Herout Micro-Cuvée No. 1 Cidre

June 10, 2019June 10, 2019 cidersays Herout, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, Herout, tasting notes

Review of Maison Herout Micro-Cuvée No. 1 Sparkling Cidre aged in Calvados barrels. I previously tried a similar Calvados barrel aged cider from Herout, Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique, plus I’ve had their Brut, Extra-Brut, D-Day Commemorative Brut, and Pommeau.

Calvados = French apple brandy
Cuvée = a French wine term for vat/tank

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Beauchamp Imports / French Cider Inc. 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: Micro-Cuvee No. 1 Sparkling Cidre aged in Calvados barrels
Cidery: Maison Herout AOC
Cidery Location: Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, France
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: French cidre, from cider apples, Calvados barrel aged

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website (at the time of this review, they are able to ship to WA, OR, ID, CA, NV, NM, AK, ND, NH, & DC). They also offer a number of other selections from Herout, plus ciders and Pommeaux from many other makers.

Cider Description: Dense and complex, the Micro-Cuvée No. 1 Cidre is fermented for at least three months in an oak barrel that was previously used to age AOC Calvados. This gentle barrel fermentation gives this cider a very fine, fruity taste that is amplified by slightly tannic Calvados flavors on the finish. Higher alcohol content due to aging in Calvados barrels.

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

Price: n/a (retails for $29)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

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

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low funk and tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness. Notes of rich apple, must, orange, honey, leather, and earth/cork. Long tannic slightly bitter finish. High apple flavor, complexity, and sessionability. Moderate overall flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I really enjoyed it, especially the flavor profile and complexity.

Most Similar to: Herout Coup de Foudre Cidre Biologique except more complexity and less bitterness

Closing Notes: French Cider Inc has an awesome cider selection!

Have you tried French cider? What did you think?

2 Towns Boysenbarrel

February 28, 2019February 25, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, barrel aged, Boysenbarrel, boysenberry, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns Boysenbarrel, a barrel aged boysenberry cider. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their lineup (see here).

Cider: Boysenbarrel
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft with from dessert apples with boysenberries, barrel aged

Availability: seasonal (winter), in some states (see their cider finder), plus online sales

Cider Description: Tart and complex, Boysenbarrel is packed with Pacific Northwest grown boysenberries. Aged on heavy toasted French oak for a strong tannic backbone, this rich and tangy berry treat is perfect for the winter season.

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

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first read about it online

First Impression: Purple-red hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of tart berry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of berry with hints of lemon and green apple. Long tannic oaky red wine finish (although I’m guessing the red wine flavor was just tannic berry + oak barrel, as they didn’t specify red wine barrels were used). Low apple flavor and barrel influence. Moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and sessionability,

My Opinion: I liked it. However, it was a bit too red wine-like for me.

Most Similar to: a non-sour version of 2 Towns Traditions La Mure (marion blackberry cider aged in red wine barrels), and Seattle Cider Red Wine Barrel Berry

Closing Notes: I’d recommend this for folks of berry and barrel aged ciders, especially wine lovers.

Have you tried 2 Towns Boysenbarrel? What did you think?

Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry Barrel Select

November 26, 2018November 23, 2018 cidersays Newton's Folly barrel aged, Barrel Select, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Newton's Folly, tasting notes

Review of Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry Barrel Select. This is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, made at the Woodchuck facility, and appears to be a barrel aged version of their regular Newton Folly Semi-Dry canned cider, which I reviewed here.

Cider: Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry Barrel Select
Cidery: American Hard Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottle
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, barrel aged

Availability: only at Trader Joe’s

Cider Description: Hard Cider has a history that reaches back hundreds of years in Vermont, where our Newton’s Folly Cider is fermented and bottled. Newton’s Folly Barrel Select Semi-Dry delivers an oaky, bourbon taste perfect for enjoying with family and friends. We do offer a heads up however. Enjoy this fine cider directly under an apple tree at your own risk.

Price: $5.99
Where Bought: Trader Joe’s
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple juice, honey, tropical fruit, and hints of oak & bourbon. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity. Low barrel influence.

My Opinion: I liked it. I wished there was more barrel influence, but I say that about nearly every barrel aged cider. Also, the cider profile isn’t really the type that is ideal for barrel aging (more fruity than rich).

Most Similar to: a slightly barrel aged version of Bertolinos (except Newton’s Folly is lower carbonation), Bite Hard Semi-Sweet, or Woodchuck 802 Collection Lil’ Dry

Closing Notes: Like Trader Joe’s Dan Armor (French cider), this is a tasty budget-friendly cider that likely would have wide appeal, and be a perfect cider to serve at a gathering.

Have you tried Newton’s Folly? What did you think?

Tieton Bourbon Peach

July 2, 2018June 23, 2018 cidersays review, Tieton barrel aged, Bourbon Peach, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, peach cider, tasting notes, Tieton, Yakima

Review of Tieton Bourbon Peach. I tried this on draft 2 years ago (see here), and heard last year that it came out in bottles but never saw it. Now that I found it this year, I wanted to do a full review. I’ve also had their Cidermaker’s Reserve, Apricot, Smoked Pumpkin, Wind (Pommeau), Wild Washington, Cherry, Blossom Nectar, Sparkling Perry, Cranberry, Frost (ice cider), Spice Route, Russian Red, and Lavender Honey.

Cider: Bourbon Peach
Cidery: Tieton Cider Works
Cidery Location: Yakima WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with peach, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: summer seasonal, since 2016, sold in Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada

Cider Description: Juice from hand-picked Washington State peaches is married with the richness of Kentucky bourbon barrels. This creates the perfect balance of sweet, ripe peaches and tartness of green apples. The charred oak of bourbon barrels gives this cider a deep vanilla and plum character. A touch of oak tannin finishes this cider off perfectly. Our love of what Northwest farmers have to offer has led us to create this “Limited Release” program. Featuring the bounty of our local agriculture, Tieton Cider Works’ Limited Releases will focus on some of the very best products the Northwest has to offer. Bourbon Peach is the perfect summertime libation with a refreshing blend of juicy peaches with and aged bourbon barrel flavors.

Cidery Description: From branch to bottle, Tieton Cider Works controls every aspect of the growing and cidermaking process. Tieton Cider Works boasts the largest orchard of cider varieties in Washington state and the largest Perry pear orchard in the United States. We blend our gnarly, inedible cider fruit with our organically grown dessert fruit. We’ve been growing apples, apricots, cherries and pears on Harmony Orchards – our family farm – since the 1930’s and are thrilled to be involved in Re:interpreting the tradition of cider making.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: a weird bottle shop / bar inside a mini mart in Lynnwood WA called Stogies N Hops (we won’t be going back as it stank horribly of cigarette/cigar smoke and had a weird vibe)
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first tried it on draft 2 years ago

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of peach.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of peach with some other fruit (pineapple, mango, pear) and oak. Moderate length finish with mild bourbon. Moderate sessionability. Low apple flavor, barrel influence, and bourbon influence. Moderate complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I love the flavor profile, and it has a nice complexity for being made from dessert apples. This is exactly the type of cider that I go for when drinking non-cider-apple ciders – full flavored and semi-sweet to semi-dry. If anything though I would have liked more bourbon. I’m really glad they went a bit sweeter on this, as I think many barrel aged ciders often go too dry, which combined with the barrel & spirit influence can come across as harsh.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of peach ciders, such as Black Fin Pacific Peach, Red Branch Peach, Schilling Road Trip (Peach Citra), Sancho Libre Peach Sangria, Fox Tail Fuzzy Haven, and Mission Trail Peach Coast (100% peach, so fruit wine not cider). This reminds me most of the Schilling Road Trip, except it has bourbon instead of hops. Most of the others were drier and more tart.

Closing Notes: The price point on this is great too, for what you are getting (I checked Total Wine’s website and found out they just got it in stock, and sell it $1 cheaper, for $6.99). I think this would do well in cans, but I think Tieton only does that for their ‘Rambling Route’ line (which I’m not a huge fan of, although its plenty drinkable).

Have you tried Tieton Bourbon Peach? What did you think?

Cider Riot San Patricios

June 29, 2018June 24, 2018 cidersays Cider Riot, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, Cider Riot, cider tasting, hard cider, San Patricios, tasting notes

Review of Cider Riot Black Bloc series San Patricios Tequila Barrel Aged Irish Cider. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Never Give An Inch Oregon Blackberry, 1763, Champeg X-17, Burn Cider, and Everyday Semi-Dry.

Cider: San Patricios
Cidery: Cider Riot
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, Irish-style, tequila barrel aged

Availability: Limited release of 100 cases, at least 1 year ago. In general their ciders are sold in Oregon, Washington, and California in the U.S., British Columbia in Canada, plus Norway and Japan (see here).

Cider Description: After 6 months in a fresh Mexican tequila barrel our Irish-Style cider is revved up and ready for action. Dedicated to those who fight for freedom and against injustice, this cider allies spicy, fresh tequila notes with stalwart French and American oak tannins from the barrel. Born a rebel, the San Patricios will die just the same. With less than 100 cases produced be sure to get yours before the battle is over.

I sent them an e-mail asking about apple varieties, and they said dessert (supermarket) apples, then fermented warm with Australian white wine yeast, with the tannins coming from the American and French oak mezcal tequila barrels.

Cidery Description: Cider Riot! is dedicated to producing high quality ciders from Cascadian grown apples. With tradition as our guide and our roots firmly planted in the rich soils of our bioregion, our urban cidery produces refreshing, flavorful ciders.

They have a “pub” in the Portland area.

Price: $14
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of cider apples.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of rich tannic apples & pomace, oak, caramel, and earth. Long warm finish with a hint of tequila. Moderate barrel influence, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low tequila influence, apple flavor, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I was a bit ambivalent about this one. I liked the flavor, and was very surprised to hear it was only dessert apples, as it was rich & tannic (plus darker in color). However, I think it was a bit too dry for my personal liking, which also made the bitterness prevalent, plus the tequila flavor was very mild. I think this would have been awesome if they went a bit sweeter and added some tequila and lime to up the flavor profile.

Most Similar to: The only tequila barrel aged cider I’ve had is Wyder’s Pear Reposado, which in contrast to this one is sweeter and more tequila-forward, plus was from pears not apples. I also read that Austin Eastciders, Blake’s, Downeast, and Xylem make tequila barrel aged ciders.

Closing Notes: I think this is the richest / most tannic cider from only dessert apples that I’ve tried. Its crazy that just the barrel aging did that.

Have you tried any tequila barrel aged cider? What did you think?

Finnriver Fire Barrel

March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 cidersays Finnriver, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finnriver, Fire Barrel, hard cider, tasting notes, washington

Review of Finnriver Fire Barrel. I’ve tried the previous version of this (see here) as well as this new version on tap (see here), but now I’m reviewing a new bottle in more detail. I’ve also tried most of Finnriver’s lineup (see here).

Cider: Fire Barrel
Cidery: Finnriver
Cidery Location: Chimacum WA
ABV: 9.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottle (and draft)

Availability: Limited release. 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.), but I didn’t see this one at the time of review.

Cider Description: A robust, bold and balanced taste of traditional cider apples— with a whisper of whiskey and rye spice; smoky aromas; notes of caramel and vanilla; and a mature, tannic finish.

100% Finnriver orchard organic cider apples: Chisel Jersey, Brown Snout, Harry Master’s Jersey, Medaille d’Or, Frequin rouge, Dabinette & Major.

Carefully farmcrafted and fermented with a blend of homegrown Finnriver orchard organic cider apples and white wine yeast in stainless steel tanks. Once the fermentation is complete, we cask the cider in Washington rye whiskey barrels for 5 months to impart depth and character. This award-winning cider was inspired by PNW cidermaker Drew Zimmerman, whose mentorship and cider apple trees helped us establish our orchard.

After chilling, allow the cider to warm slightly and serve; we favor Fire Barrel in a Belgian-style tulip glass. Try it with roasted pork, slow roasted brisket, a blue cheese burger, cured meats, smoked cheeses or any other hearty, savory fare. Caramelize an onion with Firebarrel cider and add to a dish for a feisty meal.

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.

Finnriver has a great illustrated product guide (see here). They have a tasting room and are on the Olympic Pennsylvania cider route, along with the Eaglemount and Alpenfire cideries.

Price: $25
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband got this for me for Christmas! He didn’t know I had already tried this new release, but had remembered me loving the old one.

First Impression: Light caramel amber hue. Nearly still. Smells of cider apples, caramel, and bourbon.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Very light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Low to moderate bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apples, caramel, brown sugar, leather, orange, bourbon, smoke, and oak. Long bitter finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Low barrel influence and sessionability. Low to moderate bourbon influence. Moderate to high complexity.

Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, compared to the old release, this is a disappointment. The price is significantly higher, it is drier, less flavorful, more bitter, and thinner bodied. I agree to serve this at cellar temperature (between fridge & room temp), as colder would mute the flavor. I even enjoy ciders of this style at room temperature.

Most Similar to: Other ciders from bittersweet cider apples. This reminds me of English cider, but with the added bourbon and oak.

Closing Notes: I am curious about next year’s release, and if it will be more like the previous version that I absolutely love.

Have you tried Finnriver Fire Barrel? What did you think?

Chatter Creek Barrel Roll

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 cidersays Chatter Creek, review barrel aged, barrel roll, Chatter Creek, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Chatter Creek’s Barrel Roll, a bourbon barrel aged cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Pilot Project Batch ‘1’ Golden Cider and Chaider Clipper.

Cider: Barrel Roll
Cidery: Chatter Creek
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 9.4%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle, crown cap, attached flip top
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: Seattle WA area, plus online sales (to AK, AZ, CA, DC, HI, IL, MN, MO, OR, and WA)

Cider Description: This cider was aged for 4 months in American oak barrels that had been used to age JP Trodden Bourbon Whiskey. It is bone dry and displays the balance of oak and apple aromas. About a third of the apples used in the blend are Granny Smith, which provide the nice snap in the finish. Only 4 barrels of this were produced and it is only available through the winery tasting room or a few select taps around town.

Cidery Description: Gordon Rawson has been making grape wine since the 80s, and started Chatter Creek in 1996. Cider is a more recent venture however. All the cider names and labels are aviation-themed. They have a tasting room in Woodinville WA, Northeast of Seattle.

Price: $9.99
Where Bought: Brigid’s Bottleshop in Edmonds WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This was my first time visiting this bottle shop. They had a great bottle selection, but had higher prices than anywhere else I’d seen. They also had 1 rotating cider on tap I think.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of alcohol (bourbon).

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bourbon, oak, vanilla, and lemon. Long boozy finish. Low flavor intensity, apple flavor, barrel influence, and sessionability. Moderate bourbon influence. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked the bourbon flavor. However, overall the cider was a bit harsh for my tastes, between the dryness and high ABV, and I prefer a higher flavor intensity. I think backsweetening with honey would have been great (to end up with a flavor profile like Big B’s Grizzly Brand or 2 Towns The Bad Apple). I’d recommend this for folks who enjoy bourbon / spirits.

Most Similar to: Locust Bourbon Barrel Aged (although that was higher ABV) and Carlton Cyderworks Slake (although that was semi-dry)

Closing Notes: Of the three ciders I’ve tried from Chatter Creek so far, my favorite was Pilot Project Batch ‘1’ Golden Cider.

Have you tried barrel aged cider? What did you think?

Art+Science Symbiosis

January 17, 2018January 20, 2018 cidersays Art+Science, review Art+Science, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, grape cider, hard cider, Symbiosis, tasting notes, wild fermented

Review of Art+Science Symbiosis cider, 50% apple + 50% grape. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Symbiosis, 2015
Cidery: Art+Science
Cidery Location: Sheridan OR
ABV: 10.8%
How Supplied: 750ml crown capped bottle with attached flip top
Ingredients: 50% foraged apple + 50% Grüner Veltliner white grape
Style: American craft apple & grape wine, wild yeast fermented, ancestral method, white wine barrel aged for 10 months, secondary fermentation in bottle

Availability: Oregon (especially Portland), California, Washington, New Orleans LA, and New York NY, plus online sales

Cider Description: Symbiosis: any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different species, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic. Symbiosis is made from foraged apples in the Willamette Valley and Grüner Veltliner grown at Johan Vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Grüner Veltliner is the most widely planted white grape in Austria. The apples are milled and pressed and the apple juice is added to the destemmed and crushed Grüner Veltliner. It is 50% apples and 50% white grapes and is naturally fermented with native yeast on the skins of the gruner for 3 weeks then aged in used white wine barrels for 10 months. Then it is re-sweetened and put in bottle to finish a secondary fermentation to add some carbonation. This beverage is made with no added acid, no forced carbonation and no pasteurization. It is the most vinous cider we produce with great mid pallet weight. Take a sip and take a breath of fresh air…..

Cidery Description: Welcome to Art+Science! We are natural cider, perry, and wine producers using primarily foraged fruit & fermenting with indigenous yeast in rural Yamhill County, Oregon. We are working towards building a tasting room in 2018, but we welcome visitors by appointment to drink at our kitchen table with us!

They are associated with Roshamboart Farm and started commercially making wine in 2011 and cider in 2013.

Price: $12.99 (looks like I got a good deal, as the online price is $28)
Where Bought: K&L Wines in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, while we were in port during a cruise

First Impression: Moderate hazy yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of citrus, vinegar, and yeast.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low sourness, tannins, bitterness, and funk. Notes of grapefruit, lemon, honey, yeast, white grape, vinegar, oak, must, and cork. Long warming sour finish. Moderate flavor intensity. Low apple & grape flavor, barrel influence, and sessionability. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I was ambivalent about this cider. I didn’t dislike it, but I wouldn’t choose it again. It was definitely nice to try though, and very unique, wine-like. A lot of effort obviously went into producing it. I would recommend this cider for folks who enjoy a more rustic farmhouse-style cider and/or Spanish Sidra. Note that this was the front of the palate sourness, not as brash (to me at least) as Sidra, but did have a bit of that vinegar type flavor.

Most Similar to: The only white grape cider I think I’ve had is 2 Towns Cidre Moscato (with Muscat grapes), but I’m not sure that was co-fermented, and it was a completely different style. However, the rustic (wild fermented) style of this cider reminded me of Runcible Cider Light of the Moon, Alpenfire Pirate’s Plank, Angry Orchard Walden Hollow, and Wrangletown Cider Co.’s lineup. The other ciders I’ve had with a white grape flavor were sweeter & fruity, which this cider was not.

Closing Notes: At the same shop I also picked up a bottle of Art+Science’s 100% Quince cider (although in that case it would just be fruit wine). Their website says they are distributed in WA, and I was told it was through ‘Walden’, but I don’t think I’ve spotted anything made by them yet.

Have you tried Art+Science Symbiosis? What did you think?

Liberty Reserve Series Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal

January 15, 2018December 29, 2017 cidersays Liberty, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, liberty, Liberty Ciderworks, Porter's Perfection, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Liberty’s Reserve Series Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Manchurian Crabapple Single Varietal, Crabenstein, English Style, Abbess, Stonewall Dry Fly Whiskey Barrel Aged, Gravenstein, Cellar Series #G15, New World Style, Cellar Series (unknown), McIntosh, Golden Russet SV, Spokane Scrumpy, and Hewe’s Crab.

Cider: Reserve Series #0216 Porter’s Perfection Single Varietal
Cidery: Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 8.6%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: American craft cider from Porter’s Perfection cider apples, barrel aged

Availability: In general you can find their ciders in Washington and Oregon (see a list of locations here). However, this variety was very limited (12 cases), mostly just their tap room and cider club members, plus possibly online sales through Vino Shipper (although at the time of review it was not listed)

Cider Description: Porter’s Perfection apples are another UK favorite, valued in blending and as a stand-alone. Dry, tannic and satisfying, our 2015 Porter’s is a blend of apples from both our Palouse-based suppliers (Bishops’ Orchard & Steury Orchards). Aged in a used whiskey barrel (already stripped of whiskey by our award-winning Stonewall cider), this cider pairs beautifully with smoked poultry, pork and red meat dishes. (12 cases bottled still in 750 ml bottles, RS 0.2%)

Cidery Description: Located in the largest apple-growing region on the continent, Liberty Ciderworks is all about the apple, showcasing the diversity and wonders of locally grown fruit. From well known apples like McIntosh and Jonathan to rare, cider-specific fruit like Kingston Black and Dabinett, Liberty ciders put apples in their proper place: Front and center. We started Liberty Ciderworks in 2013 with a simple, two-part mission: 1) Using apples from local farms and fields to create unique, wonderful ciders, and 2) Sharing them with friends and neighbors across the great Pacific Northwest. Welcome to the cider revolution.

They have a tap room in Spokane WA, which also now has a bottle shop of selections from around the world.

Price: $15.75
Where Bought: Capitol Cider in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Perusing their cider bottle list. I was surprised to find this, as I didn’t think the Reserve Series left their tap room.

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of bittersweet apple juice, caramel, and tannins.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. Moderate tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet apple, caramel, brown sugar, orange, and leather. Long dry tannic finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, I think I would have liked a bit more body and residual sweetness, as I think that would have brought out more flavor. However, as-is, it is incredibly food friendly.

Most Similar to: Eve’s Kingston Black, Farnum Hill Kingston Black, and Alpenfire Ember (which is sweeter)

Closing Notes: Next up I have their Pink Pearl to try, another Reserve Series single varietal.

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

Central City Limited Edition Imperial Cider

January 8, 2018December 27, 2017 cidersays Central City, review barrel aged, Canada, Canadian cider, Central City, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Central City Brewers and Distillers’ Brewer’s Reserve Small Batch Series Limited Edition Imperial Cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery. I picked it up in Victoria in September, when we were in port for a cruise.

Cider: Limited Edition Imperial Cider
Cidery: Central City Brewing
Cidery Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 11.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Canadian cider from local apples, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: limited seasonal release, since fall 2016, only in British Columbia (although in general their products are available throughout Canada; see here)

Cider Description: Central City Brewers & Distillers’ Oak Aged Craft Cider is a limited edition, small batch apple cider. Made from 100% Okanangan Valley apples, oak aged with subtle bourbon tones. The resulting flavour is complex with notes of vanilla bringing balance to a rich, crisp apple character. The effervescent finish makes for a refreshing and flavourful cider experience.

Cidery Description: This brewery opened in 2003. In addition to beer, they also produce spirits and cider.

Price: $16.44 CAD (~ $13.00 U.S.)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never heard of this producer, and it sounded like a cider I’d like.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of alcohol, oak, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, lemon, bourbon, oak, and caramelized sugar. Long boozy finish. Low oak influence, apple flavor, and sessionability. Moderate bourbon flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I loved the flavor profile of this cider. It was quite alcoholic, but well balanced and tasty. The bourbon was definitely noticeable, which I liked, but not overwhelming. I shared it with a friend on Christmas day, and it was a great choice. The high quality surprised me, as I haven’t enjoyed too many ciders from breweries. Often they are rather beer-like.

Most Similar to: (1) Moonlight Meadery Little Apples (the new canned version like this, but without the first batch can liner issue; it remains much drier than their previous draft version); (2) Eden Specialty Ciders Cellar Series Guinevere’s Pearls (except it lacks bourbon); and (3) 2 Towns Bad Apple (except it also lacks bourbon)

Closing Notes: I hope to be able to find this again. It was an awesome value too!

Have you tried Central City’s Imperial Cider? What did you think?

Leavenworth Cider Tasting

December 18, 2017July 11, 2018 cidersays review, Swift, Whiskey Barrel Cider Co. barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Leavenworth, Swift, tasting notes, washington, Whiskey Barrel Cider

My husband and I recently spend a few days in Leavenworth WA, a Bavarian-themed town in the mountains a couple hours East of Seattle. Visiting this time of year is especially special as they light up and decorate the entire town. This time we visited mid-week, skipping the weekend festival crowds, which we concluded was a great decision (plus it is nearly impossible to get a hotel room there on a festival weekend as they allow folks to re-book for the next year). I found cider at nearly every place we went to, and didn’t spot Angry Orchard on a single tap list! Very cool.

At least three new cider-centric places opened in Leavenworth since our last visit:

Bushel & Bee – a tap room with about 12 beers, 9 ciders, and 3 meads on draft, who offers flights, snacks, and two fridge cases of bottles & cans
Broken Barrel – a combination bottle shop & tap room which focuses on wine & cider and offers classes
Stein – a huge tap room (over 50 taps, where probably 8 were cider) with tons of seating, full food menu, two fridge cases of bottles & cans, and a mini gift shop in the front

Here is what I tried:

At Bushel & Bee I had Swift‘s Peach Oak on draft.
- reviewed below
At Icicle Brewing I had a can of Rambling Route Yakima Cider (they have 1 rotating cider option). This is a really cool local brewery for beer lovers, with a neat tap room sharing the space with their production facility, and snacks & games. Plus their beer prices are crazy affordable, especially growler fills. My husband took home a bunch of his favorite ‘Dark Persuasion’ german chocolate cake porter.
- previous review of Rambling Route here
At Broken Barrel I picked up a couple fancy bottles to take home.
- Phillipi Fruit‘s Snowdance, a Pommeau-style apple brandy fortified cider made in Wenatchee. I tried it previously (see here) but haven’t seen it in any other shops.
- Cashmere Cider Mill‘s Country Elegance Heirloom Blend Medium cider, made in Cashmere. I had never heard of this cidery, probably as it looks like they are only sold at their tasting room and a couple shops.
At Leavenworth Sausage Garden I had Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet on draft (which has been their 1 cider selection since they opened).
- previous review here
At Munchen Haus I had Whiskey Barrel Cider‘s Dam Hard Cider on draft (they have 1 rotating cider tap), my first time trying cider from that cidery.
- reviewed below
At Stein we took a look at the tap list and thought we’d have time to come back later, but didn’t. However, like Broken Barrel, I had previously tried everything on their tap list, so it wasn’t too much of a loss.
At a roadside shop East of Leavenworth I picked up a bottle of mead from Honeywood Winery (in Salem Oregon) – see my previous review of their cider here
- I opened the bottle the day after we got home and really enjoyed it. Very sweet (more of a dessert mead), but very flavorful and complex, with a lot of honey and floral notes. Also an awesome value at $13.50 / 750ml of 11% ABV.

Swift Cider Peach Oak

Swift‘s Peach Oak is a seasonal draft-only cider, 6.9% ABV, made in Portland Oregon. I paid about $7 for 12oz on draft at Bushel & Bee. They have a really cool tap room by the way – cozy, with fun decor (and even some games & adult coloring books). There was a wide range of ciders, from dry to sweet, although I think they were all the flavored type you most commonly see on draft (not from cider apples).

Light peach yellow hue. Nearly still. Smells mildly fruity and acidic. On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of peach, green apple, pineapple, and a hint of oak. Moderate length tart finish. Low apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate to high sessionability.

I thought this was average, but only as it is not my preferred style. This would appeal more to fans of dry & acidic subtle flavored cider. I personally prefer a slightly sweeter and/or more intensely flavored cider. This is on-par with what I have come to expect from Swift, having tried their Pineapple Hop and Marionberry.

Whiskey Barrel Cider Company Dam Fine Cider

Whiskey Barrel Cider Co.’s Dam Fine Cider is their flagship offering, 5.8% ABV, made in Pullman WA. I paid about $6 for about a pint on draft at Muchen Haus, an outdoor sausage garden. Thankfully they had a fire pit as it was in the 30s when we visited. We stopped by for a drink before dinner just so I could try this cider (plus they had one of my husband’s favorite beers, Icicle’s Dark Persuasion). This was the only cider they had, and apparently the selection rotates.

Light straw yellow hue with a hint of orange/pink. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of apple juice. On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of apple juice and honey with the very slightest hint of oak. Quick finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. High sessionability.

I enjoyed this, and it ended up being my favorite cider I drank during our visit (except for the bottle of Newton’s Court Gasping Goose I had in our room). If I’m drinking cider from dessert instead of cider apples, I like something with more flavor than Rambling Route and Seattle Cider for example. However, it left me wanting more whiskey & oak flavor, as it was nearly non-existent, which was surprising considering the cidery’s name.

UPDATE (July 11, 2018) – I received an e-mail from the cidermaker, Kody Franks, with clarification that Whiskey Barrel Cider Co.’s Dam Fine Cider is not barrel aged. Their original flagship cider was barrel aged, but with their increased production, none of their current selections (like this one) are. A few of their ciders (including Dam Fine) are now also available in cans. Also, they are planning to open a tasting room / production facility in Liberty Lake WA in a few months. Due to the potential confusion with the cidery name vs. selections, they plan to change to Trailbreaker Cider Co. Thanks for the info, Kody!

Do you enjoy trying new ciders on vacation?

Eden Specialty Ciders Cellar Series #2 The Falstaff

November 20, 2017November 20, 2017 cidersays Eden, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, Eden Ice Cider, Eden Specialty Cider, Falstaff, ice cider, Vermont

Review of Eden Specialty Ciders Cellar Series #2, The Falstaff, a seven-year barrel-aged ice cider! It is my first time trying this, although I’ve tried Eden’s Sparkling Dry, Cinderella’s Slipper, Heirloom Ice Cider, Sparkling Semi-Dry, Northern Spy Ice Cider, Honeycrisp Ice Cider, Imperial 11 Rosé, Heirloom Brandy Barrel Aged Ice Cider, Guinevere’s Pearls, Windfall Orchard Ice Cider, and Two Ellies (collaboration with Tilted Shed).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Eden. 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: Cellar Series #2, The Falstaff
Cidery: Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Newport Vermont
ABV: 10%
Residual Sugar: 15%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles
Style: American artisan ice cider from Vermont apples, aged for 7 years in a single oak barrel

Availability: Now sold out. This was an early batch of their ice cider, aged in a single oak barrel from 2008-2015, put into 600 bottles, and sold to their cider club members in 2015 & 2016.

However, in general, 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. Eden also offers online sales when allowed by state.

Cider Description: Rare single-barrel ice cider aged for 7 years in used French oak. It is elegantly oxidized and sweet, like a rich oloroso without fortification. Dark and warm, it still has beautiful acidity, along with notes of golden raisin, caramelized sugar, apricot and fig.

won Chairman’s Award / Best Wood-Aged Cider: Dan Berger Cider Competition 2016

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 Vermont. Their current product line includes ice ciders, Aperitif ciders, sparkling ciders, and Cellar Series releases.

Price: n/a (retails for $50)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about this online, but it was cider club only, then sold out. I got lucky and a rep from Eden saw it on my Wish List and contacted me.

First Impression: Deep caramel amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells amazing and enticing – very rich, sweet, and boozy, of concentrated apple juice, molasses, and so much more.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Full bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of molasses, caramel, raisin, ripe baked apple, tart raw green apple, lemon, brown sugar, caramelized sugar, pie spices, and even more! Long finish length. High apple flavor and flavor intensity. Very high complexity. Very low sessionability. More aged than oaky.

My Opinion: Amazing!! Probably tied with Alpenfire Smoke for most complex cider I’ve ever drank. The tartness and acidity was higher than their other ice ciders, but that helped balance the sweetness, and added to the flavor complexity. It was a unique mix of rich, sweet, tart, savory, and more. I recommend serving this an ounce or two at a time, very cold, and to slowly savor in tiny sips.

Most Similar to: This is a more complex, tart & acidic, and aged version of their other ice ciders, probably closest to Eden’s Brandy Barrel Aged Heirloom ice cider (which was my favorite ice cider until I tried this one).

Closing Notes: I’m so lucky to have been able to try this! I look forward to enjoying the rest of this bottle over the next couple weeks, including on Thanksgiving. Hopefully I won’t have to share it with anyone.

Have you tried any ice cider from Eden? What did you think?

Urban Tree Cidery Barrel-Aged

August 24, 2017August 21, 2017 cidersays review, Urban Tree Atlanta, barrel aged, barrel aged cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Georgia, hard cider, tasting notes, Urban Tree

Review of Urban Tree Cidery’s Barrel-Aged variety, described as a premium cider aged in oak rum barrels. It is my first time trying any of their ciders, and I sampled their current flagship line-up of three ciders all at once.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Urban Tree. 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: Barrel-Aged
Cidery: Urban Tree Cidery
Cidery Location: Atlanta Georgia
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider, rum barrel aged

Availability: Their tasting room in Atlanta, these locations around Atlanta, and online sales (in Georgia)

Cider Description: Our hand-pressed apple juice is slowly fermented with champagne yeast, then aged to perfection in Nicaraguan rum barrels. Hints of brown sugar, woody vanilla and oak notes play in this dry, sturdy sip. A perfect complement to those moments you want to slow down a little to soak up the memory.

Cidery Description: At the core of Georgian pride and Atlanta’s spirit live the seeds of change. A new legacy is rising – challenging the conventions of good taste and fine drink.

Urban Tree was founded by a husband and wife in 2015, opened a tasting room in 2016, and is described as Atlanta’s first cidery. They use local apples from the Cathey Family Orchard in Mountain City Georgia.

Price: n/a (retails for $13-16)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery contacted me

First Impression: Light golden amber hue. Low carbonation with some foam. Smells acidic and slightly sour, with a hint of richness.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of sourness, bitterness, and funk. Notes of caramel, lemon, grapefruit, wood, earth, and nuts. Moderate length finish. Low oak influence. Hints of rum influence. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. I had been expecting more barrel influence due to the cider’s name, but I perceived it as pretty mild. However, my husband picked up significantly more oak & rum flavor than me and my friends, likely as he drinks aged spirits more often. I imagine they were going for approachable, which makes sense. It was similar to their Original, except with the tang mellowed out a bit, and hints of richness.

Most Similar to: This was less intense than the rum barrel aged ciders I’ve previously tried, such as Crispin 15 Men, Sea Cider Prohibition / Rum Runner, and Vermont Cider Co. Wassail. Slightly reminiscent of Montana CiderWorks North Fork Traditional and Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Apples.

Closing Notes: Next up (and last) is Urban Tree’s Classic cider.

Have you tried cider from Urban Tree? What did you think?

Wrangletown Cider Co. Oak Barrel Aged

July 5, 2017July 4, 2017 cidersays review, Wrangletown Arcata, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Oak Barrel Aged, tasting notes, Wrangletown

Review of Wrangletown Cider Company’s Oak Barrel Aged Cider. This is my first time trying this cider, but I previously tried their “Original“.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Wrangletown. 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: Barrel Aged
Cidery: Wrangletown Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Arcata CA
ABV: 7.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft dry farmhouse-style cider from heirloom & culinary apples, oak barrel aged

Availability: Only in Northern California. They self distribute, and have a tasting room in Arcata (open Friday thru Sunday and by appointment) in Humboldt county. The owner also said she may also be able to ship through a third party to some states if there was interest.

Cider Description: Wrangletown’s “Oak Barrel-Aged” Dry Farmhouse style cider is a combination of several Northern California Orchards. It is a dry cider, aged for 8 months in lightly used French Oak that formerly held Russian River Chardonnay. The palate is rich with fine tannins and a round wine-like mouthfeel. This cider would appeal to both oak barrel-aged beer fans as well as wine drinkers. It pairs wonderfully lively flavored foods. Wrangletown’s Oak Barrel-Aged Cider is made from Heirloom and Culinary apples.

Cidery Description: Wrangletown Cider Company produces small batch, dry, bottle conditioned ciders featuring family-owned orchards from Humboldt County, California.

The cidery is owned and operated by Pat Knittel, since 2015 (a one-woman show). The cidery is named after the “wrangle” town the cidermaker grew up in, which was infamous for two women brawling in the streets. The cidery had a Kickstarter campaign, successfully raising funds for equipment. Ciderpress wrote an article after touring the cidery. Here is another article on the cidery.

Price: n/a (retails for $18)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: The owner/cidermaker contacted me.

First Impression: Hazy lemonade hue. Moderate carbonation). Smells dry, slightly sour, funky, and musty, and of citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied with a nice fizz. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Hints of sourness and funk. Notes of heirloom apples, lemon, must, mineral, and yeast. Long finish. Hidden ABV. Moderate complexity and sessionability. Low flavor intensity, apple flavor, and barrel influence.

My Opinion: This was a bit smoother than the “Original”, with a hint of oak and a bit more earthiness. I liked this a bit more than “Original”. However, this isn’t my favorite style of cider; I usually go for a more intensely flavored cider, and I found this a bit nuanced. However, I certainly couldn’t find any faults, and didn’t dislike it. This is a more introductory farmhouse-style cider, with only hints of sourness & funk. This will likely appeal to folks who enjoy wine and milder food-friendly ciders. I always think of my personal opinion as more of an afterthought to my reviews (which is why I don’t rate ciders here). Everyone has a different taste in ciders, and every cider won’t appeal to every person.

Closing Notes: Two down, two to go!

Have you tried Wrangletown Cider? What did you think?

2 Towns Traditions La Mûre

June 28, 2017June 25, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, barrel aged, blackberry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, La Mûre, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ newest Traditions line cider, La Mûre, a sour Marion blackberry cider aged in Pinot Noir red wine barrels for over a year. It is inspired by Belgian-style sour lambic beer. I tried this previously when it was a cellar series release (see here). I’ve also tried most of their cider line-up; see my past reviews here.

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

Cider: La Mûre
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles
Style: American craft sour Belgian lambic beer inspired cider with Marion blackberries, aged in Pinot Noir barrels

Availability: In general 2 Towns ciders are available in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA, although this is a more limited release.

Cider Description: Inspired by the historic lambic beers of Belgium, La Mûre embodies the Flemish styles of old. Northwest apples and Oregon grown Marion blackberries are fermented wild with Lactobacillus. Aged in Willamette Valley pinot noir barrels for one year, this unique cider is then removed from these dusty casks and bottle conditioned, revealing complex aromatics and a lactic tang that only time can unfold.

La Mûre won silver medals this year at two cider competitions – GLINTCAP and the Portland International Cider Cup.

Price: n/a (but their other 375ml Traditions releases run around $9)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: It showed up.

First Impression: Bright purple-red hue. Low carbonation (more than the last batch). Smells of blackberries, red wine, oak, and sourness.

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

My Opinion: I’m not a sour cider fan, so no surprise, I wasn’t a big fan of this cider. And thats ok…not everyone likes every cider. With my last tasting of this I had three cider friends over (as well as my husband), and I discovered that this cider was a big hit with lovers of dry & sour ciders. My tolerance to sour has increased in the last year though, and I found this cider much more palatable; therefore it is possible I may still acquire the taste for sours.

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

Closing Notes: If you love dry sour & farmhouse-style cider, Belgian-style lambic beer, etc, this cider will probably be to your liking. I don’t think this cider will have a mass appeal, but I think it will be appreciated by fans of this style

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

Jester & Judge Nowhere Special

June 26, 2017June 24, 2017 cidersays Jester & Judge, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Jester & Judge, Nowhere Special, tasting notes

Review of Jester & Judge’s Nowhere special cider, a special release. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Sharp Cherry, American Apple, Columbia Belle, and Pineapple Express ciders.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Jester & Judge. 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: Nowhere Special
Cidery: Jester & Judge
Cidery Location: Stevenson WA
ABV: 9.8%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider, triple fermented, rye & whiskey barrel aged

Availability: Likely only in Washington & Oregon (such as the Schilling Cider House in Seattle and Bushwhacker in Portland)

Cider Description: As the fall begins to consume the gorge, the environment turns milder. The colors of fall, strong and vibrant, inspired this dramatic barrel aged small batch release. Nowhere Special is a blend of three different fermentations, wild, ale, and champagne. Aged in Rye and Irish whiskey barrels, six months in the making. We put out efforts out for consideration. You be the judge.

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: n/a (retails for $8)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about this online and contacted the cidery.

First Impression: Rich orange amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells mildly rich, tannic, and of whiskey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins and bitterness. Hints of funk. No sourness. Notes of caramel, orange, leather, molasses, oak, and whiskey. Long finish, warming and whiskey prominent. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. Low sessionability. Moderate to high spirit influence. Low perceived barrel influence.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this. However, it was a tad on the harsh side, and I don’t think this will be a widely appealing cider, with the high ABV and strong whiskey flavor. I like this style of cider though.

Most Similar to: A high ABV but low tannin English cider which is whiskey barrel aged. Nothing like I’ve tried before. The more whiskey prominent ciders I’ve had are Liberty Stonewall, Finnriver Fire Barrel, and Tilted Shed Barred Rock.

Closing Notes: This cider was a great first specialty release, and an excellent value. I look forward to seeing what special releases they put out next. My favorite of their regular line ciders is the Pineapple Express.

Have you tried Jester & Judge Nowhere Special? What did you think?

Crispin Bourbon Char

May 24, 2017May 13, 2017 cidersays Crispin barrel aged, Bourbon Char, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crispin, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Crispin Bourbon Char, a bourbon cask aged cider with smoked maple syrup. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Original, Pacific Pear, Blackberry Pear, The Saint, Bohemian, Honeycrisp, Venus Reigns, Steeltown, 15 Men, and Browns Lane.

Cider: Bourbon Char
Cidery: Crispin
Cidery Location: Colfax CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, bourbon cask aged, with smoked maple syrup

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Rising aroma of bourbon over charred oak with sweet hickory notes. Silky on the Tongue and full of Kentucky character, this cask-aged apple cider is finished with smoked maple syrup, imparting a delicate kiss of smoke and brown sugar.

Cidery Description: The Crispin Cider Company crafts super premium hard apple and pear ciders using blends of fresh-pressed apples and pears. The Classic Line consists of: Original, Brut, Pacific Pear and Blackberry Pear. The unfiltered Artisanal Reserve^® line consists of: Honey Crisp and The Saint. The Crispin Cider Company also imports a classic English dry cider, Browns Lane. The Crispin Cider Company is based in Colfax, California.

Price: $8.50
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland OR
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had heard of this when it came out in October 2016, but hadn’t been able to find it in Seattle.

First Impression: Hazy dark straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of unfiltered apple juice, maple, honey, and a hint of bourbon.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, honey, maple, brown sugar, bourbon, lemon, and oak. Quick finish. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. Low barrel influence and bourbon influence.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this. However, I was hoping for a more intense bourbon, oak, and maple profile. It had more honey than anything else for me. It was expectedly slightly commercial (not as refined) tasting.

Most Similar to: Crispin The Saint and Crispin 15 Men

Closing Notes: This was pretty on par with my expectations. It is always nice to try new ciders. I think better quality cider can be had for the money. However, a lot of folks don’t have access to craft cider, and for them, this would be a good option as a step up from their regular line of ciders.

Have you tried Crispin Bourbon Char? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Maple Wooden Sleeper

May 1, 2017May 1, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crown Maple, hard cider, maple, tasting notes, Wooden Sleeper

Review of Angry Orchard’s Maple Wooden Sleeper, a bourbon barrel aged cider in collaboration with Crown Maple, a maple syrup company. Here is an article with more information on the cider, and here is an article about recent Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House releases.

>>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: Wooden Sleeper
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY
ABV: 12.0%
How Supplied: 750ml waxed top bottles
Style: American cider (made from bittersweet & bittersharp apples), with Crown Maple syrup, bourbon barrel aged for 5 12 months

Availability: only at Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House and Crown Maple’s tasting room, 400 bottles released March 2017

Cider Description: For this very special and limited cider, we collaborated with our friends up the road at Crown Maple by using their estate grown organic maple syrup to blend with our barrel aged Wooden Sleeper. The resulting cider is deep, complex, and layered with notes of oak, bourbon, and of course, New York maple syrup. Maple Wooden Sleeper is best shared with family and friends to finish out a great meal. Enjoy now or cellar for years to come. Cheers!

Cidery Description: The cider makers at Angry Orchard have been experimenting with apple varieties, ingredients and processes to develop hard cider recipes for more than 20 years. The cider makers have traveled the world to find the best apples for cider making and chose specific varieties – like French bittersweet apples from Normandy, culinary apples from Italy and the Pacific Northwest U.S. based on each cider’s desired flavor profile.

In fall 2015, Angry Orchard opened a new home for research and development on a historic 60-acre apple orchard in the Walden, NY. There, the cider makers will continue to drive experimentation at the Innovation Cider House, and drinkers are welcome to visit for samples of exclusive ciders made on-site. Despite the recent growth of hard cider in the US, the category is still small and relatively unknown. Angry Orchard is committed to drinker education and awareness-building to help grow the category for all craft cider makers.

Price: n/a ($25 retail)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I asked my Angry Orchard rep about it. They spoil me!

First Impression: Dark amber hue (natural). Still (no carbonation). Smells rich, of caramel, maple, oak, and alcohol.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Low bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of caramel, brown sugar, maple, oak, vanilla, bourbon, and molasses. Long warming finish. Low maple flavor. Low oak flavor. Moderate bourbon flavor. Very low sessionability. Low to moderate apple flavor. High complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Amazing! This is my favorite type of cider – rich, complex, and boozy. However, this definitely won’t be for everyone, and isn’t very cider-like.

Most Similar to: Alpenfire Smoke, which is also a rich, complex, and boozy cider (although Alpenfire’s cider is slightly more refined tasting). This didn’t have as much maple flavor as the other maple ciders I’ve had, likely as it had so much else going on too. The other maple ciders I’ve had are Angry Orchard Tapped Maple, Seattle Cider Oaked Maple, and Woodchuck Campfire Pancakes. I’m actually surprised I haven’t seen more ciders with maple, as I think it is a great combination. Rich and complex ciders are my favorite kind. I’d love to try Downeast’s Maple cider, but they aren’t available out West.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got the chance to try this special release. This is the second batch of Wooden Sleeper (the first didn’t have maple), and another is already in the works.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Wooden Sleeper? What did you think?

Sandford Orchards Chestnut Cask

April 26, 2017April 19, 2017 cidersays review, Sandford Orchards barrel aged, Chestnut Cask, cider, cider review, cider tasting, English Cider, hard cider, Sandford Orchards, tasting notes

Review of Sandford Orchards Chestnut Cask, an English chestnut wood aged cider. It is my first time trying this cider, although I’ve previously had The General from this cidery, and English ciders are a favorite of mine.

Cider: Chestnut Cask
Cidery: Sandford Orchards
Cidery Location: Crediton UK
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apples, Chestnut wood aged

Availability: semi wide release (they also have an online store if you are in England)

Cider Description: Pressed in 2013 fermented and aged in Chestnut wood. Rich and round tannins with a delicate residual sweetness and bitter finish that will please a cultured palate.

Apple Varieties: Sweet Alford, Court Royal, Dabinett

Cidery Description: Sandford Orchards is craft cider producer from the heart of idyllic, rural Devon. Our methods are simple and so is our ethos: we only bottle the best. We are enormously proud to have been recognised for our endeavours. We are a family business full of passion for our products, we believe that Devon ciders and juices are the best in the world – we want you to taste them!

This appears to be a for-export-only cider variety for them. Sandford Orchards was founded in 2003, so they are well-established, but not one of the very old English cideries (like Aspall and Sheppy’s).

Price: $6.85
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light orange amber. Still (no carbonation). Smells rich, tannic, slightly sweet, and of caramel.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate bitterness. Moderate tannins. Hints of sourness and funk. Notes of wood, earth, almonds, caramel, and butterscotch. Long bitter finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: This cider was too bitter for my liking, especially on the finish. However, I really liked the flavor profile and tannins. I think a touch more sweetness could have helped to balance out some of the bitterness too.

Most Similar to: English and English-style ciders with are drier and more bitter, such as Sandford Orchards The General, Hecks Tremletts Bitter, Ross on Wye, and Merridale Scrumpy Cider

Closing Notes: If you don’t mind bitterness, Sandford Orchards make some solid ciders, and they are a great value at under $7 a bottle for a cider made from cider apples (and imported too!). However, I prefer less bitter English ciders, like Dunketons, Aspall, and Sheppy’s. I think this is the first time I’ve had (or even seen) a Chestnut wood aged cider (oak is most common).

Have you tried English cider? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Company Cerise

April 12, 2017April 12, 2017 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. barrel aged, cherry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Cerise, a cherry barrel aged cider, the second of their series of seasonal barrel aged ciders. I’ve previously tried their Addison and Wassail.

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

Cider: Cerise
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped)
Style: commercial cider from dessert apples (Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall VT), with Michigan Montgomery cherry juice, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon barrel aged

Availability: seasonal release, only available in the Northeastern U.S., first available in March

Ingredients: hard cider, cherry juice, sulfites

Cider Description: It’s a limited-time offering that will delight the senses. “Cerise is built from our barrel-aged, 100% local and fresh pressed cider with the juice of tart Michigan Montmorency cherries,” said Ben E. Calvi, Director of Cider Making. “Aging cider in Napa Valley barrels infuses notes of Cabernet wine, vanilla and oak with fresh apple and a tart cherry fruits.”

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

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

First Impression: Bright cherry hue. Nearly still / very low carbonation. Smells very mild, with a hint of cherry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of cherry juice, red wine, cherry skin, and oak. Moderate length finish. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate to high sessionability. No apple flavor. Low oak influence. Low red wine influence.

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed this, as did my husband (he kept stealing some). Perfect levels of sweetness, tartness, and flavor. The barrel aging was definitely noticeable, but not overpowering. It was surprisingly flavorful compared to the mild scent. All in all this actually tastes like what I except from a craft cider. Nice price point too.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry, which was also a cherry cider aged in red wine barrels (except that was more commercial tasting / less refined), Virtue Cider Cherry Mitten (except that had added complexity from the apple & yeast varieties, and was Bourbon not wine barrel aged), and Apple Outlaw Oaked Sweet Dark Cherry (except that was less flavorful, and aged in new oak not wine barrels).

Closing Notes: Too bad this isn’t available locally, as I would definitely purchase some. I think its my favorite cider of the entire Vermont Cider Co. lineup.

Random Note: My cider list has 27 cherry ciders listed that I’ve tried!

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

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