Millstone Cobbler

Review of Millstone Cellar’s “Cobbler” variety. This is the first cider I’ve tried from Millstone Cellars, the first highly rustic cider, and I believe my first East Coast craft cider. Lots of firsts this time around. I love the bottle design and color with this one!

Cider: Cobbler
Cidery: Millstone Cellars
Cidery Location: Monkton MD
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass resealable bottle (wax covered top)

Availability: MD, VA, DC, DE, NY, WA, and soon to be CA

From Kyle Sherrer, Owner/Fermentologist at Millstone:

The Cider: The Cobbler was 8 barrels of peach wine fermented and aged in bourbon barrels using wild yeast for the fermentation and aging for 6 months. The cider was 22 barrels blended in after oak barrel aging in nuetral oak for 6 months and consisted of Goldrush and York Imperial varietals. We then bottle conditioned the cider using house made unfermented ice cider. The cider has characteristics of peach skin and a lactic soft cheese like quality as well as a hint of vanilla from the bourbon barrel. Like all of our ciders it is dry has high acid and a moderate helping of funk.

The Cidery: We are a cidery that focuses solely on rustic ciders and by that I mean we do all unfiltered, unsulfited, unpastuerized naturally dry ciders that are all wild yeast influenced. All of our ciders are fermented single varietal and then we blend varietals after aging (generally 6-8 months) for the final ciders. All of our ciders are fermented and aged in oak aging Sur Lie (on top of the lee’s) the entire time which helps round out the flavor profile and encourage a natural malolactic fermentation for all of our ciders. Lastly we source all of our ingredients within 150 miles of our cidery.

Price: $17
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing cider stuff on the internet, then I saw a post on Schilling’s Facebook that they carried this one, so I looked for it at the Cider House. I love the idea of a barrel aged peach cider.

First Impression: Cloudy lemonade yellow color. Significant yeast sediment, especially stuck inside the bottom of the bottle. Mild carbonation. Yeasty citrus scent.

Opinion: Dry. Overwhelmingly mouth-puckering farmhouse funky tangy sour tartness. I only detect citrus, not peach. Very very long finish (oddly enough I couldn’t eliminate the taste for hours). High tannin thick mouthfeel. Heavy bodied. I couldn’t detect any barrel influence as the other qualities were a bit overwhelming to the palate for me. I had three other taste-testers, and all four of us agreed it was unfortunately undrinkable. I don’t mind a dry & funky cider, but the mouth-puckering astringent tang was intolerable.

I hadn’t been expecting this style of cider from the description on the bottle & their website (it only mentioned cask aged cider, bourbon barrel aged rustic peach wine, & farmhouse style). However, after I purchased the bottle, from the reviews and the information the cidery gave me, I discovered this is supposed to be a funky cider style. I think I got a bit too excited about barrel aged & peach and didn’t do enough detailed research before buying this cider. Millstone utilized wild yeast fermentation, bottle conditioning, and kept the cider unfiltered, all of which appear to make very unique funky ciders. Although I wasn’t expecting a sweet cider, with a name like Cobbler and the addition of peach wine, I was expecting some significant peach flavor, but none was detectable.

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve had! Apparently this is comparable to Basque or Austrian Spanish ciders, but the couple I’ve tried weren’t this polarizing.

Closing Notes: This cider was unfortunately a big disappointment. I just don’t think this style of cider is my cup of tea. Its probably a love it or hate it thing. However, if you enjoy a funky high acidic tart rustic cider, you may like ciders from Millstone…they are definitely unique! It seems that plenty of folks do enjoy their ciders (see UNTAPPD and RateBeer), just not me.

Have you tried Millstone Cobbler? What did you think?

2 Towns Cider Master Reserve Batch No. 01, Barrel Select Blend

August 18, 2015August 18, 2015 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, barrel aged, Barrel Select Blend, Batch No. 01, cider, Cider Master Reserve, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review

Review of Cider Master Reserve Barrel Select Blend Batch No. 01 from 2 Towns. Special thanks to Dave Takush (head cidermaker & co-owner) and Aaron Sarnoff (co-owner) to answering my e-mail and providing some great additional information about this rare cider!

Cider: Cider Master Reserve Batch No. 01, Barrel Select Blend
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml glass bottle

Availability: special release (May 2015), probably only found in WA & OR. However, 2 Towns cider is general is available in OR, WA, CA, AK, HI, NV (limited), ID, IL (Chicago), & MN (Minneapolis).

Cider Master Reserve Description: Inspired by the rich history of cidermaking, our Cider Master Reserve Series holds nothing back. We utilize rare heirloom cider fruit from the Pacific Northwest to create ciders that pioneer beyond the modern palate. You are holding in your hand the ultimate culmination of science, culture, and history,. Enjoy the result.

Barrel Select Blend Description: Batch No. 01 of the Cider Master Reserve series is a traditional English-style cider made from a blend of our finest locally-sourced heirloom cider apples. Aging in a variety of select vintage casks lends a depth of uncommon character to this bold, dry cider.

Locally Sourced Apple Varieties: Ashmead’s Kernal, Bramley’s Seedling, Chisel Jersey, & Newtown Pippen apples

Barrel Blend: rum (35%), bourbon (27%), white bordeaux (20%), & brandy (18%)

Ingredients: Fresh-pressed NW heirloom apples, sulfites

Additional Information from 2 Towns: This is No. 1 in a forthcoming series of Cider Master Reserve batches, focusing on specific ingredients, orchards, and styles that pioneer beyond the modern palate. This barrel blend was meant to be a high-acid, food friendly, dry cider, that has subtle hints of sugar cane, oak, and floral/fruit notes from the rum, white bordeaux (chardonnay), and brandy barrels respectively. The ciders in the series are meant to be elegant, complex and not ‘oak bombs’ or overly sweet modern style ciders. The majority of the acidity comes from Bramley’s Seedling, an old-world English apple used for baking and cider back in the UK. All the apples were sourced locally from small heirloom apple orchards in the Willamette Valley and Hood River.

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: $16.25
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown area of Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I believe I saw a press release at NW Cider and a review at Cider Journal. So, I was happy to get a newsletter from Full Throttle Bottles that said they had some in stock! I hurried over to get my hands on it. I am a huge sucker for both barrel aged and special release ciders.

First Impression: Pale yellow, moderate carbonation, dry apple-champagne scent.

Opinion: Dry. This is a very crisp, refreshing, and pleasantly acidic champagne-like cider. Effervescent mouthfeel and light body. No significant bitterness or tartness. I usually avoid dry ciders, but due to the lack of bitterness, this cider was very drinkable for me. I think between the lack of bitterness and the flavor & body, I perceived this cider as slightly sweeter than it is. It was even smoother when it warmed up a bit. So, I would recommend trying this cider somewhere between fridge and room temperature. However, I found there was little discernible barrel influence. I picked up some notes of citrus, pear, and possibly vanilla.

I wouldn’t describe this cider as complex or bold. However, it was very tasty! The bottle was quickly emptied, as I had houseguests to share it with, and it was very well-received. We opened it before dinner and unfortunately there was none left to actually accompany the meal. I look forward to whatever 2 Towns comes up with next! It appears they are tasting Reserve Batch No. 02 at their Harvest Party in October, so it shouldn’t be too long of a wait.

Most Similar to: Ace Blackjack 21, another special release cider. It is a Gravenstein single varietal, Oak Chardonnay barrel aged. I also found it to be very champagne-like. However, I liked the 2 Towns cider much better.

Closing Notes: Try 2 Towns’ Cider Master Reserve Barrel Select Blend if you can find some! This is a very well-composed cider, great for summer, or as a champagne alternative (although not fully sparkling).

Have you tried 2 Towns Cider Master Reserve Batch No. 1 ‘Barrel Select Blend’? What did you think?

Smith & Forge Hard Cider

August 16, 2015August 14, 2015 cidersays review, Smith & Forge cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Memphis, MillerCoors, Smith & Forge, Uncharted Hard Cider Company

Review of Smith & Forge Hard Cider. I haven’t got around to trying this one, so why not? I don’t discriminate when it comes to cider. If I like it, I drink it / buy it again.

Cider: Smith & Forge Hard Cider
Cidery: Uncharted Hard Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Memphis TN
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 12oz can (or 16oz can)

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Presenting Smith & Forge Hard Cider, a sturdy drink for the hardy gent. Launching nationally this month (March 2014), Smith & Forge is a hard cider fermented in the tradition of days gone by. With a rich amber color, 6% alcohol by volume (ABV), a distinct, not-too-sweet taste and a fantastically crisp finish, Smith & Forge is built to refresh.

Cidery Description: Smith & Forge is a MillerCoors product…nuff said

Price: ~$2 for a single can (a six pack runs about $7-8)
Where Bought: Total Wine (although its available almost everywhere)
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve seen it advertised and someone said they thought it was similar to Woodchuck, so I thought I may as well try one for research purposes…

First Impression: Deep bronze amber (is this actually real? coloring isn’t listed though…). Almost no carbonation. Sugary fake apple smell.

Opinion: Very sweet. This has a syrupy sweet apple taste. I actually like sweeter ciders, but I think because of the lack of carbonation, it made it seem even sweeter. Its an alcoholic apple juice type of cider. I don’t detect any tartness. There is the slightest amount of bitterness in the finish. Hints of a caramel flavor. I wouldn’t even describe it as a smooth & crisp cider, as it is too syrupy & fake tasting for my liking. Overall this is a very simple cider without much depth. I think with a lot more carbonation and a bit less sugar it wouldn’t be too horrible. I’m still curious about the color, as even barrel aged cider doesn’t often get that deep of an amber, and it looks like the color of the Woodchuck ciders which (unfortunately) add coloring.

Closing Notes: I think people in their early 20s who want a “cider” which tastes like apple juice but has alcohol will like this. Besides that, it doesn’t have much going for it. MillerCoors is definitely marketing this stuff like crazy! Their marketing it to men is an interesting strategy. Sadly, this is another cider by “Big Beer”, and further, one that tries to hide that fact. Of the commercial ciders I’ve tried, I find Woodchuck to have the best tasting ciders in general.

Have you tried Smith & Forge? What did you think?

Argus Fermantables Ciderkin

August 14, 2015August 3, 2015 cidersays Argus, review Argus, Argus Cider, Argus Fermentables, Austin, cider, cider review, Ciderkin, hard cider, hard cider review, sparkling cider

Review of Ciderkin from Argus Fermentables, a traditional dry sparking cider. This is the first cider I’ve tried from Texas! The Fermentables line is a newer branch from Argus, offering cider in six packs instead of 750ml bottles, and currently includes Ciderkin and Ginger Perry (link). Ciderkin was released Match 2015. Their traditional cider line is released by vintage and includes a number of sparking options, and they even have a sparkling Tepache (fermented pineapple juice with spices).

Cider: Ciderkin
Cidery: Argus Cidery, Argus Fermentables line
Cidery Location: Austin TX
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 12oz glass bottle (six pack)
Availability: year round, semi-limited release (mostly TX?)

Cider Description: Based on nostalgic profiles of ciders everyone first experienced, Argus Ferementables Ciderkin delivers a straightforward apple palate, yet finishes dry and tannic. Traditional Ciderkin is made from reconstituted apple pomace that is pressed and fermented wild to produce a low ABV-dry cider style. Expounding on that tradition, we have employed a yeast blend that finishes dry, yet still preserves a prominent stone fruit nose and apple palate.

Tasting Notes: Apple, Cherry, Caramel, and Citric Nose. Round apple palate with dry, tannic quick finish. No candy-liger, and exceptional with food.

Cidery Description: Argus Cidery is the first cidery in Texas, founded in 2010. They specialize in sparkling and still European-style Basque-influenced ciders and currently use only Texas-grown apples. The Argus Fermentables brand expands the cidery’s reach by featuring ciders that are not necessarily European in style and by sourcing apples from outside the region.

Price: $2.50 for a single 12oz bottle (priced individually; one source said $10 for a six pack though)
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. The unique neck-less bottle drew me in, the the low cost and cidery location (Texas of all places) convinced me to give this cider a try.

First Impression: Definitely sparkling (I even waited a minute to take this photo). Pretty champagne-like color. Smells dry, of apples & pears?, earthy, of citrus, and acidic.

Opinion: Dry, but of an easier to drink variety that doesn’t immediately turn me off to the cider like many drier ciders do. This is a clean & crisp tasting smooth cider which is light & citrusy. It has a quick finish but some lingering (pleasant) aftertaste. There is a bit of acidity, bitterness, and astringent drying tannins at the end, but not overly so. This cider has a bit of an earthy funk. I even pick up a hint of vanilla. There is only a slight tartness. The sparking mouthfeel was enjoyable (I’m typically a big fan of sparkling ciders). I don’t however notice cherry or caramel as Argus’ tasting notes specified, but I admit my palate isn’t refined. I would describe Ciderkin as unique but not bold. I nibbled on some crackers while enjoying this cider before dinner, which worked well. Ciderkin is a refreshing cider for summer.

Interesting Fact: As discussed a bit in Argus’ description of this cider, Ciderkin is a traditional term to describe cidermaking by fermenting reconstituted apple pomace (pulp remaining after crushing apples). As the pulp is diluted, the alcohol content is significantly reduced.

Closing Notes: This is a great introduction to drier ciders, and fairly unique. Give it a try if you can find some! From what I’ve found online, it appears very lucky that I was able to find this in my area as I can’t find much of anything about it being released outside of TX.

Have you tried Argus Fermentables Ciderkin, or anything else Argus Cidery produces? What did you think?

Schilling Oak Aged

August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 cidersays review, Schilling can, cider, cider house, cider review, Finnriver, hard cider, hard cider review, Oak & Apple, Oak Aged, Schilling

Review of Schilling Oak Aged. This is my favorite Schilling Cider out of the seven I’ve tried. Interestingly enough this cider is not oak barrel aged, but instead uses American oak chips in the fermentation and racking process to impart the oak flavor. I’ve seen this done with other alcoholic beverages (such as whiskey) to be able to more quickly release a product, as barrel aging can be time consuming. Chips can also cost significantly less. Some traditionalists may call this “cheating” though. Here is a cool barrels vs. chips blog post from ALEHEADS from the beer world.

(and yes of course the can I chose to drink/photograph out of the four has the dent…)

Cider: Oak Aged
Cidery: Schilling Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Auburn WA (with Cider House in Fremont area of Seattle WA, and a brand new tasting room which opened July 31 2015 at the cidery in Auburn WA)
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 12oz can
Availability: Year round, semi-wide release (probably more so in the PNW)

Cider Description: Pours a hazy straw gold color with aromas of apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and oak with some smokiness. Flavors of apple, cinnamon, vanilla and oak with a nice spice finish. Fermented and finished on 100% NW oak this cider has a scotch taste complemented by a very smooth and lingering finish.

Cidery Description: Craft cider company founded in 2012 in Seattle WA. They use only local apples. Their current line up includes Hopped, Ginger, & Oak Aged in four packs of 12oz cans, Gold & Dry in four packs of 16 oz cans, and Spiced, Chai, Chaider, & Grapefruit special releases in 22oz bottles (Grapefruit is also now in four packs of 16 oz cans). Their Cider House also has a large number of cider offerings only available there, such as Berry & Sriracha Lime. Note that they cite product protection, convenience, and environmental reasons for using cans for their regular lineup.

Price: $6.50 / 4 cans
Where Bought: Total Wine (I’ve also seen it at Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, Full Throttle Bottles, Special Brews, Schilling Cider House, etc)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing awhile back. I’ve had this cider a few times.

First Impression: Pale champagne hue. Very light carbonation. Mild apple, oak, smoke, & vanilla scents.

Opinion: Semi dry. This is a nice mild oaked cider. I can’t really tell that it is with wood chips and not barrel aged, but I don’t have too refined of a palate. Oddly enough I pick up very little spice in this (which is good as its not something I enjoy), in contrast to most folks who notice cinnamon & cloves. I do however pick up the vanilla and some mild smokiness. Like most ciders, it starts sweeter and finishes a bit drier. It is a quick finishing cider, and I pick up a bit of acidity at the end. The flavor really reminds me of champagne / sparkling cider, but less bubbly of course. I think more carbonation and oakiness would be nice in this cider, as its on the mellow side. However, it makes for easy drinking.

Most Similar to: Finnriver Oak & Apple, which I tried at the Schilling Cider House after being surprised they didn’t have their own Shilling Oak Aged on tap. I give a slight edge to Finnriver over Schilling after tasting Schilling again (in my Schilling Cider House tasting notes I had thought the opposite). There is however quite a cost difference between the two cider brands, with the Finnriver typically costing much more (although it appears Finnriver Oak & Apple isn’t currently available in bottles?). Interestingly enough the Finnriver Oak & Apple is barrel aged. I can’t however pinpoint why I have this preference without tasting them side by side.

Interesting Fact: Founder Colin Schilling is the great-great grandson of August Schilling, founder of Schilling Spice Company (now McCormick). (Source)

Closing Notes: This is a solid and enjoyable cider. The affordability is a nice bonus.

Have you tried Schilling Oak Aged? What did you think?

Blackthorn Cider

August 9, 2015August 2, 2015 cidersays Blackthorn, review Blackthorn, cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review

Review of Blackthorn “Dry English Cider”, the U.S. import version.

Cider: Blackthorn
Cidery: Gaymer Cider Company, a subsidiary of C&C Group Plc (who also owns Magners)
Cidery Location: Shepton Mallet (Mendip District, Somerset England)
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 16.9 oz can
Availability: year round, wide release, four packs of 16.9 oz cans

Cider Description: Blackthorn is a dry, yet sweet apple cider with bushels of flavor to quench your thirst on even the hottest days.

Cidery Description: One of the country’s best-known and most loved ciders, Blackthorn is firmly rooted in the rugged hills of Somerset – a county which inspires a spirit of courage and determination, with its distinctive clean, crisp taste, Blackthorn Cider is founded on a passion to never settle for ordinary. Grab life by the thorn.

Price: $5 / 16.9 oz can at a restaurant (retail is $9 for 4 cans)
Where Drank: Stellar Pizza in Georgetown area of Seattle WA (they also had Schilling Ginger cans available), which is an awesome pizza joint by the way
How Found: I’ve seen it while browsing Total Wine (they often place it next to the cinnamon whiskey), and seen some reviews online. However, this time it was only a choice between two ciders, which was easy as I don’t like ginger.

First Impression: Medium orange amber. Slight carbonation. Seemingly fake English “apple” scent.

Opinion: Between semi-dry and semi-sweet. Slightly rich syrupy taste with only a slight bitterness. Interestingly enough the ingredients are “cider, glucose-fructose syrup, citric acid, ascorbic acid, colour, contains sulphites”. So, like most commercial products, this isn’t “real” cider. Not very complex of a flavor. I find it interesting they import so many of these “fake” ciders. It was easy to drink and went well with pizza though. I easily finished the entire can even though it was the middle of the workday!

Most Similar to: Crispin Browns Lane, which I reviewed recently. Interestingly enough both ciders are at exactly the same price point in my area. I much prefer the Crispin Browns Lane though, which seemed more flavorful and “real” (although it also has added ingredients, sucrose, ascorbic acid, & sulphites).

Closing Notes: This is a fairly solid commercial cider that I would choose over Angry Orchard, Strongbow, etc, if it was offered while I was out. I probably wouldn’t however choose to buy this, in contrast to Crispin Browns Lane.

Have you tried Blackthorn? What did you think?

Eaglemount Quince

August 6, 2015August 2, 2015 cidersays Eaglemount, review cider, cider review, eaglemount, hard cider, hard cider review, port townsend, Quince

Review of Eaglemount Wine & Cider’s Quince cider. Note that this is apparently the only commercially-produced Quince cider (although it has been used in low quantities in cider blends). From the description below it doesn’t appear to be a single varietal, but pretty close. Here is a cool NY Times article on Eaglemount’s Quince, focusing on the apples, In Praise of the Misunderstood Quince.

(sorry for the wrinkled label…I guess my fridge is a bit humid!)

Cider: Quince
Cidery: Eaglemount Wine & Cider
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA (note they are currently moving the tasting room)
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750 ml clear glass bottle with a handy flip-top to reseal after popping the metal cap

Availability: Very limited release. Distributed in Seattle WA & Portland OR, a Port Townsend WA area Farmer’s Market, Eaglemount’s tasting room in Port Townsend WA, and Eaglemount’s online store. They also offer a cider club!

Cider Description: A one of a kind cider made with Certified Organic Quince and heirloom variety apples. This unique complex cider has notes of pineapple, grapefruit, honey, and more. The Quince were grown in Washington’s San Juan Islands. Enjoy this delightful cider with roasted pear salad, light entrees, or as a chilled afternoon cordial by itself or mixed with your favorite spirits. Our Quince Cider was featured in the New York Times April 2012 in an article on quince. Won Best Specialty Cider in SIP Magazine in 2013.

(Quince apples, a photo from Eaglemount’s Facebook page)

Cidery Description: We started our winery in 2006 here on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington State. We own one of the original homesteads in the area and started making wine and then hard cider from the wonderful heirloom apples from our homestead orchard in 1996. Some of the varieties include: Gravenstein, Winter Banana, Jonathan, Roxbury Russet and more. We also have a cider orchard with French and English varieties of cider apples.

They have six cider varieties (Quince, Rhubarb, Ginger, Homestead Semi-Sweet, Homestead Dry, & Boot Brawl), one mead variety (Apple), one Cyser (mead-style cider), and five wine varieties listed on their website (online store), but it appears they have more (at least at their tasting room) from the reviews I’ve read.

Additional Info from Trudy Davis, the vintner at Eaglemount, in Response to My Request: Our winery is located on an 1883 Homestead that has the original apple trees. These were the foundation for our first ciders. All of our apples come from a 20 mile radius here on the Olympic Peninsula. The quince come from a certified organic orchard in the San Juan Islands. Quince is a hard to describe flavor; honeysuckle, tropical fruit, and grapefruit are some descriptors.

Price: $20.50
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown area of Seattle WA (I’ve also seen Eaglemount ciders at Special Brews, but not Quince)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, and I’ve read some reviews. I’ve had my eye on Eaglemount and was deciding what variety would be best for me to try. This definitely fit the bill!

First Impression: Carbonated upon pouring. Fairly clear yellow amber. Distinctive scent, which I assume is the Quince apples, with a tropical flair.

Opinion: Semi-dry, but due to the “sweet” flavors, it comes across a bit sweeter than I think it actually is. Carbonated mouthfeel. Very distinctive complex flavor which I agree is difficult to describe. I definitely pick up tropical aspects, some vanilla & honey, and a touch of an herbal/floral quality. It has only a slight tartness, and no bitterness, which can be difficult to accomplish with a drier cider. This is a very well crafted cider–mighty fine! It drinks more like 5% than 8% ABV; very smooth. There are also some wine-like qualities to this cider, but not enough to discourage me, which often occurs with wine-like ciders.

Most Similar to: Reverend Nat’s Revival, which also has some tropical aspects to it. Eaglemount by comparison is slightly less sweet and has a more distinctively complex flavor.

Closing Notes: Epic cider–highly recommended! I really enjoy complex ciders like this. Eaglemount Quince is definitely a treat, worth the higher price tag. I look forward to trying more of their ciders. This variety definitely stuck out for me when choosing one, and from what I read, it seems very well received (most posts about Eaglemount seem to mention Quince). I think I’ve mostly seen their Root Brawl (hopped cider) and Cyser (mead-style cider) around me.

Fun Fact: Finnriver and Alpenfire are in the same Port Townsend area as Eaglemount; see this cider route map. Roadtrip anyone?

Postscript: I wish more craft cideries offered their product in smaller bottles. For folks like me without someone to share the cider with most of the time (my hubby is more into spirits, beer, & wine), a 750ml bottle of a relatively high ABV cider is a bit much for one sitting. Also, a smaller bottle would lower the price point. 500ml is a more manageable size. I made a big dent in emptying the bottle, but had plenty left to drink a second night. The flip top closure worked fairly well, especially at re-carbonation, and there was very little change in the cider’s flavor (as I’ve had happen before, it mellowed out just a bit).

Have you tried Eaglemount Quince? What did you think?

Woodchuck Gumption

August 3, 2015August 2, 2015 cidersays review, Woodchuck bittersweet, cider, cider review, Gumption, hard cider, hard cider review, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Gumption, released March 2015, the newest addition to Woodchuck’s Core lineup. Their other core ciders are Amber, Granny Smith, 802, Pear, Raspberry, Local Nectar, & Hopsation. Pretty sweet packaging, huh?

I tried Gumption previously and for some reason I wasn’t impressed, but I thought it was worth a second taste since it has been very well received. No idea why I didn’t like it last time, but this time, I did! Maybe because it was hyped so much I was expecting something epic? Woodchuck has even been having nationwide circus-themed release parties.

Cider: Gumption
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 12oz bottle
Availability: year round, wide release, six packs of 12oz bottles (and now cans)

Cider Description: Bold and unique. Legendary showman P.T. Barnum once noted, “everybody drank cider-spirits called ‘gumption’.” Our Woodchuck GUMPTION™ celebrates the spirit of P.T. Barnum and those with the gumption to follow their own path. We pair the fresh juice of common eating apples with dry (European Bittersweet) cider apples to bring you a bold and unique drinking experience.

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: ~$2 for a single bottle (typically $8-$10 for a full six pack)
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: There was lots of online hype prior to release, so I had been on the lookout. I picked up my first single bottle at Total Wine just after it was released. This time I had been wanting to try it again, and found some at Special Brews.

First Impression: Clear orange amber color (which appears to be true, unlike their Amber cider variety which adds color). Light carbonation. I only pick up one scent, of ripe sweet apples.

Opinion: Sweet but not very sweet. I like the sweeter start with a touch of bitterness in the (quick) finish. I also like the lack of tartness and the balanced acidity. This is more complex than most of their other ciders, such as Amber, but isn’t all that complex when compared to most craft ciders. I even detect a slight woody earthiness. Gumption is very easy to drink. It doesn’t have all that bold of a flavor, but is unique and tasty. I find it interesting that the bottle says less than 1% natural flavor, but Woodchuck’s website says no added flavors….I wonder which is true.

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve tried. Most ciders which incorporate bittersweet cider apples are drier craft varieties. This is a unique cider for this segment.

Closing Notes: I quite enjoyed Woodchuck Gumption, and may have to pick up some more. I now think I prefer it over their Amber variety (note this cider has significantly less sugar than Amber, 13 vs. 21 grams in 12 oz). I think this is a very solid commercial cider, but I wouldn’t consider Woodchuck to be a craft cidery. Woodchuck is undergoing a significant re-branding & marketing campaign to compete with Angry Orchard, so I’m intrigued to see what they come up with next!

Have you tried Woodchuck Gumption? What did you think?

Sonoma Cider The Anvil

August 1, 2015August 3, 2015 cidersays review, Sonoma Cider bourbon, cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Sonoma Cider, The Anvil

Review of Sonoma Cider’s The Anvil, a bourbon flavored cider.

Cider: The Anvil
Cidery: Sonoma Cider
Cidery Location: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of green 12oz bottles (or a single 22oz bottle)
Availability: Year-round, semi-wide release in U.S. (plus Canada & China apparently!)

Cider Description: David and Robert both love Bourbon. We mean love bourbon. Maybe that’s why they didn’t beat around the bush here. Sure, you can age subtly in bourbon barrels. And subtlety is sometimes enough. But, with the Anvil, the real spark ignited when we tossed nuance aside and added a healthy measure of our proprietary barrel-proof bourbon flavor. Suddenly, something intense, alive and memorable happened. To our palates, it offers a clean, lively, aromatic presence with a layered smoky finish. It’s truly integrated and rounded, yet vitally distinct. Enjoy.

Blend of organic Yakima Valley Fuji and Granny Smith apples. 2.7 BRIX. 3.75 pH acidity.

Cidery Description: 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. The company 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.

[at least Alpenfire is also Organic, by the way]

Price: ~$2.50 for a single 12oz bottle (or $8-10 for a four pack)
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA (I’ve also seen it at Total Wine & Whole Foods, among other places)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Initially, by browsing Total Wine. This time thought I had thought it would be an interesting one to review, so I picked up a bottle.

First Impression: Copper amber with a slight yellow sheen. Quite carbonated upon pouring. I smell smokey apple and bourbon

Opinion: Between semi-sweet & semi-dry. I pick up smoke, bourbon, ripe apple, woodiness / earthiness, and caramelized sugar. I like the higher carbonation level of this cider. There is the slightest bit of tartness & acidity, although I tend to be sensitive to that. This is bourbon flavored, not bourbon barrel aged, which is an interesting approach. I quite like the Bourbon flavor (even though I don’t like Bourbon); I think it was done well, is fairly mild, and doesn’t taste fake or artificial. Quick finishing.

I’ve had this cider a few times. I have also tried Sonoma Cider’s other current offerings (Pitchfork, Hatchet, Crowbar, & Washboard), but The Anvil is my favorite, probably followed by The Pitchfork (pear). Apparently Sonoma Cider also has “Dry Zider”, aged in Zinfadel wine barrels, their first Reserve Series, but I haven’t seen it yet.

Closing Notes: Tasty! Fairly easy to drink too. Also, Sonoma Cider is a good fairly widely available craft cider alternative to commercial cider.

Have you tried Sonoma Cider’s The Anvil, or anything else they make? What did you think?

HUB (Hopworks Urban Brewery) Hard Cider

July 29, 2015July 29, 2015 cidersays HUB, review cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Hopworks Urban Brewery, HUB, HUB Cider

Review of Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) Hard Cider, which was released in June 2015. This is their first and currently only cider offering.

Cider: Hard Cider
Cidery: Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB)
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 16oz can
Availability: Year round, currently OR & WA only

Cider Description: With a goal of making a year-round cider with high-organic content, our cider is proudly made from 60% organic apple juice concentrate and 40% fresh pressed apple juice. The cider juice is sourced entirely from the Northwest. HUB Hard Cider is a semi-dry hard apple cider, straw colored with fresh apple aromas. Slightly tart with a Champagne-like acidity, HUB Hard Cider finishes slightly fruit-forward. The cider is naturally gluten-free and is 6.8% ABV. HUB will also offer HUB Hard Cider in 22 oz. bottles this summer.

Price: $3 / 16oz can (typically sold in a four pack)
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read online they were coming out with a cider, and was reminded of HUB when passing by their creative booth at the Seattle International Beerfest, where they turned a bike into a beer bar complete with taps and storage for kegs, so despite not finding an actual review online, I thought I may as well try it.

First Impression: Pale yellow. Fairly heavily carbonated. Apple champagne-like aroma.

Opinion: Between semi-dry and semi-sweet. Very champagne-like, in both flavor and mouthfeel (carbonation). For me it started off sweet but very quickly bitter & acidic. This is a rather simple straight forward cider that doesn’t reel me in with any interesting flavor notes. I imagine champagne / sparkling wine fans may like this for an intro to cider, but I have found I quickly get turned off to a cider which has bitter, acidic, or tart notes (although not to say that I can’t enjoy a drier cider).

Note that I wouldn’t consider this craft cider, due to the large percentage of apple juice concentrate (which is commonly used to cheaply develop a sweeter cider, and due to low availability of cider apples / time for an orchard to mature). If I’m going to drink commercial cider, I’d much prefer Woodchuck. Here is a cool writeup on the use of frozen apple juice concentrate and such in commercial cider, and what sets craft cider apart from commercial cider, which is something all cider consumers should be informed about.

Although I don’t exclusively buy craft cider (mostly due to cost and often I want a more easy drinking cider), the use of apple juice concentrate is something I am aware of, and think more of the commercial cider makers should be more straightforward about it (like HUB is). I find it interesting though that HUB couldn’t find anything more to say on the can besides 60% organic, gluten free, etc (not even a short description of the cider, sweetness level, etc). I like what HUB is doing with trying to be eco-friendly and using organic juice though.

Closing Notes: Unimpressed. I really don’t have much to say on this cider…

Have you tried HUB’s hard cider? What did you think?

Sea Cider Prohibition / Rumrunner

July 26, 2015July 26, 2015 cidersays local, review, Sea Cider barrel aged, cider, cider review, hard cider, Prohibition, rum barrel aged, Rumrunner, Sea Cider, Sea Cider Prohibition, Sea Cider Rumrunner

Review of Sea Cider Prohibition (sold as Rumrunner in Canada). This is my second time trying this cider. I’ve tried a couple other Sea Cider varieties as well. Prohibition is aged in rum barrels!

Cider: Prohibition
Cidery: Sea Cider
Cidery Location: Vancouver Island near Victoria B.C.
ABV: 12.5%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass bottle (although I bought it by the glass)
Availability: Canada (B.C., Alberta, & Manitoba) and the U.S. (WA, IL, & OR)

Cider Description: Crafted with home-grown heritage apples, Rumrunner’s apples are hand-pressed using our traditional rack and cloth press, slowly fermented with Champagne yeast, then aged in rum-soaked bourbon barrels for a minimum of six months. Aromas of brown sugar and rum show the complexity of this semi-dry sparkling cider. The secret to Rumrunner lies in the barrel. Rich, full-bodied and intriguing, Newfoundland Screech barrels were the inspiration for this semi-dry cider, which opens up to reveal complex notes of molasses, apples, and rum.

Rumrunner cider is our homage to the people who, during Prohibition, ran illicit boats full of liquor across the international line in the coastal waters that can be seen from our Ciderhouse. This seafaring connection was first formed when we obtained Newfoundland “Screech” barrels to age one of our cider blends. Rum and bourbon barrels were once a cidermaker’s only storage option and their use imparted distinctly spirited notes to traditional cider. Our Rumrunner cider blends the juice of highly aromatic apples, such as Stayman’s Winesaps and Winter Bananas (all certified organic), so that the apple aromas match the intensity of the oak and rum notes.

Cidery Description: Sea Cider is a farm-based cidery located on the Saanich Peninsula just minutes from Victoria, on Vancouver Island. Our ten acre farm is home to over 1,300 apple trees, made up of over 50 varieties of heritage apples. Sea Cider opened its farm gate for business in 2007 when owner Kristen Jordan purchased the property with a vision of creating an organic farm and orchard and producing traditional fermented artisan ciders. Since then, we’ve grown to an annual cider production of over 7,000 cases and growing. We continue to pride ourselves on crafting traditionally fermented ciders from organically grown apples.

Price: ~$20 / bottle, but I paid $8 for an approximately 8oz pour
Where Drank: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA, which is an awesome bottle shop & bar combo, with about 15 taps, where usually 1 or 2 are cider. They also sell Sea Cider Prohibition & Pippins by the glass, or will open up a bottle for you for $2. Its a great hangout spot and pretty chill.

First Impression: Deep copper amber. Still. Smells inviting, rich, earthy, and likely to pack a punch.

Opinion: I pick up so many different flavors with this one. Very bold / aggressive / intense and complex. Caramel, brown sugar, rum, brandy?, vanilla, molasses, the list goes on. I find it interesting how most of these are “sweet” flavors, yet I’d call this a semi-dry cider. This cider isn’t very apple-forward, but then again, good craft cider doesn’t / shouldn’t taste like apple juice. It has a woody earthy flavor and a bit of a bite. Long smooth dry slightly acidic finish. Prohibition packs a lot of heat/warmth. Like Liberty Ciderworks Manchuran Crabapple and other high ABV ciders, the word boozy comes to mind, but for me, in a good way. I like the different flavor of the rum barrel aging as opposed to the more common oak / bourbon (or red wine or tequila as I’ve also had).

As it warms up I liked the flavor a bit more, but it also seemed to linger more on the palate. The mouthfeel was thick. I was glad this wasn’t served ice cold. I enjoyed an interesting pairing this this cider, as I munched on some pub mix (cheesy pretzels & crackers). I imagine this would be good with some cheese or even as a cider float. Sea Cider also says it can be served warmed, which would be interesting. its odd how I don’t like aged spirits but enjoy ciders like this.

Closing Notes: Tasty! However, this is something that I enjoyed more with the first half of the glass, as it is a bit hefty to enjoy more than a small pour of. So, I was thankful to have it by the glass instead of a 750ml bottle (although apparently it keeps well).

Have you tried Sea Cider Prohibition / Rumrunner? What did you think?

Saturday Tasting Notes – Sonoma Cider The Crowbar & Possmann Pure Cider

July 26, 2015November 28, 2015 cidersays Possmann, review, Sonoma Cider cider, cider review, Habanero, hard cider, hard cider review, Lime, Possman, Pure Cider, Sonoma Cider, tasting notes, The Crowbar

Random Saturday cider tasting, awesome!

Sonoma Cider The Crowbar

The Crowbar is a limited release Habanero-Lime cider from Sonoma Cider (available since May 2015). I’ve been wanting to try this variety but was unsure if it was something I’d immediately want to dump out, between the spice and the dryness, so I’ve held off. I was lucky enough to attend a tasting event of Sonoma Cider at Whole Foods in Lynnwood WA today (where I got to meet Sarah from Cider Log!). They were offering their Hatchet (apple), Pitchfork (pear), Anvil (bourbon), and Crowbar (habanero-lime) ciders. They also have The Washboard (another limited run cider, with sarsaparilla & vanilla), which I definitely wasn’t a fan of but my husband loved, which they weren’t tasting.

Opinion: With a good sniff some spice is definitely perceived. Upon tasting, I pick up both habanero and lime. The lime is more present than for example Schilling’s Sriracha Lime, which helps calm down the heat. It also had less spice & bite to it than the two other spicy ciders I’ve tried (Schilling Sriracha Lime and Finnriver Habanero), but was definitely spicy. I was expecting it to be much more dry as it only has 2 grams of sugar in 12 oz (1.1 Brix), but I perceived it as semi-dry instead of bone dry for some reason. The sample (a few sips) was drinkable enough, but this isn’t something I’d want to buy even a can of. I just don’t think spicy ciders are for me. More of a novelty? Apparently some folks have got this to cook with. I think I’ll stick with their Anvil (bourbon flavored) cider, which I think is quite tasty.

Possmann Pure Cider

I stumbled across a tasting at World Market today which included a cider, Possmann Pure Cider (from Kelterei Possmann in Frankfurt Germany). “Possmann Pure Cider has a perfect balance of rich apple flavor while not to sweet and finishing dry. The flavor comes from our unique source of apples which are harvested exclusively from our 800+ farmers in the Hessen region of Germany. Our typical framer has 3 to 15 naturally occurring apple trees on their land that are not part of a cultivated orchard. These country apples provide a uniquely rich apple flavor.”

Opinion: Crisp/clean & smooth but overly appley apple flavor. Sweet but not very sweet. Tastes sugary and overly appley, and I guessed it was back sweetened with apple juice concentrate. I was right! Further, they actually add pure sugar after fermentation (listed on the ingredient list). I’m surprised the cost of this cider (~$9 for four 11oz bottles) is so much more than its competitors, Angry Orchard, Woodchuck, etc (same price for six 12oz bottles), and that they would actually import this stuff. I imagine real German cider is better (I have one in the cue). I’d put it as better than Angry Orchard & Strongbow but not as good as Woodchuck.

Schilling Cider House – Cider Tasting Notes

July 22, 2015August 22, 2015 cidersays 101 Ciderhouse, Elemental, Finnriver, local, Locust, Moonlight Meadery, Portland Cider, Rev Nat's, review, Schilling, Viuda de Angelon Sidra, Wandering Aengus, Whitewood cider, cider house, cider review, cider tasting, Fremont, hard cider, review, Schilling, Schilling Cider House, seattle

This is Part 2 of a trip report on the Schilling Cider House, covering the 18 ciders I tasted (of the 32 on tap). Pretty impressive, right? See Part 1 here, which covered the Cider House itself. I tried to take a photo of each cider, but some of them didn’t turn out, so I’ve only included photos of some of the ciders with interesting hues. Thankfully though, I took notes! I had two flights of six ciders (3oz) each, and six tastes from our bartender.

Schilling’s Ciders

Chaider, 6.5% ABV, Semi-Sweet:
This is one of their most popular ciders, and is available bottled (22oz) in the winter. It smelled of cinnamon and definitely had a Chai tea-like taste. Definitely not my thing, but it was my husband’s favorite taste of the day.

Chaider (Nitro), 6.5% ABV, Semi-Sweet:
This is the same cider as above except on Nitro, which added some additional smoothness. It was quite foamy from the tap from the nitrogenation, and needed a couple minutes to calm down.

Ginger, 6.5% ABV, Semi-Dry (noted Semi-Sweet):
I’m not a ginger fan, but this was handed to me, so I tried it! It had a much milder initial ginger taste than smell, but had more of a ginger aftertaste. I think Ginger fans would really like this one. Its not too overwhelming with Ginger.

Hopped, 6.5% ABV, Semi-Dry:
Hopped ciders aren’t my thing, but my husband wanted this, and thought it was pretty decent. I had one sip and it is definitely hoppy, but way less than Reverend Nat’s Envy / Hopland #5. Otherwise I can’t really comment on it.

Sriracha Lime, 6.7% ABV, Semi-Dry (noted Dry):
This cider seemed intriguing, I like Sriracha & Lime, and there was some chatter online of folks liking it, so why not? It definitely smelled of Sriracha & Lime, but all I picked up in the taste was the Sriracha (no Lime). Definitely spicy! I don’t think I like spicy ciders. I can tolerate spicy food, but the spiciness seemed to overwhelm the cider here. I think this would have been better to do with a sweet citrus/lime cider with only a hint of Sriracha.

(I’ve also previously tried Schilling Oak Aged, Gold, & Grapefruit)

Other Ciders

101 Ciderhouse Cactus Red, 6.5% ABV, Los Angeles CA, Dry:
I tried this on a whim as it sounded unique/odd. I picked up a citrus scent and it had a lovely pink color, similar to grapefruit juice. It was definitely dry, and very very tart! I unfortunately couldn’t take more than two sips of this one.

Elemental Cherry, 6.5% ABV, Woodinville WA, Semi-Dry:
Pretty rosé color. Smelled like cherries. However, I barely picked up any cherry flavor when tasting it. Folks who like drier ciders but want a fruity cider may like this, as many fruit infused ciders tend to be sweeter.

Finnriver Habenero, 6.9% ABV, Chimacum WA, Semi-Sweet:
Another cider handed to me from the bartender, who was trying it for the first time as they just tapped it. It didn’t smell spicy, but it was! The bite hit my sinuses about 10 seconds after drinking it. Again, the spice was overwhelming. I wasn’t a fan, but my husband didn’t mind it.

Finnriver Lavender Black Currant (Nitro), 6.5% ABV, Chimacum WA, Sweet:
Very dark & vibrant hue. Extra smooth taste (from the nitrogenation). I’ve tried their Black Currant flavor, and I honestly couldn’t pick up the added Lavender in this one. However, my husband did. In addition to the black current, I picked up some cherry notes. This was much better than the bottled Black Currant I had of their’s (which was also quite good). I imagine tap + Nitro did it. Excellent!

Finnriver Oak & Apple, 6.5% ABV, Chimacum WA, Semi-Dry:
The bartender said this was very similar to Schilling’s Oak Aged (which was surprisingly absent from the tap list). I’m a huge fan of barrel aged ciders, so I was anxious to try it. This is a milder barrel aged cider, and quite tasty. I think I give the slight edge to Schilling’s Oak Aged though. And, overall, my favorite barrel aged ciders so far are Woodchuck Winter Chill (which also has some vanilla flavor) and Thistly Cross Whisky Cask (very smooth), both of which are significantly sweeter than Schilling’s & Finnriver’s oak aged selections, but I do enjoy Schilling Oak Aged. Yum!

Locust Sweet & Dark Cherry, 6.5% ABV, Woodinville WA, Semi-Sweet:
For a cherry cider, I was expecting more flavor, but it was quite mild, and there was little cherry scent or flavor. This has a sweeter start and more tart finish. This was pretty similar to the Elemental Cherry (which also had a mild cherry flavor), except a bit sweeter.

Moonlight Meadery How do you Like them Little Apples?, 6.0% ABV, Londonderry NH, Sweet:
Hard cider blended with honey & brown sugar, fermented, then barrel aged (draft only release). Honey smell (duh). Quite sweet. Very smooth. Tastes like it would be a higher ABV than it is (but I wouldn’t call the taste boozy). I wouldn’t have guessed it was barrel aged. Awesome!

Portland Cider Passion Fruit, 6.5% ABV, Portland OR, Semi-Sweet:
I was excited to try this one. The passion fruit smell was amazing! However, the passion fruit taste was quite mild, and it had a bit of a tart & bitter finish, which I wasn’t expecting. It is however a refreshing and easy-drinking cider.

Portland Cider Pearfect Perry, 6.5% ABV, Portland OR, Semi-Dry (noted Semi-Sweet):
This was a very mild Perry; I could barely pick up any pear flavor. It was however pretty tasty and smooth.

Reverend Nat’s Newtown Pippin, 6.9% ABV, Portland OR, Semi-Dry:
One of Rev Nat’s regular release ciders. This was a mild & crisp cider which I found to have a fairly bitter finish. Pretty boring for my tastes.

Viuda de Angelon Sidra Brut, 6.5% ABV, Spain, Dry:
A refreshing & smooth Spanish cider. I can’t really put the flavor into words, but it is one of those ciders which has a flavor profile which seems sweeter than it really is. It was Schilling’s most expensive offering by the way, at $11/pint, but only $2 for a 3oz taste. This makes me want to try more Spanish ciders!

Wandering Aengus Wanderlust, 6.5%, Salem OR, Dry (noted Semi-Dry):
Fairly plain, and I found it tart & bitter. Taste profile was in-line with the two Wandering Aengus and two Anthem (also made by them) ciders I’ve tried. Also fairly boring for my tastes.

Whitewood Summer Switchel, 4.6% ABV, Olympia WA, Semi-Sweet:
This is a mild & refreshing cider with a hint of ginger. The bartender said he picks up almost a salty flavor, which after hearing that, I agreed somewhat.

Photos

101 Ciderhouse Cactus Red

Elemental Cherry

Finnriver Lavender Black Currant

Locust Cherry

Moonlight Meadery How do you like them Little Apples

Closing Notes

My favorites from this tasting were the Moonlight Meadery “How do you Like them Little Apples?”, Finnriver Oak & Apple, Finnriver Lavender Black Currant, and Viuda de Angelon Sidra Brut. Quite an interesting combination, right?

I also learned that in addition to hopped, ginger, and overly dry ciders, I definitely don’t like spicy ciders!

I look forward to returning to the Schilling Cider House to try more ciders, as their selections change all the time. Stay tuned for reviews of the five ciders I picked up from their bottle shop (shown in Part 1).

Cider Says Weekly Preview

July 19, 2015July 25, 2015 cidersays preview blog, cider, cider review, cider tasting, eaglemount, hard cider, Schilling, washington

What posts to expect in the upcoming week at Cider Says:

Schilling Cider House Trip Report
Schilling Cider House – Cider Tasting Notes
Spotlight on Washington Cideries
~~Eaglemount Quince cider review~~
added: Do You Know How Many Cider Bars there are in the U.S.?
added: Countdown to Cider Summit Seattle!
added: Sea Cider Prohibition / Rumrunner review

Stay tuned, and remember to follow us on Facebook or e-mail (sidebar on right, or at bottom of page on mobile devices) or follow on WordPress (top left bar) to be notified of new posts here at Cider Says. Have a great week!

Liberty Ciderworks Manchurian Crabapple Single Varietal

July 18, 2015July 20, 2015 cidersays Liberty, review apple cider, cider, cider review, crabapple, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, liberty, Manchurian Crabapple, port, review, single varietal, Spokane

Review of Manchurian Crabapple Single Varietal by Liberty Ciderworks. This is my first time trying any of their ciders, and is my first time trying a Single Varietal cider as far as I know (most ciders use a blend of apple varieties).

Cider: Manchurian Crabapple Single Varietal
Cidery: Liberty Ciderworks
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 12.5%
How Supplied: 375 ml tall clear glass bottle
Availability: Fairly limited. Per the cidery they currently self-distribute to Spokane and Seattle. In Seattle, they can at least be found at Capitol Cider, Schilling Cider House, Full Throttle Bottles & Special Brews & other bottle shops which specialize in local craft cider, and Total Wine.

Cider Description on Bottle: No larger than a cherry, the Manchurian Crabapple packs a huge flavor punch. Ready for one of the most full-bodied, intensely-flavored ciders you’ll ever encounter? This semi-sweet, single-varietal cider is for you. Enjoy on its own as a digestif, with soft artisan cheeses, or with rich, creamy desserts. Still (non-carbonated).

Additional Information from Rick Hastings, co-founder of Liberty Ciderworks (per my e-mail request): Thanks for your interest in the Manchurian! It’s certainly a unique cider (none others that I’m aware of, presently) and has been very poplar in our tasting room in downtown Spokane. It’s certainly an assertive cider that showcases bright acidity and strong tannins – so much so that in describing it to first-time customers, I’ve taken to calling it a “cider port”, even though it’s not fortified with spirits like true Port is. It’s simply the juice of manchurian crabapples, fermented until the yeast we selected gave up at the 12.5% ABV mark. The juice had potential to hit 14% ABV – certainly the highest sugar content in any apple I’ve ever heard of or used. We age the finished cider around nine months, though not in oak (we’re experimenting with that approach now)….I’ve attached an image of the apples below (at right). As you might imagine, harvesting these tiny apples and sorting them into usable juice takes a LOT of work….Here’s hoping you enjoy it. Some sip it by itself as an aperitif, but I’d suggest you try it with a quality goat cheese, cheesecake dessert or creme brûlée – imagine there’s a world of other options, too. I hear Capitol Cider is using it in a mixed drink or two, as well.

Photo of the crabapples they use:

Rick also sent a great link to a blog article on the labels for this cider, from Advanced Labels Northwest (Seattle area) which has some great photos and cidery & cider info in addition to label/packaging info.

Cidery Description: Liberty Ciderworks (founded 2012) is in Spokane WA, where they also have a tasting room. Their website was surprisingly sparse besides the basics, but they are active on Facebook & Twitter. Facebook lists the following Liberty Ciderworks varieties as available by the bottle: English Style, New World Style, Turncoat Dry-Hop, Stonewall, Heirloom Series, McIntosh Single Varietal, Manchurian Single Varietal, Kingston Black Single Varietal, and Reserve Series. There are more varieties available on tap at their tasting room. They won several awards at this year’s GLINTCAP competition, including a Silver medal for this cider. Congrats!

Price: $14
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown (Seattle), who has a huge local craft cider selection
How Found: Browsing. I’ve had my eye on Liberty Ciderworks though, deciding which one to try first (I was lucky enough to have a few options…New World & English style at Total Wine, and a few at Full Throttle Bottles including this and one other Single Varietal). I chose this one as it looked to be their sweetest offering and I find the high ABV / port or dessert style ciders interesting. Oddly enough I like strong flavors and barrel aged ciders even though I don’t like aged spirits!

Where Drank: home

First Impression: Corked bottle (with attached cap for easy re-capping) with foil covering. Lovely bottle/label too! Amber orange hue, completely still, sweet inviting boozy smell.

Opinion: I find this on the sweeter side of semi-dry than semi-sweet. It definitely has some warmth, and reminds me of similar high ABV bold ciders I’ve liked such as Alpenfire Smoke, 2 Towns the Bad Apple, Sea Cider Prohibition, and especially, Tieton Wind (which is a 16% ABV Pommeau with apple brandy). I pick up some mild vanilla & caramel notes and find it rich & earthy with a bit of a bitter finish. Although I haven’t tried any other single varietals to compare with, I find this cider incredibly complex for one apple variety and no additives. It seems like it has some hints of apple brandy (but it doesn’t). To me it has an interesting thick mouthfeel which sticks around for awhile, which from my experience with the above mentioned ciders seems to occur with these high ABV ciders.

This cider definitely won’t be for everyone…oddly enough my husband thought it smelled “off” and tasted “terrible”, but he hasn’t enjoyed similar ciders like I have. I quite like this cider though! Its very different than what most folks would think of when they think of cider. I go for these sorts of ciders though, when I’m in the right mood. I agree it has an intense flavor. Its also impressive they didn’t need to add any sugar to get the crabapple juice to ferment to that high of an ABV; those are definitely some powerful apples!

I didn’t however completely take Liberty’s suggestion of having this more as a dessert cider, nor did I have any goat cheese, cheesecake, or creme brulee in the house (I wish!). I’d like to try pairings in the future so I’ll have to plan ahead better next time. I opened the bottle before dinner and sipped on it throughout the evening, which also did include dessert (meringues, which worked pretty well). I did this mostly as I wanted to at least try to finish the bottle as I wasn’t sure how it would taste on Day 2 or 3 (as I am drinking it all myself). I’ve found the taste of a cider changes as it is open, no matter how well you re-seal it (typically it becomes less intense). Even then, I couldn’t quite finish it off, so I will have a nice small serving later in the weekend.
Update: On Day 2 the flavor had changed slightly, a bit less bold and a bit more bitter.

Closing Notes: I enjoyed this cider. I imagine if my cider palate was more refined I could offer more descriptors and pairing suggestions, but I can overall say I’m glad I tried it and would recommend it if you think this sort of unique bold strong cider would fit your tastes. I hope Liberty Ciderworks can continue to expand so more folks can try their ciders! I imagine down the road I will try more of their ciders (I’m trying to teach myself to enjoy drier ciders). And, a big big thank you to co-founder Rick Hastings (the other co-founder is Austin Dickey) for the extra info. I think it was a great addition to this review. To be able to speak to a cidery founder for more detailed information is definitely an advantage of small craft cideries.

Have you tried anything from Liberty Ciderworks, or any single varietal or high ABV ciders? What did you think?

Anthem Cider

July 9, 2015August 22, 2015 cidersays Anthem, review anthem, Anthem Cider, apple, apple cider, cider, cider review, craft cider, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, review, Wandering Aengus

Here is a review of Anthem’s flagship / original hard apple cider:

Cider: Anthem Cider
Cidery: Anthem (by Wandering Aengus Ciderworks)
Cidery Location: Salem, OR
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 12 oz bottles (or a single 22oz bottle, or apparently just recently a six pack of 12 oz cans)
Availability: year round (since 2010); widely available in OR, WA, & CA, and less so in ID, MT, MI, UT, IL, NM, NJ, TX, ID, TN, PA, VA, & WA D.C.

Description: Anthem Cider offers the tart acidity of the apple’s natural malic acid with a clean fruit forward finish. Anthem Cider is the foundation for all the Anthems. Semi-Dry. Medium Tart. We only use fresh pressed apples and other fruits, herbs sourced from the Pacific Northwest of known varieties – they are listed on every bottle and keg. To make great real cider, the varieties of apples, fruit additions and herbs matter. As does where the ingredients are grown and how far removed they are from their original form (degrees separated through processing from the farm to the bottle). The fresh pressed apples we use provide all the sugars for fermentation and the malic acid (source of the tartness). Any and all residual sweetness in Anthem is provided by the apples we started with or the fruits we finish with. The result is a line up of real ciders made the way you expect; apples pressed and fermented.
Cidermaker’s Description of Anthem vs. Wandering Aengus: Wandering Aengus Ciders are made from heirloom cider apple varieties that have traditionally been used over the centuries for ciders in French, England and pre-prohibition America. We grow these rare heirloom apples ourselves in Salem and have a handful of growers around Oregon that grow for us. These heirloom apples are pressed only once a year. The apples for Anthem are pressed and fermented year round from the common apple varieties that are grown on a large scale in Washington and Oregon. Anthem Cider is also finished with fresh pressed juices of other fruits or hops while Wandering Aengus Ciders are not blended with other fruits.

Price: $8.99 / four pack (although I bought a single bottle for about $3)
Where Bought: Total Wine
How Found: Browsing, wondering why I hadn’t tried this previously
Where Drank: home

Opinion: My first impression is this cider’s dry plain apple scent. My nose did not deceive me this time. Anthem Cider is described as a semi-dry cider, and I would mostly agree…I’d put it smack between semi-dry and semi-sweet, which may appear to a lot of folks as there isn’t much available in this sweetness range. The flavor was a bit “blah” for my tastes…it doesn’t have much complexity going for it. Even if it has been slightly sweeter (as my tastes tend that way), I still don’t think I would have been impressed. The most similar cider I’ve sampled is Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet, which has a similar sweetness and flavor. However, I think I’d have to give Seattle Cider the edge in the comparison, as it is a bit more clean & refreshing. I remember having the Seattle Cider on tap with some fish & chips awhile back and it was tasty, but drier and more plain of a flavor than I prefer. Overall, I found Anthem Cider to be fine, but not impressive.

Closing Notes: Anthem also offers pear, cherry, and hops varieties. I was surprised to find that most Anthem Cider reviews online are of their Hops variety. Note that each Anthem batch is slightly different based on what apple varieties they used (based on availability due to the time of the year), and their website will even tell you what is in a certain batch. I sampled batch 127, which was a blend of red delicious, gala, granny smith, pink lady, jonagold, & opal apples. Their approach seems unique, as most other cideries will name a cider different if there is a significant variation such as this (or clearly note a vintage).

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

Atlas Hard Apple Cider

July 7, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays Avid (prev. Atlas), review apple, apple cider, atlas, cider, cider review, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, oregon, review

Here is the first cider I have tried from Atlas Cider Co,, their flagship hard apple cider:

Cider: Hard Apple Cider
Cidery: Atlas Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Bend, OR
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: clear 22oz glass bottle
Availability: year round, but it appears to only be distributed in OR, WA, & ID

Description: Our flagship apple cider is a celebration of the Northwest. The fruit forward apple aroma and taste come from a tailored blend that perfectly balances the sweetness, tartness, and dryness of the fruit. A clean finish from the use of all fresh regional juices reminds us that this is an authentic hard cider. Enjoy this natural, semi-sweet, and bold cider from Bend, Oregon that simply brings out the best of the Northwest.

Price: $6.50
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown (Seattle)
How Found: Browsing
Where Drank: home

Opinion: My first impression is the dry smell. It is pale and bubbles very little upon pouring. Upon tasting, the flavor reminds me of sweet sparkling wine, with a hint of pear & honey. There is an effervescence feel, although it is not highly sparkling. I was surprised how well my nose deceived me into thinking it would be dry, but it is not; I would call it semi-sweet. This cider is very smooth and well balanced. I would not however describe the flavor as simple, which can often happen with plain ciders. This cider is easy to drink and tasty. I snacked on some cheese & crackers while drinking it, which was a nice combination. This is a refreshing cider for any time of year, but for summer especially it is nice.

Atlas was started in 2013 by a husband & wife duo. They also offer Pomegranate-Cherry, Apricot, and Blackberry varieties.

Have you tried any ciders from Atlas? What did you think?

Reverend Nat’s Revival

July 5, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays Rev Nat's, review apple, apple cider, cider, cider review, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, oregon, portland, reverend nat's, review, Revival, tropical

Here is a review of Reverend Nat’s Revival cider, which is one of my favorites:

Cider: Revival
Cidery: Reverend Nat’s
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6%
How Supplied: 500ml clear glass bottle
Availability: year round, available in OR, WA, CA, ID, and B.C. (released Dec 2014)

Description: My newest release is Revival and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you. I start with a secret blend of Washington-grown apples and add piloncillo, dark brown evaporated cane juice, purchased direct from Michoacan, Mexico. I ferment this dark base to all the way to dry using two exotic yeast strains: a beer yeast known for the round mouthfeel in Saisons and a rarely-used secret culture which produces aromas of pineapple, guava and peaches. This cider is brilliantly golden in color and deeply complex while remaining subtly familiar, with just the right amount of sweetness and acidity to be an everyday beverage.

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland, Total Wine
How Found: Browsing
Where Drank: home (I’ve also had it on tap at Tavern Hall in Bellevue)

Opinion: This is an awesome semi-sweet cider with a unique tropical fruit aroma & flavor. Surprisingly the tropical aspect is all from the apples (dessert, not cider apples) & yeast, nothing else was added. I find this more semi-sweet than semi-dry, although apparently that is a suggestion from the tropical flavor, or as Nat West (Rev Nat’s founder) said, “It gives a perception of sweetness, while maintaining an semi-dry character and rich complexity”. Revival also has a wonderful deep hue from the piloncillo. If you are lucky enough to find this flavor on tap, give it a try, as it is even better than bottled!

Note there is a Rev Nat’s variety called “Revival Dry”, which is different than this one. I’ve also tried Rev Nat’s Tepache, which is a very unique beverage made from fermented pineapple and spices. I look forward to trying more Rev Nat’s cider, once I find one that interests me, as so far near me I’ve seen varieties with spices, hops, and ginger, none of which interest me. Rev Nat’s taproom also sounds like a fun place to visit, and they have had all sorts of events & special releases, so its on my short list. A unique cider from a unique cidery. Highly recommended!

Have you tried Rev Nat’s Revival? What did you think?

Ace Pineapple

July 2, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays Ace, review Ace, apple, apple cider, california, cider, cider review, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, pineapple, review, tropical

This is a tropical pineapple flavored cider.

Cider: Pineapple
Cidery: Ace
Cidery Location: Sebastopol, CA
ABV: 5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Availability: wide release, year round

Description on Bottle: Another first for ACE, our ACE PINEAPPLE cider nobody has done one before. We marry pineapple and apple juice to make a thirst quencher cider that’s deliciously refreshing anytime of the year!

Price: $8.99 / six pack
Where Bought: Whole Foods, Total Wine
How Found: Browsing
Where Drank: home

Opinion: If you like pineapple, this cider is for you! Its the only pineapple cider I’ve seen. It is quite sweet though, and tastes obviously back sweetened (juice added after fermentation). It tastes a bit too much like juice to me, although many folks may like that. I’m surprised how low calorie it is for how sweet it is (175, where most sweet ciders top 200). Refreshing and simple. I do love pineapple though. Ace offers a number of other ciders, from their dry Joker to a similar cider to the Pineapple one, except Berry, to their 21st anniversary Chardonnay barrel aged Blackjack 21 cider, and even a Pumpkin variety. Overall I don’t find their ciders too impressive though (this is my favorite by far). If you like sweet ciders and pineapple, you may like this cider.

Have you tried Ace Pineapple? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry, Elderflower, Summer Honey, Iceman, & The Muse

July 1, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, apple, apple cider, cider, cider review, Crisp Apple, Elderflower, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, Iceman, review, Summer Honey, The Muse, Traditional Dry

This is a mini review of the Angry Orchard ciders I’ve tried. To be honest, I’m not a big of a fan of Angry Orchard…I much prefer Woodchuck in general. Unfortunately, Angry Orchard is all there is to be had at many restaurants & bars, and is what you see at just about every grocery & liquor store. As of last year, Angry Orchard had a 56.8% market share in the hard cider category (compared to 10.5% for Woodchuck, the second most popular brand), despite only being released nationwide in 2012. Before Angry Orchard, Woodchuck was the market leader.

Crisp Apple: This is their most popular variety, and found everywhere. It is quite sweet…I think moreso than Woodchuck Amber. The flavor to me is a bit syrupy and fake tasting. I won’t drink it unless its free!

Traditional Dry: I like this variety much better then Crisp Apple, and still wouldn’t call it dry, or even semi-sweet. Without so much sweetness a bit more true apple flavor comes through. Unfortunately this one isn’t found in restaurants & bars like Crisp Apple is.

Elderflower: This was their summer release in 2014 (this year it is Summer Honey). It was actually quite good & unique. I would almost call this dry, but not quite. It has an herbal/floral flavor. Woodchuck Oopsy Daisy is the most similar, which I think I slightly prefer.

Summer Honey: This is their summer release this year. I wasn’t a fan. Again, the syrupy flavor, except this time, honey. I didn’t pick up any floral notes as were described. Its not quite as sweet as their Crisp Apple though. Thankfully I only bought a single bottle.

Iceman: This is part of their Cider House Collection, and runs around $15 for a large 750ml bottle, 10% ABV. It is a barrel aged ice cider (made from fermenting frozen apple juice concentrate). I think even for ice cider it is a bit too sweet, a small glass after dinner is pretty tasty. The flavor is quite good, with a mellow oakiness and some vanilla. The bottle is also quite pretty (hey, that is what people notice!). However, I think consumers can do better for the price, as there are a number of good craft ciders available for less money. For folks who don’t have much craft cider availability in their area, and want to try something different, this could be a good choice though.

The Muse: This is part of their Cider House Collection, and runs around $15 for a large 750ml bottle, 7.7% ABV. It is reminiscent of sweet sparking wine (highly carbonated). Again, very sweet, but not quite as much as Iceman. It is also barrel aged, but I don’t really taste it. Apparently it has spices in it, but I also don’t pick that up. I like it though, even if I can’t really identify the flavors. As my cider palate has matured to like slightly less sweet ciders, I prefer this slightly more than Iceman for some reason (maybe the bubbles?). Again though, I think better can be had for the money…plus I prefer to support local cideries instead of Angry Orchard wherever possible, which is owned by the Boston Beer Company.

Angry Orchard’s other varieties (which I haven’t tried):

Apple Ginger (regular release; here is a review from Fermentedly Challenged)
Green Apple (regular release; here is a review from Drink Hacker)
Cinnfull Apple (cinnamon spiced cider available August-March; here is a review from Through the Drinking Glass)
Hop’n Mad Apple (hopped; regular release; their newest cider besides Summer Honey; here is a review from Along Came a Cider)
Strawman (Cider House Collection; runs around $15 for 750ml and 10% ABV; a dry barrel aged Farmhouse-style cider; here is a review from Cider Sage and here is a review from Bad Rider Reviews)

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