Port Townsend Cider Route – Road Trip Report

March 1, 2016October 23, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire, Eaglemount, Finnriver, review Alpenfire, cider, cider route, eaglemount, Finnriver, hard cider, Olympic Peninsula, port ludlow, port townsend, washington

I finally made it out the Olympic Peninsula to visit the three Port Townsend Washington area cideries, Alpenfire, Eaglemount, and Finnriver. My husband took me on a birthday weekend getaway, and we stayed the night in Port Ludlow (South of Port Townsend). This post will cover the trip as a whole, then I’ll have three other posts for tasting notes and info on each of the three cideries.

We planned this trip a couple months in advance, but it ended up being weekend 2/2 of a Red Wine (& Cider) & Chocolate Valentine’s Day thing, so unfortunately that meant I didn’t get the typical tasting experience. In addition to having a different tasting selection, the cideries appeared to be charging more for tastings (as they were offering chocolate pairings). However, that also meant that Alpenfire was open (they usually close for the Winter this time of year).

It was an early wake up for a Saturday, as I wanted to allow extra time for ferry delays or whatever just in case, although the trip is only a couple hours.

(1) We started with the 8am Edmonds to Kingston ferry, which is a quick 30 minute trip, but actually didn’t save us much time (vs. driving around to the South), but is fun and breaks up the trip.

(2) Then we headed up North to Port Townsend, did a quick driving tour of the town, and ate a late breakfast at a cute French-themed restaurant called Sweet Laurette (which was very good).

(3) Next we realized the Mount Townsend Creamery was on our route, and we had a bit of time, so that was a fun quick stop.

(4) Then, on to our first cider stop, Alpenfire! We got lucky as for this event weekend they opened at 11am instead of noon, giving us an extra hour. Also, we ended up being the only guests at Alpenfire, likely as it was so early.

I should note that this area is lovely just to take a drive, surrounded by trees.

(5) Next was Eaglemount (at their new location by the way–the cider route maps still have their old address). They are unique on the cider route as they also make grape wine and honey wine (mead) in addition to cider.

(6) After that we stopped in at the Chimacum Corner Farmstand to take a look.

(7) Last, we ended the cider route at Finnriver. We made good time and finished up there just before 4pm (so without the hour head start it would have been 5pm).

(8) Finally, we drove South to Port Ludlow to the Inn at the Resort at Port Ludlow. It appears to be the nicest accommodations in the area. There aren’t many newer / higher priced options in Port Townsend. Port Ludlow is actually closer to Finnriver than Port Townsend (and closer to the ferry), so it wasn’t really an inconvenience. The main thing it impacted was our dinner options, as Port Ludlow is much smaller than Port Townsend…we ended up at The Fireside restaurant at the Inn for both dinner and breakfast, which was very nice, but definitely added to the cost. The Inn is beautifully situated on the marina in the planned community of Port Ludlow.

I was surprised at how small it was, less than 40 rooms, although they also have several event and banquet rooms. Overall I think it was overpriced (it looked nice on the surface but the room had a lot of little annoyances like a loud heater & mini fridge and uncomfortable bed), but for the level of accommodations we are used to, it was the best option. We had time before dinner to walk along the waterfront. Its a popular destination for weddings, and I imagine they are full all summer long (even without air conditioning!). For our February stay however it was fairly quiet.

I was drawn to the restaurant’s cider selection on their online menu, but it ended up being a disappointment…they had reduced their ciders from 4 by the glass, 4 by the bottle, 1 Pommeau, and several Finnriver brandywines to only 1 by the glass (Eaglemount Ginger), 1 by the bottle (Alpenfire Glow), and the Finnriver brandywines. You’d think their best option would be to stock 500ml Finnriver bottles as to not have to keep anything open, have ciders that are widely appealing (not ginger), and have something that one person could order (plus although Glow is amazing, I’d call it more of a dessert cider than something to pair with dinner). I ended up ordering a cocktail with Prosecco and Finnriver Black Currant brandywine. The food was amazing but the service was absent at times. Overall our stay met our needs but didn’t amaze us.

Wanting to make this trip yourself? Here are my tips:

Although its doable to make it a day trip from the greater Seattle area (especially as the cideries are only typically open noon-5pm), staying overnight was great, and gave us a chance to have a leisurely dinner too instead of rushing home. However, especially in the summer, be warned that hotels book very quickly, likely as there are few options.
Definitely be safe and have a designated driver, as its a lot of cider tasting in a short period of time.
Plan your route. I’m glad I planned the order we’d visit the cideries, how long of a drive between them, etc. It wouldn’t have been fun to go on the trip and end up only making it to 2/3 cideries for example due to running out of time.
Bring some snacks, as there are very few options once you start the cider route, and cider tasting on an empty stomach isn’t wise. Apparently in summer some of the cideries may offer food though (such as pizza at Finnriver). One option is the Chimacum Corner Farmstand, which is a mix between a roadside produce stand and a mini PCC (plus they even sell garden type stuff like fertilizer outside). They are close to Finnriver and have some grab & go lunch type stuff. We stopped in but didn’t end up buying anything. Due to our large breakfast just before starting the cider route, we ended up being ok food-wise until the third stop at Finnriver, where we had some of the snacks we brought (I went a bit fancy and packed us a cheese plate in a cooler).
Cash wasn’t necessary, although it could be handy for tasting fees and tips. All three cideries used the credit card payment app Square on an ipad (no extra fee).
Plan to purchase bottles (and cidery swag if interested), as you will get a chance to taste at least a few ciders that aren’t distributed. Cinders at Alpenfire and Pommeau at Finnriver for example.

Stay tuned for my tasting notes from Alpenfire, Eaglemount, and Finnriver!

(UPDATE – Posts on Alpenfire, Eaglemount, and Finnriver are now up.)

Newhall Farm Ice Cider

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016 cidersays Newhall Farm, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, ice cider, Newhall Farm, sample, tasting notes, Vermont

Review of Newhall Farm Ice Cider, made by Eden Ice Cider in West Charleston Vermont from Newhall Farm apples from Reading Vermont. This is Newhall Farm’s only cider and my first time trying it. However, my previous Eden Ice Cider reviews can be found here. Interesting note – ice ciders can be corked similar to grape wine as they are still (non carbonated).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Newhall Farm. 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: Ice Cider
Cidery: Newhall Farm (by Eden Ice Cider)
Cidery Location: apples from Reading VT, made in West Charleston VT
ABV: 12%
Residual Sugar: 13 or 14%
Acidity: 1.8%
How Supplied: 187ml bottle
Style: American craft ice cider made from organic apples

Availability: CT, ME, NH, NY, and VT, plus they offer sales direct to consumer and through Fine Wine Cellars. 100 cases made.

Cider Description: Defined as the American grape, apple steps up to the 21st century with ice cider bursting onto the American drink scene.

Serve NEWHALL FARM ICE CIDER as a sophisticated alternative to dessert, as an exceptional complement to cheese, spicy foods, charcuterie, or enjoy with cream desserts, good old-fashioned apple pie with ice cream, and as a wedding cake wine extraordinaire.

100% Newhall Farm estate grown apples are concentrated by using natural Northern Vermont winter temperatures. No sugar, coloring, alcohol, or flavorings are added.

Our selective blend of organic heirloom, dessert and wild apples ripples with a fresh crispness and hint of late harvest honey, rounding out spice and acidity to a lingering finish of Vermont’s autumn bounty….Liberty, Empire, Crispin, Honeycrisp, Cortland, mix of heirloom and wild apples.

Cidery Description: Newhall Farm is committed to excellence and produces only the highest quality, natural products while using skilled animal husbandry and fostering responsible stewardship of the land. No growth hormones or fed antibiotics are ever used, and only organic sprays are used in our orchards. Our Vermont heritage products include: ice cider, maple syrup, raw honey, grass fed beef, Berkshire pork, pastured lamb.

Price: n/a, but retails for $20+ for 187ml or $30+ for 375ml
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: They sent me an e-mail asking if I’d like a sample bottle. I’d actually heard of them, such as through this post from Cider Culture on Cideries in Winter, and this article from Seven Days VT on Vermont ice ciders, and was excited to try an ice cider which isn’t available in WA.

First Impression: Deep caramel amber. Still (no carbonation). Smells of sweet rich ripe apples, caramel, caramelized sugar, and brown sugar.

Tasting Notes: Sweet to very sweet. Low to moderate acidity & tartness. Hints of tannins. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of caramel, caramelized sugar, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and hints of spice. Full bodied. Full flavored. Long lingering warm boozy finish. Very apple forward. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I’m a fan! That said, I’ve only tried 3 ice ciders previously, all from Eden, and liked them all, so I don’t have too much to compare to. Like Eden’s ice ciders, I liked this best very cold. Its quite sweet, but in a refined and well-crafted way, and is traditionally served in a small quantity (such as after dinner), so the sweetness wasn’t overwhelming. Although this is a (very cute) tiny bottle with only about 6 ounces, it lasted a few pours as the serving size is much smaller than traditional ciders.

Most Similar to: Eden Ice Cider Heirloom Blend. I found them overall very similar, down to the profile, flavor notes, body, etc. They mainly varied in the finish, where I found Newhall Farm to be longer, more warming / boozy (it is 2% higher in ABV), and slightly less balanced. It would be really interesting to taste them side by side.

Closing Notes: Very enjoyable. However, we all have our favorites, and so far, Eden Ice Cider Northern Spy (barrel aged) is mine when it comes to ice cider. I look forward to trying more ice ciders. I have a bottle of Frost from Tieton Ciderworks (Yakima WA) in the cabinet (next to the 2 Towns & Finnriver Pommeau, Moonlight Meadery Last Apple cyser, and lots of cider).

Have you tried any ice cider?

Sky River Meadery Visit Tasting Notes

February 26, 2016February 22, 2016 cidersays mead, not cider, review, Sky River mead, mead tasting, meadery, not cider, Sky River, tasting notes, wine tasting

I know, mead isn’t cider, but I like it too. In case you don’t know, mead is typically classified as a type of wine, made from honey, water, and yeast. The weekend before last I visited the Sky River meadery in Woodinville Washington (their address is oddly enough in Redmond; they must be right on the border). The meadery is at the top of a steep hill with a beautiful view of the Woodinville area, home to numerous (grape) wineries and a couple cideries (Locust and Elemental). They share the building with two (grape) wineries, Icon Cellars and Pleasant Hill. My husband and friend sampled wines at Pleasant Hill, which they were impressed with.

I’ve previously gone mead tasting at Æsir in Everett Washington and Superstition in Prescott Arizona.

I went for the “Whole Hive” and sampled their entire current lineup of nine meads–yum! All were still (no carbonation) and served in a wine glass at room temperature.

Dry, 11% ABV: Semi-dry, medium bodied, a bit acidic / tart / bitter, more floral than honey notes

Semi-Sweet, 11% ABV: Semi-sweet, slightly fuller bodied, less tart & acidic, no bitterness, more honey than floral notes

Sweet, 11% ABV: On the drier side of sweet, full bodied, very flavorful but still tastes light, honey and pollen notes

Ginger, 12% ABV: On the drier side of sweet, very gingery! (although much more in the scent and aftertaste at the back of the throat than the flavor); I’m not a ginger fan so I didn’t have much

Blackberry, 12% ABV: Semi-sweet, medium bodied, moderately tart & acidic, light to moderate blackberry flavor

Raspberry, 12% ABV: Sweet, full bodied, mild tartness & acidity, full flavored with strong raspberry notes (they call it “jam in a glass”), no honey notes

Rose, 12% ABV: Infused with real rose petals; semi-sweet, a touch bitter, more acidic & tart than the others, definitely floral

Brochet, 12.5% ABV: This is the only mead where they use heat–over 9 days the honey is heated to around 110 degrees to caramelize it, before they make the mead with it; on the drier side of sweet, full bodied but still feels light, rich scent & flavor, caramel & brown sugar notes

Solas, 12% ABV: This is their Dry Fly Distilling whiskey barrel aged mead; sweet verging on very sweet, smells of oak with a hint of smoke, full bodied, very smooth, full flavored, rich, lovely lucious flavor

The Solas is aged in Dry Fly Distilling whiskey barrels like this which decorated the tasting room:

I bought a bottle of Solace, which was my favorite (followed by the Brochet). I thought it was pretty reasonable at $26, plus buying a bottle refunding my $15 tasting fee (so buying a $17 bottle would have been an even better deal). Apparently Solas is their best seller at the tasting room, except in summer when the raspberry & blackberry meads sell well.

Sky River meads can be shipped to a number of states (see image below), direct to consumer, either through the meadery or VinoShipper.com. They are sold in stores in AK, CT, ID, LA, MT, OR, PA, WA, Japan, and Sweden per this list.

Woodchuck Day Chaser Semi-Dry

February 25, 2016February 22, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, citrus, Day Chaser, hard cider, honey, Semi-Dry, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest core cider, Day Chaser Semi-Dry, from Middlebury Vermont. It will launch to the public in March, but I got a sneak preview. This cider is a digression from their primarily sweeter lineup, likely in response to consumers requesting a drier cider. Angry Orchard also responded to this call with Stone Dry last Fall (my review here). I’ve tried a number of Woodchuck’s other ciders (see past reviews here).

2016-02-21 17.49.48

>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: Day Chaser Semi-Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck Cider
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles or 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider

2016-02-21 17.49.52 2016-02-21 17.50.04 2016-02-21 17.50.10

Availability: Year round, nationwide, once it launches next month.

Cider Description: Day Chaser celebrates those adventure seekers that never let a minute slip by. This sessionable cider combines bitter and sweet apples to deliver a semi-dry cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another. Get the most out of every day and reward yourself as you welcome the night.

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 (suggested retail price of $9.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I saw some other bloggers online post about it, then my sample bottle showed up in the mail.

2016-02-21 17.51.12.jpg

First Impression: Honey straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells mild, with hints of bittersweet apples, yeast, and honey.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Almost still (very low carbonation). Mild tartness. Mild to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness. Citrus, honey, and slight mineral notes. Quick finish. Mild to moderate apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Pretty good–sunshine in a glass! Definitely very approachable too as a drier commercial cider. It is also significantly lower calories than most commercial ciders (160), and is still 5.5% ABV. Its interesting though that they dumbed the description down to say they used bitter and sweet apples, which I assume means both dessert (culinary/supermarket) and bittersweet (a type of cider apple) varieties…I tasted a hint of bittersweet, but definitely more dessert apples. It also was fuller bodied than I was expecting for the level of sweetness, which folks used to sweet full bodied ciders will probably enjoy. There was only the slightest fake commercial cider taste, less so than many of their past ciders. I think a bit more carbonation would have been nice, but overall I don’t have any real complaints.

Most Similar to: The honey and citrus notes remind me of a few ciders I’ve tried recently, such as Schilling Cider King’s Shilling (which is sweeter), Honey Moon CiderHead (which is drier), and Flatbed Cider Crisp Apple (which is quite similar although thinner bodied)

Closing Notes: A solid cider, and definitely easy drinking. I like this better than some of their sweeter varieties like Amber, but my current favorites are still Gumption, Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry, and Winter Chill.

Have you tried Woodchuck Day Chaser? What did you think?

Schilling Cider King’s Shilling

February 24, 2016March 6, 2016 cidersays review, Schilling barrel aged, brandy, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, King's Schilling, Schilling

Review of Schilling Cider’s King’s Shilling, an apple brandy barrel aged & fortified cider. This was released at the very end of January, and will be a February-April seasonal for them.

Cider: King’s Shilling
Cidery: Schilling Cider
Cidery Location: Auburn WA (Seattle area)
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American apple brandy barrel aged & fortified craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: February-April (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: King’s Shilling is a special collaboration with Mischief Distilling, using apple brandy they made from our cider, and then aged in their Mischief Bourbon barrels. Fortified to perfection, in this cider, you will find barrel notes of smoke, cinnamon, and vanilla, along with the slight sweetness of apple brandy.

THE STORY OF KING’S SHILLING: When drinking with scallywags, check your glass before you bottoms up. Finding a shilling in your glass means you are under contract to crew a pirate’s ship? You may unwittingly find yourself swabbing the decks… Never to return.

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: $6.00
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: They posted about it on their Facebook page, and it sounded awesome, so I bought a bottle at my next visit.

First Impression: Lemon-Honey straw yellow hue. Low carbonation with a few medium sized bubbles. Smells of must, sourness, oak, honey, spice, and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Between semi-dry and semi-sweet. Low to moderate acidity. Low tartness. Hints of sourness and bitterness. Medium bodied. Nearly still (low carbonation). Notes of honey and citrus, with hints of maple syrup, oak, and spice. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple influence. Low barrel influence. Low spirit influence. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Tasty! I think this was a great value too…typically craft cider and especially craft barrel aged cider is more expensive than $6.00 / 22oz. The musty scent was off-putting at first, but I got past it once I tasted the cider. I was surprised how citrus-forward it was, but I like citrus notes in a cider. I was also surprised with the description that said its brandy fortified; if so, its not much, as the ABV remains fairly average at 6.5%.

Most Similar to: The honey notes remind me of Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Little Apples, Crispin 15 Men, 2 Towns The Bad Apple, and Finnriver Honey Meadow.

Closing Notes: This is my favorite cider from Schilling so far (my others are Pineapple Passion and Barrel #2, which is more of a spirit than a cider). So far I think their new cider lineup is better than it previously was.

Have you tried King’s Shilling? What did you think?

Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry

February 23, 2016February 14, 2017 cidersays review, Woodchuck barrel aged, Cherry, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, private reserve, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest Private Reserve cider, Barrel Aged Cherry, from Middlebury Vermont. It will launch to the public in March, but I got a sneak preview. This cider is infused with Michigan cherry juice and aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. It was created after a positive response to their Sour Cherry (Cellar series) and Cheeky Cherry (Out on a Limb series) cherry ciders, with a barrel aged twist. I’ve tried a number of their other ciders (see past reviews here).

(the bottle almost looks red in this photo, but its the normal brown)

Cider: Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry
Cidery: Woodchuck Cider
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cherry barrel aged cider

Availability: Seasonably, March-August (with this being the first year), nationwide. It is the first of a series of three barrel aged ciders in the Private Reserve line (which currently contains Pink, Pumpkin, and Barrel Select).

Cider Description: A touch of Michigan cherries with a hint of Napa all in one satisfying sip. Private Reserve Cherry infuses our small batch hard cider with the juice of Michigan cherries, then aged in the finest Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. This premium craft cider delivers a sweet and tart taste that finishes with notes of smooth oak from the Napa Valley barrels. Exhilarate your senses with this truly unique and rare cider.

Price: n/a (suggested retail price of $10.99-$11.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I saw some other bloggers online post about it, then my sample bottle showed up in the mail.

First Impression: Cherry hue. Light foam but almost no carbonation. Light cherry scent with a hint of complex oak.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Low acidity. Low to moderate tartness. A hint of tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Medium bodied. The flavor is definitely cherry, although tending more towards cherry skin than cherry juice, with hints of oak. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Quick finish. High sessionability. Low barrel influence. Low apple influence.

My Opinion: Yummy! This is one of the better ciders from Woodchuck…I may even like it better than Gumption and Winter Chill. It is less sweet, more “real” tasting, and more complex. It is also the first I can remember from them that doesn’t list color or flavor in the ingredient list.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck’s other cherry ciders (Sour Cherry and Cheeky Cherry), although slightly less sweet and more complex. I liked this cider better than the Apple Outlaw Oaked Sweet Dark Cherry cider I tried at Cider Summit Seattle. I’ve also heard that Virtue is making a twist on their “Mitten” cider which is barrel aged cherry, and Cider Creek makes a Fall-n-Cherry Bourbon Barrel Aged cider.

Closing Notes: I’m impressed! I think this is now tied with Washington Gold Cherry as my favorite cherry cider. Woodchuck’s version is actually perceived as less sweet, despite it being commercial and the other being craft. I hadn’t liked the direction Woodchuck was going with their recent new Out on a Limb cider releases, but this may change my mind. I look forward to trying the second sample they send, Day Chaser.

Update: Not long after this review, I picked up a six pack of this cider, as I enjoyed it so much. It must have been from a different batch…not nearly as much oak and complexity, more straight cherry. Too bad.

Have you tried Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry? What did you think?

Original Sin Extra Dry

February 22, 2016February 22, 2016 cidersays Original Sin, review canned cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Extra Dry, hard cider, hard cider review, New York, Original Sin

Review of Original Sin’s newest cider, Extra Dry, from York, New York. It launched last month. This is their first canned cider (previously most of their ciders were sold in six packs of 12oz bottles, and a couple special releases in 750ml bottles) and celebrates their 20th! anniversary. I’ve previously tried their Cherry Tree, Elderberry, Pear and Northern Spy ciders.

>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Original Sin. 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: Extra Dry
Cidery: Original Sin
Cidery Location: York NY
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American sessionable canned craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Currently sold year round in FL, IL, MD, NC, OH, PA, and WA D.C. In April it will launch nationally to more than 30 states (everywhere its ciders are currently distributed).

Cider Description: Original Sin Extra Dry Cider contains a distinct blend of New York apples including Ida Red, MacIntosh, Cortland, and several russeted apples. The cider is complex, balanced, and sessionable with a minimal level of residual sugar.

Made from 100% fresh pressed New York apples, champagne yeast, and nothing else. Their suggested pairings are ripe camembert, roasted oysters, and anything else you might enjoy on a back patio.

Cidery Description: Established in 1996, Original Sin is one of the original modern-day U.S. cider companies. With a mere $5,000 in funding, founder Gidon Coll began making cider in Upstate New York and spent two years going bar to bar in New York City to develop his early market base. Today, Original Sin is still 100% independent and now distributed in 32 U.S. States, The United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan.

Original Sin started a New York State test orchard five years ago, which now features over 100 rare, cider and contemporary apple varieties. Each year, the company adds interesting and historically significant varieties to the Original Sin orchard’s genetic pool.

Price: n/a (suggested retail price of $10.49 / 4 cans)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read about this release online. The founder of Original Sin, Gidon Coll, e-mailed and asked if he could send a sample, and I never turn down free cider…

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation with tiny bubbles upon pouring, which quickly dissipated. Smells dry, of tart green apples, yeast, and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. High acidity. Mild tartness. Mild astringent tannins. Hints of bitterness and sourness. Light bodied. Low carbonation. Notes of juicy apple to start, then citrus, and hints of green apple, floral (I think I taste a hint of lavender of all things?), mineral, and yeast. Moderate length finish. Mild apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Enjoyable, although its not something I’d usually drink (I go more for full flavored then sessionable ciders). It seems more flavorful than many sessionable ciders. I think I’ve got more accustomed to dry ciders, as even 6 months ago I wouldn’t have liked a cider this dry.

Most Similar to: Ace Joker (although this cider has more apple flavor), Farnum Hill Extra Dry (although this cider is less tannic and less bitter), and Alpenfire Pirate’s Plank (although this cider is less tannic and sweeter).

Closing Notes: This probably ties with their Northern Spy for my favorite Original Sin cider so far. I usually go for sweeter ciders, but it won me over. Thankfully I have a second can to drink as well.

Have you tried Original Sin Extra Dry? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 11 Tasting Notes

February 19, 2016March 6, 2016 cidersays 101 Ciderhouse, Celt, Honey Moon, Original Sin, review, Schilling, Sonoma Cider cider, cider flight, cider house, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling, Schilling Cider House, seattle, washington

Tasting notes from my eleventh visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts here. I was there mostly as I wanted to pick up a couple bottles (Schilling’s new seasonal King’s Shilling brandy barrel aged & fortified cider and this year’s version of Two Towns’ Pommeau), but this isn’t exactly the kind of place where I can stop in without having some cider!

I got there after work, around 4pm, and started with a flight of five ciders (I had tried everything else so skipped out on #6). I brought some take out food I picked up from PCC (the Caprese sandwich went well with 101 Cider House Piña Mint).

Schilling Blackberry Pear (Auburn WA), 5.5%: This is a new draft-only release. I believe it is apple cider with blackberry and pear juice infused after fermentation (vs. being a blackberry flavored perry). Semi-sweet. Full flavored with blackberry and a hint of pear. Fruity, refreshing, and flavorful without being over the top sweet. The apple remains pretty well hidden. Medium bodied. This was pretty good (and I’m usually not a big berry cider fan), although maybe I was just underwhelmed with most of the rest of the flight. It reminded me of Atlas Blackberry (although less tart) and Crispin Blackberry Pear (although sweeter).

Schilling London Dry (Auburn WA), 6.5%: Described as an English pub style cider, sold in four packs of 16oz cans and kegs. Somehow I had never tried this one even though its been out awhile. Dry. High acidity. Moderarate tartness. Light bodied. It was lacking the richness of English cider, likely as I doubt they used high tannin cider apples. I thought this was a pretty average cider, but many people ordered pints of it while I was there (although maybe because it was the most inexpensive drier cider by far?).

Sonoma Cider Dry Fuji (Healdsburg CA), 6.5%: This is a reserve series release from Sonoma Cider, an organic Fuji apple single varietal, oak barrel aged, sold in 22oz paper wrapped bottles and kegs. Nearly clear hue. Completely Dry (0 residual sugar). High acidity. Moderate sourness. Mild tartness. Light bodied. Kinda Sidra-like due to the sourness, although it also reminded me of white grape wine. Mildly flavored. I wasn’t a fan at all, mostly due to the sourness.

Original Sin Northern Spy (York NY), 6.9%: This Northern Spy single varietal is part of Original Sin’s Heirloom series. This appears to be tap-only at this time (although they had similar heirloom series releases in 750ml bottles, like Newtown Pippin). Semi-dry. Low acidity. Low tartness. A hint of sourness. Citrus notes. Light bodied. Overall mildly flavored. Average.

101 Cider House Piña Menta (Los Angeles CA), 6.9%: This is a new 101 Cider House release, a pineapple mint cider. Smells of citrus and mint. On the sweeter side of Dry. A hint of sourness. Citrus and mint notes. I didn’t really pick up pineapple? Moderately flavored. Light bodied. Unique with the mint flavor, but overall I thought it was average.

They also put Honey Moon CiderHead Quince on tap while I was there.

Honey Moon CiderHead Quince (Bellingham WA), 8.3%: This is described as their Quince mead with cider, so that would make it a cyser. Semi-dry. Mild tannins, tartness, and acidity. Mildly fruity. Light and refreshing. Mild to moderate flavored. Tropical notes, passion fruit and pineapple. This was good, but I prefer Eaglemount Quince, which was more complex and flavorful.

I wanted a little something else, but didn’t feel the need for another pint, so I bought a bottle of Celt for $3 and drank it there. The Cider House is pretty awesome as they don’t charge extra to drink their bottled cider there (vs. taking it home). An awesome cider for an awesome price! Its the only French cider I’ve seen that comes in a multipack (4 bottles). Check out my previous review here. I had forgotten how I much I enjoy this cider, and picked up a couple more bottles to take home.

I’m excited to compare the last two years of Two Towns’ Pommeau in a vertical pour, now that I have a bottle of each. I highly recommend it by the way, and if anyone is in the Seattle area, at $25 for an amazing 375ml bottle of 19% ABV Pommeau at the Schilling Cider House, its also a good buy. I also spotted it at The Cave in Kirkland.

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

Cockrell Original Hard Cider

February 18, 2016February 18, 2016 cidersays Cockrell, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cockrell, hard cider, Puyallup, washington

Review of Cockrell Original Hard Cider from Puyallup WA. They started making cider in late 2014, and so far I have only previously tried their Valley Red (raspberry). Here is an article on their release.

Cider: Original Hard Cider
Cidery: Cockrell
Cidery Location: Puyallup WA
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 22oz bottle
Style: American flagship craft hard cider

Availability: Only in Washington. See this list.

Cider Description: This is the cider that started our journey. Our Original is a semi-sweet cider made with local fruit. We age this cider for months to bring out a smooth taste with just the right amount of tartness. Our Original is a crowd pleaser and winner of many competitions including the Cascade Cup and Washington State Fair.

Cidery Description: Cockrell Hard Cider is the longtime dream of two Puyallup brothers, Richard and John Cockrell. The brothers have been making hand crafted beer and cider for over 25 years. Their creations have won many local, state and national awards and accolades resulting in the encouragement of friends and family to consider sharing their creative talents with a larger audience.

As the brothers began planning for their retirement, they contemplated turning their hobby into a second career. The Pacific Northwest is home to many quality microbreweries but few artisan cider houses. The sophisticated range of flavors crafting ciders offers provides the brothers with the experimentation and creativity they crave.

The brothers began formulating a plan which included searching for the perfect cider apple. For over 100 years the Puyallup Valley, has been an agriculture leader in Washington State. The brother’s quest brought them to Gwyndon Farms. The farm was established in 1967 by Don and Gwendolyn Dewey. The Dewey’s operated the family farm for decades growing apples, cherries, raspberries and rhubarb. At its peak, the farm had over 1500 apple tress offering two dozen varieties.

The ability to utilize local fruit in the production process of their cider cinched the deal. Gwyndon Farms was purchased and Cockrell Hard Cider was launched. Cockrell Hard Cider’s production facility is located on the farm mere footsteps from the apple trees and raspberries utilized in the production process. The farm provides a peaceful setting for visitors to enjoy roaming the apple orchard and viewing the production process.

They have a tasting room open Fridays and Saturdays on their farm in Puyallup WA.

Price: $7.50

Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I had heard of them online and tried their Valley Red (raspberry) twice.

First Impression: Very light peach amber. Low carbonation upon pouring, with medium sized bubbles. Smells of rich bittersweet apples and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Moderate acidity. Mild tartness. A hint of tannins. Almost still (very low carbonation). Honey, caramel, and vanilla notes. Slight richness. Medium bodied. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: This cider was definitely to my liking. It has more flavor than a lot of flagship ciders and is reasonably priced too.

Most Similar to: Richer ciders, such as those from Brittany France (like Celt, although Cockrell has significantly lower carbonation), and Cascadia Ciderworks United Dry.

Closing Notes: This was a very enjoyable cider. I’m curious what else from them I’ll like.

Have you tried Cockrell ciders? What did you think?

Schilling Cider LumberJack (Rhubarb)

February 17, 2016February 7, 2016 cidersays review, Schilling cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lumberjack, rhubarb, Schilling, seattle, washington

Review of Schilling Cider LumberJack, their Rhubarb variety, from Seattle Washington.

Cider: LumberJack (Rhubarb)
Cidery: Schilling Cider
Cidery Location: Auburn Washington (Seattle area)
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: boxed six pack of 12oz cans (and kegs)
Style: American craft fruit-infused canned cider
Ingredients: fresh pressed apple juice, pear, rhubarb, yeast

Availability: At least AK, AZ, CA, CT, ID, MN, NC, NV, OR, SC, VA, and WA.

Cider Description: This axe-swinging Lumberjack will make you want to get lost in the woods! He’s earthy, rugged, and just the right amount of dry. But, underneath all of that rough and tough, he’s as sweet as an early autumn pear.

Price: I’ve seen it sold anywhere from $10.99 to $13.50 / six pack
Where Bought: n/a (a fellow customer at the cider house shared a can with me from the six pack he bought – thanks John!).
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing the Schilling Cider House

First Impression: Light pink-peach hue. Low carbonation (large bubbles) and foam. Smells lightly fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry (2 Brix). Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or tannins. Notes of rhubarb, pear, tropical fruit, peach, and honey. Light bodied with a smooth buttery texture. A bit champagne-like although not nearly as bubbly (only low carbonation). Moderate finish length. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Tasty and refreshing. I think this one would be a great summer cider. However, its a tad on the tart side for my liking, and overall fruity ciders aren’t my favorite. I also don’t know if I would have been able to specifically identify rhubarb as the flavor.

Most Similar to: Other semi-dry fruity ciders. The only other rhubarb cider I’ve had is 2 Towns Rhubarbarian, and I’d say Schilling’s LumberJack is more flavorful.

Closing Notes: This is part of Schilling Cider’s re-launch. I’m curious to see what else they will come up with. They discontinued their Hopped and Oak Aged ciders, and have had a number of new releases in their cider lineup lately.

Have you tried Schilling LumberJack (Rhubarb)? What did you think?

Dragon’s Head Kingston Black

February 16, 2016February 15, 2016 cidersays Dragon's Head, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dragon's Head, hard cider, Kingston Black, single varietal, Vashon, washington

Review of Dragon’s Head Kingston Black cider, a single varietal from Vashon Island Washington. I’ve previously tried their Wild Fermented and Traditional ciders.

Cider: Kingston Black
Cidery: Dragon’s Head
Cidery Location: Vashon WA
ABV: 7.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Kingston Black single varietal craft cider

Availability: Limited release (I bought this a few months back so I assume they are sold out by now). Dragons’ Head ciders are only sold in OR and WA.

Cider Description: Kingston Black apples are known for being the ultimate cider apple, producing a well balanced, full bodied cider with a distinctive rich flavor. This cider is made from 100% Kingston Black apples.

Cidery Description: At Dragon’s Head Cider, we believe in producing high quality hard ciders with a traditional approach, which means you will never find us using apple juice concentrate, over sweetening our ciders, or adding other flavors to our ciders. We love the story that apples and pears can tell all by themselves. And so we keep it simple. Press high quality apples and pears, ferment the juice, put it in a bottle. We believe one of the keys to creating great cider is to have control over the entire process. For this reason, we do the pressing, fermentation, blending and bottling all right here on the farm.

Wes and Laura Cherry moved to Vashon Island in 2010 with the dream of planting an orchard and starting a cidery. Dragon’s Head Farm, named for the dragon who guards the apples of immortality in the Garden of Hesperides, is now home to over 2,200 cider fruit trees as well as our production facility.

They have a tasting room on Vashon Island open Saturdays and Sundays.

Price: $19.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: The cider house posted about it on Facebook, and I was glad it was still in stock when I made it there. Didn’t see any more next time I was there.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Very low carbonation, a mix of tiny and large bubbles. Some small bits of sediment. Smells rich, slightly sweet, boozy, of caramel, oak, & vanilla, and acidity & tartness.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Moderate tannins, tartness, and acidity. A hint of bitterness. No sour or funk. Medium bodied. Not as rich as the scent suggested, but had a smooth almost buttery texture with light carbonation. Notes of oak (although it doesn’t appear to be barrel aged), vanilla, and caramel. Long warming finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this cider, but I think I had too high of expectations due to it being a Kingston Black single varietal, and was slightly disappointed. I think with less tartness the other flavors could have better shined through and made it more to my liking. Barrel aging this cider would also have been amazing.

Most Similar to: Other dry and tart ciders with slightly rich flavors, although I can’t think of any in particular that are similar to this one.

Closing Notes: Kingston Black ciders don’t disappoint, but I enjoyed Whitewood’s Whisky Barrel Aged Kingston Black cider more than this one. Too bad in the U.S. they are all really limited release (due to the lack of cider apples), as I couldn’t buy a bottle of either of them if I tried. Farnum Hill also just released a Kingston Black cider, although it won’t make it out here to Seattle.

Have you tried any Kingston Black single varietal ciders? What did you think?

Jester & Judge Columbia Belle

February 15, 2016February 7, 2016 cidersays Jester & Judge, review cider, cider review, Columbia Belle, hard cider, mint, peach, Stevenson, washington

Review of Jester & Judge’s Columbia Belle, a peach & mint infused cider from Stevenson Washington. I’ve also had their American Apple and Sharp Cherry varieties.

Cider: American Apple
Cidery: Jester & Judge
Cidery Location: Stevenson WA
ABV: 5.4%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles and 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples, infused with peach & mint

Availability: likely only WA & OR

Cider Description: We wanted to bring a soft southern hospitality to Pacific Northwest fruit. Columbia Belle is a refined peach and mint infused cider, soft, luscious and fruit forward. Equally at home, at the beach or at the bistro. 100% natural, 100% Pacific Northwest and chock full of good manners.

Cidery Description: We’ll bring the Jester and you be the Judge. At Jester & Judge we believe that balance is important in life and in cider. It’s the foundation of our seriously whimsical attitude. Serious about the quality of the ciders we make. No concentrates, sorbates, artificial flavorings, colorings, or other shortcuts. Whimsical because we have fun making the best ciders we can featuring local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest, which sometimes means snubbing our nose a little at traditional cider.

Price: ~$2.50 for a single bottle (runs $8-9 for a four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I had heard about this variety online

First Impression: The first half of the bottle poured a hazy orange-pink straw yellow (pictured above). The second half of the bottle had a crazy amount of sediment and poured a murky brown hue. Very low carbonation. Smells like peach, citrus, tropical fruit, mint, and a hint of apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. The flavor starts with a refreshing & fruity peach with hints of citrus, followed up by a cooling mint finish (the mint was less pronounced when there was more sediment). Low tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Medium bodied. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple influence. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked this better than their American Apple and Sharp Cherry (it was more flavorful), but overall the flavor combination with the mint wasn’t really to my liking (plus generally I don’t go for fruity ciders).

Most Similar to: I’ve had a few peach ciders, such as from Blue Mountain, Finnriver, and Black Fin. I’ve also had a few herb-infused ciders, such as Finnriver’s Lavender Black Currant, Honey Meadow, Cranberry Rosehip, & Solstice Saffron, One Tree Lemon Basil, and J.K.’s Scrumpy Farmhouse Summer. I’ve even had Woodchuck’s Mint cider. However, I haven’t seen this combination before.

Closing Notes: Columbia Belle was very refreshing and would be nice on a summer afternoon.

Have you tried Jester & Judge Columbia Belle? What did you think?

Wandering Aengus Golden Russet

February 12, 2016February 7, 2016 cidersays review, Wandering Aengus cider, cider review, cider tasting, Golden Russet, hard cider, oregon, Salem, single varietal, Wandering Aengus

Review of Wandering Aengus Golden Russet, a single varietal cider from Salem Oregon. I’ve previously tried their Bloom, Wickson, Oaked Dry, Wanderlust, and Byrd (tap only) ciders. Wandering Aengus also makes Anthem cider, sold in four packs.

Cider: Golden Russet
Cidery: Wandering Aengus Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Salem OR
ABV: 9.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and limited quantity of kegs)
Style: Single varietal craft cider made from Golden Russet apples

Availability: CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, MI, MT, NM, NJ, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WA D.C. per this list on their website.

Cider Description: Made from Golden Russet apples grown organically in Ashland Oregon. Described as having “rich honey aromas”. Suggested pairings of roasted duck or aged fontina cheese. 1,200 cases of 12 bottles and 60 kegs bottled Match 2015 from the 2014 harvest.

Cidery Description: At Wandering Aengus Ciderworks we press and blend over 20 cider apple varietals to craft our ciders. Our cider specific apples originate from France, England, and pre-prohibition America, but are grown now in Oregon. These heirloom varieties are essential for the depth of flavor, excellent body, and delightnful aromatics of our distinctive ciders. All our ciders are always GLUTEN FREE.

They have a tasting room in Salem Oregon open Fridays 4-8pm.

Price: $8.99
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: The Hard Cider Appreciation Society group on Facebook had a couple members mention they really enjoyed this cider. I haven’t been a huge fan of any Wandering Aengus cider, but wanted to give this one a try.

First Impression: Light golden bronze amber. Very low carbonation, large bubbles. Smells like acidic & tannic apples, honey, yeast, and caramel.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Moderate acidity and tartness. Low bitterness and tannins. A hint of sourness. No funk. Caramel and honey notes. Medium bodied. Slightly creamy buttery type texture. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this a bit less bitter than most of the other Wandering Aengus ciders I’ve tried. The tartness seemed to overpower the flavor a bit, but I liked the caramel and honey notes.

Most Similar to: Wandering Aengus Oaked Dry and Wanderlust.

Closing Notes: This was nice to try, but not my type of cider. I think with a bit less tartness and bitterness I would have enjoyed it though, as the flavor notes were really nice. I imagine I may have liked it better too if I had appropriately paired it, but I ended up drinking most of the bottle before dinner.

Have you tried Wandering Aengus ciders? What did you think?

Flatbed Cider Pear Cider

February 11, 2016February 8, 2016 cidersays Flatbed, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Flatbed, hard cider, oregon, pear cider, washington

Review of Flatbed Cider’s Pear Cider. They are a new cidery (launched in January) which currently offers Crisp Apple and Pear Cider varieties.

Cider: Pear Cider
Cidery: Flatbed Cider (owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates)
Cidery Location: Milton-Freewater OR (made by Blue Mountain)
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American craft cider
Ingredients: hard apple cider, pear juice concentrate, apple juice concentrate, sulfites

Availability: OR and WA

Cider Description: A whole lot of passion goes into crafting Flatbed Pear Cider. Northwest-grown pears deliver a burst of crisp, sparkling refreshment with a clean finish. Naturally sweeter than its Crisp Apple cousin (but not too sweet), Flatbed Pear Cider is the perfect choice for taming spicy foods and classing up a donut.

(the pear juice concentrate addition is from Bartlett pears)

Cidery Description: The Northwest stokes our passion to create exceptional ciders. And, since the best apples in America, arguably the world, come from the Northwest, it makes sense that it carries our local stamp. Flatbed Ciders are made with local apples picked at their peak and pressed into a mixture that’s equal parts crisp and refreshing. A cider that’s truly Northwest of normal. No artificial ingredients, no sugar added, no shenanigans. Flannel up and enjoy!

Price: $9.99-$10.99 (although I bought a single bottles for $2)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Flatbed Cider online and have already seen them at a number stores, but waited until I could buy a single bottle of each variety.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow. Low carbonation, medium bubbles. Smells like apple, pear, tropical fruit, and champagne yeast.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Low acidity and tartness. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Medium bodied. Notes of apple, pear, citrus, tropical fruit, and honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor and full flavored in general. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty average. Its a bit sweet and the flavor is kinda on the pear juice and syrupy side.

Most Similar to: Other semi-sweet pear ciders (apple cider with pear juice or pear juice concentrate added) such as Crispin Pacific Pear, Spire Mountain Sparkling Pear, and Woodchuck Pear.

Closing Notes: I liked Flatbed’s Crisp Apple variety better. This was a bit more ordinary and commercial tasting.

Have you tried Flatbed Cider? What did you think?

AEppelTreow Winery Appely Doux

February 10, 2016January 31, 2016 cidersays AEppelTreow, review AEppelTreow, Appely Doux, Burlington, cider, cider review, hard cider, methode champenoise, Wisconsin

Review of AEppelTreow Winery’s Appely Doux methode champenoise sparkling cider. I’ve previously tried their Barn Swallow cider on draft.

Cider: Appely Doux
Cidery: AEppelTreow Winery
Cidery Location: Burlington WI
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: American methode champenoise craft sparkling cider

Availability: At least in CA, DE, IA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, NY, OR, PA, SD, WA, WI, and WA D.C.

Cider Description: Appely Doux is semi-sweet, fruity and floral. It is inspired by French Country Ciders, and crafted from a blend of modern and heirloom apple varieties.

Made from Red Delicious, Cortland, and “various old baking apples”. My bottle was labeled 2012.140.1 and said 2,560 produced (which looks like it was made in 2012, so it may have sat around awhile before me buying it in August 2015).

Cidery Description: ÆppelTreow Winery & Distillery is a producer of small batch cider, perry and spirits. Cider and Perry? We use the pre-Prohibition meaning of ‘cider’, so we’re talking about fermented or ‘hard’ cider. Perry is the pear analogue to cider. We use lots of different kinds of apples and pears in our products. Some modern. Some heirloom – no longer grown for stores. We make a range of styles: sparkling, draft, still/table, and fortified/dessert. Within a style, we lean to the dry end – but also have some medium-sweet offerings.

They have a tasting room in Burlington WI and opened in 2001.

Price: ~$17
Where Bought: Capitol Cider in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had heard of this cider (the Brut version) from Meredith at Along Came a Cider and it sounded like something I’d like.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow. High carbonation, tiny bubbles with foam. Smells sweet, of rich ripe apples, yeast, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Between semi-dry and semi-sweet. Moderate to high acidity. Low tartness. Low tannins. No bitterness or sourness. Fizzy and frothy mouthfeel. Notes of citrus, green apples, yeast, honey, and floral. Slight richness. Medium bodied. Medium length finish. Moderate to high apple influence. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! This is a tasty, unique, and complex well-balanced sparkling cider.

Most Similar to: This reminds me some of ciders from Brittany France, although slightly lighter. Its truly sparkling, which most ciders aren’t.

Closing Notes: This cider was quite enjoyable, so I look forward to trying more from AEppelTreow.

Have you tried AEppelTreow Winery Appely Doux? What did you think?

Flatbed Cider Crisp Apple

February 9, 2016February 8, 2016 cidersays Flatbed, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crisp Apple, Flatbed, hard cider, oregon, washington

Review of Flatbed Cider’s Crisp Apple. They are a new cidery (launched in January) which currently offers Crisp Apple and Pear Cider varieties.

Cider: Crisp Apple
Cidery: Flatbed Cider (owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates)
Cidery Location: Milton-Freewater OR (made by Blue Mountain)
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American craft cider
Ingredients: hard apple cider, apple juice concentrate, sulfites

Availability: OR and WA

Cider Description: Flatbed Crisp Apple Cider is all natural. Jonagold apples deliver the balance and acidity behind Flatbed’s exceptionally bright taste. Red Delicious apples provide tannin structure. Golden Delicious apples add a rustic apple character with a twist of subtle sweetness. And, heirloom varietals hand-selected from batch-to-batch add to the Northwest charm. With a taste that leans toward the drier side and delivers cool refreshment, Flatbed Crisp Apple Cider pairs with nearly anything that comes from the sea, farm or food cart.

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low carbonation, a mix of small and large bubbles. Smells of dry, tart, and acidic apple with champagne yeast, citrus, and floral notes.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Light bodied. Very low carbonation. Citrus and honey notes. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor in general. High sessionability.

My Opinion: This is one of my favorite craft ciders from dessert apples that I’ve had. Its odd they chose to use concentrate in addition to fresh juice, although that adds more apple flavor.

Most Similar to: Tod Creek Tod Cider Vancouver Island, which was also semi-dry with distinct citrus notes (but made from Golden, Granny, Sparton, Macintosh, and Jona apples).

Closing Notes: I thought this cider was pretty tasty. I’m curious to try their Pear Cider next.

Have you tried Flatbed Cider? What did you think?

Sixknot Cider Organic High Desert Dry

February 8, 2016January 31, 2016 cidersays review

Review of Sixknot’s High Desert Dry. I’ve previously tried their Goldilocks cider.

Cider: Organic High Desert Dry
Cidery: Sixknot Cider (Sinclair Orchards)
Cidery Location: Twisp WA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle
Style: American organic dry hard cider

Availability: Only in WA, at retailers such as those listed here.

Cider Description: High Desert is a slow, cold, traditional fermentation that yields a clean, dry cider. Sip Northwest describes High Desert as “thick with fragrant perfumes of butterscotch, anise, vanilla and almost a squash note…”

Cidery Description: Our farm and cidery rests on the banks of the Methow River near Twisp, Washington. We only press certified organic Washington apples, selected from our trees and other local orchards. We do not add sulfites, preservatives or sugars. To retain the subtle flavors often lost in processed ciders, we do not filter. Our cidermaking is kith and kin to the natural wine movement…organic practice in the orchard, and minimal intervention in the ciderhouse.

Their three main ciders are High Desert Dry, Goldilocks, and Gingerella, but they also have special releases. Their website has a great writeup on “A Northwest Cidermaker’s Terroir”.

Price: n/a (it was a gift; retail price is around $8)
Where Bought: n/a (it was bought at McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell)
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve seen Sixknot’s ciders around town, and have had their Goldilocks cider twice at a restaurant. I hadn’t tried this variety until now though.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue, slightly hazy. Light carbonation with large bubbles. Smells of baked apples, spice, honey, and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Mild to moderate acidity. Mild tartness. Hints of sourness and bitterness. No funk. Notes of citrus and honey. Mildly flavored. Light bodied. Low carbonation. Quick length finish. Low apple influence. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I was surprised how different the taste was than the smell…this cider smelled much richer than it tasted. Overall the flavor was a bit too blah for my liking…I really didn’t pick up much from it.

Most Similar to: Dry flagship craft ciders such as Honey Moon CiderHead, Attila Scourge of God, and Boonville Bite Hard.

Closing Notes: I think they have a great thing going for them at Sixknot with reasonably priced organic ciders with an emphasis on sustainability. However, I much prefer their Goldilocks cider, as with its sweetness comes additional flavor.

Have you tried Sixknot ciders? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 10 Tasting Notes

February 5, 2016February 5, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review, Schilling 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling, tap night, tap takeover, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my tenth visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts here. I was there for another 2 Towns tap takeover event (reminiscent of the previous one I attended during WA Cider Week), although this one was specifically to release Riverwood Brut (this year’s version of the cider, switching from their Traditions to 2 Towns label) and The Dark Currant (their new oak barrel aged black currant cider).

They also now have three non-alcoholic taps, which that day had coldbrew coffee on Nitro, Schilling non-alcoholic cider, and ginger beer. I was surprised the prices were still $4 or $7 a pint though (not that much less then the alcohol), although they can also be included in a flat price flight of six tasters. I’m curious to see how well they sell. As a casual observer I don’t see much need, except maybe for a designated driver (and even then, why not stock some sodas? I guess it is Fremont…), as its 21+. If anything I wish they sold some snacks there, but I imagine even to sell chips or something they would have to change their license. There is plenty of take out in the area to bring with though.

The following 2 Towns ciders were on tap: Riverwood Brut, Serious Scrump, The Dark Currant, Made Marion, Ginja Ninja, Bad Apple, and Rhubarbarian

They passed out samples of at least these ciders: The BrightCider, Out Cider, Ginja Ninja, Bad Apple, Serious Scrump, Made Marion, and Pommeau (which has got to be a record number!)

I got there after work, around 4pm, well before the event started at 6pm, and started with a flight of six ciders (pretty much all those on tap I hadn’t had before).

2 Towns Riverwood Brut, 6.9% ABV, Corvallis OR: I liked this better than I remembered liking last year’s version (it seems more flavorful this time around vs. at Cider Summit). I’m curious now that its under their 2 Towns label what the bottle size and pricing will be, as previously it ran $19 for 750ml, which seems a bit steep for what it is (but it doesn’t appear like its out in bottles yet). Its inspired by Brut champagne and made from Jonagold apples. Semi-dry. Low acidity, tartness, and tannins. Floral qualities with hints of herbs and honey, but overall rather simple in flavor. I noticed more apple flavor than is typical for a drier cider. Light bodied. I think if bottled it would have been more sparkling than it ended up being on tap (I noticed only very light carbonation). Longer warming finish.

2 Towns Serious Scrump, 11.0%, Corvallis OR: This is described as a dry English Imperial ice cider (which is rare as ice ciders are typically very sweet), a high ABV cider made using juice which has been frozen & thawed (increasing residual sugar and flavor). I had this one before and remembered not really caring for it. However, I’m a huge imperial cider fan (such as their Bad Apple), so I wanted to give it another go. Also available in bottles. Semi-dry. Low to moderate bitterness. Slight barrel influence (woody). Well-hidden ABV. Moderate acidity and tartness. Medium bodied. Moderate finish length. I’m still not a fan, mostly due to the bitterness.

Seattle Cider Gose (pronounced goes-a), 6.5%, Seattle WA: This is styled after a unique type of beer which has herbal, tart, and salty characteristics. I previously had Seattle Cider’s Plum Gose, which was this same cider but with plums (and was therefore more fruity), which they made in response to folks mixing Gose with PNW Berry at their tap house. Seattle Cider used sea salt, coriander, and Chardonnay yeast in this tap-only release. Dry. High acidity. Salty flavor with slight vinegar and citrus notes. Light bodied. Overall not bad, but not something I cared for. Nathan from Cider Chronicles thought it was pretty gross lol.

Locust Cider Thai Ginger, 6.0% ABV, Woodinville WA: Made from Granny Smith and Gala apples with real Galangal Thai ginger root. Also available in bottles. Ginger-spice scent. Sweet. Ginger was only present in the finish, at the back of the throat, and remained on the mild side (more present in the scent than flavor). Medium bodied. I’m not a ginger fan, but as the ginger was kept mild and it was sweet, I didn’t mind it.

2 Towns Rhubarbarian, 5.0% ABV, Corvallis OR: This is described as a dry English-style cider with fresh-pressed Northwest rhubarb (also available in bottles). Semi-dry. I didn’t pick up any rhubarb flavor with this, only the slightest tart fruitiness, and overall thought it was bland. Light bodied. Quick finish.

Bull Run Bramble Berry, 6.7% ABV, Forest Grove OR: Described as a dry cider with marionberries, blackberries, and boysenberries. Also available in bottles. Cranberry hue. Dry. Low tartness. Low acidity. I also found the flavor bland with this one. Light bodied. Quick finish.

I also had a small sample of Finnriver Solstice Saffron (6.5% ABV, Port Townsend WA), which they put on tap while I was there. This is part of their Seasonal Botanical line, made with saffron, anise, and fennel seeds. Also sold in bottles. Smelled herbal (I don’t think I would have been able to pick those out in particular). Semi-dry. Moderate acidity and tartness. Weird herbal type flavor. It was ok…I just didn’t appreciate the flavor profile (like Seattle Cider Gose). The folks sitting around me were fans though.

Of those, my favorite was the 2 Towns Riverwood Brut, but I didn’t even find that too impressive. It seemed to be a big hit among the other customers though. While I was there, a large group even ordered a flight of all 32 ciders–how fun!

While I was finishing the flight, they started in on the 2 Towns samples. They served them in clear plastic shot glasses which were pretty cute.

I’ve had Bad Apple and Made Marion before and reviewed Serious Scrump above. I had sampled The BrightCider and OutCider before, but pre blog.

The BrightCider, 6.0% ABV: This is their flagship cider (which replaced InCider awhile back), made from apples including Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Rome Beauty. Also available in bottles and cans. I found it to be on the drier side of semi-dry (although its marketed as semi-sweet). Pretty average and low on flavor. Definitely sessionable.

OutCider, 5.0% ABV: This is an ulfiltered cider. Also available in bottles and cans. Semi-sweet. I found this to have more flavor than BrightCider, and I liked it better than I remembered. It still though doesn’t have as much unfiltered apple juice taste as for example Downeast, but for canned sessionable craft cider, this is a pretty good choice.

Ginja Ninja, 6.0% ABV: Their ginger cider. Also available in bottles and cans. Semi-dry. I found it to have a moderate amount of ginger. I’m still not a ginger fan, but I’d no longer say I hate it (ie. its growing on me a bit).

Pommeau, 19% ABV: What a surprise! Who would have thought they would be pouring some of their Pommeau? Their Pommeau is cider with apple brandy, barrel aged. This was the first year it was released under their 2 Towns instead of Traditions brand, and was from the 2013 harvest. Here is a nice writeup from New School Beer on the release. Rich apple, vanilla, and caramel scent. Semi-sweet. Still. Low acidity, tartness, and tannins. Very oakey, which I love. Complex, as it also had apricot, smoke, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and honey notes. Full bodied. Long boozy warming finish.

I had recently bought a bottle of last year’s Traditions Pommeau at Full Throttle Bottles, after striking out on finding this year’s version. Now I’m looking forward to trying it even more so I can compare. Schilling hadn’t planned on carrying it as apparently high end ice ciders and Pommeau and such don’t sell as well, but I think Sarah (the cider house manager and Cider Log writer) fell in love with it, as now they are. So, I may have to get a bottle of this year’s version. By the way, I think 2 Towns’ Pommeau is a great value–last year’s was under $30 for 375ml. This initially seems expensive, but its 19% ABV, made from cider apples, and barrel aged for 2 years. Additionally, due to the style and high ABV, it can likely remain open for weeks or months without significant flavor changes, like brandy. A cider friend had a bottle of Finnriver Pommeau open for a year or so that still tasted great.

Sarah shared samples of two bottles of cider she opened. I only got a photo of one though.

Viuda de Angelon Sidra de Pera, 5.2% ABV, Asturias Spain: This is a new addition for the cider house, a Spanish pear Sidra which retails for $4 for a 12oz bottle, which is a great entry level price and bottle size. However, even though everyone described this more as pear cider and not being very Sidra-like (typically known to be sour and astringent), I still picked up a mild sourness. It was sweeter that I was expecting, semi-dry to semi-sweet. Mild tartness and sourness. Moderate acidity. Fruity with pear and tropical notes. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation (more than most ciders). It was ok for me, but everyone else loved it.

Etienne Dupont Cidre Triple, (I didn’t see the bottle, but ABV listed online is anywhere between 8.5% and 11%), Victot-Pontfol France: Apparently this cider gets its name from triple fermentation (from natural sugar, then from added sugar, then in the bottle to create a mousse-like fexture). I was curious if I’d like this any more than the Cidre Bouche I sampled awhile back. Nope! This style just isn’t my thing, but I’ll try anything once. The Triple was even more funky (moderate to severe) but less sour (mild) than the Bouche. I’m sure there were tannins and bitterness, but the funk was overpowering for my palate. Very dry. Earthy with citrus notes. Medium boded. Long finish.

The 2 Towns Pommeau was definitely the winner of the evening, followed by their Riverwood Brut.

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

Argus Cidery Perennial 2013

February 4, 2016January 31, 2016 cidersays Argus, review Argus, Argus Cidery, barrel aged, cider, cider review, hard cider, Perennial, Texas, wild fermented

Review of Perennial 2013 from Argus Cidery. This is the first from their regular line of ciders that I’ve tried, although I’ve sampled Ciderkin and Ginger Perry from their Fermentables line of six pack ciders.

Cider: Perennial 2013
Cidery: Argus Cidery
Cidery Location: Austin TX
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml flip top bottle
Style: American barrel aged wild yeast fermented craft cider

Availability: Argus ciders are sold in AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KY, MI, MO, NY, NC, OK, SC, TX, & WA, and online at http://www.specsonline.com. In WA I’ve only seen this one and their two Fermentables varieties (Ciderkin and Ginger Perry).

Cider Description: The Perennial release is a collection of fruit harvested from both the Medina and Lubbock orchards from the 2013 harvest. This blend maximizes the fruit characters delivering a straightforward apple palate, with a finish of our natural ambient yeast characters and the residual flavors from aging in French and American Oak. 55% Blaze, 20% Gala, 10% Mutsu, 10% Johnathan, 5% Cameo. 1,150 cases produced. Bottled November 2014.

Cidery Description: We are Texas’ first American Hard Cider crafted from apples produced by Texas and Arkansas growers. Out cider styles are dry and crisp, made with selected wild and traditional yeast strains and oaked to suit. The results: either Champagne style or crisp, still ciders suited for any occasion.

Argus Cidery has a tasting room in Austin TX open on Saturdays.

Price: $18.50
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue. Small bubbles and foam. Smells sour, funky, dry, acidic, dry, and of citrus and floral.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Moderate sourness, acidity, and tartness. Light funk. A touch of bitterness. Notes of citrus, floral, and vinegar. Light bodied. Light carbonation. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple influence. Low sessionability. I didn’t pick up any barrel aging influence.

My Opinion: I’m not into sour ciders, so this cider didn’t appeal to me (guess I should have researched it a bit more first). I found the sourness a bit overwhelming, covering up most of the other flavors.

Most Similar to: Dry sour wild fermented ciders such as Dragon’s Head Wild Fermented, WildCraft Ciderworks Hard Cider, and Millstone Cellars Farmgate Dry.

Closing Notes: I wasn’t a fan of this one, but if you like your cider on the dry, sour, and slightly funky side, you may enjoy it.

Have you tried Argus Perennial? What did you think?

Eden Honeycrisp Ice Cider

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 cidersays Eden, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, Honeycrisp, ice cider, Vermont

Review of Eden Ice Cider’s Honeycrisp single varietal ice cider, made in Newport Vermont. I’ve tried their Heirloom Blend and Northern Spy ice ciders, Dry and Semi-Dry sparkling ciders, and even their Cellar Series Cinderella’s Slipper.

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

Cider: Honeycrisp
Cidery: Eden Ice Cider
Cidery Location: Newport VT
ABV: 10.0%
Residual Sugar: 15%
How Supplied: 187ml & 375ml tall skinny glass bottles
Style: American Honeycrisp apple single varietal craft ice cider

Availability: Their ciders are at least sold in AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, SC, VT, WA, and British Columbia, although this one has less distribution than their flagship Heirloom Blend ice cider. Eden also offers online sales when allowed by state.

Cider Description: This tangy, elegant ice cider is made 100% from Vermont-grown Honeycrisp apples. The Honeycrisp is a prized Northern USA apple variety. As its name suggests, there is a honeyed quality to its sweetness, accompanied by sufficient acidity to keep the flavor fresh and crisp. Enjoy with cheese, maple crème brulee, or butter cookies.

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

They have a tasting bar on the main floor of the Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in downtown Newport VT. Their current product line includes at least eight ice ciders, two Aperitif ciders, and dry & semi-dry sparkling ciders. They also have a cider club where members get access to special release ciders not available to the public.

Price: n/a (retails for $17+ for 187ml and $27+ for 375ml)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Eden ice ciders online, and tried them for the first time at Cider Summit Seattle 2015. Since then, I’ve bought a couple bottles and received some samples, including this one.

First Impression: Still. Honeyed amber caramel hue. Smells of rich ripe apples and honey with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Very sweet. Low acidity, tartness, and tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Full bodied (a good kind of syrupy). Concentrated intense full flavor notes of rich ripe apples and honey, with hints of caramel and vanilla. Long warming finish. Moderate apple influence. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! This ice cider is definitely honey-forward. Due to the sweetness it is definitely a beverage to sip only a small quantity after dinner, but that means even a small bottle lasts awhile. It also kept very well in the fridge, without any noticeable flavor change during the week I had it open (I used an expanding stopper).

Most Similar to: High quality ice ciders, which truthfully I haven’t tried too many of (as there aren’t many). Compared to Eden’s Heirloom Blend and Northern Spy ice ciders, I found it to be slightly less complex (Northern Spy was the most complex, from being barrel aged) and slightly less warming/boozy on the finish.

Closing Notes: This was another impressive cider from Eden Ice Cider. However, I prefer their Heirloom Blend and especially Northern Spy, which both seemed a bit more complex (and the oak notes in Northern Spy were especially nice). I look forward to trying more ciders from Eden in the future, such as their Windfall Orchard and Brandy Barrel aged Heirloom Blend ice ciders, and their aperitif ciders. If anyone wants to know what I want for my birthday or Christmas, its definitely a subscription to their cider club, which sounds amazing with member-only releases, but is admittedly a bit spendy (but great for folks who would buy a lot of their ciders anyways as you get a 20% discount).

Have you tried Eden Ice Ciders? What did you think?

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