Bereziartua Edición Gourmet

August 5, 2016August 3, 2016 cidersays Bereziartua, review Bereziartua, cider, cider review, cider tasting, gourmet, hard cider, natural, Sidra

Review of Bereziartua’s Edición Gourmet. This is my first time trying their cider, although I’ve tried a handful of other Spanish Sidra varieties (pronounced see-druh, cider in Spanish).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Scoperta Importing / The Marchetti Company (the importer). 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: Edición Gourmet
Cidery: Bereziartua
Cidery Location: Astigarraga, Basque Country, Spain
ABV: 6%
How Supplied: 750ml green bottles, wine corked
Style: Spanish Sidra

Availability: CA, DE, ID, IL, KY, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, OR, SC, and WA

Production: This special cider is produced from select apple varieties grown in a special orchard that Bereziartua has been working with for 25 years. The freshly picked apples are crushed, pressed, and then fermented in kupelas (large oak barrels) for a minimum of eight months. This traditional cider is 100% natural: apples are the only ingredient.

Tasting Notes: Unfiltered and slightly effervescent, with peach, orange blossom, and lemon aromas, this has more body and roundness than most Basque ciders but still finishes bright and dry.

Food Pairing: Excellent with steak, rich fish dishes, and lightly fried foods.

Serving Suggestion: Serve chilled. Traditionally Basque cider is poured from a bottle held head high into a glass held mid-thigh. A small portion is poured and the cider aerates as it hits the glass. It should be consumed in one gulp and poured again.

Apple Varieties: Numerous wild Spanish apple varieties, including Txalaka, Urtebia, Judeline, and Judor

Cidery Description: Sidras Bereziartua Sagardoak is a family-run firm devoted to cider production since 1870. That was when we made the first Bereziartua ciders at our old installations in Ergobia. A century later, in 1970, our cider house finally committed itself to the production of sagardua or cider at its installations in Astigarraga, where we are located today. Since then, and following various modernization processes, Bereziartua has become a beacon in the production of natural cider, while at the same time preserving its family character at the service of tradition, and out of respect and gratitude towards our loyal customers.

Price: n/a (retail is $10.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer asked if I would like samples

First Impression: Cloudy bright yellow hue. Smells of sulfur, funk, sourness, and citrus. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied, smooth. Moderate to strong sourness that hits more mid-palate than back of the palate. Moderate tartness and acidity. Mild bitterness. Moderate funk. No tannins. Notes of grapefruit, orange, lemon, mineral, sulfur, and yeast. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Although its growing on me, I’m not a huge fan of Spanish Sidra. I was able to share the remainder of the bottle with some friends who better enjoy this style. Of the two, I preferred the Sidra Natural (as I found it more flavorful and less harsh), but my husband preferred Edición Gourmet (which he found to have more apple flavor).

Most Similar to: Other Spanish Sidras

Closing Notes: If you enjoy Spanish Sidra, American farmhouse-style cider, sour beers, etc, than this is a well-made budget-friendly selection I’d recommend.

Have you tried Spanish Sidra? What do you think of them?

Bereziartua Sidra Natural

August 4, 2016August 3, 2016 cidersays Bereziartua, review Bereziartua, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, natural, sideria, Sidra, spanish

Review of Bereziartua’s Sidra Natural. This is my first time trying their cider, although I’ve tried a handful of other Spanish Sidra varieties (pronounced see-druh, cider in Spanish).

Cider: Sidra Natural / Basque Apple Cider
Cidery: Bereziartua
Cidery Location: Astigarraga, Basque Country, Spain
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 750ml green bottles, wine corked (and kegs)
Style: Spanish Sidra

Availability: CA, DE, ID, IL, KY, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, OR, SC, and WA

Production: Freshly picked apples are crushed and pressed. The freshly pressed juice is put into kupelas (large neutral wood barrels) where it ferments for five months. This traditional cider is 100% natural. Apples are the only ingredient.

Tasting Notes: This cider is unfiltered and slightly effervescent. The aromas are peach and orange blossom, with a bouquet of yeast, and the tart apple flavor finishes in a burst of minerals.

Food Pairing: Excellent with poultry and friend foods. Enjoy as an aperitif. Serve chilled.

Serving Suggestion: Traditionally, Basque cider is poured from a bottle held head high into a glass held mid-thigh. A small portion is poured and the cider aerated as it hits the glass. It should be consumed in one gulp and poured again.

Apple Varieties: Numerous wild Spanish apple varieties, including Txalaka, Urtebia, Judeline, and Judor

Price: n/a (retail is $8.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer asked if I would like samples

First Impression: Cloudy bright yellow hue. Smells fresh, sour, and of citrus. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied with some frothy texture. Moderate sourness that hits more mid-palate than back of the palate. Moderate tartness and acidity. Mild bitterness. Mild funk. No tannins. Notes of grapefruit, orange, lemon, mineral, and yeast. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

Side note – I did not do a traditional Spanish pour. Truthfully I had enough trouble getting the bottle open! (plus unless you have a lot of experience, doing a long pour, it is likely to be wasteful) This Sidra didn’t seem to require the aeration as much as some others though.

My Opinion: Although its growing on me, I’m not a huge fan of Spanish Sidra. I was able to share the remainder of the bottle with some friends who better enjoy this style. I did enjoy this the most of all the Sidras I have tried however (I found it more flavorful and the sourness less harsh).

Most Similar to: Other Spanish Sidras

Closing Notes: If you enjoy Spanish Sidra, American farmhouse-style cider, sour beers, etc, than this is a well-made budget-friendly selection I’d recommend. If you are thinking of trying one for the first try, this is a decent choice (although its not the mildest, it isn’t the harshest, and I think it has a nice flavor).

Have you tried Spanish Sidra? What do you think of them?

Reverend Nat’s Tent Show Deliverance Gin & Tonic

August 3, 2016July 27, 2016 cidersays Rev Nat's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Deliverance, Gin, hard cider, reverend nat's, tent show, tonic

Review of Reverend Nat’s Deliverance Gin & Tonic, a selection of their Tent Show cider club. I’ve previously tried a handful of their ciders (see here), with Revival being my favorite.

Cider: Deliverance Gin & Tonic
Cidery: Reverend Nat’s
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 10.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottle
Style: American craft Imperial single varietal Newtown Pippin cider with spices, gin barrel aged

(standard Tent Show bottle, where only the label changes)

Availability: Only at Reverend Nat’s Portland Oregon cidery, only for Tent Show cider club members unless there are leftover bottles, 46 cases produced

Cider Description: Imperial (high ABV) Newtown Pippin cider with ginger, quinine, lime juice & zest, lemongrass, juniper berries, and cucumber, aged in Ransom Old Tom gin barrels

Cidery Description: Reverend Nat is a single-minded cider evangelist who searches the world for superior ingredients to handcraft the most unusual ciders that no one else will make.

Nat West (who is actually an online ordained minister) has been making cider since 2004, started Reverend Nat’s in 2011, and opened a tap room with 12 taps in Portland in 2013 (which also includes bottles and selections from other cideries).

Price: n/a (a friend brought this to a cider tasting dinner)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy medium amber. Nearly still. Smells rich and boozy, of spices and botanicals.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate bitterness. Low funk. Low tannins. No sourness. Notes of caramel, ginger, and spices & botanicals I’m unfamiliar with. No apple flavor. Low sessionability. High flavor intensity. High complexity.

My Opinion: This was a really interesting cider. I didn’t really enjoy it at first, but it grew on me, especially once I added a couple ice cubes, which reduced the harshness. This cider is more like a cocktail, and reminds me a bit of Pommeau. I think without the ginger I would have liked it better (I’m not a ginger fan).

Most Similar to: Not anything I’ve tried. I’ve had Portland Cider Company London Dry Gin, which was gin barrel aged (dry, high tannins, and botanical). I’ve also had Liberty Cider Works Abbess, which used gin botanicals (semi-dry, bold flavor with a hint of botanicals). Both had the botanicals, but not the body, haziness, and richness of this cider.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got a chance to try this cider, as I’m not a Tent Show member, and Seattle is a bit far from Portland to just pop in and check if they have anything interesting.

Have you tried Reverend Nat’s Deliverance Gin & Tonic? What did you think?

Sietsema Traditional Dry Hard Cider

August 2, 2016August 2, 2016 cidersays review, Sietsema cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Michigan, Traditional Dry

Review of Sietsema’s Traditional Dry Hard Cider, from Michigan. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider.

Cider: Traditional Dry Hard Cider
Cidery: Sietsema
Cidery Location: Ada Michigan
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (and cans)
Style: American farmhouse-style craft cider made from heirloom apples, fermented with champagne yeast

Availability: Only in Michigan

Cider Description: Our take on the traditional American cider. We use champagne yeast to give our Yellow Label a carbonated kick, resulting in a full-bodied beverage that is dry, tart and just a little sweet.

Cidery Description: Before founding Sietsema Orchard & Cider Mill on the ourskirts of Grand Rapids Michigan, Jerry Sietsema Sr. was in real estate. The year was 1934, and the Country and the state of Michigan was in the middle of the Great Depression. Jerry Sietsema Sr., decided to go out on a limb and start his own family farm and orchard where once was the countryside of Grand Rapids Michigan. He purchased some land at Knapp and the East Beltline. The land and homestead once owned by a minister and his wife, which where part of the Underground Rail Road. He knew the land would be great for planting an orchard on. It was located far enough out of town, and high enough elevation to help prevent the apple blossoms from freezing in the late spring.

Jerry Sietsema Sr. operated his orchard and family farm from the Grand Rapids location from 1934 to 1995. After that time Sietsema Orchards moved to 8540 2 Mile Road in Ada Michigan, where it resides today. Although the farm was fully operational and proving to be a success, the goods produced were sold on mainly a wholesale level to a Grand Rapids area packing house. Beginning in, 2010, we decided to expand our business and our dream. This is where the 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation of Sietsema Orchards & Cider Mill hope to thrive and grow. We are committed to providing quality produce, and by opening our doors to the public, providing a family farm experience that we hope you enjoy here in West Michigan.

Price: n/a (tetails for &12.99; a friend brought this to a cider tasting dinner)
Where Bought: n/a (she got it from a trade from Michigan)
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy light straw yellow. Low carbonation with foam. Smells sour, of citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Low tartness. High acidity. Moderate sourness. Mild funk. No bitterness or tannins. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, and yeast. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I didn’t really care for this, as I don’t like sourness and funk. My friends who enjoy this style of cider better than I do thought it was average, a bit too mild.

Most Similar to: Farmhouse-style cider, or lighter version of Spanish Sidra. This had a similar profile to Angry Orchard Walden Hollow and Millstone Cellars Farmgate Dry.

Closing Notes: It was nice to try this cider, but I’m glad it wasn’t something I bought. It would pair very well with food as its so mild.

Have you tried Sietsema Traditional Dry Hard Cider? What did you think?

Chatter Creek Cider Pilot Project Batch “1” Golden Cider

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 cidersays Chatter Creek, review Batch 1, Chatter Creek, cider, Golden Cider, hard cider, Pilot Project, seattle, washington

Review of Chatter Creek Cider’s Pilot Project Batch “1” Golden Cider. This is the first time I’ve tried (or even seen) anything from this cidery. It appears to be from a winery which is new to making cider; I couldn’t find any information online except an under construction website, but was able to get in touch with Gordy Rawson at Chatter Creek. It appears the winery is in Woodinville WA but this cider was made in Seattle WA, the original location.

Cider: Pilot Project Batch “1” Golden Cider
Cidery: Chatter Creek Cider
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml flip top bottle
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: self distributed in Seattle WA

Description: This Cider is a winemakers take on how to balance a beverage. Good apple flavor. The acid and sweetness are in balance to present a natural flavor, Some light tannin, medium carbonation.

Ingredients: Just apples, sulfites, and sweetened with concentrate

Apple Varieties: Red and Golden delicious, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Granny, and Pinata

Price: $8.75
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Nearly still. Smells mild, of acidity and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honey, stone fruit, and pineapple. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I found this to be a typical apple-forward sessionable cider. I think it would be better suited in a multipack of bottles or cans, instead of a $9 pint.

Most Similar to: 2 Towns OutCider (although not unfiltered), Apple Outlaw Original (although less apple-forward), and Atlas Session Cider (although not as fruity)

Closing Notes: I’m interested to find more information about this cidery and cider, and I’m curious if they will release more ciders.

Have you tried Chatter Creek Pilot Project Golden Cider? What did you think?

New Page At Cider Says – Review Terminology

July 29, 2016July 27, 2016 cidersays cider education, misc cider, cider education, cider review, Cider Says, hard cider, terminology

A new page is now up here at Cider Says, Review Terminology, which defines the various terms I use in reviews. On a more general note, Cider Tasting Terminology 101 defines some common cider tasting vocabulary.

Also check out the other pages on this blog:

About is about this blog and myself.

Ciders I’ve Tried is an ongoing list of ciders I’ve tried, including links to those with reviews. This list has proved helpful several times when I couldn’t remember if I had tried a cider.

Cider Wish List is an ongoing list of ciders I want to find and try.

Hard Cider Info is a page covering some general information about cider.

Bertolinos Hard Cider

July 28, 2016July 26, 2016 cidersays Bertolinos, review Bertolinos, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Friuli, hard cider, Italy

Review of Bertolinos Hard Cider, from Italy. Its the first Italian cider I’ve tried. Here is an interesting article I found on the Italian cider industry.

Cider: Hard Cider
Cidery: Bertolinos
Cidery Location: Friuli Italy
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottle, wine cork
Style: Italian cider, made from native apple varieties

Availability: unknown

Description: The Da Pozzo Family has been making the highest quality hard cider in Friuli Italy using only 100% pure Friuli apple juice at Ecomela for over two decades. They have been recognized at the World Cider Awards in England as making the Best Cider in the World, medium category. This is a full bodied, very well balanced Cider with an intense floral fresh Friuli apple Aroma! Please join us and enjoy Bertolinos. From our Family to yours!

Price: $7
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I was intrigued as I’ve never tried Italian cider, and it was affordable.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation with some foam. Smells of apple juice and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honey, pineapple, and grapefruit. High apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! I enjoyed it. It was definitely on the simpler side, but was tasty and easy to drink. I can see this being a very widely appealing cider, as long as someone doesn’t mind on the slightly sweeter end of the spectrum.

Most Similar to: French cidre, except without the richness (as it was apple-forward and higher carbonation). I like this better than most apple-forward sessionable American ciders.

Closing Notes: I’m curious if I’ll be able to find any more Italian ciders locally, as this is the first I’ve seen.

Have you tried Bertolinos? What did you think?

Washington Gold Cider Golden Delicious

July 27, 2016July 23, 2016 cidersays review, Washington Gold cider, cider review, cider tasting, Golden Delicious, hard cider, washington, Washington Gold

Review of Washington Gold Cider’s Golden Delicious, a single varietal cider, and their first canned offering. I’ve previously tried their entire lineup, and reviewed their Cherry cider.

Cider: Golden Delicious
Cidery: Washington Gold Cider
Cidery Location: Chelan WA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from Washington Golden Delicious apples

Availability: Washington and Southern California

Cider Description: Bright and crisp with a touch of golden sweetness. Made with hand-picked Golden Delicious Apples from the heart of Washington State.

Cidery Description: Crisp, refreshing, and steeped in our family’s rich apple-growing tradition, Washington Gold Cider is crafted from the best apples in the world. Farm fresh. Family-owned. Proudly made in Washington State. Washington Gold Cider…The world’s best cider, made from the best apples on Earth.

Price: ~ $2 / single can
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had seen this on their Facebook page, but hadn’t yet spotted it in stores. I’m a commitment phobe when it comes to multi packs of ciders I haven’t tried, so I typically pick up any single cans/bottles I haven’t tried.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of acidic green apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet (sweeter than expected for 12g sugar / 12oz). Medium to full bodied, syrupy. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, lemon, floral, and honey. Quick finish length. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I found it to be an above average sessionable sweeter cider. I was surprised by how full bodied and syrupy it seemed, and the presence of green apple notes despite the lack of their use and the lack of tartness.

Most Similar to: Flatbed Cider Crisp Apple

Closing Notes: I think this will sell well. It isn’t my favorite style of cider, but I thought I’d give it a try. The sessionable cider I typically keep in the house is quite difference from this–Celt, a French cidre, which I love for its richness.

Have you tried Washington Gold Cider Golden Delicious? What did you think?

Finnriver Oak and Apple

July 26, 2016July 23, 2016 cidersays Finnriver, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finnriver, hard cider, Oak and Apple

Review of Finnriver’s Oak and Apple, an oak aged semi-dry cider. Its been awhile since I tried this cider, and had only tried it on draft, so I was curious to give it another go. I’ve previously tried many Finnriver ciders (see here).

Cider: Oak and Apple
Cidery: Finnriver
Cidery Location: Chimacum WA, near Port Townsend
ABV: 6.5%
Specific Gravity: 1.005
BRIX: 1.3
How Supplied: 500ml bottles and draft
Style: American craft cider from Organic Washington dessert apple varieties, aged in rye whiskey barrels

Availability: In general, Finnriver ciders are sold in WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, TX, IL, CO, and Alberta & BC Canada (detailed info here). They also have an online store (which can ship to WA, OR, CA, AK, CO, MN, FL, & WA D.C.). However, this cider might have slightly less availability than some of their more common ones.

Cider Description: A foundation of bright citrus in this cider is layered with a smooth whiskey depth and spicy rye spirit. A fine, craft cider that showcases American oak, Northwest rye whiskey, and Washington organic apples. Woody astringency balances the acidity, and then finishes with lovely toasted oak and vanilla notes.

Fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures to capture the full ester profile of the apples. Once fermentation is complete, this cider is then aged for 12 to 16 weeks in rye whiskey barrels from High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. The oak gives the cider a liquid gold color. Sweetened with organic cane sugar.

This is part of their new Traditional line of ciders, along with Farmstead, Apple Abbey, and Sidra.

Cidery Description: At Finnriver we gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you farmcrafted hard ciders and spirited fruit wines. We are inspired by the allure of the fruit, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our mission is to inspire a deeper connection to the land that sustains us….Some of these ciders are small-batch, seasonal and labor-intensive. Others are produced with contemporary methods and more readily available year-round…Finnriver grows over twenty varieties of traditional and heirloom apples in our organic orchard, to feature in our traditional and specialty ciders.

Price: $10
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, acidic, and of oak with a hint of whiskey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied, very smooth. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honey, lemon, oak, mineral, almond, and hints of whiskey & vanilla. Moderate to long finish length, slightly warming. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low barrel influence. Low spirit influence. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! However, this is on the mild and easy drinking side of oak aged ciders. I’d love to see them do a special version of this barrel aged much much longer. Side note – I had fun with this cider and tried some of it with a bit of my husband’s Peat Monster scotch, which oddly mellowed out the flavor even more.

Most Similar to: Schilling Oak Aged, especially earlier versions of it (now discontinued). Both ciders are mild and on the sessionable side for an oak aged cider. Schilling’s was aged on oak chips, while Finnriver’s was aged in rye whiskey barrels. I think Finnriver’s is better done however.

My favorite example of a heavily oak aged cider (and one of my favorite ciders ever and also an excellent value) is Sheppy’s Oak Matured. An example of a great moderately oak aged cider is Liberty Ciderworks Stonewall.

Closing Notes: I think this is a great cider. It would be a good introduction to whiskey barrel aged cider, as it isn’t overly boozy, harsh, dry, etc. Finnriver continues to not disappoint.

Have you tried Finnriver Oak and Apple? What did you think?

Long Drop Vanilla Honey

July 25, 2016July 22, 2016 cidersays Longdrop, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, honey, Idaho, Long Drop, Longdrop, vanilla, Vanilla Honey

Review of Long Drop’s Vanilla Honey cider, from near Boise Idaho. I tried this cider awhile back (see here), and thought I’d give it a full review. I’ve also tried their Tanager Pear Cider, Derby Canyon, Semi-Sweet, and Electric Cherry.

Cider: Vanilla Honey
Cidery: Long Drop Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Eagle ID
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider with Madagascar Vanilla beans and Idaho honey

Availability: throughout Idaho, and in Seattle WA & Portland OR

Cider Description: none given, but it has Madagascar Vanilla beans and local Idaho honey

Apple Varieties: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith

Cidery Description: We do cider right. We start with the best apples in the world – 100% Northwest grown fruit. We ferment the fruit with only the most carefully selected yeast strains preserved since prohibition, each designed to retain classic apple flavors and aromas. And then we skillfully blend our handcrafted ciders together into unique offerings. No high fructose corn syrup. No phony flavors, or colors. Just the best apples from on high, the ones that make the long drop.

Price: $2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: This is the first time I’ve seen single cans since trying it at the Schilling Cider House (see here).

First Impression: Hazy dark straw yellow hue. Nearly still. Smells mild, of apple juice and honeycomb.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honeycrisp & green apples, honeycomb, honey, and hints of vanilla. Quick finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I’m a big fan of honey, and especially enjoyed the honeycomb flavor of this cider. Its easy to drink, tasty, and not too sweet.

Most Similar to: Finnriver Honey Meadow; it also has the awesome honeycomb notes.

Closing Notes: I’m usually not a fan of sessionable cider, but I find this one keeps my interest. Its my favorite from them so far.

Have you tried Longdrop Vanilla Honey? What did you think?

Rocquette XC Exceptional Cider

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016 cidersays review, Rocquette Channel Islands, cider, cider review, cider tasting, English Cider, Exceptional Cider, hard cider, Rocquette, UK cider

Review of Rocquette’s XC Exceptional Cider, from the Channel Islands in the UK. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, although I’m a fan of English cider.

Cider: XC Exceptional Cider
Cidery: Rocquette
Cidery Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: clear glass 11.2oz bottles
Style: English cider made from cider apple varieties

Availability: Mostly in the UK, but at least some U.S.A. availability (through Half Pint Ciders).

Cider Description: XC – Exceptional Rocquette Cider has been crafted from specially selected apples to produce a lighter, more refreshing drink.

Apple Varieties: Dabinett, Michelin, Tom Putt, Angela, Helene, Amanda, Three Counties, Bramleys, Red Falstaff, and 10% community gathered apples in Guernsey.

Cidery Description: Nestled in the Fauxquets Valley in the heart of Guernsey countryside and with distant views of the English Channel, the Meller family farm has become established as the home of Rocquette Cider.

To produce a quality, local cider has always been our dream. From planting the seed to creating a finished packaged product, which competes on an international stage, we are committed to continuing the long established cider heritage of Guernsey.

We are proud of our sustainable approach to cider making and passionate about our brands. We hope that you become immersed in this as you explore our site.

Price: $4 / single bottle
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Deep caramel amber hue (lovely!). Nearly still. Smells rich, of bittersweet apples, caramel, and tannins.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Low to moderate bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet apples, caramel, brown sugar, coffee, apple pomace, and orange. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. Moderate to long finish.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this cider; the flavor was unique. However, its not one of my favorite English ciders (which so far is Aspall Imperial, black label).

Most Similar to: Other English ciders from bittersweet apples. It also reminds me some of Locust Bittersweet Reserve, which on draft had some similar coffee and orange notes (although more body, sweetness, and unfiltered qualities).

Closing Notes: This is a unique English cider, with some impressive color and flavor. I haven’t seen it sold anywhere else, and I haven’t seen any other varieties from them, but if I do, I’ll give them a try.

Have you tried Rocquette? What did you think?

Tieton Cider Works Frost Ice Cider

July 20, 2016July 17, 2016 cidersays review, Tieton cider, cider review, cider tasting, Frost, hard cider, ice cider, Tieton

Review of Frost ice cider from Tieton Cider Works. I’ve tried several ice ciders before (see here), and have tried most of Tieton’s lineup (see here).

Cider: Frost (ice cider)
Cidery: Tieton Cider Works
Cidery Location: Yakima WA
ABV: 11%
How Supplied: 375ml tall clear glass bottles, corked
Style: American craft ice cider made from dessert apples (see here for a description of the ice cider process)

Availability: AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, IL, MI, MT, NM, NJ, OH, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY, and B.C. Canada. Also, online sales to OR and WA.

Cider Description: Our autumn harvest blend of Jonagold, Pinova and Winter Banana apples produces a pale straw cider that is expressive and floral with a pleasing sweetness.

Enjoy this cider at room temperature as an aperitif, as a cocktail base or the perfect finish to any meal. Our friends at Simple and Crisp asked Sharon to come up with a recipe for their product. Apple Crisps from Simple and Crisp topped with Tieton Farm & Creamery Bianca cheese and drizzled with honey. This recipe works as an appetizer or a dessert, which is why we love it.

Cidery Description: We are continually asked: how did you get into the cider business? The answer is easy: we were in the apple growing business. Period. If we had not been a farming family, cider would not have held an interest.

The fruit that is used in Tieton Cider Works cider comes from Craig and Sharon Campbell’s Harmony Orchards. This land has been in our family since the 1920’s when our grandfather planted his first trees in Tieton, Washington. We take our stewardship of the land seriously and have been farming organically for the last 25 years…

A love of land, food and drink has inspired us to make cider with the fruit we are growing at our ranch, Harmony Orchards. We know the ciders we make are an expression of the harvest and reflective of the fruit and the place that it is grown. We are thrilled to be involved in re:interpreting the tradition of cider making.

Price: $25
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I love ice cider, and hadn’t tried this one.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow / light amber hue. Completely still (no carbonation). Smells rather mild for ice cider, of sweet apple juice, honey, and apricots.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. A hint of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, apricot, mango, and caramelized sugar. Moderate length boozy finish. High apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. (Note that against the bottle’s advice, I drank it cold, as that is what I prefer.)

My Opinion: I enjoyed this, but I like Eden’s ice ciders much better, with their greater complexity (especially their barrel aged Northern Spy). For $5 extra per bottle I think its worth it.

Most Similar to: This is quite different from the other ice ciders I’ve tried, as it isn’t as full bodied, sweet, or complex. Also, it was more fruity than rich (most other ice ciders I’ve tried had notes of caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla). Its probably closest to Pomme De Coeur ice cider.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got a chance to try this. I think it is a nice summery ice cider, as it wasn’t as rich or complex, and was lighter bodied and fruity.

Have you tried Tieton Frost? What did you think?

Eve’s Cidery Beckhorn Hollow

July 19, 2016July 16, 2016 cidersays Eve's Cidery, review Beckhorn Hollow, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eve's, Eve's Cidery, hard cider, New York

Review of Eve’s Cidery Beckhorn Hollow. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider. I was surprised to see it in the store as I didn’t even know they distributed out here (I’ve heard of them online). We don’t get too many East Coast ciders here in the Pacific Northwest (at least compared to WA & OR ciders).

Cider: Beckhorn Hollow
Cidery: Eve’s Cidery
Cidery Location: Van Etten, New York
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 750 ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: Craft cider made from heirloom apple varieties, methode champenoise style (naturally sparkling)

Availability: Mostly in New York, but also in some other states such as Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Massachusetts, and Delaware (and now, Washington). They also have an online store (check for shipping availability for states besides New York). 310 cases of this vintage of this cider were produced in 2014.

Cider Description: This extra dry cider is a blend of American cider apples and English heirloom varieties, with a focus on Golden Russet. The aroma starts off with sour dried apricots and a warm field and moves into something darker like green oak leaves and forest duff. The mouth feel is light and airy, dominated by bubbles and is followed by a burst of juicy acidity which brings out bright fruit in spite of the bone dryness. The finish is long and mouthwatering, reminiscent of limes.

On the nose, sweet aromas of bartlett pear, cream and raw honey. The mid palate is bright and bubbly with succulent fruit flavors of peaches and sour orange. A tart and juicy finish ends in dry lemon pith. Residual Sugar 0.0%, Alc/Vol 8.9%, Titratable Acidity 9.7g/l, pH 3.5

Apple Varieties: A blend of aromatic, sharp and heirloom apples: Golden Russet, Wealthy, Wixson, Cox Orange Pippin, Northern Spy, Manchurian Crab, Spigold, Idared.

Cidery Description: Eve’s Cidery is a small family run orchard and cidery located in Van Etten, in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. We grow apples and other tree fruits and ferment artisanal ciders. We believe in nature, art, good food and hard work. These beliefs influence the way we farm, make cider and sell our product. We hope you can taste some of it in the bottle.

All of our sparkling ciders are made using the Champagne Method. We harvest and press our apples as they mature from early September through November. We blend at the press based on harvest dates and pH for a healthy fermentation. After the primary fermentation in the fall, the ciders are racked and left to mature in stainless steel over the winter. In the early spring, we blend to find dynamism and synergy. The cider is then bottled with a liqueur de tirage, yeast and sugar, to initiate a secondary fermentation. In the cool cider barn, the secondary fermentation proceeds slowly, taking nearly 4 months to complete. The slow secondary fermentation is what creates tiny, persistent bubbles of unrivaled elegance which lift aromas out of the glass and impart a lively, creamy mouthfeel. After a period of rest we disgorge, eject the yeast, every bottle by hand and top it up with a dosage of cider.

Price: $19
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve been wanting to try cider from Eve’s and even considered ordering them online, but this is the first time I’ve seen them in the Seattle area, so it was an easy choice to pick it up. This is the only Eve’s variety they had in the store.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mild, acidic, creamy, of citrus, earth, and green apples.

Tasting Notes: Completely dry. Medium bodied with a creamy and frothy texture. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low to moderate tannins. Low bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp crabapple bite, citrus (orange), peach, potato starch, honey, mineral, white grape, and yeast. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate to high complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This is a very well made cider. However, its not really my favorite type of cider (dry and sharp). I knew that going into it, and mostly just wanted to give it a try. I imagine this would be a great wine lovers cider. My husband really liked it.

Most Similar to: Snowdrift Semi Dry, Liberty Ciderworks New World Style, and Wandering Aengus Wickson, which are all dry and sharp.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got a chance to try this cider. I’m curious if I’ll be able to find any other varieties from them locally; maybe something slightly sweeter and with bittersweet instead of bittersharp apple varieties (their Darling Creek sounds to my liking).

Have you tried anything from Eve’s Cidery? What did you think?

Ole Swede Blueberry Hard Cider

July 18, 2016July 15, 2016 cidersays Old Swede, Ole Swede blueberry, blueberry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ole Swede, red wine, Tonasket, washington

Review of Old Swede’s Blueberry Hard Cider. They are a relatively new cidery from North Central middle of nowhere WA, and its the first time I’ve tried their cider. Their second introductory release is a Sour Cherry Perry.

Cider: Blueberry Hard Cider
Cidery: Old Swede
Cidery Location: Tonasket WA
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert & crab apple varieties, with blueberries

Availability: Only in WA

Cider Description: Our Cider is crafted from Jonathan, Jonagold, Gala, and Manchurian Crab apples handpicked near the Okanogan River on the Maldonado Family Orchard and Big Check Orchard near Loomis. These apples were naturally fermented with blueberries from Hunter’s Moon Farm creating a delicious libation. Nicely balanced, dry to medium dry cider with a hint of blueberries. Bright, Balanced, Refreshing.

Cidery Description: Our ciders are hand crafted from farm to bottle. Out family farm was homesteaded in 1899 as new territories were opened in the west, near Havillah, Washington. Old Swede is born from our roots in North Central Washington’s Okanagan Highlands, a place of natural beauty perched above a valley known around the world for apple production. We moved back to the family homestead in 2014 and began to take our cider into the world in 2015.

They don’t have a tasting room, but do offer mobile juicing and event catering.

Price: $9
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. A friend recommended this cider, and I hadn’t tried anything from them, so I thought I’d pick it up.

First Impression: Light red wine hue. Low carbonation. Smells of red wine, grape, blueberries, and tannins.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Hints of sourness and funk. Notes of red wine, tannic blueberry skin, cherry, pomegranate, and lemon. Long finish with lingering tartness. Moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this a bit too tart and in general wasn’t wowed by the flavor, but berry cider isn’t typically my favorite. However, my husband (a red wine drinker) fell in love with this cider, and said its probably his favorite ever! He kept stealing sips of it.

Most Similar to: Red wine; I got a lot of grape notes from this, and the blueberry skins and crab apples added some significant tannins. I’ve previously tried two blueberry ciders, WildCraft Cider Works Blue River Blueberry and Superstition Meadery Blueberry Spaceship Box. This actually really reminds me of the Blueberry Spaceship Box, with the tartness and blueberry skin tannins. Although the Blue River Blueberry also had the tartness and blueberry skin tannins, it was much drier and slightly sour. It also reminds me of Finnriver’s Black Currant cider, which is also grape-like and tart. I’m curious how different a blueberry cider would turn out if they used blueberry juice vs. throwing in crushed blueberries (which I assume is what they do as all 3 blueberry ciders had that tannic blueberry skin flavor, and would be much less expensive and much easier than adding blueberry juice).

Closing Notes: This is a great selection in their cider lineup, and will likely be especially appealing to red wine drinkers. I’m interested to see what else they will release.

Have you tried Ole Swede cider? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 18 Tasting Notes

July 15, 2016July 9, 2016 cidersays Locust, One Tree, Portland Cider, review, Schilling, Tieton, Wandering Aengus cider, cider review, hard cider, Locust, One Tree, Portland Cider, Schilling Cider House, tasting notes, Tieton, Wandering Aengus

Tasting notes from my eighteenth 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 last Thursday, for the One Tree Crisp Apple cider release party, and enjoyed a flight of four ciders, plus One Tree’s new cider.

Portland Cider Company (Portland OR) Pineapple (5.7% ABV): This draft-only pineapple cider poured foamy but settled down after awhile. This may be their “Maui Cruiser” variety, which also has coconut blossom nectar, as I couldn’t find any evidence that they have a strictly Pineapple cider. Smells of fresh pineapples. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Low acidity. The flavor is purely pineapple, with low flavor intensity. I felt this cider smelled much better than it tasted…it left me wanting more flavor. The pineapple aroma was so strong (especially in comparison to the cider’s flavor) that it makes me curious if it was added.

Wandering Aengus (Salem OR) Barrel Aged Wickson (8.0% ABV): This is a barrel aged draft-only version of their single varietal Wickson crab apple cider, which is available in bottles (which I tried previously and found overly harsh). Smells mild, with hints of crab apples and oak. Dry. Low flavor intensity. The barrel aging seemed to mellow the cider’s intensity compared to the original version. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Alcohol-forward with crab apple sharpness, oak, and honey notes. This is best drank cold as it becomes more harsh as it warms up. I found this more drinkable than the original version, but I still didn’t care for it.

Tieton (Yakima WA) Bourbon Peach (6.5% ABV): A draft-only bourbon barrel aged peach cider. Hazy lemonade hue. Smells of bourbon, peaches, and pineapple. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Hints of boozy bourbon (but not overpowering) and peach & pineapple notes. Yum! Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Moderate flavor intensity. Low apple flavor. Medium to high sessionability. I’m a fan of bourbon barrel aged ciders, but often they tend towards being overly boozy, harsh, dry, etc…this one was tasty and easy to drink.

Locust (Woodinville WA) Sweet Aged Apple (6.9% ABV): This is a barrel aged cider made from dessert apple varieties which is available on draft and in bottles. I’ve tried this previously (when it was called Aged Washington Dessert Apple; see here), but had heard they significantly changed the recipe, so I wanted to give it another try. Last time it was quite hazy and unfiltered looking, but this time there was no haziness. Smells mild and apple-forward. Semi-sweet (less sweet than the previous recipe). Less flavorful than the previous recipe, but much more sessionable. Mild tartness and acidity. Caramel, vanilla, and honey notes. Medium bodied. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. I’m not sure which recipe I preferred, as there are pros & cons of each, but I enjoyed both versions.

One Tree Hard Cider (Spokane WA) Crisp Apple (6.8% ABV): This is their new flagship cider, sold in four packs of 16oz cans and on draft. Hazy. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Unfiltered baked apple flavor with honey notes. Moderate tartness and acidity. High sessionability. Strong apple flavor. I enjoyed this. I found it very similar to 2 Towns Out Cider, but slightly sweeter and slightly more flavorful. Much less sweet than any of the other ciders I’ve tried from them.

The Tieton Bourbon Peach cider was my favorite, and my favorite cider from Tieton so far.

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

Aspall Grand Cru

July 14, 2016July 8, 2016 cidersays Aspall, review aspall, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyder, England, English Cider, English Cyder, Grand Cru, hard cider, Suffolk

Review of Aspall’s Grand Cru cider, from England. I’ve also tried a number of their other varieties.

Cider: Grand Cru
Cidery: Aspall
Cidery Location: Suffolk England
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 500ml tall black bottle
Style: English cider made from sweet, sharp, and bittersweet apple varieties

Availability: Semi wide release (through Artisanal Imports)

Cider Description: Rich, golden colour. Traditional bittersweet cyder-apple aroma with orchard fruit and floral notes. Palate initially slightly sweet, then mouth- filling and full bodied. Complex array of fruit flavours balanced by gorgeous soft tannins, producing a bone dry finish. Very long aftertaste, a true sign of a classic cyder of the highest quality. An ideal partner for highly flavoured meat dishes, especially duck confit and exotic food from Asia and North African with a hint of sweetness.

Apple Varieties: 40% Sweet (Discovery, Worcester Pearmain, & Chivers Deligh), 25% Sharp (Bramley Seedling, Grenadier, & Lord Darby), and 35% Bittersweet (Tremlett’s Bitter, Yarlington Mill, Medaille d’Or, & Kingston)

Cidery Description: The Chevalliers have been making cyder at Aspall for eight generations, since 1728 when Clement Chevallier fermented his first batch of Normandy style Suffolk cyder. They still produce cyder using only the fresh juice of whole Suffolk apples and the philosophy championed by their founding ancestor, Clement. Still owned and managed by the Chevallier family, Aspall is the oldest direct lineage cyder maker in the United Kingdom. There are no hidden partners or parent companies enabling Aspall to focus on making the best possible product without compromise. Truly family owned.

Price: $7.00
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’m a big fan of Aspall, and hadn’t tried this one.

First Impression: Pale amber hue. Low carbonation with some foam upon pouring. Smells of apple juice, yeast, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Moderate carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Mild tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Rich flavor. Notes of granny smith apple skin, apple juice, yeast, honey, floral, stone fruit, mineral, and pineapple. Long strong finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate to strong flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! Aspall hasn’t disappointed me yet. I love the richness and tannins, and the extra sweetness, tartness, and flavor notes add some uniqueness.

Most Similar to: This seems like a combination of English, French, and American cider…it has the tannins of an English cider, some yeastiness & additional carbonation of a French cider, and the sweetness & tartness of an American cider. Its flavor is unique and I can’t really name any similar ciders.

Closing Notes: This cider is quite enjoyable and an exceptional value too. I look forward to continuing to try every Aspall variety I can find. My favorite remains the Imperial (black label), although it seems they have may have replaced it with the blue label version.

Have you tried Aspall Grand Cru? What did you think?

Blackfin Splash Semi Sweet Cider

July 13, 2016July 8, 2016 cidersays Blackfin, review Blackfin, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, Splash

Review of Blackfin’s Splash Semi Sweet cider. They are a relative new cidery, since November 2015 (see this article), and made at the Blue Mountain facility in Milton-Freewater Oregon. I’ve previously tried their Pacific Peach cider (see here).

Cider: Splash
Cidery: Blackfin Hard Cider
Cidery Location: Milton-Freewater OR
ABV: 5.7%
How Supplied: four or six pack of 12oz cans (or kegs); they are currently switching from 4 to 6 packs
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: OR and WA

Cider Description: Fresh pressed apple blend fermented to perfection and back sweetened with fresh more cider from the orchard just before packaging.

Cidery Description: At Blackfin Hard Cider we create top quality craft beverages from the freshest local ingredients. Our apples are handpicked and fresh pressed within sight of the orchards from which they came. Our ciders are created to deliver the best possible quality and value at an affordable price. Proudly produced in the state of Oregon, we celebrate all the adventure and beauty of our beloved Northwest in each and every can.

Price: ~$2.50 / single can (runs ~ $8 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had tried their Pacific Peach cider but not this one, the only other cider from Blackfin available in the Seattle area at this time. In Oregon they also have Tidebreak Crisp Apple and Northwest Berry.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells very mild, of tart apples, honey, citrus, and floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints to mild bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple pomace, honey, citrus (lemon), and floral. Moderate finish length. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I found this to be an average cider…I found the flavor on the boring / bland side (almost watered down tasting) and quite tart.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I tried this, but this type of cider isn’t really my thing. Its ideal for someone wanting a tart easy to drink cider. I preferred their Peach cider, as although it was also more tart than I prefer, it was more flavorful.

Have you tried Blackfin Splash? What did you think?

Portland Cider Company Strawperry

July 12, 2016July 9, 2016 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, perry, portland, Straw-Perry, Strawberry, Strawperry

Review of Portland Cider Company’s Strawperry, a perry (made from 100% pears, no apples) with strawberries. This is a summer seasonal for them (2nd year). I’ve previously tried a number of their ciders; see here.

>>This is a review of a sample provided to Cider Says by the Portland 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: Strawperry
Cidery: Portland Cider Company
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 5.4%
How Supplied: draft only
Style: American craft perry (made from 100% pears) with fresh strawberries

Availability: Summer seasonal, limited release, draft only. In general, their ciders are available in Oregon, Washington, California, and Colorado (see here), but this draft-only cider likely has less availability then their bottled varieties.

I have been able to determine it is currently on tap at least at the following places: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA, Portland Cider House (Hawthorne Portland OR), Portland Cider Company Taproom (Clackamas Portland OR), Liberty Tapworks (Dalles OR), Oly Taproom (Olympia WA), and The Growlerie (Beaverton OR).

Cider Description: With a base of our award-winning 100% pear juice Perry, we have blended NW strawberries to create a delicate, delightful cider for the summer.

Cidery Description: Drink it, it’s good! Portland Cider Company was started in the fall of 2012 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing handcrafted cider in the English tradition to the northwest. We don’t use concentrates, flavorings, colorings, or anything you wouldn’t want in your cider. We just use the finest Northwest grown fruit. Always gluten free.

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

First Impression: Light pink-orange hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, fruity and tart.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of strawberry, kiwi, and honey. Quick finish. Low pear flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This is a great summer cider…fruity and sessionable (low ABV and easy to drink).

Most Similar to: I’ve had two strawberry ciders, from Bull Run (Strawberry Fields) and Cider Brothers (William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Strawberry). I find this similar to the Bull Run Strawberry Fields, except Strawberry Fields had a more intense flavor, and Strawperry is more complex. I also find Strawperry similar to Atlas Dragonfruit, which also had strawberry & kiwi notes (but also a weird bitterness).

Random Side Note: This cider holds the record as my most unique sample so far…I received it in a recycled swing-top bottle (its draft only so they didn’t have a typical capped & labeled bottle) and picked it up locally.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got a chance to try Strawperry–its a unique summer sipper. I think this is one of my favorite Portland Cider Company ciders so far, along with their London Dry Gin.

Have you tried Portland Cider Strawperry? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Walden Hollow

July 11, 2016July 9, 2016 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Ciderhouse Collection, hard cider, New York, Walden Hollow, wild fermented

Review of Angry Orchard’s newest Ciderhouse Collection selection, Walden Hollow, named for their cidery headquarters and orchard in Walden New York. It is made exclusively from apples grown in New York state, including some from Angry Orchard’s own 60 acre orchard. I’ve previously tried a number of ciders from them; see here.

>>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: Walden Hollow
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Cincinnati OH
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from New York state dessert & heirloom apple varieties, wild yeast fermentation

Availability: year round, wide release, limited availability, with plans to release a new batch each Spring

Cider Description: Walden Hollow is an annual vintage cider made with our cider maker’s choice of heirloom New York state apples varieties, including apples from the Angry Orchard in Walden, NY. The 2016 edition is a mildly tannic, off dry cider with intense apple aroma and notes of butterscotch and almond. The cider makers wanted to capture the essence of wild fermentation, but without the funkiness or sour qualities sometimes associated with the process.

With Walden Hollow, Angry Orchard’s cider makers fermented the cider with wild yeast to evoke earthy, farmhouse qualities that complement the cider’s clean finish. This cider has a bright aroma of fresh peeled apple skins, a rich full body, medium sweetness in taste with tartness characteristic of New York State.

Their Ciderhouse Collection also includes Iceman, The Muse, and Strawman.

Apple Varieties: Rome, Jonathan, Macintosh, Rhode Island Greening, Golden Russet, Newtown Pippin, and Northern Spy

Interestingly enough the press release they sent only mentioned the heirloom apple varieties (“apple varieties include…”), but their website also listed the dessert apple varieties.

Price: n/a (retails for $14.99-$17.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Bright medium straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells sour, of citrus, honey, and floral.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Mild sourness, funk, bitterness, and tannins. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Mouth-puckering sourness and tartness, but the sourness is only at the front of the palate, not the back like a true sour cider (farmhouse-style or Sidra). Notes of lemon, grapefruit, honey, vinegar, hay, floral, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I don’t really appreciate this style of cider (sourness and funk isn’t my cup of tea), but those who like this style will probably enjoy it.

Most Similar to: This seems to be a less intense (less sour) version of traditional farmhouse-style cider (like from Millstone Cellars) or Spanish Sidra.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider. Angry Orchard really branched out with it…I’m curious how it will be received by their typical customers.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Walden Hollow? What did you think?

Preview of Summer Cider Day 2016 (Saturday August 6th in Port Townsend WA)

July 8, 2016July 8, 2016 cidersays event, summer cider day cider event, cider tasting, port townsend, summer cider day

There is an awesome sounding cider tasting event coming up in Port Townsend Washington at the Northwest Maritime Center on Saturday August 6th 2016, the 6th annual Summer Cider Day. Port Townsend is a beautiful seaside town West of the Seattle area. I haven’t been to this event before, but I want to make the trek this year. The quickest route involves a ferry for those in Seattle and Northward, but is within a couple hours of the greater Seattle area. Port Townsend is home to the Alpenfire, Eaglemount, and Finnriver cideries (see my trip report from earlier this year here).

Summer Cider Day is from noon to 5pm, and they are expecting at least 20 cideries and 70 ciders. The cidermakers themselves typically pour the cider at this event, and I’ve heard it isn’t as crowded as some others (such as Cider Summit), so there should be some great opportunities for schmoozing. Another plus is its indoors (although our summers aren’t overly warm, a hot day isn’t exactly conducive for partaking in lots of cider!).

Current List of Cidermakers:
2 Towns Ciderhouse (Corvallis OR)
Alpenfire Cider (Port Townsend WA)
Bull Run Cider (Forest Grove OR)
Eaglemount Wine & Cider (Port Townsend WA)
Finnriver Farm & Cidery (Chimmacum WA)
Liberty Ciderworks (Spokane WA)
Locust Cider (Woodinville WA)
Nashi Orchards (Vashon WA)
New West Cider (Portland OR)
Schilling Cider (Auburn WA)
Snowdrift Cider Co. (East Wenatchee WA)
Spire Mountain Ciders (Olympia WA)
Pear UP , formerly NV Cider (Wenatchee WA)
Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider (Portland OR)
Tieton Cider Works (Yakima WA)
Wandering Aengus Ciderworks (Salem OR)
Whitewood Cider (Olympia WA)
Woodbox Cider (Portland OR)

Of those, New West Cider and Woodbox Cider (both in Portland Oregon) are both new to me / not available in the Seattle area.

Tickets are on sale online (here) for $25 (goes up to $30 at the door), and includes admission, a tasting glass, and 8 tasting tokens. There are also VIP tickets available for $35 which will get you in an hour early, at 11am. Its a family-friendly but dog-free event, and includes a bottle shop, food for purchase, and live music. It is hosted by the Northwest Cider Association.

Stay tuned for my trip report and tasting notes!

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: