Virtue Cider The Mitten

February 22, 2017February 22, 2017 cidersays review, Virtue barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Michigan, Mitten, tasting notes, Virtue

Review of Virtue Cider’s The Mitten. I’ve tried this cider twice previously (see review #1 and review #2), but in a 750ml bottle. Virtue’s most popular cider is now available in a four pack of 12oz bottles (along with Michigan Brut and Michigan Harvest; see this press release). I’ve also previously tried their Cherry Mitten and Lapinette.

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

Cider: The Mitten
Cidery: Virtue Cider
Cidery Location: Fennville MI
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (and 750ml bottles and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from Michigan apples, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: Year round in DE, GA, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, WA, and WI, per this list

Cider Description: The Mitten, which was first released in 2013, is made with cider from 100% Michigan apples that has been aged for 11 months in 200 bourbon barrels from Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill. We taste through each and every barrel before we move to final blending. The aged cider is then blended together with juice from freshly pressed apples from this year’s harvest for a touch of sweetness. The result is a 6.8% ABV semi-dry cider that shows off a balanced blend of charred bourbon and high-acid apple flavors. Pronounced notes of vanilla and wood mingle with overripe apple, and maple flavors create a farm feel.

More info here.

Cidery Description: Virtue Cider is a Michigan-based craft cider company. We produce European-style ciders from fresh apples – never from concentrate – and employ traditional farmhouse production methods that include native and secondary fermentation, use of wild yeasts, and an expansive barrel aging program.

They have a tasting room in Fennville Michigan; see here.

Price: n/a (retails for $13.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery’s press release

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mild, of honey and oak.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, lemon, oak, bourbon, vanilla, and white grape. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low oak/barrel influence. Low spirit/bourbon influence. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I’m a fan! This also seemed less harsh than the previous versions – my favorite so far. Usually I prefer a really intense cider, but for this one, I preferred it less so. This is a more sessionable barrel aged cider, which is nice.

Closing Notes: I think this will be a hit. It is a great deal too, at less than half the price per ounce vs. the 750ml bottle prices I’ve seen.

Have you tried Virtue The Mitten? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Barred Rock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Towns Traditions Riverwood New World Brut – 2015 Vintage

November 28, 2016November 28, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns 2 Towns, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Riverwood, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns Traditions Riverwood New World Brut, 2015 vintage, a champagne-style cider. This is one of two ciders which were released to start off their new Traditions line. Their Traditions line will replace their separate Traditions brand and focus on barrel aged vintage cider from heirloom apples. The other is Cidre Bouche. Two others will soon be released, Afton Field and La Mûre. This is the third vintage of Riverwood. I’ve tried the two previous vintages, Traditions brand 2013 vintage and 2 Towns brand 2014 vintage. I’ve also tried many other ciders from 2 Towns (see here).

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

Cider: Traditions Riverwood New World Brut, 2015 Vintage
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 6.3%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles
Style: American craft champagne-style cider from heirloom apples, barrel aged

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

Cider Description: Willamette Valley grown Jonagold apples. Oregon grown bittersharp cider apples. Finished in chardonnay barrels. Inspired by sparkling brut champagnes of the past, Riverwood is a contemporary take on a classic. Slow fermentation at cold temperatures allows the intense passionfruit-like aroma of freshly picked and pressed Jonagold and Porter’s Perfection apples to flourish. Dry, bright, and floral, this New World cider brings the brut style out of the past and into the present. Pairs well with lobster mushroom risotto, butternut squash ravioli in sage brown butter, asparagus with lemon aioli and Moroccan chicken with dates and braised greens.

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

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

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mildly floral and of high acidity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Subtle notes of floral, lemon, grapefruit, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low oak influence.

My Opinion: This was well made, but not really a style I enjoy, with its subtle wine-like flavor and high acidity. However, its very food-friendly and a great champagne alternative.

Most Similar to: Cockrell Jonastar, Alpenfire Dungeness, and Seattle Cider Washington Heirloom.

Closing Notes: I liked last year’s vintage better, as it seemed more apple forward, more intensely flavored, sweeter, and less acidic.

Have you tried 2 Towns Traditions Riverwood? What did you think?

Stem Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider

October 26, 2016October 22, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Stem, tasting notes, Whiskey Barrel Aged Apricot

Review of Stem Ciders’ Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Malice, Blood Orange Cyser, Remedy, and Branch and Bramble. My husband brought 4 ciders, a cyser, and a Pommeau back from Stem Ciders in Colorado for me.

Cider: Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: special release American craft cider with dried apricots, whiskey barrel aged

Availability: Their ciders are available only in Colorado, at these retailers, but this is a special release which may only be found at the cidery.

Cider Description: Fresh pressed apple juice barrel aged for 8 months. Dried apricot dipped in smokey butterscotch oak.

Cidery Description: At Stem Ciders, we are committed to creating ciders of the highest quality that honor the purity and complexity that is inherent to the apple. We can’t wait to introduce you to your perfect cider match. We are dedicated to reviving the cider tradition, which goes far beyond what you enjoy in your glass. We hold our growers in the highest regard, and by fostering relationships with them we reward their hard work and promote the regrowth of heirloom apple cultivation. We love our home-base in Denver, and embrace the Colorado lifestyle that makes us lug a bottle to share up a mountain to enjoy a drink with a view. Most importantly, we love nothing more than seeing that smile on your face when you have your first sip of one of our crisp, refreshing ciders.

Price: $16
Where Bought: Stem’s tasting room.
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Stem Ciders online. Last time my husband was in Colorado, he picked me up a bunch of ciders, including Stem Le Chene. I keep hearing about their Banjo special release cider, but I’m 0/3 as far as finding it (apparently its only available about 1 month a year; its currently still barrel aging). This time around I thought I’d make it easier on my husband and give him a shopping list all from the same cidery, so he could just stop by the tap room (vs. trying to find ciders at multiple bottle shops). I e-mailed the cidery ahead of time and they were nice enough to send me a list of what they had in stock.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells of dried apricot and apricot pit, honey, and hints of oak & whiskey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apricot pit, dried apricot, peach, honey, and lemon. Moderate length finish with some whiskey flavor, moderate warming, and hints of smoke. Moderate sessionability. Low apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low barrel and spirit influence. I finished the bottle the following day and the flavor seemed more sharp.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, the flavor intensity was lower than I was expecting and I prefer. This cider would pair well with food and is a bit wine-like.

Most Similar to: I’ve previously had Apricot ciders from Tieton, Locust (Apricot), Anthem (Ap-Bee-Cot), Atlas (Apricot), Summit (Apricot), and Carlton (AHH!!! Apricot Honey Habanero).

Closing Notes: I have one last selection left, Stem’s Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Ciders? What did you think?

Eden Heirloom Blend 2013 Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Ice Cider

September 28, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays Eden, review barrel aged, brandy, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, ice cider, tasting notes, Vermont

Review of Eden Ice Cider’s Heirloom Blend, aged in apple brandy barrels, made in 2013 in Newport VT. I’ve tried a number of their ice ciders and sparkling ciders; see here.

Cider: Heirloom Blend, limited release, 2013, aged in Apple Brandy Barrels
Cidery: Eden Ice Cider
Cidery Location: Newport VT
ABV: 10%
Residual Sugar: 15%
How Supplied: 187ml & 375ml tall skinny glass bottles
Style: American craft ice cider, aged in apple brandy barrels

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 non barrel aged Heirloom Blend, which is most commonly found. Eden also offers online sales when allowed by state.

Cider Description: This limited release of our flagship Heirloom Blend Ice Cider has been aged in 10-year old barrels previously used for apple brandy. It has notes of caramel, apple sauce, and vanilla, a round, full mouthfeel, and plenty of acidity to create a lasting, refreshing finish.

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: $17 / 187ml
Where Bought: through their website
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing their online store. I enjoyed their Heirloom Blend, and loved their Northern Spy barrel aged cider, so it wasn’t a hard sell.

First Impression: Still. Deep caramel amber hue. Smells of rich ripe baked apples, residual sugar, higher ABV, brown sugar, burnt caramel, honey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Sweet to very sweet. Full bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Concentrated notes of baked apples, brown sugar, burnt caramel, vanilla, honey, brandy, oak, orange, and a hint of spice. Long warming finish. Low sessionability. High apple flavor. High flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity. Moderate to high brandy influence. Low oak influence.

My Opinion: Amazing! I enjoyed the barrel aged and brandy qualiies of this ice cider. Due to the sweetness this 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 think this is my favorite of their ice ciders so far, just slightly above Northern Spy (see here), as it had the added apple brandy flavor in addition to just the oak aging.

Most Similar to: High quality ice ciders. Compared to Eden’s Heirloom Blend, it had added oak and apple brandy notes. Compared to Eden’s Northern Spy, it had added apple brandy notes. Their different ice ciders have a lot of similarities but also differences.

Closing Notes: This was another impressive cider from Eden Ice Cider. I still have their Windfall Orchard ice cider left to try, which I ordered at the same time.

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

Alpenfire Calypso – Blackberry Rum Barrel Aged Cider

August 25, 2016August 21, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, barrel aged, Blackberry, Calypso, cider, cider review, hard cider, port townsend, rum, washington

Review of Alpenfire’s Calypso, a cider with blackberries aged in rum barrels. I’ve tried this before, as well as the draft-only version of this which has double the blackberries and is barrel aged 4 instead of 2 months, Apocalypso (see here), but this is the first bottle I’ve bought. I’ve also sampled most of their line-up; see here.

Cider: Calypso
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from heirloom apples, with local blackberries, aged for 2 months in toasted oak rum barrels

Availability: Primarily Western Washington, including these retailers. They also have an online store through Vino Shipper which ships to states which allow it.

Cider Description: Calypso, named for the legendary sea goddess and the research vessel of Captain Jacques Cousteau. This delightful sparkling taste of the Northwest is aged in Bull Run Distilling Rum barrels to bring a hint of the South Seas to the mix. Heirloom apple is the dominant flavor, the beautiful scent and hint of fresh Greysmarsh Farm blackberries comes second. Bottle conditioning adds a delightful sparkle and full bodied flavor! You don’t want to miss this limited production cider.

Cidery Description: Alpenfire Organic Cider is made from our estate and locally grown organic apples. We planted our WSDA certified organic orchard in 2004 with over 800 trees and 10 varieties of English, French & Early American cider specific apples. These apples have been used for hundreds of years for the unique qualities they bring to cider production. Namely the tannins and bitters not found in dessert style apples. While the juice, much less the fruit, of many of these apples would be hard to enjoy by the glass they become amazing with a little fermentation. One of our favorites, the “Muscadet de Dieppe”, has a viscous, winey, yes, even musky juice. It takes months of slow, cool fermentation for that to develop the subtle aroma and flavor you will find in our bone-dry cider. We augment our juice and mellow the flavors with organic apples from other local orchards.

They have an outdoor tasting room onsite at their Orchard in Port Townsend, open seasonally.

Price: $11.99
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It sounded good that day, but I actually didn’t open it up for a few weeks.

First Impression: Deep cranberry hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mildly of blackberries with a hint of oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of blackberries, plus some raspberry & blueberry & red grape, and hints of oak. Moderate length finish with slight warming. Low apple flavor. Moderate blackberry flavor. Low rum and oak influence. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! Quite tasty. This is my favorite berry cider, which typically isn’t a category I find impressive.

Most Similar to: Other berry ciders, although I find this to be more sophisticated and complex, even a bit wine-like. I prefer their Apocalypso with its stronger oak and rum notes, but it is quite seasonable / hard to find, and only on draft.

Closing Notes: Another winner from Alpenfire! I like nearly every cider they make, and look forward to seeing what they come up with next. I think for what you get they are a great value, as they are a step above most other craft ciders, actually an Artisan product, as they grow most of the apples for their ciders themselves, as use primarily heirloom and cider apple varieties (instead of dessert apples). Check out my post here from when I visited the cidery.

Have you tried Alpenfire Calypso? What did you think?

Finnriver Oak and Apple

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wyder’s Reposado

May 3, 2016April 29, 2016 cidersays review, Wyder's barrel aged, cider, hard cider, pear cider, Reposado, tequila, Wyder's

Review of Wyder’s Reposado, a pear cider aged in tequila barrels.

Cider: Reposado
Cidery: Wyder’s
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT (Woodchuck facility)
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: commercial American pear cider, aged in tequila barrels

Availability: Wide release

Cider Description: Reposado. The name given to tequilas aged between two and twelve months in oak barrels. The wood aging smoothes out the tequila while infusing it with subtle oak notes. Wyder’s® Reposado Pear cider is an adventurous tango with the classic blue agave based spirit. Traditional Wyder’s® Pear cider infused with smooth subtle oak laden tequila notes. Refreshing pear cider crafted with some inspiration from south of the border.

Cidery Description: Wyder’s® Hard Cider has specialized in eclectic fruit-forward ciders for more than two decades. We figured it was about time our look on the outside of the bottle, matched the artful reality of what is inside the bottle! The liquid remains unchanged; we just updated our look to better fit what we are all about. It’s a pretty hyper-connected world out there, grab a Wyder’s when you’re ready to unplug. We hope you enjoy.

Price: ~$2 / single bottle
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve tried this a few times before.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells of tequila, oak, pear, and sugar.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of sweet pear, tequila, oak, lime, and honey. Very smooth. Medium to long warming finish. Moderate to strong pear flavor. Moderate overall flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability. Mild to moderate barrel influence. High spirit influence.

My Opinion: This is a simple but tasty cider that goes especially well with Mexican food, something that can be said about very few ciders. Its a tad on the sweet side for my tastes though.

Most Similar to: Nothing I know of, although I’ve heard of another cideries doing tequila barrel aged ciders (even of one with pineapple, from Cooked Halo.

Closing Notes: This isn’t a cider I’d want to drink all the time, but its definitely enjoyable when the mood strikes. I paired it with some taco salad.

Have you tried Wyder’s Reposado? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Le Chene

April 25, 2016April 17, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Denver, hard cider, Le Chene, Stem

Review of Stem Ciders’ Le Chene, a red zinfandel barrel aged cider from Denver Colorado. This is the first cider I’ve tried from them. They aren’t available in Washington (or anywhere outside of Colorado), but my husband brought me back a bottle. Unfortunately I still haven’t got to try their widely-reviewed “Banjo” bourbon barrel aged cider (I had two people look, but I think its out of season).

Cider: Le Chene
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.4%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider made from traditional cider apples, red zinfandel barrel aged

Availability: Denver metro area, year round, at these retailers.

Cider Description: While it prides itself on being well-rounded, classy and complex, Le Chene is a cider that knows how to have a good time. A blend of fun-loving traditional cider apples are combined, fermented dry and then aged to perfection in oak wine barrels. The end result is a mature cider that puts just the right amount of Civilized into your Debauchery.

Red Zinfandel barrel aged. Smoke, caramel and vanilla on the nose, smooth, velvet mouth feel and slight oak tannin astringency on the finish. (Pronunciation: luh shen)

Stem Ciders has a tasting room in Denver.

Price: $10.99
Where Bought: Daveco Liquors in Thornton CO
Where Drank: home
How Found: Stem Ciders’ website. I made my husband a list of ciders I’d be interested in him bringing home from Colorado. 🙂

First Impression: Light straw yellow with the slightest pink tint which actually showed more in the photo than in real life. Low carbonation upon pouring. Smells mild, of citrus, oak, green apple, and floral.

Tasting Notes: Dry with hints of residual sugar. Low carbonation. Light to medium bodied. Mild bitterness. Moderate tartness. Moderate to strong acidity. Hints of tannins, sourness, and funk. Notes of citrus, oak, green apple, floral, mineral, stone fruit, baked apple, and vanilla. Moderate length finish. Moderate oak barrel influence. I enjoyed this much more when it breathed and warmed up a bit from fridge temperature…it seemed to smooth it out a bit, and led to some hints of red zinfandel.

My Opinion: This is a probably a wine-lovers cider, which I’m admittedly not. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think I truly appreciated its subtle complexity. I think I would have liked to have picked up the smoke and caramel notes mentioned in the description. Also of note is that this cider was a great value–significantly less than comparable ciders in Washington would cost ($10.99 vs. $15-20).

Most Similar to: Sonoma Cider’s Dry Zider, which is also aged in red zinfandel barrels, dry, and wine-like. I prefer Le Chene, which I found to have more oak flavor (but less red zinfandel flavor) and more complexity.

Closing Notes: This is a really unique cider that I’m glad I got to try. I look forward to finding their Banjo cider someday, which seems to make every list of best barrel aged ciders.

Have you tried Stem Ciders? What did you think?

Alpenfire Smoke Barrel Aged Cider

April 7, 2016April 9, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, smoke, washington

Review of Alpenfire Cider’s Smoke Barrel Aged Cider. See my past reviews of their ciders here. I tried this cider before and loved it, but hadn’t been able to find it for awhile (it hasn’t been released for awhile and the next batch is still barrel aging…see my post here), so I was excited to stumble across some again.

2016-04-01 19.06.38.jpg

Cider: Smoke
Cidery: Alpenfire Cider
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 16.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle
Style: American craft port-style triple barrel fermented cider made from cider apples

2016-04-01 19.06.45 2016-04-01 19.07.06 2016-04-01 19.07.16

Availability: Limited (and hasn’t been released in awhile), and only in Western Washington

Cider Description: Smoke, our smoky-oaky after dinner tipple style cider has been triple fermented in whiskey and mead barrels. It starts with Kingston Black, Dabinett and Vilberie apples for a very tannic base. Aging in charred oak concentrates all the best features of each apple variety.

Price: $17
Where Bought: Special Brews
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I’ve tried it before. I was surprised to see they had a couple cases of this on the shelf, consider how long its been since its release, and that no other shops have any left (including at the Alpenfire Cidery).

2016-04-01 19.09.12

First Impression: Copper light orange amber hue. No carbonation. Smells rich & strong, of oak, peat, spice, orange, bourbon, scotch, honey, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and baked apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Still. Medium to full bodied. Low acidity, tartness, and tannins. A hint of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of oak, peat, spice, orange, bourbon, scotch, honey, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and baked apples, with a focus on orange and spice (not as much spoke & peat as I remembered). Long warming finish. Moderate apple influence. Moderate barrel influence. High spirit influence. Very low sessionability.

My Opinion: Amazing! This one is definitely one of my all time favorite ciders, and my favorite Alpenfire cider. Its a great after dinner sipping cider, and one bottle lasted me awhile as a few ounces is plenty (and it keeps rather well as it isn’t carbonated). This cider is highly complex, rich, very smooth, and tastes a lower ABV than it is. I enjoyed this at a range of temperatures, from just out of the fridge to room temperature, although I think I tended towards colder. I saw another post that ice could be used, and I think for a higher ABV flavorful beverage that isn’t out of the question (I’ve done so for Pommeau).

Most Similar to: Not much else. Maybe Sea Cider Prohibition / Rumrunner? That is another high ABV complex (rum) barrel aged sipping cider, but even though its higher ABV, I’d say the flavor is a bit more harsh and in your face (its also drier though). Another is Liberty Ciderworks Manchurian Crabapple. It wasn’t barrel aged, but is a high ABV port-style single varietal with a lot of complexity. This is also kinda similar to Pommeau with its complexity and high ABV.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I bought two bottles of this one, as I still have another to tide me over until its next release. This is definitely my kind of cider, having all the aspects I enjoy most–local, craft, higher ABV, sweeter, complex, flavorful, rich, made from bittersweet cider apples, and barrel aged.

Have you tried Alpenfire Smoke? What did you think?

Traditions Ciderworks Bourbon Barrel – 2012 Vintage

April 1, 2016March 28, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review, Traditions 2 Towns, barrel aged, Bourbon Barrel, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Traditions

Review of Bourbon Barrel (2012 Vintage) from Traditions Ciderworks (a 2 Towns brand, which they have now absorbed into their regular line). I bought a bottle of this after loving it at Cider Summit Seattle 2015 (tasting notes here). I’ve tried a number of ciders from Traditions Ciderworks (see here) and 2 Towns (see here).

Cider: Bourbon Barrel, 2012 Vintage
Cidery: Traditions Ciderworks (2 Towns)
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml champagne bottles, corked & caged
Style: American Bourbon barrel aged cider made from French & English cider apple varieties

Availability: Very limited, plus I think it was released a couple years ago. In general however, ciders from 2 Towns are available in OR, WA, AK, HI, CA, ID, NV, MN, and Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Aged for four months in wheat and rye whiskey bourbon barrels, our Bourbon Barrel Cider is a hedonistic blend of floral, fruit, and sweet-bourbon aromas. Traditional French and English cider apples lend firm tannins and a dry, tart backing to this cider. Sweet wood and caramel notes finish off a cider made for bourbon lovers. 132 cases produced.

It was made with Dabinett & Kingston Black cider apples and aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. The only ingredients are “fresh local cider apples”, wine yeast, and sulfites. They also had a 2011 vintage of Bourbon Barrel, with 50 cases produced.

Cidery Description: Traditions Ciderworks produces handmade artisan ciders using only locally sourced Oregon farm grown apples. Inspired by the creativity and flair of Pacific Northwest craft brewers and winemakers, we use time-honored traditions & our own unique style to create exceptional, premium ciders. From the heart of Oregon, near the banks of the Willamette River, Traditions Ciderworks is dedicated to bringing artisan cider out of the past and into the present.

2 Towns has a tasting room in Corvallis Oregon. In late 2015 they absorbed their Traditions Ciderworks line, and have started producing those ciders under the 2 Towns label (starting with their Pommeau, then Riverwood Brut).

Price: $17
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: This was my favorite cider I tried at Cider Summit Seattle 2015. They didn’t have any in the on-site bottle shop, so I asked around, and Erika at Full Throttle Bottles was able to find a bottle for me.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue with a slight haziness. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells of bourbon, oak, crisp apples, honey, and yeast.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Nearly still. Light bodied. Moderate bitterness and acidity. Mild tartness and tannins. Notes of bourbon, oak, honey, yeast, citrus, floral, and smoke. Moderate length slightly warming finish. Mild apple influence. Low sessionability. Moderate barrel influence. Strong spirit influence.

My Opinion: For whatever reason I enjoyed this much more when I tried it at Cider Summit. This time the bitterness was much stronger and it wasn’t quite as tannic or rich. The lovely strong bourbon flavor was still there however. I can’t figure out why it seems more bitter…it was the same vintage (presumably the same batch), it was one of the first ciders I tried at Cider Summit so I shouldn’t have had palate fatigue, my palate has only learned to tolerate bitterness better since then, and this cider should age well.

Most Similar to: Other ciders with a strong bourbon barrel influence include Locust Bourbon Barrel (although much higher ABV), Whitewood Whiskey Barrel Aged Kingston Black (although richer), and Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Apples (although much higher ABV). I also tried the last two ciders at Cider Summit Seattle 2015.

Closing Notes: After saving this bottle for months it was a bit disappointing for it to not taste as I remembered, but still plenty enjoyable. I look forward to see what they come up with next at 2 Towns.

Have you tried Traditions Ciderworks Bourbon Barrel? What did you think?

Virtue Cider Cherry Mitten

March 10, 2016March 12, 2016 cidersays review, Virtue barrel aged, bourbon, Cherry, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Michigan, Mitten, Virtue

Review of Virtue Cider’s Cherry Mitten, a cherry version of their The Mitten bourbon barrel aged cider made using only Michigan apples. Virtue sent me a sample bottle of this along with some swag and a replacement bottle of their regular Mitten cider (which I reviewed here), as from my original review they suspected it had refermented.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Virtue 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: Cherry Mitten
Cidery: Virtue Cider
Cidery Location: Fennville MI
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 750ml green champagne bottle, capped
Style: American craft bourbon barrel aged cider made from culinary & heirloom apples, Michigan cherries, and Ale yeast

Availability: Very limited release of only 300 bottles (~~in Michigan~~ in their tasting room only), plus a few kegs made it to Chicago IL (including Cider Summit). However, in general, Virtue cider may be available in GA, MD, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PN, RI, VA, VT, IL, ID, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI, CA, OR, WA, & TX.

Cider Description: When the leaves fall, there’s a chill in the air and the evening greedily takes hours from daylight, we stand strong and embrace the wintertime. It’s a time of rich foods, roaring fires and our favorite sweaters. Drinks change from refreshing to intense and satisfying. The Mitten is a Winter cider, a blend of last seasons best, aged in bourbon barrels, with the new season’s fresh pressed apple juice. Straight cider, aged for 3 seasons, finds notes of vanilla, caramel and charred American oak, balanced with the best of the orchard, over-ripe apples and their sweet, tart, earthy juice. Many barrels are filled, but only a small portion, the very smoothest, will find their way into The Mitten. We love wintertime, especially when we have The Mitten to keep us warm and happy through the long, cold night.

See Virtue’s info page on the regular version of this cider. For the cherry version, they added tart cherries from their next door neighbor’s 80 acre cherry farm, and described the cider as having a mild acetic finish.

Cidery Description: Virtue Farm is located in Southwest Michigan, part of the state’s thriving Cider Coast. Michigan’s Cider Coast boasts 200 miles of apple orchards, changing leaves, and stunning vistas best enjoyed with a glass of crisp cider. All along the coast, great cider being made by a bevy of wonderful cider makers, all working hard to revive dozens of varieties of heirloom apples ideal for juicing and fermenting. Virtue Cider is proud to be part of this burgeoning revival of an important Michigan tradition.

They have a tasting room. Also see this page on their barrel aging program.

Price: n/a (probably retails for $20+)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Bright cherry hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells sour with hints of cherry, yeast, and apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Mild to moderate sourness and tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, funk, or tannins. Frothy mousse-like mouthfeel. Light bodied. Mild cherry flavor, but also some citrus, honey, vinegar, and floral notes. Long sour finish at the back of the palate. Low apple influence. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I can see the appeal of this cider (which is a true sour cherry, not tart cherry), but I’m just not a fan of sour ciders. For some reason they seem to overwhelm my palate and I have a touch time detecting or appreciating much else about them. My husband enjoyed this more than I did and gladly finished the bottle, but it was a bit sour even for him. I’m surprised how often I see reviews of ciders I found sour which don’t even mention that fact, so there is definitely a disclaimer on this review that the sourness may not be nearly as significant for other folks.

Also note that often the terms sour and tart are used interchangeably, but I find them quite different. Tart is much more common and hits more forward on the palate (green apple and citrus are examples), while sour is lingering and hits further back on the palate (its common with Spanish Sidra, certain English & French ciders, and wild fermented ciders).

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of cherry ciders, such as from Woodchuck, Washington Gold, Locust, Elemental, Tieton, Jester & Judge, Julian, and Original Sin, but none were sour. I’ve heard of Reverend Nat’s Sacrilege Sour Cherry, but haven’t tried it.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider, especially as its such a limited release. Hopefully I’ll get to try more ciders from Virtue in the future.

Have you tried Virtue Cider Cherry Mitten? What did you think?

Virtue The Mitten Bourbon Barrel Aged Cider – 2014 Harvest

March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 cidersays review, Virtue barrel aged, bourbon, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Michigan, Mitten, Virtue

Review of Virtue Cider’s The Mitten, a bourbon barrel aged cider made using only Michigan apples. I previously reviewed a prior release of this cider (see here), which must have been their 2012 or 2013 harvest release. Virtue contacted me saying I may have had a bad bottle that re-fermented, and wanted to send a replacement. They also sent a bottle of their new Cherry version of this cider and some sweet swag.

Cider: The Mitten
Cidery: Virtue Cider
Cidery Location: Fennville MI
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml green champagne bottle, capped (also available in kegs)
Style: American craft bourbon barrel aged cider made from culinary & heirloom apples and Ale yeast

Even the bottle is quite different from the last one I tried…it includes Nutrition Facts (a rarity with craft cider), and white shrink wrap around the top. The shrink wrap was quite an annoyance, ~~but I assume it better protects the cap from letting air in~~ but I learned it was only an extra precaution for shipping, so you’re unlikely to see it.

Availability: Limited release, winter seasonal. Virtue cider may be available in GA, MD, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PN, RI, VA, VT, IL, ID, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI, CA, OR, WA, & TX.

See Virtue’s info page on this cider.

They have a tasting room. Also see this page on their barrel aging program. The barrel aged portion of this cider was aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels at least 9 months.

Price: n/a (retails for $20+)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells of apple, yeast, citrus, oak, and sourness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Nearly still. Light to medium bodied. Moderate acidity. Mild to moderate tartness. Hints of bitterness, tannins, and sourness. No funk. Notes of citrus, floral, oak, yeast, honey, and vanilla. Slightly wine-like (interesting as its made with beer yeast). Moderate length finish. Mild apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Very low barrel influence. No detectable bourbon influence.

This varied quite a bit from my previous review of a different release (which the cidery suspected had refermented). That one had high carbonation (frothy and almost mousse-like), moderate bitterness, no sourness, and notes of ripe apple, bourbon, vanilla, oak, and caramel. This time there wasn’t nearly as much barrel & spirit influence and I didn’t pick up the caramel flavor, but it was also lacking the bitterness I wasn’t a fan of.

My Opinion: The two releases were quite different. There were elements of each I liked and didn’t like. Specifically, the texture and stronger bourbon & oak barrel flavor in the earlier release and the lack of bitterness in this release. Overall I definitely enjoyed this cider, but same as previously, it didn’t really knock my socks off as much as it did for some other reviewers, such as Cider Journal and the Not So Professional Beer Blog. Every person and palate is different though.

Most Similar to: This one was unique as I picked up a wide variety of flavor notes, but I found some similarities to 2 Towns The Bad Apple.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider again, as well as its Cherry cousin, which I will review soon. Hopefully I’ll get to try more ciders from Virtue in the future.

Have you tried Virtue Cider The Mitten? 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)

>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: 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.

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 $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?

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 Northern Spy Barrel Aged Ice Cider

January 27, 2016January 24, 2016 cidersays Eden, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, Eden, hard cider, ice cider, Northern Spy, Vermont

Review of Eden Ice Cider’s Northern Spy single varietal ice cider, barrel aged 12 months in French oak barrels, made in Newport VT.

>>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: Northern Spy
Cidery: Eden Ice Cider
Cidery Location: Newport VT
ABV: 10.0%
Residual Sugar: 15%
How Supplied: 187ml & 375ml tall skinny glass bottles
Style: American Northern Spy single varietal barrel aged 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, also this one has less distribution than their Heirloom Blend. Eden also offers online sales when allowed by state.

Cider Description: This Vermont Ice Cider is made from 100% Northern Spy apples, and aged in French oak barrels for a year. Northern Spy is an antique variety of apple that was one of the three most popular in America at the end of the 19th century. It has a sweetly tart flavor that is superbly enhanced by the oak. Spicy, with honey caramel under-tones, it is a wonderful after-dinner drink. No added sugar, coloring or flavoring of any kind Concentration using natural Northern Vermont winter cold.

Price: n/a (retails for $20+ for 187ml and $30+ for 375ml)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about this cider online. I really enjoyed Eden’s Heirloom Blend ice cider I tried at Cider Summit Seattle 2015 and their Sparkling Dry and Sparkling Semi-Dry ciders, and since I love barrel aged ciders, I’ve had my eye on this barrel aged ice cider for awhile. Its not sold in the Seattle area, so I was thrilled to get a box of three sample bottles from Eleanor.

First Impression: Still. Deep caramel color. Smells of rich ripe baked apples, residual sugar, higher ABV, brown sugar, burnt caramel, honey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Sweet to 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 baked apples, brown sugar, burnt caramel, honey, oak, vanilla, and a hint of spice. Long warming finish. High apple influence. Mild to moderate barrel influence. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Amazing! I enjoyed the barrel aged flavor of this ice cider. Due to the sweetness this 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, I found Northern Spy to be slightly less sweet and even more complex (such as the oak & vanilla notes from barrel aging). Its my new favorite from them.

Closing Notes: This was another impressive cider from Eden Ice Cider. I’m really looking forward to trying the third sample bottle, a Honeycrisp ice cider. Even after that I have a number of varieties from them left to try 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?

Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select

January 26, 2016January 22, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck barrel aged, Barrel Select, cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Middlebury, private reserve, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Barrel Select, one of their three current Private Reserve ciders (along with Pink and Pumpkin).

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

Availability: Wide release, Nov-Feb. Winter Chill, one of their three current seasonal ciders, is also sold during that same time of year.

Cider Description: Private Reserve Barrel Select is aged in small batches to bring out balanced hints of bourbon over a crisp apple backdrop. The cider is aged for six months in genuine white oak Kentucky Bourbon barrels. The barrels impart a copper hue on the cider as well as gentle notes of oak, vanilla, and whiskey. A truly rare cider which proves that patience is indeed a virtue.

Price: ~$2 for a single bottle (runs $9-$11 a six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve bought this cider the last couple years when it came out, along with Winter Chill, as I love barrel aged cider.

First Impression: Deep copper caramel amber (note that although barrel aging imparts color, they also list “caramel color” on the ingredient list). A few medium sized bubbles and some foam upon pouring. Smells of caramel, molasses, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, oak, and toffee.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Low acidity and tartness. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. The scent notes continued into the flavor. Medium to strong apple flavor. Mild barrel influence. Moderate bourbon influence. Rich, bold, and full flavored. Medium bodied. Medium length warming finish.

My Opinion: Yum! However, its quite rich and caloric, so its something I’ll only drink one of. However, that is perfect for a middle of the week treat. It was especially tasty in a float with ice cream. I really wish they wouldn’t add caramel color and flavoring though.

Most Similar to: Not much…barrel aging programs at commercial cideries are pretty rare. However, this reminds me somewhat of Woodchuck Winter Chill (oak & vanilla but not spirit flavor), Woodchuck 802 (rich caramelized sugar notes but its not barrel aged), Crispin 15 Men (rum barrel aged with honey notes), and Spire Mountain Dark & Dry (rich molasses & brown sugar notes but its not barrel aged).

Closing Notes: Enjoying some Woodchuck Barrel Select is becoming an annual tradition for me. I prefer Winter Chill though, and plan to stock up on that one (although probably not as much as last year, when I got a full case of four 6 packs).

Have you tried Woodchuck Barrel Select? What did you think?

2 Towns Dark Currant

January 19, 2016January 17, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, barrel aged, Black Currant, cider, Corvallis, Dark Currant, hard cider, oak, oregon

Review of 2 Towns’ newest limited release (late Dec 2015), Dark Currant, a cider with black currant juice added and was aged in new oak barrels.

Cider: Dark Currant
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle (and kegs)
Style: American black currant cider, oak barrel aged

Availability: Limited release which is available in OR, WA, AK, HI, CA, ID, NV, MN, and Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Harvested from NW farms, local black currants are fermented during the cold winter, on Oregon-grown white oak. A strong oak profile backs the complex berry aromas. You can’t fight the currant.

The black currants were harvested from Queener Farm in Scio, Oregon and Kalapooia Haven Farm in Brownsville, Oregon in late summer, then this cider was lightly aged in new oak barrels until its release in December.

Cidery Description: 2 Towns was founded in 2010 by partners Lee Larsen and Aaron Sarnoff. Dave Takush joined us shortly thereafter. All three of us grew up together in the Corvallis, OR area. We’ve had explosive growth since our inception at which point we had intended to produce and distribute cider to the Corvallis, OR and Eugene, OR areas only (incidentally, the 2 Towns of our namesake). It became readily apparent that our initial vision needed to grow as we hit our maximum capacity in our first production space (a converted 1,000 sq ft garage) in roughly 2 months. We’ve since built 2 new production facilities with a total of 25,000 sq ft of production space and our team has grown to over 30 people to help us to distribute to 9 states and counting.

Over this time, we’ve kept to our original goal of bringing craft hard cider back to the people. We feel that a craft cider is made with fresh-pressed fruit and contain no artificial flavorings. Our fruit is all sourced in Oregon & Washington and all of our ciders are also free from added sugars other than those present in the juice and in some cases local honey. We feel that cider doesn’t need to be sweet to express the natural flavors of the fruits we ferment.

2 Towns Ciderhouse planted an orchard in 2011 with all traditional cider apple varieties such as Kingston Black, Dabinett, Jersey Brown Snout, and many others. 2 Towns has also contracted with several growers in the Willamette Valley and beyond to grow additional traditional cider fruit.

Price: $7.50
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read online about the release and had been on the lookout (2 Towns is one of the brands I try just about everything from). I was at Full Throttle Bottles to pick up some 2 Towns Pommeau, and figured I might as well get it.

First Impression: Cranberry pink hue. Low carbonation with tiny bubbles at the edges of the glass. Smells like raspberries, black currant, citrus, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Moderate acidity. Moderate tartness. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. A hint of tannins. Raspberry, blackberry, and black currant notes with hints of lemon and oak. Light to medium bodied. Low apple influence. Low barrel influence. Moderate to long finish. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I’m not usually a huge fruity cider fan, but I really enjoyed this…probably as the black currant didn’t completely overpower the apple, and it wasn’t overly sweet, tart, or juice-like. I enjoyed the oak influence, but it left me wanting more oak flavor (but I say that about most barrel aged ciders).

Most Similar to: Other black currant ciders. I’ve had Finnriver Black Currant. As far as craft black currant ciders, I’ve read Doc’s Draft and Slyboro make them. In comparison to Finnriver Black Currant, 2 Towns Dark Currant is less fruity, rich, and tart. However, the flavor added from the oak barrel aging was nice. I slightly prefer Dark Currant. This fruity barrel aged cider also reminded me of Alpenfire Apocalypso, which is a rum barrel aged blackberry cider (similar to their Calypso, which is a regular release, although this was a keg-only release).

Closing Notes: This was quite tasty, and a great mix of summer (berry) and winter (oak) type flavors. I think 2 Towns ciders are unique and at a great price point.

Have you tried 2 Towns Dark Currant? What did you think?

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