and doesn’t change the flavor of the cider. (Fun Fact: Cider naturally ferments to dry, any sweetness is introduced somehow. In general, apples don’t have unfermentable sugars, like grapes do.)

We also craft wine-style ciders: the alcohol content is often higher, depending on the apple’s natural sugar content that year.

Blue Moon Winery (Courtenay B.C. Canada) Raven’s Moon Apple Raspberry (9.0% ABV): Only sold in British Columbia Canada. Light cranberry red hue. Nearly still. Smells like alcoholic raspberry candy. Semi-dry. Light bodied. High tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. No sourness. Low tannins. No funk. Raspberry and crab apple notes (the high ABV supports my guess that they use crab apples). Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability. This cider is best drank very cold, as it becomes more harsh as it warms up. I thought the high ABV and fruitiness competed with each other. It reminds me of Eaglemount’s ciders, from Port Townsend WA, which also tend to be higher ABV. Also, I think this is the most tart cider I’ve ever drank! Truly mouth-puckering. I preferred their plain Apple cider (see here).

Left Field Little Dry

June 20, 2016June 11, 2016 cidersays Left Field, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Left Field, Little Dry

Review of Left Field Cider Company’s Little Dry. I picked this up in Victoria B.C., a stop on our Alaska cruise. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider.

Cider: Little Dry
Cidery: Left Field Cider Company
Cidery Location: Logan Lake, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian dry craft cider

Availability: Only in British Columbia and Alberta Canada; see Left Field’s list

Cider Description: Light and refreshing with a slight effervescence, our Little Dry is blended to highlight the natural characteristics of the crisp, fresh apples from which it was made.

They also have a drier flagship cider, Big Dry, but it sounds quite different, not just a drier version of Little Dry.

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

They started in 2012 and have a tasting room in Logan Lake B.C.

Price: $9.00 CAN (~$5.85 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Their ciders have been recommended online to me a few times.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue. Nearly still. Smells of citrus, white blossom, mineral, green apple, floral, and slight sourness & funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Medium to full bodied (much more than I’d expect from a drier cider, almost syrupy). Moderate carbonation. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Mild bitterness. Hints of sourness, funk, and tannins. Notes of citrus, white blossom, mineral, green apple, floral, pineapple, and honey. Quick finish. Mild to moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this cider. It had a nice subtle wine-like complexity.

Most Similar to: Stem Ciders Le Chene, Original Sin Extra Dry, and Boonville Bite Hard

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this. I wish I would have picked up their Big Dry, as although its drier (which I don’t usually prefer), the description mentions bittersweet apples and tannins, which I love.

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

Schilling Cider House Visit 16 Tasting Notes

June 17, 2016June 11, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire, Carlton, Eaglemount, Locust, review, Schilling Alpenfire, cider, cider bar, cider flight, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, washington

Tasting notes from my sixteenth visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here. I was there on a Tuesday evening for a tasting event with Alpenfire Cider (from Port Townsend WA). Its pretty rare they do events, besides some pricey (but awesome sounding) dinners with cider pairings.

Philippe (Nancy & Bear’s son) was there from Alpenfire. The Cider House was featuring a flight of six ciders from Alpenfire (five of which were bottle pours, which was a first for the Cider House, and Apocalypso on draft, which is a rarity for Alpenfire) plus a Shrub cider cocktail.

I arrived early so I tried a few ciders before the event. I had been there just a week earlier, but quite a few of the taps turned over (although there weren’t too many I hadn’t tried).

Eaglemount (Port Townsend WA) Perry (8.0% ABV): Smells of pear and citrus, slightly sour. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Mild to moderate tartness and acidity. Mild bitterness. Hints of sourness, funk, and tannins. Notes of pear, citrus, spice, and vanilla. Alcohol-forward and sharp. Moderate length finish.

Locust Cider (Woodinville WA) Apricot (6.0% ABV): Smells sweet, of apricot and peach. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. A hint of bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Medium flavor intensity with simple but real tasting apricot flavor. Quick finish.

Carlton Cider (McMinnville OR) Bourbon Peachy Keen (6.5% ABV): Foamy. Smells of bourbon and fruitiness (peach and apricot). Semi-dry to dry. Very light bodied with a frothy mouthfeel. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Low barrel influence. Moderate spirit influence. Medium to long length finish. They also make a non barrel aged version of this cider.

The Alpenfire ciders were ready as it got closer to 6pm. I’ve previously tried all the ciders they were offering in the flight, so I decided to just order a pint of Apocalypso (a draft-only version of their Calypso blackberry rum barrel aged cider with double the blackberries and barrel aged 4 instead of 2 months).

Alpenfire (Port Townsend WA) Apocalypso (6.5% ABV): Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Mild to moderate tartness. Mild acidity. Mild tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Mild rum influence. Moderate barrel (oak) influence. Moderate blackberry flavor. Moderate length finish.

I also tried a couple sips of the Shrub cocktail, made with Alpenfire bittersweet cider, Alpenfire apple cider vinegar, blackberry puree, and sparkling water.

Alpenfire (Port Townsend WA) Shrub: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Vinegar more in the scent than flavor. There is tartness and a hint of vinegar flavor, but not any sourness like I was expecting. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Moderate blackberry flavor. Moderate length finish. Unique, but not my thing.

My favorite of the night was the Alpenfire Apocalypso cider. I liked this batch even better than the last one I tried for WA cider week 2015 at the Burgundian Bar (see here), as it was slightly sweeter, more fruity, and more oaky.

They even got in some bottles of Alpenfire Cinders (the Méthode Champenoise version of Glow, their rosé cider made with red-fleshed apples). Its a rare find outside of the Alpenfire tap room (which I visited in February; see here). I actually prefer Glow though, as its sweeter and more flavorful.

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

Brooklyn Cider House Kinda Dry

June 16, 2016June 11, 2016 cidersays Brooklyn Cider House, review Brooklyn, Brooklyn Cider House, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Kinda Dry, New York

Review of Brooklyn Cider House’s Kinda Dry cider. This is the first time I’ve tried their cider. They awesomely sent me a bottle of this one as well as their Still Bone Dry and Half Sour ciders. Interesting note – this cider shares its name with a cider from Portland Cider in Oregon.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Brooklyn Cider House. 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: Kinda Dry
Cidery: Brooklyn Cider House
Cidery Location: Geneva NY
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (this is the first time I’ve seen a twist-top; usually they use crown caps and sometimes corks for cider; I imagine it would work well for ciders with low carbonation)
Style: American craft semi-dry cider

Availability: Only in New York; see this page of retailers.

Cider Description: Kinda Dry transports you to an orchard on a crisp, fall day. Fresh tart apples greet you, waking the palate up. But give it a second and it transforms into a friendly finish that is an ideal picnic companion. We think of it as our perfect casual sipper. Like your favorite jeans, our Kinda Dry is ready for anything.

Each of their ciders are made from a blend of 7-9 apple varieties, ranging from table apples (like Macintosh and Cortland) to bitter apples and crab apples. This cider won silver in the “New World Cider – Heritage” category at GLINTCAP 2016.

Cidery Description: All our ciders are born out of traditions from Spain, France, and America. They are made as naturally as possible from apples hand picked in upstate New York. Our apples are simply crushed and their juice left to ferment the same way the traditionalists do it in Europe and the way it used to be done in Brooklyn before the Temperance Movement ended the party.

Like fine wines our ciders are expressions of place, but unlike wine our ciders are meant to be gulped not sipped! Some are bubbly, some are dry, and some have a hint of natural sugar, but all are meant to celebrate the simple pleasures. So join us in a toast to tradition, friendship and, of course, to Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Cider House was started in 2014. They have an orchard and tasting room in the Hudson Valley in New Paltz New York, Twin Star Orchards.

Price: $10
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of white grape juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of white grape, mineral, pineapple, citrus, and green apple. Moderate flavor complexity. Low apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: This was by far my favorite of the three ciders (and all my tasting companions agreed). I enjoyed it as I prefer ciders with more flavor intensity, which most often occurs with sweeter ciders. I found it sweeter than their Half Sour, although it has less residual sugar per the label. This is a great spring and summer cider as its light and fruity.

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Cidre Moscato (although that special release cider had higher acidity) and Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple with Pinot Grigio (although that was sweeter and had green apple candy notes). This cider also reminded me some of Moscato grape wine, although not as sweet.

Closing Notes: I think this cider is a great value for a $10 retail price, being that its a craft product made from local fresh-pressed New York apples. I’d recommend it for folks who like a slightly fruity semi-dry cider.

Have you tried Brooklyn Cider House ciders? What did you think?

Brooklyn Cider House Half Sour

June 15, 2016June 11, 2016 cidersays Brooklyn Cider House, review Brooklyn, Brooklyn Cider House, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Half Sour, hard cider, New York

Review of Brooklyn Cider House’s Half Sour cider. This is the first time I’ve tried their cider. They awesomely sent me a bottle of this one as well as their Still Bone Dry and Kinda Dry ciders.

Cider: Half Sour
Cidery: Brooklyn Cider House
Cidery Location: Geneva NY
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (this is the first time I’ve seen a twist-top; usually they use crown caps and sometimes corks for cider; I imagine it would work well for ciders with low carbonation)
Style: American craft dry slightly sour cider

Availability: Only in New York; see this page of retailers.

Cider Description: Half Sour is our most thought-provoking cider. It begins with the aromas of wild flowers and honey, followed by a hint of pickled pear. Take a sip and pow! It hits the palate with a wave of citrus fruit flavors that are edgy, refreshing and tickle your tongue – ultimately providing endless possibilities for pairings. Our Half Sour answers to no one.

Each of their ciders are made from a blend of 7-9 apple varieties, ranging from table apples (like Macintosh and Cortland) to bitter apples and crab apples.

Brooklyn Cider House was started in 2014. They have an orchard and tasting room in the Hudson Valley in New Paltz New York, Twin Star Orchards.

Price: $10
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Very light straw yellow, nearly clear. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild with hints of sour & citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Very light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of sour and funk. No bitterness or tannins. Notes of green apple, citrus, and mineral. Quick finish. Low apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Subtle wine-like complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Less sour than I was expecting from the description (I’d say more like 10% than 50% sour cider…nowhere near that of an Austrian Spanish cider), which was good for me as I’m not a sour cider lover. I found this to be too bland for my liking (and my three friends and husband agreed). I think its an ideal cider for food pairing (we had some cheese with it). I’d also recommend it as a base for cider cocktails or mimosas.

Most Similar to: Slightly sour ciders, such as from WildCraft in Eugene Oregon.

Have you tried Brooklyn Cider House ciders? What did you think?

Brooklyn Cider House Still Bone Dry

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016 cidersays Brooklyn Cider House, review bone dry, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Cider House, cider, cider review, hard cider, New York, still, Still Bone Dry

Review of Brooklyn Cider House’s Still Bone Dry cider. This is the first time I’ve tried their cider. They awesomely sent me a bottle of this one as well as their Half Sour and Kinda Dry ciders.

Cider: Still Bone Dry
Cidery: Brooklyn Cider House
Cidery Location: Geneva NY
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft still (non-carbonated) bone dry flagship cider

Availability: Only in New York; see this page of retailers.

Cider Description: Warning: our Still Bone Dry is not like other ciders. With zero carbonation and zero sugar, it’s the driest cider that has passed our lips. Aged for 12 months on the lees and 6 months more in the bottle–unfiltered–it’s as zesty and racy as a cider can get. Discover why this low-alcohol, high-acid drink is changing people’s perceptions about what is possible for the artisanal cider movement.

Each of their ciders are made from a blend of 7-9 apple varieties, ranging from table apples (like Macintosh and Cortland) to bitter apples and crab apples. They also make a carbonated version of this cider. At GLINTCAP 2016 in the “New World Cider – Heritage” category, the Still version won Bronze and the Carbonated version won Silver.

Brooklyn Cider House was started in 2014. They have an orchard and tasting room in the Hudson Valley in New Paltz New York, Twin Star Orchards.

Price: $10
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Completely still. Smells mild, of sour citrus. I was surprised to see a still cider in such a thick glass bottle (especially compared to them using thinner green glass bottles for the other two ciders I got).

Tasting Notes: Dry, but in a more approachable way (as it doesn’t have the high tannins or acidity which is often found with bone dry ciders which causes them to be mouth-puckering). Very light bodied. Very low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Very low flavor intensity. Notes of green apple and citrus. Low apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this to be too bland for my liking (and my three friends and husband agreed). I think its an ideal cider for food pairing (we had some cheese with it). I’d also recommend it as a base for cider cocktails or mimosas. However, I think I’d prefer their carbonated version of this cider.

Most Similar to: I’ve tried a couple other ciders advertised as bone dry, such as Pirate’s Plank from Alpenfire in Port Townsend WA, which comparatively had some carbonation and more flavor complexity.

Closing Notes: I think this cider is a great value for a $10 retail price, being that its a craft product made from local fresh-pressed New York apples (and this one was aged a total of 18 months). I’d recommend it for folks who like a really dry still cider whose flavor won’t overpower food pairings.

Have you tried Brooklyn Cider House ciders? What did you think?

2 Towns Cellar Series La Mûre

June 13, 2016June 11, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, Blackberry, cider, cider review, Corvallis, hard cider, La Mûre, lambic, oregon, sour cider

Review of 2 Towns’ newest Cellar Series cider, La Mûre, a sour blackberry cider aged in Pinot Noir red wine barrels for over a year. It is inspired by Belgian-style sour lambic beer. I’ve tried most of their cider line-up; see my past reviews 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: La Mûre
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottle
Style: American craft sour Belgian lambic beer inspired cider with blackberries, aged in Pinot Noir barrels

Availability: Limited release of 70 cases, mostly in the 2 Towns tap room and a few select accounts in Oregon. In general 2 Towns ciders are available in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA.

Cider Description: La Mûre is made with 100 percent fresh-pressed Northwest apples and whole, Oregon-grown blackberries…Inspired by the Flemish beers of Belgium, La Mûre is 6.9% ABV, bone dry, and holds complex fruit character. La Mûre is aged in local Pinot Noir barrels with lactobacillus for over a year, resulting in a strong backbone, light oak flavors and a wild lactic tang. “This cider is for the more adventurous cider drinker who dabbles in wild ales, sour beers and farmhouse or Asturian-style ciders,” said Dave Takush, head cider maker at 2 Towns Ciderhouse. “La Mûre is French for blackberry. We named this cider after the berry to pay homage to the Flemish ciders of Belgium, and echo wild lambic beers like framboise and cassis.”

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: unknown (probably ~$20)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home, with a group
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Red wine hue. Still. Slight turbidity and sediment. Smells of blackberries, red wine, oak, sourness, and funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light to medium bodied. A balance of moderate tartness, acidity, and sourness. However, the sourness is more at the front of the palate than a typical sour cider where the sourness hits further back. Hints of funk and bitterness. Tannic blackberry flavor. Moderate to high red wine influence. Low to moderate oak influence. Moderate length finish. Moderate flavor intensity. No apple flavor. Very low sessionability.

My Opinion: I’m not a sour cider fan, so no surprise, I wasn’t a fan of this cider. And thats ok…not everyone likes every cider. I knew going into it that I needed some backup, so I had three cider friends over. They are all sour cider lovers, especially berry sour ciders, and loved this one. We opened a lot of ciders and this was one of the few that actually got finished.

Most Similar to: Finnriver Barrel Berry Sour from Port Townsend WA (although less sour) and WildCraft berry ciders from Eugene OR (all their ciders have a slight sourness although most aren’t advertised as sours).

Closing Notes: If you love sour & farmhouse-style cider, Belgian-style lambic beer, etc, and can find this special release, give it a try. 2 Towns really branched out with this one, making something that won’t be a crowd pleaser, but will be truly appreciated by those who enjoy these types of uniquely crafted ciders.

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

Schilling Bailout (Lemongrass Agave)

June 9, 2016June 4, 2016 cidersays review, Schilling agave, Bailout, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, lemongrass, Schilling, seattle, washington

Review of Schilling’s new seasonal release, Bailout, made with lemongrass and agave nectar. I’ve tried a number of their ciders; see here.

Cider: Bailout
Cidery: Schilling Cider
Cidery Location: Auburn (Seattle) WA
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 22oz clear glass bottles and kegs
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples, with lemongrass and agave nectar

Availability: May-August (seasonal, although this is the first year). Schilling Cider is sold at least in AK, AZ, CA, CT, ID, MN, NC, NV, OR, SC, VA, and WA, but this is a special release and is therefore likely to have more limited distribution.

Cider Description: Sometimes you just need to Bail Out! This summer chiller is highly refreshing and perfectly balanced with subtle herbal notes and a kiss of agave nectar.

Cidery Description: In 1881, Colin Schilling’s great-great-grandfather, August, founded the Schilling Spice Company in San Francisco. He brought pure, natural, spices to everyone, at a fair price. Today, at Schilling Cider, we carry August’s core values forward and pair them with innovative cider-making techniques to produce quality, complex, hard ciders.

Based in Seattle, Washington, Schilling Cider captures the essence of the Pacific Northwest by creating ciders that are deliberately innovative, bold and flavor forward. Never back-sweetened, we use only 100% fresh pressed apples, locally sourced non-GMO ingredients and individually hand select yeast strains to create a cider experience that is truly unique.

Price: $6
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Fremont (Seattle) WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Almost no carbonation upon pouring. Smells mild, of apple, citrus, and what I assume is agave nectar (a tart sweetness).

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Still. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of lemon, agave nectar, pineapple, and a bit of herbalness. Quick finish. Low flavor intensity. Low apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked this cider, but didn’t love it. I prefer a bit more intense of a flavor. Also not sure if I liked the slight herbal flavor.

Most Similar to: Light spring/summer type ciders with citrus notes. I looked it up online and see that Two Rivers also offers an agave cider.

Closing Notes: I imagine this will sell well, but I prefer their Pineapple Passion / Trouble in Paradise (which is coming out in bottles very soon).

Have you tried any ciders from Schilling? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 15 Tasting Notes

June 8, 2016June 4, 2016 cidersays Farnum Hill, Jester & Judge, Longdrop, Red Tank, review, Schilling, Snowdrift, Whitewood cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my fifteenth visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here. I was there on a Tuesday evening for a tasting event with Longdrop Cider (from the Boise Idaho area).

I started with a flight before the event, then sampled four Longdrop ciders (2 on tap, 1 bottled, and 1 canned) and a bit of a Canadian ice cider which Sarah opened. There were supposed to be 4 kegs from Longdrop, but 2 didn’t make it in time. I hadn’t previously tried any of their ciders. Longdrop is relatively new to Washington (their ciders are sold throughout Idaho and in Seattle WA and Portland OR). I got to meet their “head apple wrangler” (Chris Blanchard) and they had some giveaways (I got a sweet t-shirt).

Schilling Peach Grapefruit Habanero, 5.0% ABV, Auburn WA: This is a one-off keg of their Grapefruit cider infused with peach and habanero. I’ve tried many of their ciders. Very hazy. Smells like grapefruit with some definite spiciness. Semi-sweet. Moderate tartness. Mild acidity. I didn’t really taste any peach, only grapefruit, and the spiciness was overwhelming for me. Long spicy finish. I learned that the Cider House will maintain one “spicy” tap line, and this currently replaces their Sriracha Lime. I couldn’t do more than two tiny sips of this one; my favorites from them remain King’s Shilling and Pineapple Paradise.

Red Tank Roughneck, 6.5% ABV, Bend OR: This is one of their flagship ciders. I’ve tried a few of their ciders. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. A hint of bitterness and sourness. Kinda bland / low flavor intensity, but it had a bit of unfiltered apple juice flavor, yeast, and earthiness. For unfiltered ciders, I prefer 2 Towns OutCider.

Whitewood Winesap, 6.8% ABV, Olympia WA: A special release tap-only cider. I’ve tried a few of their ciders. Semi-dry. Moderate tartness and acidity. A hint of tannins. Slightly sharp, apple-forward, and citrus-forward. It mellowed out a bit as it warmed up. Medium bodied. I found this similar to the other single varietal winesap apple ciders I’ve tried from Blue Mountain and Locust, and slightly wine-like. My favorite from them is the Whiskey Barrel Aged Kingston Black, which is one of my all time favorite ciders (and I was only able to sample a bit twice; hopefully it is released in bottles sometime).

Farnum Hill Dooryard, 7.5% ABV, Lebanon NH: This is one of their best selling / flagship ciders; Farnum Hill typically labels the different batches of this cider with a code, and you can look up what is in them online (they vary apple varieties and such quite a bit under the same Dooryard label), but I don’t know what batch this was. Also available in bottles, and sold from their Poverty Lane Orchard in growlers. I’ve previously only tried their Extra Dry cider. Dry. Mild tartness and acidity. Mild to moderate bitterness. Mild funk. A hint of sourness as it warmed up. Mild tannins. Citrus, vanilla, mineral, and clove notes. Wine-like and nuanced. This isn’t really my cup of tea.

Jester & Judge Pineapple Express, 5.5% ABV, Stevenson WA: This is a new tap-only release. I’ve tried a few of their ciders. Hazy. Semi-sweet. Strong fresh pineapple flavor! Nice fizziness/frothiness. Moderate tartness and acidity. Light bodied. Quick finish. I really enjoyed this one, despite its simplicity. I found it similar to Schilling’s Pineapple Passion / Trouble in Paradise, but with slight lime instead of slight passion fruit notes.

Snowdrift Semi-Dry, 7.1% ABV, Wenatchee WA: This is one of their flagship ciders, and although I’ve tried most of them, I had only seen their Dry variety previously. Available in bottles and kegs. Dry. Moderate tartness and acidity. Mild bitterness. Mild tannins. Medium bodied. Sharp flavor with some crabapple, apple pomace, and brown sugar notes, and slight richness. Moderate length finish. My favorites from them remain Red, Cornice, and Cliffbreaks Blend.

Longdrop Tanager Pear Cider, 6.0% ABV, Eagle ID: This is their spring seasonal release, a pear cider (apple + pear, not perry), available in 22oz bottles. Smells like juicy pear. Semi-dry. Moderate tartness and acidity. Light bodied, with a fizzy/frothy mouthfeel. Quick finish. Simple apple & pear flavor, but it was nice & light and easy to drink.

Longdrop Vanilla Honey, 6.0% ABV, Eagle ID: This is one of their two most commonly found ciders. Available in 12oz cans and draft. Made from Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith apples, with Madagascar Vanilla beans and Idaho honey. Smells strongly of honey. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Honeycomb flavor with a hint of vanilla. Quick finish. I really loved the honeycomb flavor; you can tell it was high quality honey.

Longdrop Derby Canyon, 6.9%, Eagle ID: This is a special release for the 2016 Apple Blossom Festival, named after a landmark in Washington nearby where the apples for this cider are from. This cider was made with 100% Wenatchee Valley apples…”it’s got a big apple taste with some complexity – probably because it’s got one of every kind of apple out there in it”. Available in 220z bottles and kegs. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light bodied. Apple-forward with some unfiltered apple juice flavor.

Longdrop Semi-Sweet, 5.5% ABV, Eagle ID: This is one of their two most commonly found ciders. Available in 12oz cans and draft. Made from Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith apples. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light bodied. Apple-forward with some vanilla notes and a hint of vinegar/salt?

Pomme De Coeur ice cider, 6.9% ABV, Rougemont Canada: This is the first Canadian ice cider I’ve tried, and the lowest ABV I’ve seen. Its pretty widely available in boxed tall 375ml bottles. Ice cider originated in Quebec, and is made with either apples or apple juice which has been exposed to cold cycles, which concentrates the sugar (and thus flavor), and produces a higher ABV beverage as well. Smells like caramelized sugar. Sweet but not as sweet as other ice ciders such as from Eden. Medium bodied. Very juice-like, with less complexity than other ice ciders. It also doesn’t have the body and higher ABV of most ice ciders. I liked the first couple sips, but after that its inferior quality was apparent. I like the super concentrated intense flavor of other ice ciders; Eden Northern Spy (barrel aged) is my favorite so far. Although its about $15 (vs. $30+) for 375ml, I’d rather get the good stuff. I imagine there are much better Canadian ice ciders available than this (often the more commercial beverages are the ones which have the means to export their products), so I hope to try another in the future.

My favorite Longdrop cider was the Vanilla Honey, and my favorite cider from my flight was Jester & Judge’s Pineapple cider.

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

Big B’s Lazy Daze Lemon Hard Cider

June 7, 2016June 4, 2016 cidersays Big B's, review Big B's, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, hard cider, Lazy Daze, Lazy Daze Lemon Hard Cider, lemonade, organic

Review of Big B’s Lazy Daze Lemon Hard Cider, their dry hard cider mixed with their lemonade. I’ve also tried their Grizzly Brand (bourbon barrel aged) and Pear Supply ciders. My husband picked this up for me in Colorado.

Cider: Lazy Daze Lemon Hard Cider
Cidery: Big B’s
Cidery Location: Hotchkiss Colorado
ABV: 4.7%
How Supplied: 500ml clear glass bottles and 12oz cans
Style: American Organic craft cider mixed with lemonade (which includes sugar)

Availability: Only in Colorado, although they take phone orders to ship to customers when the state allows it.

Cider Description: Big B’s Hard Lemonade is made by combining our Orchard Original Hard Cider with one of Big B’s most popular selling juices, our Orchard Recipe Lemonade. It’s a perfect marriage between dry cider, sweet and tart lemonade. Ultra refreshing and amazingly crisp!

Cidery Description: Big B’s Hard Ciders – Local, Organic, Delicious. Big B’s proudly handcrafts American Farmstead Hard Ciders in small batches using only organic apples, hand picked at the peak of ripeness. Our orchard and tasting room is located in the North Fork Valley on the Western Slope of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Big B’s has an organic farm market and tasting room in Hotchkiss CO for their juices and hard cider (first sold in 2011), which re-opens for the season in May 2016.

Price: $4.98
Where Bought: Hazel’s Beverage World in Boulder CO
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about this online and put it on a list for my husband to check for.

First Impression: Smells like lemonade. Lemonade dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Fizzy mouthfeel. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor is lemonade with a bit of baked apple. Quick finish length. Low apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! This is simple, but I enjoyed it. Perfect for summer and almost too easy to drink. I’m surprised they kept so much of the lemonade flavor despite the addition of hard cider. I also liked the bit of apple flavor.

Most Similar to: Any other hard lemonade. My other favorite is Crabbie’s Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade, but I think I now like this one better. Alcopops are becoming quite popular. Another cider based one I’ve tried is Elemental’s NW Atomic Root Beer.

Closing Notes: Too bad this is only sold in Colorado, or else it would be a summer staple in my house. They recently released it in cans too.

Have you tried Big B’s? What did you think?

Atlas Dragonfruit Cider

June 6, 2016June 6, 2016 cidersays Avid (prev. Atlas), review atlas, Bend, cactus, cider, cider review, cider tasting, dragonfruit, hard cider, oregon, prickly pear

Review of Atlas Cider’s Dragonfruit Cider. This is their newest summer seasonal release, made with dragonfruit (which is the fruit of certain types of cactus, said to taste like kiwi and pear). I’ve tried most of their line-up; see here for previous reviews.

Cider: Dragonfruit Cider
Cidery: Atlas Cider
Cidery Location: Bend Oregon
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 22oz clear glass bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples, infused with dragon fruit and prickly pear juice

Availability: Seasonably in ID, OR, NV, and WA.

Cider Description: A long time ago when dragons roamed the land, soldiers were sent out to bring back one thing for their emperor – the prized Dragon Fruit. Legend has it that as he thrust his sword in the heart of the dragon, fire and fruit was breathed out in his last breath. The fruits cactus like neon-magenta skin and lime green scales very closely resemble the flesh of a mythical dragon. It is believed that those who feast on the flesh, which has a mild kiwi/sorbet flavor, will be endowed with the strength and ferocity of the dragon. Side effects might include breathing fire and other unknowns.

Cidery Description: ATLAS Cider Co. produces authentic hard cider fermented from 100% fresh pressed fruit from our region. Partnering with Northwest farmers to source our fruit has been a priority of ours from the beginning. Our ciders start with a base of NW fruit that are pressed to achieve a balance of sweetness, tartness, and dryness. We forge our ciders in the heart of the NW in Bend, OR.

Price: $6.50
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I had been on the look out for it since reading online about its release

First Impression: Orange-pink hue. Nearly still. Smells of strawberry-watermelon-candy.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. Mild to moderate bitterness. No sourness or funk. A hint of tannins. Strawberry, kiwi, passionfruit, lime, and pineapple notes. Quick finish of the flavor, but some lingering bitterness. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Although I enjoyed this cider, the taste was a bit of a let down after the intensely fruity scent. I was surprised by the bitterness, although that did add some depth to the flavor. There was even a hint of tannins/astringency.

Most Similar to: Other exotically fruity ciders. Ciders with quince come to mind, such as from Eaglemount and Cider Head.

Closing Notes: This is a unique cider. Although its quite common to add fruit, hops, spices, etc, to ciders made from dessert apples, this is the first I’ve heard of with dragon fruit (at least in the U.S….I see one mention online of a cider with dragonfruit in Cambodia). I’m surprised they were able to keep it so affordable.

Have you tried Atlas Dragonfruit Cider? What did you think?

Blue Moon Winery Raven’s Moon Apple Cider

June 3, 2016May 29, 2016 cidersays Raven's Moon, review Blue Moon, British Columbia, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Raven's Moon

Review of Raven’s Moon Apple Cider from Blue Moon Winery in British Columbia. I picked this up in Victoria, a port on our Alaska cruise. This is the first time I’ve tried their cider.

Cider: Raven’s Moon Apple
Cidery: Blue Moon Winery
Cidery Location: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle
Style: Canadian craft cider

Availability: British Columbia; see a list of retailers on their website.

Cider Description: A nice dry and crisp sparkling cider made from 100% pressed organic Heritage cider apples from Denman Island. Delightfully effervescent, and delicate on the palate, you will love sipping this all by itself on a hot day over ice, or serve with friends wand your favourite meal. Best enjoyed in good company! Non pasteurized so keep cool. No water added nor concentrate.

Apple Cider is the original flagship product in the Raven’s Moon lineup. This is true artisan craft cider made from organically grown cider apples, including Pippins, Chisel Jersey and Dabinett. Don’t let the higher alcohol fool you – it contributes to a crisp dry backbone, which is fleshed out by delicious and refreshing full apple flavour, like biting into a juicy apple just plucked from the tree. A versatile sparkling cider for all occasions.

This is their flagship cider, but they also make Blackberry, Asian Pear, Raspberry, and Bourbon Infused varieties.

Cidery Description: At Blue Moon Winery and Ciderworx we grow, gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you hand-crafted award winning spirited fruit wines and sparkling ciders. Our inspiration comes from the scrumptious organic fruits collected from Vancouver Island, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our award winning fruit wines and ciders are crafted from 100% BC organic fruit, picked at the peak of the harvest and created in small batches.

They have a tasting room in Courtenay British Columbia.

Price: $7.50 CAN (~$5.63 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never heard of them.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells mild–sharp & tart, slightly musty, and of apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Apple-forward with a flavor reminiscent of both cider apples and crab apples, honey, and citrus. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This has a nice flavor. Its a bit on the sharp and boozy side, but I enjoy that (although it may not be for everyone).

Most Similar to: It reminds me of some ciders from Liberty Ciderworks which use crab apples.

Closing Notes: I think this cider is a great value (especially with the current exchange rate) for using organic cider apple varieties. Too bad I probably won’t be able to get anything else from them for awhile, as their Bourbon Infused cider sounds awesome.

Have you tried Raven’s Moon cider? What did you think?

Somersby Citrus Fruit

June 2, 2016May 29, 2016 cidersays review, Somersby cider, cider review, cider tasting, citrus, Citrus Fruit, Dannish, Denmark, hard cider, Somersby

Review of Somersby’s Citrus Fruit cider, from Denmark. I picked it up in Victoria B.C., a stop on our Alaska cruise. Its the first cider I’ve tried from Somersby.

Cider: Citrus Fruit
Cidery: Somersby
Cidery Location: Copenhagen Denmark
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 500ml can
Style: Commercial cider from Denmark made from dessert apples with natural citrus flavor added

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Somersby Citrus Fruit is a refreshing cider made from fermented apple juice and natural citrus 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.

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: $4 CAN (~$3 USD) / can
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I think we get Somersby in the U.S., but I hadn’t seen this variety.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells of strong slightly fake citrus.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Full bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Moderate length finish. Citrus notes–predominately lemon with some orange and grapefruit. Artificial taste. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This was disappointing, as I found the flavor fake, despite the claim to not use artificial flavor. It was also rather sweet and syrupy. I had hoped for something lighter.

Most Similar to: Other simple sweet commercial ciders, although I haven’t had a predominately citrus one. I’m a big citrus fan though. My favorite alcoholic citrus beverage so far however isn’t a cider, but Crabbie’s Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try it, but I wasn’t impressed. I couldn’t even finish it.

Have you tried Somersby? What did you think?

Sea Cider Birds and the Bees

June 1, 2016June 1, 2016 cidersays review, Sea Cider Birds and the Bees, Canada, Canadian, cider, cyser, hard cider, honey, lemon, Sea Cider

Review of Sea Cider’s Birds and the Bees cider. I picked this up in Victoria B.C., a stop on our Alaska cruise. I’ve tried a few ciders from Sea Cider (see here), but this one is part of their Canadian Invasion Series and only available in Canada.

Cider: Birds and the Bees
Cidery: Sea Cider
Cidery Location: Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 9.9%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass swing-top bottle
Style: Canadian craft cider made from dessert apples, with fireweed honey and lemon bitters

Availability: Only in British Columbia Canada

Cider Description: The birds & the bees are a welcome sign of spring, and we thought we’d pay tribute to the pollination season with a cider in their honour. Our farm-crafted apple cider is blended with Vancouver Island fireweed honey and lemon bitters for a zesty finish buzzing with goodness. Proceeds from our Canadian Invasion Series help combat invasive plants, so raise a glass to a springtime delight!

As part of the Canadian Invasion Series, Birds and the Bees was created to continue our awareness campaign around invasive species and their impact on farming and the natural world. In addition to increasing awareness, the Canadian Invasion Series is also a way for the Sea Cider team to create fun and interesting seasonal ciders infused with local ingredients. Birds and the Bees blends our apple cider with a hefty helping of lemongrass from our farm, Vancouver Island’s fireweed honey and our own apple eau de vie to create a sweet yet sharp cider sensation. Expect aromatic notes of citrus and lemon to harmonize with the light fresh, floral aroma of fireweed honey in a union as sweet and sprightly as a May morning.

Their Canadian Invasion Series uses dessert/culinary apples to allow them to blend in cool stuff, while their Heirloom Series is “all about the apples” (estate grown bittersharps and bittersweet, single varietals etc). They hope to have the Canadian Invasion Series ciders available in the U.S. in the future.

Cidery Description: Sea Cider is a farm-based cidery located on the Saanich Peninsula just minutes from Victoria, on Vancouver Island. Our ten acre farm is home to over 1,300 apple trees, made up of over 50 varieties of heritage apples. Sea Cider opened its farm gate for business in 2007 when owner Kristen Jordan purchased the property with a vision of creating an organic farm and orchard and producing traditional fermented artisan ciders. Since then, we’ve grown to an annual cider production of over 7,000 cases and growing. We continue to pride ourselves on crafting traditionally fermented ciders from organically grown apples.

Price: just under $20 CAN, which is abour $15 USD
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I read about it online (and thought I’d never get a chance to try it).

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Low carbonation upon pouring. Smells of apple, honey, citrus, and floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Still. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hint of bitterness. No sourness or tannins. Strong honey, moderate lemon, and some orange and floral notes. Moderate length slightly warming finish. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Simple but very tasty. Its unique to find a boozy spring/summer cider, as typically these sorts of ciders are lower ABV (although true cysers, when they ferment the apple juice with the honey instead of just adding honey afterwards, tend to be higher ABV).

Most Similar to: Eaglemount Cyser (also a higher ABV and semi-sweet, but without the lemon)

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider!

Have you tried Sea Cider? What did you think?

FlavorActiV Cider Sensory Kit Series One

May 31, 2016May 29, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, cider education, FlavorActiv, review 2 Towns, cider, cider education, cider sensory kit, FlavorActiv, hard cider, OutCider, review, sensory analysis

This is a unique review…not of a cider, but of FlavorActiV’s Cider Sensory Kit Series One. Kits like this are used in cider sensory analysis classes (such as at CiderCon – see this great post at Along Came a Cider, or for cider certification courses such as USACM CCP or NACM), at cideries for cidermaker education, for judge preparation at a cider competition, etc. It enables the taster to identify the scent and flavor of specific individual compounds (typically faults) which may occur in cider. I heard about it through CiderGuide, and was intrigued enough to contact the company.

About: This kit was developed specifically for the cider industry in conjunction with one of their global beer/cider customers. They are currently developing a Series Two kit, and are interested to get industry feedback on it. They will also soon launch an open cider taster proficiency scheme (see here for more information) so that cider producers can regularly train and test themselves. FlavorActiV offers over 125 flavor standards, including kits for beer, wine, and coffee. Here is info on the individual cider flavor standards they sell in addition to this kit of 10 standards.

>>This is a review of a sample kit provided to Cider Says by FlavorActiV. 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 review cue. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.<<

Samples included: Sour, Musty, Earthy, Barnyard, Phenolic, Acetaldehyde (Acetal), Sulphitic, Indole, Metallic, Mercaptan

Cost: 120 pounds ($170 USD), with free worldwide shipping. Note that one kit makes approximately 1.2 liters (40.6 oz) of each sample, and a 100 ml (3.4 oz) sample is recommended for each taster, so one kit is recommended for 12 tasters (and can probably be used for even more with smaller sample sizes).

How to order: Through their website or by e-mailing cider@flavoractiv.com. For more information, to provide feedback, or to purchase, their e-mail is cider@flavoractiv.com. I received this within a few days even though it traveled from the UK to Seattle WA USA.

Packaging: Bubble mailer, with the samples in capsules individually packaged in a booklet, padded with cardboard so they couldn’t be crushed.

In the box:

10 capsules in a booklet, labeled by type, with descriptions
Instructions
Flavour Wheel of tastes and odors
Handout of the 20 year history of FlavorActiV Flavor Standards
Brochure on their technical taste panel training and management products

Instructions:

Empty the powder in each capsule into 200 ml (6.8 oz) of cider, then swirl the container to release the flavor.
Top off the container with 1 liter (33.8 oz) of cider to reach the recommended tasting concentration.
Pour a 100ml (3.4 oz) sample for each taster.
(Therefore as-directed, you would need 12 liters of cider to mix the powder into, but it would be for 12 people.)

Supplies I used:

three 12oz cans of cider
1/4 cup (50ml) measuring cup (x2)
11 tasting glasses which held at least 4oz (one for each sample plus a control)
butter knife to stir with
index cards
pencil

My experience:

I purchased 2 Towns OutCider, which I consider to be fairly neutral, and is cost effective as it comes in a multi pack (plus I like it). Oddly enough I didn’t have any suitable cider in the house as the only ciders I had more than 1 bottle/can of were flavored.
To use less cider, I ratioed down the powder to make a smaller sample size, as it was just me.
I ended up emptying out each capsule onto an index card, taking a pinch of the powder and putting it into a glass (estimating 1/12), then adding 100ml of cider.
- It worked out fairly well, and I could add cider or add powder to change the ratio if needed. I ended up only adding more powder, not cider.
Of the 10 capsules, one was difficult to open so I cut it open and one had a bit of powder left in it (slight bit of moisture). Overall they were fairly easy to use.
I used all the tasting glasses I had in the house. I think small clear plastic disposable cups would be ideal, especially for a group, as ideally you want to prepare all the samples at once, instead of one by one. The instructions call for a pitcher to mix it in, but the way I did it, I didn’t need one. I found the powder easily dissolved, so I didn’t really need to add a bit of cider, stir, then add more, like they recommended.
The recommended 100ml was a good sample size when doing it individually as it was enough to stir. For a group when mixing it in a pitcher, an even smaller sample size could probably be used. I only had a couple sips of most of them as the only flavor I actually enjoyed was sour (this is a learning exercise, not a pleasant tasting experience).

The samples:

Control (2 Towns OutCider): Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Slightly cloudy as it is less filtered than most ciders. Smells mild, of only apples. Low to moderate tartness & acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. I think this was a fairly good choice for a neutral cider (their Bright Cider would have probably been even better, but I like Out Cider much more). As a bonus I have 3 cans of cider left.
Sour: Scent unchanged. Flavor change was citric acid tartness, not a true “sourness” like sour beer.
Musty: Scent impacted. Flavor was muted and the musty effect lingered on the palate. Tasted like an antique shop.
Earthy: Scent greatly impacted, and it smelled exactly like fresh dirt. Flavor wasn’t as impacted as smell. This was a negative type of earthiness, not the pleasant type which I’ve found in some ciders with significant tannins.
Barnyard: Scent moderately impacted; it smelled of dirt plus “wild”. Taste slightly impacted, mostly in the finish.
Phenolic: Scent slightly impacted. I didn’t taste anything, so I added more powder. Then I got some citrus scent and a slightly herbal & floral flavor. Overall I found it very mild, even when I tripled the amount of powder.
Acetaldehyde (Acetal): Scent impacted, smelling of chemicals like paint. Flavor impacted, and it overall just tasted “off”. Really difficult to describe.
Sulphitic: Scent not impacted. Slight sulfur flavor and flatness. I added more powder and it became more of a chemical flavor.
Indole: Scent and flavor not impacted, so I added more powder. I only smelled and tasted a bit of floral. Overall very mild.
Metallic: Scent not impacted. I didn’t taste anything either, so I added more powder. Then I picked up a flatness and dulling of the flavor. Overall very mild.
Mercaptan: Scent very strongly impacted, of sulphur. Disgusting strong sulphur sewer type flavor.

My comments:

This is great for a large group/class, but the kit isn’t sized for one person. I would have needed 12 liters of cider to make as directed. However, it was definitely doable to scale it down without too much effort. The powder to cider ratio doesn’t need to be exact, and it can be adjusted with more powder or cider if necessary.
- In fact, I liked having extra powder left as there were a few samples I couldn’t detect, so I was able to keep adding powder until I tasted them.
- I think the only easier way to do it would be to have the samples as drops, but I’m not sure if that is a stable way to store them.
Some other samples I would have liked to see, which I assume may be included in Series 2 (and some of which they currently offer individually):
- Diacetyl, a buttery off-flavor formed by yeast; its something I’ve thought I’ve tasted a couple times, but wasn’t sure about
- True sour, like sour beer, often from wild fermentation…very different from tart
- Acetic, a vinegar-like flavor often found in Spanish cider
Sensory analysis such as this is really helpful to help you detect certain scents and flavors in cider, much more than just a description of that scent/flavor. Everyone experiences these differently too (for example, with a few samples I barely detected anything)

In closing: I’m glad I got the opportunity to test out this kit. I haven’t yet attended a cider sensory course, so this was a great introduction! It was educational, easy to use, well-packaged, and a good value when using it for a group. I look forward to seeing what else they come out with (such as the Series Two kit).

I should note that other companies make flavor standards which I haven’t tried/compared to FlavorActiV. However, the only other company I found online which seemed to have samples geared specifically for cider was Aroxa.

Merridale Scrumpy Cider

May 27, 2016May 23, 2016 cidersays Merridale, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, crab apple, crabapple, English Cider, hard cider, Merridale, Scrumpy, Victoria

Review of Merridale’s Scrumpy Cider. This is the first cider I’ve tried from them. It isn’t available in the U.S., but I picked it up in Victoria B.C., a port stop on our Alaska cruise (one of six ciders I bought).

Cider: Scrumpy
Cidery: Merridale
Cidery Location: Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 11.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider made from cider & crab apple varieties

Availability: Only in British Columbia Canada. See Merridale’s website for locations.

Cider Description: Winner of Gold & Silver North American Brewers Awards in Idaho Springs. If you’re a Scotch drinker, try this one. Scrumpy is strong and sharp, and rich in the flavours of our strongest cider apples. Once you acquire a taste for Scrumpy, nothing else will do! In old England, scrumpy was a cider made by farm workers who stole or ‘scrumped’ apples from the orchard.

Cidery Description: Here at Merridale, we use cider apple varieties that have been proven for centuries in England, France, and Germany to make the best cider. All of our ciders are made from 100% pure juice, and only the first pressing is used. We do not add water or re-press the apples to increase the yield because we believe this compromises the flavour. Being purists, we do not use concentrates, chemicals at bottling, pasteurization, or fine filtration of juice. We ferment our juice slowly and naturally, to delicately bring out all of the flavour the fruit has to offer.

The Cowichan Valley mirrors the optimum growing and climate conditions of the renowned cider regions in the UK and Europe. Merridale’s location was chosen, after years of research, as the perfect combination of climate, aspect and soil conditions (our terroire) to grow world-class fruit. As with fine wines, you need world-class fruit to make a world-class beverage! We have two rows of Jonagold apples, the only dessert apples in the orchard. The rest are cider-specific varieties like Tremlett’s Bitter, Michelin, Yarlington Mill, Dabinett, Chisel Jersey, Kermerien, Julienne, Judaine, Frequin Rouge, and Hauxapfel.

At Merridale we take no shortcuts with our cider. We are passionate about following practices and procedures that do not ever compromise the quality. Greater care requires more labour and time, but the result is worth it. The way we handle our fruit, our fermentations, our packaging and our customers is consistent with this philosophy. We believe that consumers appreciate our passion. Some of our practices are important to know so that you can understand what is unique about Merridale. As cider makers, our customers and our staff continue to inspire us. We hope you can taste the passion of our producers and all of us at Merridale.

Price: ~$7.50 USD with the current exchange rate
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. (which had a great cider selection for a small shop by the way)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had heard of them, and I love high ABV (Imperial) and English-style ciders, so this sounded really good.

First Impression: Orange amber hue. Low carbonation upon pouring. Smells rich, of tannins, caramel, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Nearly still. Medium bodied. Moderate tannins. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate bitterness. No sourness. A hint of funk. Notes of apple pomace, caramel, honey, and oak. Long warming finish. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Tastes like an English-style cider with an extra kick of ABV (which I assume is from the crab apples, which are high in sugar) and slightly harsher flavor. I really enjoyed it, but this is probably not for everyone (my husband didn’t like it at all, although he’s not a fan of English-style ciders like I am).

Most Similar to: English Imperial style ciders and ciders made with crabapples. This reminds me of a cross between Liberty’s Stonewall and Manchurian Crabapple.

Closing Notes: I’m impressed! This was also a good value with it being made with cider apples and being oak cask aged, especially good with the current exchange rate. Hopefully I can try something else from Merridale in the future.

Have you tried Merridale cider? What did you think?

Number Six True Cider

May 26, 2016May 23, 2016 cidersays Number Six, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Number Six, seattle, True Cider, washington

Review of Number Six Cider Company’s True Cider. I tried this quite awhile ago, but wanted to give it another go. This is their flagship cider, although they recently came out with a drier version (Dry Ninety-Nine).

Cider: True Cider
Cidery: Number Six Cider Company
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Western Washington

Cider Description: This strong, dry cider is perfect for true cider lovers. With a level of sweetness that is best enjoyed from a glass. Enjoy with family and friends.

Cidery Description: What’s Number 6? It’s a tunnel in the mountains. But this is no ordinary tunnel. This mile of rail at 7000 Sierra Nevada feet connected east to west like no other. In 1867, Transcontinental Tunnel Number 6 finally broke through solid granite after 2 years of hand picks, dynamite, willpower and a startling disregard for safety. Number Six was the most deadly and ambitious railway tunnel ever built. What used to take 25 days to cross, now could be done in a matter of hours. People, materials, and cider now flowed freely.

Number 6 Hard Cider is a tribute to hard fought progress and the connections it creates. Come taste our flagship True Cider and crafted seasonal releases at our rail-side cidery and taproom. 100% Washington apples and a relentless toil for perfect taste is what we’re made of. Raise a cold, crisp pint to progress. Onward!

They have a tap room in Seattle Washington.

Price: $10.99 / four pack
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve known about this cider for awhile and tried it at a tasting event last year.

First Impression: Light orange pumpkin amber. Very low carbonation. Smells rich, apple-forward, and a bit like French cider.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Nearly still. Mild tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Slightly rich. Apple and yeast forward. Hints of honey, mango, pineapple, and pear. Quick finish. High sessionability. Moderate to high apple influence. Moderate to high flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! I liked how rich, fruity, and flavorful this cider was.

Most Similar to: French cider, except with less carbonation, and more fruity than yeasty.

Closing Notes: I enjoyed this cider…more than I remembered. I may have to pick up a full four pack (although I tend to have bad luck with buying a cider for a second time and not liking it as much).

Have you tried Number Six cider? What did you think?

Colorado Cider Company Ol’ Stumpy

May 25, 2016May 26, 2016 cidersays Colorado Cider Co, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Colorado Cider Company, Denver, hard cider, Ol' Stumpy

Review of Colorado Cider Company’s Ol’ Stumpy. My husband brought this back from Colorado for me (I may have given him a shopping list…), and its the first cider I’ve tried from them.

Cider: Ol’ Stumpy
Cidery: Colorado Cider Company
Cidery Location: Denver CO
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 500ml clear bottle
Style: American craft cider made from cider ~~& dessert~~ apples, aged i~~n oak chardonnay barrels~~ with oak spirals

Availability: Limited release, and only in Colorado. See the list on their website for availability.

Cider Description: Made with bittersweet apples, Ol’ Stumpy has a silky mouth feel, aromas of earth, and oak and a touch of tannins. Our modern take on an early American cider. Aged for a full year, including ~~4 months in oak Chardonnay barrels~~. (they now age it with oak spirals)

The bittersweet apples are sourced from New Hampshire while they are waiting for their own orchard to mature. Also see this fact sheet on Ol’ Stumpy.

Cidery Description: Colorado Cider Company was founded in 2011 to produce fresh hard cider for the discerning Colorado drinker. With a well-developed craft beer market and an educated populace, Hard Cider has been a missing choice in the cacophony of craft drinks in local pubs and liquor stores. We set out to remedy that. We bottled our first batch of Glider in April of 2011 – Celebrating 5 years of cidering in the spring of 2016! Glide On!!!

Here are some great writeups on Colorado Cider Company from Drinking Cider and Cider Sage.

Price: $9.48
Where Bought: Hazel’s Beverage World in Boulder CO
Where Drank: home
How Found: I browsed the websites of all the Colorado cideries with an online presence and made my husband a list of ciders to look out for when he was in Colorado. This one sounded the most to my liking from Colorado Cider Company’s lineup, as I love anything with bittersweet apples and/or barrel aged.

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. No carbonation upon pouring. Smells rich and sweet, of bittersweet apples and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Still. Medium bodied. Mild to moderate tartness. Mild tannins. Mild to moderate bitterness. Moderate to high acidity. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet apples, apple pomace, citrus, honey, and oak. Earthy and moderate to full flavored. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple influence. Low to moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this cider. However, after the AMAZING scent, the taste was honestly a bit of a let down. I think the high acidity and bitterness combined with the dryness made the flavor a tad harsh. I imagine that with a bit of honey this would be even better. I also imagine aging it in neutral oak or anything but chardonnay barrels would decrease the acidity.

Most Similar to: Despite using bittersweet apples, Ol’ Stumpy definitely doesn’t taste like an English cider, due to the addition of dessert apples (including granny smith) and aging in oak chardonnay barrels. Its rather unique and I have a tough time finding any similar ciders that I’ve tasted. I’ve had other bittersweet ciders though, such as from Sea Cider and Locust, and both were sweeter, with less acidity and less bitterness.

Closing Notes: I’m usually a huge fan of bittersweet apples in cider and barrel aging, and although I wasn’t blown away by this one, it was definitely pleasant to drink and I’m glad I got a chance to try it. My husband was an even bigger fan than I was (probably as it was on the dry side but remained really flavorful). Hopefully I’ll get to try more ciders from them in the future.

Have you tried any ciders from Colorado Cider Company? What did you think?

2 Towns Imperial Hop and Stalk

May 24, 2016May 23, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, Corvallis, hard cider, Hop and Stalk, hopped cider, hops, oregon, rhubarb

Review of 2 Towns’ Imperial Hop and Stalk, a seasonal release with Citra hops and Crimson Red rhubarb. I’ve tried most of their line-up; see my reviews here.

Cider: Hop and Stalk
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles and kegs
Style: American Imperial (high ABV) craft cider made from dessert apples, with Citra hops and Crimson Red rhubarb

Availability: Seasonably (May-Aug) in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA.

Cider Description: An outrageous amount of Citra hops, locally grown Crimson Red rhubarb, and fresh-pressed NW apples create a trenchant hard cider with huge floral, citrus & passion fruit notes. The outspoken dry-hopped character of this cider is best when fresh, so make sure to exercise your Stalk Hoptions before they expire!

Price: n/a (runs $7-$9)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Low to moderate carbonation upon pouring. Smells primarily of citrus, with some hops and strawberry-rhubarb.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. No sourness, tannins, or funk. Moderate length finish. Moderate hoppiness, although with less bitterness and lingering flavor than many hopped ciders. Notes of citrus (lots!), hops, strawberry, rhubarb, passion fruit, honey, and floral. Low apple flavor. Moderate to strong overall flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I wasn’t expecting to like this cider as I wouldn’t call myself a fan of hops or rhubarb. However, I really enjoyed it–I loved the complexity and uniqueness.

Most Similar to: Hopped ciders with lots of citrus notes and some fruitiness. Portland Cider Hop’Rageous also uses Citra hops, so you get more citrus & floral than bitter hops. Tod Creek Mala-Hop also had a lot of citrus notes, but used Chinook, Sterling and Centennial, not Citra hops. This is the most citrusy hopped cider I’ve tried though, and the only one with another fruit addition.

Closing Notes: Another winner from 2 Towns!

Have you tried 2 Towns Hop and Stalk? What did you think?

Woodchuck Out on a Limb June and Juice

May 23, 2016May 14, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, June & Juice, June and Juice, Juniper, Out on a Limb, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest (8th) Out on a Limb release, June and Juice. It is pegged as a Juniper hard cider. It is infused with juniper berries (which are used in making gin), rose buds, and orange peel. Here is the press release. The ciders rotate every few months in the same six pack. I’ve reviewed a number of their ciders here.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle 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: June and Juice (Out on a Limb)
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles

Availability: Wide release, but only for the next couple months (Out on a Limb rotates varieties).

Cider Description: True apothecary, thy cider art craft. It was Out on a Limb of a juniper tree that we found this new concoction. Like a classic gin, we steeped fresh juniper berries into our small batch hard cider. With a fresh botanical aroma, enjoy a semi-sweet fresh apple taste with notes of juniper and citrus. Gin & Juice? Let’s try June & Juice.

Ingredients: Hard cider, rose bud, orange peel, juniper berries, less than 1% of: natural flavor, citric acid (contains sulfites)

Cidery Description: Here at the Woodchuck Cidery in Vermont, we handcraft every batch of Woodchuck Hard Cider. Our Cider Makers utilize the highest quality ingredients and meticulously oversee each small batch from start to finish. We reinvigorated American cider in 1991 and continue to lead the category through our commitment to craft innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (but it runs ~ $10.99 a six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. No carbonation upon pouring. Smells of honey, floral, herbs, citrus, and vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Still. Mild tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of floral (rose), orange, and honey, with hints of earthiness and maple. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high sessionability.

Opinion: This is a unique but approachable cider, refreshing, and great for Spring. I couldn’t detect any gin botanical like flavor from the juniper, which was fine by me as I’m not a fan of gin. The flavor was primarily floral/rose. I liked how it was flavorful but not overly sweet. I think it was a good choice to not carbonate it, as that would have taken away from the flavor (although Woodchuck never seems to use much carbonation). I wonder how well it will sell though, as the Juniper may be a turn-off to many people (I wasn’t expecting to like this one at all, and was pleasantly surprised)….I probably would have played up the rose more.

Most Similar to: Other ciders infused with botanicals or rose petals. Seattle Cider makes a Gin Botanical cider, but I don’t think I’ve tried it. I’ve actually had a number of ciders infused with rose petals though–Elemental Lavender Rose, Elemental Pomegranate Rose, WildCraft Wild Rose, and Finnriver Cranberry Rosehip.

Closing Notes: I’m impressed, especially coming from such a large commercial cidery (side note – I don’t get how they can call themselves craft and say they do small batches?). This is probably my favorite Out on a Limb so far…many of them have been too out there for me.

Have you tried any Woodchuck Out on a Limb varieties? What did you think?

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: