Far West Orchard Blend No. 1

January 24, 2019January 21, 2019 cidersays Far West, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, hard cider, Orchard Blend, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s Orchard Blend No. 1. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their San Joaquin Sparkler.

Cider: Orchard Blend No. 1
Cidery: Far West Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: mostly only in Northern California (see here), plus online sales

Cider Description: This cider uses a combination of GoldRush, Cripps Pink and Granny Smith apples grown on Chinchiolo Family Farms. It is fermented with Champagne yeast at very low temperatures and aged to develop more complexity than your typical cider. Fruit-forward, sparkling, and just barely semi-sweet with great acid balance, this cider pairs nicely with warm patios, fancy brunches, funky tunes and pork.

Cidery Description: Californian ciders from a 4th generation family farm in San Joaquin County.

They have a taproom in Richmond CA.

Price: $11.99 (although its $11 at their online store)
Where Bought: Village Market in the ferry building in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, tart.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, citrus, and pineapple. Long tart finish. Low to moderate apple flavor, complexity, and overall flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. Tasty and easy to drink. Overall this would probably have wide appeal.

Most Similar to: Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet and Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider

Closing Notes: I thought it was a bit spendy for being a typical craft cider from dessert apples, like you’d often find in a 4 or 6 pack for this price.

Have you tried Far West Cider Orchard Blend No. 1? What did you think?

South City Ciderworks Original Blend

December 6, 2018December 6, 2018 cidersays review, South City california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, South City, South City Cider, South City Ciderworks, tasting notes

Review of South City Ciderworks’ Original Blend cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Original Blemd
Cidery: South City Ciderworks
Cidery Location: San Bruno CA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: probably only in Northern California, plus online sales

Cider Description: The Original Blend is our very first cider, formerly known as “South City Cider”. We started the company because we wanted an easy-drinking cider we could bring camping, while hanging out at the beach, to the dog park, or really anywhere that glass wasn’t a good idea, and this blend was the result. This semi-sweet, dry finishing cider is known for it’s easy drinkability without being overly sweet. The Original Blend is available in 12-ounce cans and kegs.

Cidery Description: We founded South City Ciderworks in 2015 as an urban cider company to make great cider and a difference. Using only fresh-pressed, West Coast apples our ciders are crafted to be well balanced and easy drinking. We support non-profits focused on helping the community, animals, and the environment. We’re here to Make Cider Make A Difference.

Price: ~$3 / can
Where Bought: at the ferry terminal in San Francisco CA (they have a bunch of cool shops, many with local stuff – this was from a shop which had wine and some single bottles/cans of beers & ciders, but no idea which one unfortunately)
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Moderate straw yellow hue. Low carbonation with some foam. Smells mild, of sweet apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of non-specific apple with hints of lemon and floral. Quick finish. Low flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, it was a bit boring, like most unflavored ciders from dessert apples (ie. those without fruit/hops/spices/etc) are to me. At least they made it a bit sweeter, as that does help these sorts of ciders have some flavor, but wasn’t anywhere near too sweet.

Most Similar to: a bit like Blackfin Splash

Closing Notes: I bet this selection would have a wide appeal, being mid level sweetness and no qualities to not make it entry level (like sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins).

Have you tried South City cider? What did you think?

Far West San Joaquin Sparkler

April 20, 2018April 20, 2018 cidersays Far West, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, hard cider, San Joaquin Sparkler, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s San Joaquin Sparkler. It is my first time trying anything from this California cidery.

Cider: San Joaquin Sparkler, 2015 harvest
Cidery: Far West Cider
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from primarily Cripps Pink apples (aka Pink Lady), wild yeast fermented, off dry

Availability: only in California (see here), plus online sales (although at the time of review I didn’t see this cider in stock)

Cider Description: This cider uses primarily Cripps Pink apples. We encourage a slow native fermentation in the freshly pressed apple juice before inoculating with Champagne yeast to finish this cider to dryness. After aging for a minimum of two months, this off-dry cider shows some deep woody apple notes and phenolic spiciness. Paris well with leather chairs, old books, easy conversation, and difficult-to-pronounce cheeses.

Cidery Description: Every bottle of Far West Cider is a product of our fourth generation family farm in San Joaquin County, California. All of the apples used in this cider are harvested and pressed by hand on our ranch and cared to throughout fermentation, aging, and bottling to help express the best of the fruit that we grow.

They have a tasting room in Richmond CA (see here).

Price: $9.49
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, when we were there on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Barely noticeable smell, acidic dry apple with a hint of nuttiness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Subtle notes of tart green apple, lemon, herbs, butter, almonds, and must. Moderate length finish with a hint of brine. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor and complexity.

My Opinion: I was indifferent about this one, I didn’t personally like or dislike it. The flavor was subtle and quite peculiar, difficult to describe. However, the description said phenolic, and based on my experience with a FlavorActiv sensory analysis kit, my taste buds don’t detect it well. It tasted nearly like a farmhouse-style cider, but didn’t have the sourness or funk I’d expect with that style (and wild fermented ciders in general). I’d recommend this for folks who like interesting wine-like ciders.

Most Similar to: nothing I’ve tasted

Closing Notes: I’d be interested in hearing from others as far as what flavors they picked up with this cider. It looks like this cider is rated well on untappd, but none of the reviews really described it.

Have you tried Far West Cider? What did you think?

Two Rivers Huckleberry

May 8, 2017April 30, 2017 cidersays Two Rivers berry cider, california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Huckleberry, tasting notes, Two Rivers

Review of Two Rivers Huckleberry cider. It is my first time trying this, although I’ve previously had their Gravenstein cider.

Cider: Huckleberry
Cidery: Two Rivers Cidery
Cidery Location: Sacramento CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with huckleberries

Availability: Likely only in California

Cider Description: A rare and wonderful fruit. The sweet aroma of berries and a delicious floral mouthful. You will enjoy it till the very last drop

Cidery Description: Two Rivers Hard Cider Company was founded in 1996. With seventeen years as a publician, a long time home brewer and craftsman, as well as an international registered beer judge, Vincent Sterne was inspired and fascinated by the centuries old craft of Cider making. After many years of experimentation, he finally had what he wanted, a superior hard apple cider. Two Rivers original HARD APPLE CIDER is made from a blend of 100% fresh pressed apple juice from Barsotti ranch in Apple Hill. A proprietary blend of apples with a balance of tartness and sweetness to create a gold medal winning Hard Cider.

They have a tasting room in Sacramento CA.

Price: $7.59
Where Bought: a natural grocery store outside of Sacramento CA, over Christmas break
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light brown-pink hue. Low carbonation. Smells of mild sweet berries.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and berry tannins, especially on the finish. No sourness or funk. Notes of just huckleberries. Low apple flavor. Low complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was average, a bit on the boring side for my personal preferences. Fans of drier berry ciders would probably like this though. I mostly picked it up as their cider isn’t available locally (not so much that I was interested in the huckleberry variety).

Most Similar to: Greenwood Huckleberry Wedding Cider (also semi-dry) and Swift Cider Marionberry (dry to semi-dry). The only other huckleberry cider I’ve had was from One Tree, but that was very sweet. My favorite berry ciders so far are probably AEppeltreow Blackbird and Alpenfire Calypso & Apocalypso.

Closing Notes: Its always fun to pick up new ciders when travelling that I can’t find locally.

Have you tried Two Rivers Huckleberry? What did you think?

Red Branch Peach Cider

March 17, 2017March 13, 2017 cidersays Red Branch california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, peach, peach cider, Red Branch, tasting notes

Review of Red Branch Cider Company’s Peach Cider (actually technically a cyser as it has honey added). It is my first time trying this cider, and any cider from this cidery.

Cider: Peach Cider
Cidery: Red Branch Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Sunnyvalle CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American cider with honey, peach juice, carbonated water, and sugar

Availability: A small batch release. Red Branch cider appears to only be available in California, plus through their online store.

Cider Description: We take great care in producing this hard peach cider from the finest ingredients available. We only use premium fruit juices and honey. This one has a twist though, we’ve added peach juice to give it a great flavor with a terrific peach aroma. If you love peaches, then this is for you. Try our other flavors, too and you might just find your favorite beverage choice is something new. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. If you don’t, tell us and we’ll make it right. Mike & Maria

Cidery Description: We believe that producing a quality hard cider of any variety is 90% art and 10% science. Toss in a bit of sweat and heartburn for good measure and you’ll have a typical small cidery. Crafting cider is a lot like crafting many other beverages, and our love of quality ingredients drives us to produce more than just an average cider, but what we believe, is the finest cider possible. Our passion is to create something special from one of the most natural substances on earth, and share it with everyone.

Quality and consistency are the most important aspects of our products, if they aren’t good enough for us to drink or offer to our own friends and family, then we won’t sell it to you! Red Branch Cider Company offers both traditional and seasonal ciders with an innovative honey twist.

They were established in 1995 and have a tap room in Sunnyvale CA.

Price: $8.49
Where Bought: a natural grocery store in a small town in Northern California
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. They had an impressive cider selection.

First Impression: Light peach hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of peach candy.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of peach candy at the beginning with a hint of nectarine, lemon, & honey, and a medicinal flat metallic bitter peach flavor at the end. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this cider odd. I think without the weird finish and with some carbonation it wouldn’t have been too bad.

Most Similar to: I’ve previously had the following peach ciders: Blue Mountain Peach, Blackfin Pacific Peach, Carlton Bourbon Peachy Keen, Finnriver Country Peach, Number 6 Peach Fuzz, Peach Grapefruit Habanero, and Tieton Bourbon Peach. This one was quite different than all the others – the sweetest and most candied tasting. My favorite of those is probably the Tieton one.

Closing Notes: Hopefully I have a chance to try something else from Red Branch in the future.

Have you tried Red Branch Peach Cider? What did you think?

Devoto Orchards 1976 Semi-Dry Cider

February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 cidersays Devoto california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Devoto, hard cider, orchard, Sebastopol, tasting notes

Review of Devoto Orchards 1976 Semi-Dry cider. It is my first time trying any of their cider. I picked up this bottle in California over Christmas break. Here is an article about the cidery.

Cider: 1976 Semi-Dry cider (2014 harvest)
Cidery: Devoto Orchards
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass screw-top wine bottle
Style: American Organic craft cider from heirloom apples

Availability: only in Northern California and a few online retailers (see here)

Cider Description: 1976 is a homage to the year Stan & Susan Devoto left Berkeley to move ‘back to the land’ and planted our family’s first orchard in west Sonoma County. Visionaries of their time, they valued biodiversity and cultivated vegetables, flowers, and 55 heirloom apple varieties that we still grow today. Every year to honor them, we craft a small batch of this special semi-dry cider blended from those original apple varieties they planted almost 40 years ago.

Profiles: Aromas of ripe tropical fruit lead to a creamy texture and lush fruit on the palate finished with soft tannins.
Pairings: green curry, spicy Vietnamese noodle soup, ceviche, green papaya salad, bean salads and stews, anything good and spicy.
Cheese Pairings: Meadow Creek Mountaineer (VA), Consider Bardwell Rupert (VT), Thistle Hill Tarentaise (VT)
Apple Blend: Pink Pearl, Gravenstein, Hubbardston Nonesuch

Cidery Description: We’re a farm and cidery in west Sonoma County. To make the best cider, your family better be, well, a tree.

Price: $12.29
Where Bought: a natural grocery store outside of Sacramento CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was my first time seeing their cider.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of white grape, pineapple, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of white grape, pineapple, peach, and honey. Quick finish. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. High sessionability. No apple flavor.

My Opinion: I thought this was average. It was wine-like and food friendly (ie. mild). I liked the flavor notes, but it wasn’t really cider-like.

Most Similar to: This cider didn’t really remind me of cider at all…it tasted most similar to watered down sweet white wine (like Moscato), as it was thinner bodied, low in flavor intensity, and had a lot of slightly sharp white grape notes.

Closing Notes: This cider was a great value for being made in small batches from organically farmed heirloom apple varieties. They also make at least two other varieties, Cidre Noir and Save the Gravenstein.

Have you tried Devoto Orchards cider? What did you think?

Honest Abe Cider

January 25, 2017January 22, 2017 cidersays honest abe, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Gardena, hard cider, honest abe, tasting notes

Review of Honest Abe Cider. I received this as part of the January Double Cider box. It is my first time trying their cider. See this article on Honest Abe Cider.

cool octagonal bottle!

Cider: Honest Abe Cider
Cidery Location: Gardena CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml flip-top bottles
Style: American craft flagship cider made from dessert apples, with honey added

Availability: In California, and through their website (plus in the January Double Cider box)

Cider Description: This award-willing cider is made with only locally-sourced ingredients. Additionally, there are no added preservatives, colorings, or pasteurization, making Honest Abe Cider a real, artisanal, craft cider….Champagne yeast with a touch of golden Southern California honey. Dry and crisp with a slight honey finish.

Cidery Description: Honest Abe hard cider traces its roots back to old family traditions in parts of Kentucky where Prohibition era laws ban alcohol still to this day. Our cider was born of necessity and resourcefulness and carried on for generations by a passion for quality. The recipes are steeped in tradition and the tastes refined by the warm Southern California sunshine. Made with fresh and local ingredients and Honest values…just the way you want it to be.

Honest Abe Cider has a tasting room in Gardena CA.

Price: n/a (but retails for $13.99)
Where Bought: through Double Cider
Where Drank: home
How Found: through Double Cider

First Impression: Hazy moderate pumpkin amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells of fresh unfiltered apple cider and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, honey, orange, and grapefruit. High apple flavor, juice-like. High sessionability. Well-hidden ABV. Moderate to high flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was a nice easy drinking cider which I imagine has wide appeal. It would make a great introduction to craft cider as it is easy to drink (not tannic, sour, funky, etc) and on the sweeter end of the spectrum. I enjoyed the apple juice and honey flavor. I think this would make a good multi-pack cider.

Most Similar to: Ciders which have unfiltered apple juice flavor and are sweeter, such as Downeast Original Blend and JK’s Scrumpy Orchard Gate (although not as sweet)

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying the other selection from Double Cider, Ratel Cider Dry Hopped.

Have you tried Honest Abe cider? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Smoked

January 11, 2017January 7, 2017 cidersays review, Tilted Shed california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, smoked, smoked cider, Tilted Shed

Review of Tilted Shed’s Smoked cider. It is my first time trying it, although I’ve had their Lost Orchard and Barred Rock. This cider is made with some smoked apples.

Cider: Smoked
Cidery: Tilted Shed
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, some of which were smoked

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

Cider Description: An unorthodox cider blend that marries the natural complements of apples and wood smoking. Blend of six varieties of fresh-pressed Sonoma County organic heirloom and tannic cider apples from the 2014 harvest. Fermented to dryness in small batches, then blended with a batch of cider infused with wood-smoked apples. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, minimal sulfites. Straw gold, dry, aromatic, tannic, tart, and bright, with a light effervescence and mellow smoky finish. Like drinking a brut champagne near a bonfire. Pair with aged and funky washed-rind cheeses, pork, charcuterie, grilled meats, and seafood. Use care in serving with any smoked foods, as that can diminsh the smokiness of the cider. Serve in a white wine glass at 55°F to heighten the aromatics.

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: $15
Where Bought: ordered online
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read great things about their ciders and wanted to try them, but they aren’t available locally yet.

First Impression: Low carbonation. Dark straw yellow hue. Smells acidic & tannic, with hints of smoke & oak.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of smoke, oak, honey, lemon, grapefruit, mineral, and green apple.. Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low sessionability. Low smoke. Moderate oak.

My Opinion: I liked this, although I had been expecting something more in your face (like Alpenfire’s Smoke, which drinks more like a port than a cider with its 16% ABV and intense flavor). I think I would have enjoyed it even more if it had more tannins & less acidity (such as using more cider than heirloom varieties), and even more smoke & oak. Oddly enough I perceived more oak than smoke. This is a well made and balanced cider, but more nuanced than I prefer. I agree to drink this one above fridge temperature, as the flavors become more intense.

Most Similar to: Many dry barrel aged ciders. I found it very similar to Tilted Shed’s Barred Rock, although with smoke instead of whiskey notes with the oak.

Closing Notes: This concludes the reviews of the three bottles I ordered from Tilted Shed (I also tried Lost Orchard and Barred Rock). I think I liked their Lost Orchard best of the three (which is odd as I’m a bigger fan of barrel aged oaky & smokey ciders than funky ciders, although they are growing on me). However, honestly I don’t think Tilted Shed’s cider style matches my taste preferences…they are more wine like and high acid. They are however selling some awesome ciders at awesome prices, and I’m more than willing to try the rest of their lineup.

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

Sonoma Cider Winter Mix 4-Pack (The Cutter gingerbread cider & The Sleigh spiced cider)

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 cidersays review, Sonoma Cider california, cider, cider review, Cutter, gingerbread, hard cider, Sleigh, Sonoma Cider, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of Sonoma Cider’s Winter Mix 4-Pack, which consists of two 22oz bottles each of The Cutter (a gingerbread cider) and The Sleigh (a winter spiced cider).

>>This is a review of sample bottles provided to Cider Says by Sonoma 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: The Cutter & The Sleigh
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 5.5% (both)
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: American Organic large-craft spiced cider

Availability: These are limited run ciders with less distribution, but Sonoma Cider is generally available in these areas

The Sleigh Description: The Sleigh incorporates seasonal spices such as all-spice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg combined with organic apple cider. The aromas of warm apple pie followed by buttery cinnamon notes on the nose are sure to conjure up some Yuletide memories.

The Cutter Description: The Cutter captures the best of fresh baked gingerbread – bright, light aromas of ginger, with wellrounded notes of molasses and spiced baked apples in the body. It’s the perfect companion for the holiday season.

Cidery Description: Sonoma Cider was founded in 2013 by 20-year veteran Cidermaster, David Cordtz, with his son and Cofounder, Robert Cordtz. Together they combine decades of industry expertise with next generation dynamism. Sonoma Cider handcrafts the only full line of organic ciders in the U.S., each made with distinctive, all natural, gluten-free ingredients. Sonoma Ciders are produced from freshly squeezed, organic apples in micro batches to deliver intensity of flavor and a refined experience for this rapidly growing category. Sonoma Cider offers four, award-winning “Core Ciders” which are available year-round. This includes the signature, apple cider “The Hatchet,” pear-based “The Pitchfork,” bourbon-flavored “The Anvil”, and sarsaparilla-vanilla “The Washboard”. Sonoma Cider also offers other unique flavors through the “Limited Run” series and “Cidermaker Reserve” series.

Price: n/a (retails for ~$24 for the four 22oz bottles)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I was contacted about it

The Cutter First Impression: Medium hazy amber. Still (no carbonation). Smells lovely, rather strongly of gingerbread (starch, spices, ginger, sugar) and baked apples.

The Sleigh First Impression: Medium amber. Still (no carbonation). Smells milder, of spices (primarily cinnamon).

The Cutter Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of gingerbread (starch, spices, ginger), baked apple, and citrus fruit. Long finish length with lingering spice, including a slight amount of ginger at the back of the throat. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. Mild to moderate spice intensity.

The Sleigh Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No sourness or funk. Hints of tannins and bitterness. Notes of spice (not just cinnamon, but prevalent allspice & cloves), a mild to moderate intensity. Moderate finish length with lingering spice. Moderate flavor intensity, sessionability, and apple flavor. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I preferred The Cutter to The Sleigh, which is interesting as I don’t like ginger; I liked the stronger flavor and higher perceived sweetness (although both have the same residual sugar content). Both however had a stronger scent than flavor. Both were also best when served between fridge and room temperature (which I’ve noticed with most other spiced ciders). I’m not the biggest fan of spiced cider, but I’d call these pretty average & typical of the style.

Most Similar to: Other spiced ciders, such as 2 Towns Nice & Naughty (which is probably my favorite spiced cider), AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced, Carlton Sugar and Spice, and Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple. The gingerbread had far less ginger than most other ginger ciders I’ve had, which was nice (and no burn).

Bottom Line: If you are a fan of spiced cider but don’t like your cider as sweet and/or desire an Organic cider, you may enjoy these.

Closing Note: I’m surprised they decided to do 22oz bottles, as it really brings up the price tag (over $20! for the 4-pack). Maybe they were thinking more of holiday parties than a couple sharing it?

Have you tried either of these Sonoma Cider varieties? What did you think?

Sonoma Cider The Jax

January 2, 2017September 10, 2017 cidersays review, Sonoma Cider breakfast cereal, california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Jax, Sonoma, Sonoma Cider, tasting notes

Review of Sonoma Cider’s The Jax, a limited run cider inspired by Apple Jacks breakfast cereal. This Organic cider is made with buckwheat, cinnamon, and honey. It is my first time trying The Jax, although I’ve sampled most of Sonoma Cider’s bottled lineup (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Sonoma 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.<<

I love this packaging with the bright blue!

Cider: The Jax
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 6.0%
Residual Sugar: 1.6 BRIX
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: Organic American large-craft breakfast cereal inspired cider

Availability: This is a limited run cider with less distribution, but Sonoma Cider is generally available in these areas

Cider Description: The Jax Breakfast Cereal is part of the brand’s Limited Run series, a collection of unique flavors that express the team’s creativity and inventive nature. Hard cider made from Organic Pacific Northwest apples is combined with gluten-free buckwheat, cinnamon and honey to create this full-bodied cider. Scents of toasted grain and apple-cinnamon and the taste of sweetened honey and tart apples embody this cider leaving you wanting more. The flavors of The Jax- Breakfast Cereal make a perfect complement to Pop Tarts, mac n cheese and strawberry ice cream.

Cidery Description: Sonoma Cider was founded in 2013 by 20-year veteran Cidermaster, David Cordtz, with his son and Co-founder, Robert Cordtz. Together they combine decades of industry expertise with next generation dynamism. Sonoma Cider handcrafts the only full line of organic ciders in the U.S., each made with distinctive, all natural, gluten-free ingredients. Sonoma Ciders are produced from freshly squeezed, organic apples in micro batches to deliver intensity of flavor and a refined experience for this rapidly growing category. Sonoma Cider offers four, award-winning Core Ciders which are available year-round. This includes the signature, apple cider The Hatchet, pear-based The Pitchfork, bourbon-flavored The Anvil, and sarsaparilla-vanilla The Washboard. Sonoma Cider also offers other unique flavors through the Limited Run series and Cidermaker Reserve series.

They have a tap room in Healdsburg California.

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: co-founder Robert Cordtz contacted me

First Impression: Moderate amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mildly of starch, cinnamon, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of cinnamon, honey, starch, lemon, and grapefruit. The flavor starts with citrus, then finishes with breakfast cereal. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, this is definitely more of a novelty cider that I wouldn’t really choose to drink again. I had expected it to be much sweeter, but it remained fairly dry, which was great. The Apple Jacks flavor was definitely there, real tasting, and not overwhelming.

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve tried. There have been a couple ciders I’ve had that tasted a bit starchy, and I’ve had plenty of ciders with honey and/or cinnamon, but this one is unique.

Closing Notes: Next up are two winter seasonal ciders from Sonoma Cider, The Sleigh and The Cutter.

Have you tried Sonoma Cider The Jax? 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.

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?

Sonoma Cider The Wimble (Rhubarb Gose)

December 2, 2016November 27, 2016 cidersays Sonoma Cider california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, gose, hard cider, rhubarb, Sonoma, tasting notes, wimble

Review of Sonoma Cider’s The Wimble, a gose-style cider with rhubarb. Gose is a German style of beer characterized by its use of salt. Its my first time trying The Wimble, but I’ve had Sonoma Cider’s Hatchet, Pitchfork, Washboard, Anvil, Crowbar, Pulley, Dry Zider, and Dry Fuji.

Cider: The Wimble (Rhubarb Gose)
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American Organic gose-style cider with rhubarb

Availability: semi wide release, but it is a limited run

Cider Description: The Wimble is our cidery take on “gose” an ancient German beer style. Tart, briny, and eager to please.

Cidery Description: Our story officially began in 2013 through a unique father and son partnership. Sharing an entrepreneur’s curiosity and deep passion for beverages, David and Robert Cordtz set out to reinvent the cider category. David, a celebrated cidermaster and winemaker, has had a nearly lifelong passion for beverages made from naturally grown and harvested ingredients. He has been lauded for his highly refined palate and ability to create unique and high quality flavor profiles. His son, Robert, has been learning the business of beverages from his veteran father for as long as he can remember. In creating Sonoma Cider alongside his father, Robert brings a fresh perspective, a knack for creating things, and is fond of questioning the status quo. As VP Operations and Cidermaker, Robert’s creative streak keeps his dad on his toes as he is constantly infusing new approaches and ideas to the business. Together they make Sonoma Cider anything, anything but run of the mill.

Price: ~$2 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light pumpkin orange-pink amber. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mild, salty and fruity.

Tasting Notes: Fully dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of salt, rhubarb, and citrus. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Very low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I wasn’t a huge fan, but I liked it more than I expected. The brine flavor wasn’t overwhelming, and it had a mild fruitiness.

Most Similar to: Other gose-style ciders, such as from Seattle Cider, Gose and Plum Gose.

Closing Notes: If you want a truly dry cider which is unique but doesn’t have an overwhelming flavor, you may like this one. My favorite Sonoma Cider however remains The Anvil, their Bourbon-flavored cider.

Have you tried Sonoma Cider’s The Wimble? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Lost Orchard

November 30, 2016November 30, 2016 cidersays review, Tilted Shed california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lost Orchard, Sebastopol, tasting notes, Tilted Shed

Review of Tilted Shed’s Lost Orchard. It is my first time trying this cider, and my first time trying any of Tilted Shed’s cider. See here for a writeup on their cidery. I ordered three bottles to be shipped, as their ciders aren’t yet available in Washington.

Cider: Lost Orchard, 2014 vintage
Cidery: Tilted Shed
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from Organic cider apple varieties

Availability: 40 cases released November 2016. Tilted Shed ciders are sold primarily in California, but also in New York, New Jersey, and Portland Oregon (see here).

Cider Description: Blend of very rare, feral English, French, and Old American traditional cider apples gleaned from lost cider orchards in Sonoma County. Varieties include Nehou, Muscat de Bernay, Porter’s Perfection, Yarlington Mill, Foxwhelp, Tremlett’s Bitter, and Roxbury Russet. Organically grown, from the 2013 harvest. Fermented to dryness in small batches by variety, then blended, aged, and bottle conditioned using organic cane sugar as dosage. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, minimal sulfites. A bone-dry, earthy, dense, savory, contemplative cider more reminiscent of orchard floor than of apples. Hazy, golden hue. Leesy, earthy aroma. Pours with a fine, lingering mousse that heightens the astringency. Notes of leather, cedar, lemon thyme, damp earth, cooked apple. Elegant tannic structure. Chill well prior to opening. Contains sediment. Pour carefully off the lees. Serve at 55° to 60°F in a white wine glass. Pair with well-aged cheese, pork, Dungeness crab, lamb, roasts, hearty seasonal fare.

Price: $20
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: Light pumpkin amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of rich earthy cider apples, funk, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Moderate funk. Hints of sourness. Low to moderate tannins. Notes of baked apples, earth, honey, grapefruit, orange, hay, yeast, and leather. Long funky slightly sour finish. Moderate apple flavor. High complexity. Low to moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. However, this funky earthy complex cider won’t be for everyone. My husband for example wasn’t a fan as he doesn’t like funk (but he likes sourness and I don’t).

Most Similar to: Lost Orchard tends towards a farmhouse style or a wild fermented cider, although it is more funky than sour. Very few ciders are made entirely from cider apple varieties, but the most similar I’ve tried is probably something from Farnum Hill, or Dragon’s Head Wild Fermented or Alpenfire Pirate’s Plank.

Closing Notes: This is an incredible value for a cider made entirely from cider apple varieties which has been bottle conditioned for so long. Stay tuned for reviews of their Barred Rock and Smoked ciders.

Have you tried Tilted Shed Lost Orchard? What did you think?

Crispin The Saint

November 4, 2016October 30, 2016 cidersays Crispin, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colfax, Crispin, hard cider, Saint, tasting notes, The Saint

Review of Crispin’s The Saint. I tried this a couple years ago, pre-blog. I’ve previously tried most of Crispin’s line-up: Original, Venus Reigns, 15 Men, Browns Lane, Blackberry Pear, Pacific Pear, Bohemian, Honeycrisp, and Steeltown.

Cider: The Saint
Cidery: Crispin
Cidery Location: Colfax CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: unfiltered American commercial cider
Ingredients: fresh-pressed hard apple cider, filtered water, Organic maple syrup, apple juice concentrate (finishing sweetener), malic acid, contains sulfites
Yeast: Belgian Trappist

Availability: Wide release

Cider Description: The Saint Artisanal Reserve unfiltered hard cider is made with racked apple-wine and smoothed with pure maple syrup, which balances the bold flavors of sweet, ripe apples. Best served cold for bold, crisp refreshment. Give a full bottoms-up tilt and swirl to disperse unfiltered apple-wine sediment evenly.

Cidery Description: Crispin ciders are naturally fermented using the raw, unpasteurized juice of fresh-pressed American apples and pears. Through classic cold-fermentation and specially selected wine yeasts, we always stay true to the fruit with authentic flavors and unique aromatic notes that are only present in fresh-pressed cider.

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: Albertsons
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband brought this home for me randomly. He hadn’t remembered I had already tried it a couple years ago.

First Impression: Hazy unfiltered apple juice hue. Smells of apple juice and honey. Nearly still.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of apple juice, baked apples, honey, maple, and hints of pie spices. Quick finish length. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: Not bad. Its a bit too sweet and low complexity for my liking though.

Most Similar to: Other sweet unfiltered ciders such as Downeast Original Blend and JK’s Scrumpy Orchard Gate Gold. Of the three, my favorite is the Downeast, as its slightly less sweet, more cider-like than juice-like, and tastes more “real”.

Closing Notes: This is a popular cider in Crispin’s Artisanal Reserve line, available year round.

Have you tried Crispin The Saint? What did you think?

Common Cider Company Hibiscus Saison

June 30, 2016June 26, 2016 cidersays Common Cider Co, review california, cider, Common, Common Cider, Drytown, hard cider, Hibiscus, saison

Review of Common Cider Company’s Hibiscus Saison cider. My husband picked this up for me in Northern California, and its the first cider I’ve tried from them.

Cider: Hibiscus Saison
Cidery: Common Cider Company
Cidery Location: Drytown CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: four pack of slim 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with hibiscus flower extract

Availability: Northern CA and Las Vegas NV, per their Locator page

Cider Description: Hibiscus Saison pours a rosy red color with a bubbly head. The aroma is light & floral with hints of sweet apples and hibiscus.

It won Silver in the “Specialty Cider and Perry” category at GLINTCAP 2016.

Cidery Description: We don’t brew ciders, we craft moments. If it has anything to do with bringing people together, sparking conversation, bolstering friendships, and creating memories, it has everything to do with our approach to cider.

Just ask Fran. As founder of Common Cider, Fran Toves was inspired into the cider realm by a simple desire: to utilize her foodies’ passion for flavor experimentation and her love of shared times to create something rare and delicious. Her dream was a portfolio of ciders painstakingly designed to pair beautifully with food while moving people to find common ground and celebrate the simple act of being human. In 2012, Fran shared her dream with the world at homebrew competition in Reno, NV. And the response, three ciders placing in the top 10, was all the validation she needed to go all in. Thus Common Cider was born.

In Fran’s world, flavor is everything. Surprising flavor, adventurous flavor, flavor as gift to one’s family and friends. And it’s in the “layering of flavors,” as Fran likes to call it, where her artistry fully expressed. Only the juiciest, fresh-pressed, locally sourced apples. Only the choicest, natural fruit extracts and botanicals – local and organic wherever possible. Flavor profiles that lean more towards wine than beer. Light, crisp, a sweetness hinted but never overstated.

These are ciders that taste like poems, enjoy them in the spirit of togetherness. Common ciders are naturally low in sugar, gluten-free, and feature slightly lower-than-typical alcohol levels (6.5%).

See this article for more information.

Price: ~ $10 / 4 pack
Where Bought: a grocery store outside of Sacramento CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I looked online for ciders available in Northern California and made my husband a list.

First Impression: Medium red orange hue. Nearly still (no carbonation). Smells mild – fruity, floral, and tart.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Moderate length finish. Notes of pomegranate, strawberry, floral, honey, cranberry, and cherry. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Nice. However, it wasn’t what I expected…way more fruity than floral. The cidermaker said the use of Belgian Saison yeast helps retain more flavor in the cider, and I agree–the flavor was more intense than typically found with a semi-dry cider.

Most Similar to: Elemental Oxygen (Pomegranate) cider, which was also fruity and tart. I’ve had a few floral infused ciders, but this cider didn’t really line up with those.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try it. This is a nice summer cider.

Have you tried Common Cider? What did you think?

Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Wild Cherry

April 26, 2016April 16, 2016 cidersays Cider Brothers, review california, Cherry, cider, Cider Brothers, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lodi, William Tell

Review of William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Wild Cherry, out of Lodi California. This is one of Cider Brothers’ new flavored William Tell ciders.

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Cider Brothers. 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: William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Wild Cherry
Cidery: Cider Brothers
Cidery Location: Lodi CA
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apples, with cherry concentrate

Availability: National distribution.

Apple Varieties: Granny smith, golden russet, gala, fuji, and red delicious (sourced from Washington).

Cider Description: Very complex flavors with a light cherry color. The generous effervescence carries aromas exploding with sour cherry and cinnamon. Flavors continue on the palate with spice and oak tannins. Medium bodied with rich mouthfeel and a hint of cinnamon. Pairings: Hard Cheeses, Fatty Duck, Smoked Meats, Burgers with Blue Cheese

Cidery Description: From early morning through late afternoon, we bring a winemaker’s approach to producing small batches of handcrafted hard apple ciders. It starts with cold fermenting small lots of fresh apple juice to capture the delicate flavors and complex balance that makes this Mother Nature’s most refreshing adult beverage. The result is our refreshing, lightly carbonated artisan cider, produced at our Lodi winery.

The cider brothers are Michael and Paul Scotto. The Scotto family has been in the wine industry for five generations, and Scotto Cellars is among the 30 largest wineries in California. They used their wine background when starting to make cider, and by mistake developed a method they call “frost fermentation”. They put the fresh apple juice into the refrigerated fermenter, as they would do for Chardonnay. They next morning there was a layer of ice on the inside edges and top of the tank. They remove the ice (water) and the result was a sweeter cider with more concentrated and rich flavor. This is more labor and time intensive, but they feel the result is worth it. (it reminds me of the process for ice cider)

Price: n/a (runs ~$3 / can)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light red hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells of mild sweet cherry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Still (no noticeable carbonation). Medium bodied. Moderate cherry flavor. Mild tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Quick finish. No apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this. The cherry flavor tasted fairly “real”. It was flavorful and not too sweet. However, the flavor is quite simple…I didn’t pick up on anything except cherry, far from what was described (which is fine by me, and typical for a flavored cider made from dessert apples).

Most Similar to: Other cherry ciders I’ve tried, such as from Elemental,, Jester & Judge, Julian, Locust, One Tree, Original Sin, Red Tank, Tieton, Washington Gold, and Woodchuck. My favorites of those are from Washington Gold and Woodchuck (the Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry).

Closing Notes: I enjoyed this cider, but my favorite of the five William Tell ciders remains the Mango Muscat. I imagine these ciders will do well as they are easy to drink and on the sweeter side.

Have you tried Cider Brothers William Tell? What did you think?

Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Pinot Grigio

April 18, 2016April 16, 2016 cidersays Cider Brothers, review california, cider, Cider Brothers, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lodi, pinot grigio, William Tell

Review of William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Pinot Grigio from Cider Brothers, out of Lodi California. This is one of Cider Brothers’ original release ciders (also sold as Pacific Coast Cider).

Cider: William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Pinot Grigio
Cidery: Cider Brothers
Cidery Location: Lodi CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans (and 22oz bottles)
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apples, with 15% Pinot Grigio grape wine

Availability: National distribution. I’ve only seen this variety in the Seattle area in large bottles though (under both the William Tell and Pacific Coast Cider brands).

Apple Varieties: Granny smith, golden russet, gala, fuji, and red delicious (sourced from Washington).

Cider Description: DRY HARD APPLE WITH PINOT GRIGIO is a unique blend of freshly fermented Hard Apple Cider and premium California Pinot Grigio. We start with fresh juice from five types of apples and ferment it in three lots, each with different yeast to add flavor complexity. Then comes the creative touch: we add 15% of our Pinot Grigio and then Frost Ferment the blend to concentrate the fresh apple and wine character and enhance the flavors. If Frost Fermentation doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because we invented this technique to create our Pinot Grigio cider.

With pale straw color & perfect clarity. The candied apple aromas are layered with hints of crisp Pinot Grigio. Significant effervescence hits the palate with candied apple flavors and lime, citrus and Pinot Grigio accents, followed by a soft, lingering finish and a little tannic bite.

Pairings: White Meats, Asia-Themed Pork, Crab and Shrimp.

Price: n/a (runs ~$3 / can)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Very light straw yellow with a slight green tint. Very low carbonation upon pouring with some large clinging bubbles. Smells of green apple candy, citrus, and white grape.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Still (no perceptible carbonation). Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, citrus, white grape, mineral, blossom, and floral. Although it is full-flavored, it also tastes a bit watered down, yet medium bodied…my palate was a bit confused! Quick finish. Low apple influence. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Although I enjoyed the first part of the first couple sips, I definitely got the ubiquitous green apple Jolly Rancher candy flavor here. I was also surprised by how sweet it tasted vs. the listed 6 grams of sugar per 12oz (which would be dry to semi-dry). The long ingredient list is a bit disappointing too (sugar, water, natural flavor…).

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Granny Smith, and other sweeter green apple type ciders.

Closing Notes: Although I didn’t really care for this cider, plenty of other folks do (even Cider Journal gave it 3.5/5 stars!). What one person dislikes about a cider is what another person enjoys. Its always nice to try new ciders. So far their Mango Muscat continues to be my favorite, although I still have cans of the original and cherry varieties left to try.

Have you tried Cider Brothers William Tell? What did you think?

Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Strawberry

April 13, 2016April 15, 2016 cidersays Cider Brothers, review california, cider, Cider Brothers, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lodi, Strawberry, William Tell

Review of Cider Brothers’ William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Strawberry. This is one of the ciders in Cider Brothers’ new line of flavored canned William Tell ciders. They started with only William Tell Dry Hard Apple with Pinot Grigio and Pacific Coast Cider Hard Apple Cider. Now the William Tell line also includes this one, Apple Mango Muscat, and Cherry.

Cider: William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider with Strawberry
Cidery: Cider Brothers
Cidery Location: Lodi CA
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apples, with strawberry concentrate

Availability: National distribution (although the bottled William Tell Dry Hard Apple with Pinot Grigio and Pacific Coast Cider Hard Apple Cider are probably more commonly seen). We get both of those in the Seattle area, but I haven’t seen these canned William Tell ciders yet.

Apple Varieties: Granny smith, golden russet, gala, fuji, and red delicious (sourced from Washington).

Cider Description: Resembles a crisp Rose wine in color and taste. Fruity aromas of fresh strawberries, vanilla cream and honey lead to sweet citrus, melon and mineral flavors. Medium bodied and very well balanced. Starts slightly sweet but finishes dry, soft and lingering. Pairings: Fresh Fruit, Goats Milk Cheeses, Spicy Latin and Asian Appetizers.

Price: n/a (runs ~$3 / can)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light red hue. Very low carbonation with foam upon pouring. Smells of candied strawberry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Still. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Moderately flavored, primarily strawberry with some cherry, watermelon, and hints of green apple. Quick finish. Low apple influence. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this plenty drinkable, but the flavor didn’t excite me, and it was a bit candied tasting (although not overly sweet). Higher carbonation probably would have helped. I didn’t pick up all the flavor notes mentioned in the description (vanilla cream, honey, citrus, melon, mineral).

Most Similar to: The only other strawberry cider I’ve had is Bull Run Strawberry Fields. I prefer the flavor on that one. Both are semi-dry to semi-sweet and quite similar, but the Bull Run cider flavor seems more “real”.

Closing Notes: So far of the William Tell line I prefer the Apple Mango Muscat, although I have three more to try.

Have you tried William Tell cider? What did you think?

Cider Brothers William Tell Apple Mango Muscat Cider

April 11, 2016April 15, 2016 cidersays Cider Brothers, review california, cider, Cider Brothers, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lodi, mango, muscat, William Tell

Review of William Tell Apple Mango Muscat Cider from Cider Brothers, out of Lodi California. Here is a nice writeup Cider Brothers did on the cider industry, and here is an article on them from Cidercraft Magazine. This is one of the ciders in Cider Brothers’ new line of flavored canned William Tell ciders. They started with only William Tell Dry Hard Apple with Pinot Grigio and Pacific Coast Cider Hard Apple Cider. Now the William Tell line also includes this one, Strawberry, and Cherry.

Cider: William Tell Apple Mango Muscat Cider
Cidery: Cider Brothers
Cidery Location: Lodi CA
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apples, with mango concentrate and muscat wine (moscato)

Apple Varieties: Primarily granny smith, with some golden russet, gala, fuji, and red delicious (sourced from Washington).

Cider Description: Cider never tasted like this crisp, new creation: our unique blend of hand crafted hard apple cider, delicately floral Muscat wine and lush, tropical mango. Crack open a can today for instant sunshine and a perfect pouring partner! Pairings: Spicy treats, well seasoned meats and almost any tasty sweets!

Price: n/a (runs ~$3 / can)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low carbonation upon pouring. Smells sweet and fruity, with lots of mango and some apple, tropical fruit, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Medium bodied. The flavor is quite mango-forward, with some muscat grape, honey, tropical fruit, stone fruit, honey, and green apple notes. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple influence. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really liked the mango. This was nice, but I think I would have liked less sweetness (it has 17 grams of sugar per 12oz) and higher carbonation. I imagine this will sell great though, as sweet and flavorful ciders do well.

Most Similar to: I haven’t had any ciders with mango oddly enough (I think its a great cider flavor). 2 Towns made one with muscat grapes though, Cidre Moscato.

Closing Notes: Enjoyable. Definitely easy to drink and nice for spring & summer. I look forward to trying the other four sample cans of William Tell varieties they sent! As a side note, I think the Cider Brothers vs. William Tell vs. Pacific Coast Cider thing can be a bit confusing for consumers…I didn’t really get it at first that William Tell and Pacific Coast Cider are both ciders from Cider Brothers, and now the William Tell line has multiple ciders (and I’ve seen the same confusion online).

Have you tried Cider Brothers William Tell? What did you think?

Boonville Bite Hard – Updated Review

October 30, 2015October 25, 2015 cidersays Boonville, review Bite Hard, Boonville, Boonville Cider House, california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, sample

Review of Bite Hard from the Boonville Cider House. I actually reviewed this cider about a month ago (see here), but Roger Scommegna, founder of Boonville Cider House, contacted me on Facebook and asked me to give it another try. He sent me a lovely sample box with not one but three bottles of Bite Hard, a t-shirt, and a fact sheet. This time around the cider is bottled not canned, so I’m curious to see if I spot any differences.

He said: “Same variety, but I think I need to explain why it is terrific cider. We use apples and yeast, nothing else. Most cider is made from concentrate and flavoring. It’s truly just a soda. Cider is wine, and you would never drink a wine made from concentrate, and it’s illegal to add flavors to wine, so we make our cider like wine. We ferment dry with two different champagne yeasts, then finish it like Sauvignon Blanc. Our cider is delicate and clean. It’s actually harder to make it that way. I’ll send you a bomber and try it out of a wine glass. Thanks!”

This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by the Boonville Cider House. Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received this 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: Bite Hard
Cidery: Boonville Cider House
Cidery Location: Boonville CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz glass bottle

Availability: CA, AZ, WA, MN, WI, IL, MI, NY, IN, CO, and MO

Cider Description: Bite Hard Apple Cider is a crisp, semi dry cider, slow fermented from heirloom apples in an English tradition. Made from tannic and full bodied fruit, this cider carries its distinctive BITE with a clean and unique apple finish and citrus notes. We take the time to seek out and preserve the best that Autumn has to offer.

Cidery Description: MAKING CIDER & TAKING NAMES SINCE 2010! With an orchard first mentality, Boonville Cider House uses its favorite varieties of apples to put the finest cider into every can, bottle, and keg. Made with gumption, and drank with gusto, the Boonville Cider House is less a place and more a state of mind. So crack a can and taste Autumn in Boonville, taste us wassailing beneath the stars, and taste the hard work and great times that go into every gallon.

Additional Information from Boonville: We started in a small town in Northern California called Boonville. Home to Anderson Valley Brewing Co, Roederer Estates and ever growing list of fantastic wineries…We use a blend of Pippins and Russets mostly – hand picked, no windfalls. The goal has been to make a simple and pure cider. Pick apples, squeeze into juice, add yeast, ferment dry, enjoy heartily. We believe the best ciders have a short list of ingredients.

They also shared this blog post written by the founder & cider maker (titled Ruminations on Our Ethics of Fermentation).

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

First Impression: Straw yellow, no haze. Little carbonation with medium sized bubbles. Light dry apple scent.

Opinion: Dry to semi-dry. High acidity. Moderate tartness. Light astringency. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Low carbonation. Light bodied. Clean and refreshing taste. Moderate length finish with acidity & tartness. I pick up citrus, green apple, and tropical notes. I definitely recognize it was made using champagne yeast. I’m surprised how different this tastes than I remember (and noted before). I didn’t pick up any bitterness this time, the tartness level seems higher, and it even seems a touch sweeter. I suspect it may be a different batch. Craft cider can vary significantly batch to batch. I wonder if bottle vs. can makes a difference too. Also, I’ve always noticed that free beverages/food taste better!

Most Similar to: Some other drier flagship ciders. This actually reminds me of Attila Scourge of God that I had recently (review here).

Closing Notes: I was more impressed this time around. I liked the acidity level and tartness, that it lacked bitterness, and that it isn’t very sweet. However, this still isn’t my favorite type of cider…I usually like bolder flavors and some richness in a cider (such as found with English, French, barrel aged, etc, ciders). I think bottles instead of cans is a good route for them, as they seem to be going a bit more higher end, comparing to wine, drier, etc. However, a lot of craft ciders are going the can route, and it seems to be popular. I look forward to enjoying the other two bottles!

Have you tried Boonville Bite Hard? What did you think?

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