My Favorite Ciders of 2016

December 30, 2016February 3, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, AEppelTreow, Alpenfire, Angry Orchard, Aspall, Bertolinos, Celt, Christian Drouin, Cidergeist, Cidrerie du Vulcain, Dan Armor, Doc's, Dunkertons, Dupont, E.Z. Orchards, Eden, EZ Orchards, Farnum Hill, favorite ciders, Gowans, Honeywood, Jester & Judge, Longdrop, One Tree, Rev Nat's, review, Schilling, Sea Cider, Sheppy's, Thatchers, Wandering Aengus 2016, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

What an awesome year 2016 was in the cider world! Cider Says has now been up for a year and a half. Like other cider bloggers, I thought it would be fun to make a list of my favorite ciders of 2016. See here for my list from 2015. To make it a bit different and easier, I put them into categories instead of trying to do a top ten list or similar.

Note that I wouldn’t try to make a list of the best ciders, just those I enjoyed, as it would be an impossible task to try every cider out there and be impartial. My only criteria for this list is that I drank the cider in 2016.

Multi pack: Reverend Nat’s Revival – This one is complex for being made from dessert apples, with lots of unique flavor just from the yeast varieties used. Celt – I always keep this easy drinking apple & yeast forward French cider in the house as its convenient & affordable. Thatchers Green Goblin – For how commercial it is, I ended up really enjoying this sweeter simple English cider.

Canned: One Tree Crisp Apple – I don’t usually go for plain flagship ciders, but this one had some nice unfiltered apple juice flavor without being over the top sweet. Cidergeist Semi Dry – This reminded me of French cider; too bad it isn’t available locally. Long Drop Vanilla Honey – Awesome honeycomb flavor.

French: Dan Armor Cuvée Spéciale Cidre Brut – A $5 selection from Trader Joe’s which doesn’t disappoint and has some great apple forward sparkling goodness. Christian Drouin Pays d’ Auge – I loved the bittersweet apple flavor, and that the funk remained mild.

English: Aspall Imperial – Rich flavor, high ABV, and a low price tag. Dunkertons Dry (awesomely tannic) and Black Fox (nice fruity twist on an English cider), which I hope to find locally now that they are distributed in the U.S.

Italian: Bertolinos – My first Italian cider, which I found to be simple but tasty, and budget friendly too.

Swiss: Cidrerie du Vulcain Transparente – My first Swiss cider, which reminded me of French cider, in between the typical Brittany & Normandy styles.

Canadian: Sea Cider Ruby Rose – This fruity high ABV cider is made with rhubarb and rose hips, making it a unique summer sipper.

Fruity: Doc’s Draft Sour Cherry – A cherry cider is difficult to pull off without tasting medicinal, but the flavor is spot-on with this one. Jester & Judge Pineapple Express – Although simple, this cider has some awesome pineapple flavor, a nice frothy texture, and a hint of lime.

Rosé: Eden Imperial 11 Rosé – This drier cider with red currant is high ABV and amazingly fruity. Alpenfire Glow – This sweeter cider is made from rare red fleshed apples and also amazingly fruity, with a high flavor intensity.

Limited Release: Angry Orchard & Eden collaboration, Understood in Motion: 01 – This cider is only available at Angry Orchard’s Walden NY cider house, and was made from Vermont heirloom apples, barrel aged, and mixed with some ice cider; awesome!

Hopped: 2 Towns Hop & Stalk – I wouldn’t call myself a fan of either rhubarb or hops, but for whatever reason I really enjoyed this cider; the flavors really complimented each other and created a unique and surprisingly complex cider (I’m also a sucker for Imperial / high ABV ciders).

High ABV: Alpenfire Smoke – This 16% ABV sipping cider has an amazing complexity, with rich oaky smokey flavor. If I had to name just one favorite cider, this would probably be it, although its not an everyday sort of cider. I hope it gets released again soon, as I’m down to only one bottle!

Oaked: Sheppy’s Oak Matured – I love the strong oak flavor in this cider; as a bonus, it is budget friendly too.

Barrel Aged: Reverend Nat’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant – This was my favorite cider from Cider Summit Seattle 2016, with awesome berry, oak, and whiskey flavor.

Sparkling: AEppelTreow Appely Doux – This methode champenoise cider has a wonderful texture & flavor, and would be a great champagne alternative.

Perry: EZ Orchards Poire – I’m not a huge Perry fan, but those I do like tend towards the French Poire style; this one has a creamy texture and complex fruitiness.

Pommeau: Etienne Dupont Pommeau – This is their Cidre Bouche aged in Calvados barrels with Calvados added, and is flavorful, rich, and complex. Wandering Aengus Pommeau – Milder in flavor than some other Pommeaus, but still rich and complex.

Ice Cider: Eden Heirloom Blend Apple Brandy Barrel Aged – I’ve enjoyed all of Eden’s ice ciders, but this is my favorite, as it had the added depth from barrel aging in addition to all the rich complexity of their typical ice cider.

Great Value: Schilling King’s Shilling – I’ve picked up a 22oz bottle of this for as low as $4 (and as high as $7), which is a steal for a tasty barrel aged brandy infused cider.

Wine-like: Honeywood Winery Hard Apple Cider – Quite different than I was expecting, but I liked it; this one reminded me of dessert wine with the white grape notes, higher ABV, and sweetness.

Draft-only: Wandering Aengus Bittersweet – An amazingly rich and tannic cider made from bittersweet apple juice from Poverty Lane Orchards (Farnum Hill); wild fermented but it wasn’t funky.

Unexpected: Gowans 1876 Heirloom – This cider almost seemed to good to be true, as it was so full flavored and apple forward.

Well, there you have it, a list of 32 of my favorite ciders from 2016. They have a lot in common–most are rich and full-flavored. Still, it seems like so many great ciders didn’t make the cut, which is unfortunate.

What are your favorite ciders?

Burrow Hill Medium Dry Cider

December 28, 2016December 30, 2016 cidersays Burrow Hill, review Burrow Hill, cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Somerset, tasting notes

Review of Burrow Hill’s Medium Dry Cider, from Somerset England. It is my first time trying this cider, although I’m a fan of English cider.

Cider: Medium Dry Cider
Cidery: Burrow Hill
Cidery Location: Somerset England
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apples

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: A blend of at least 11 varieties of vintage apples “the cider-maker’s craft at its best”. Medium Dry.

Update – The cidery informed me (based on the label style) that this bottle is at least four years old.

Cidery Description: The ancient craft of blending vintage Somerset cider apples to produce fine ciders has been handed down through generations. In our orchards we grow 40 varieties on more than 7,000 apple trees. In the autumn the fruit s harvested, blended, and pressed. The juice is then fermented and matured in oak vats. At Burrow Hill we sell traditional prize winning ciders direct from wooden barrels.

Price: $8.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This is the only English cider brand that gets distributed here that I haven’t tried.

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of cider apples, tannins, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. No tartness. Low acidity. Moderate tannins. Low bitterness. No sourness. A hint of funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apples, apple pomace, caramel, brown sugar, leather, and orange. Long tannic finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. It was well balanced, although slightly commercial tasting and a bit on the watery side (although plenty tannic). Its not one of my favorite English ciders though, which would be Aspall Imperial, Sheppy’s Oak Matured, and Dunkertons Dry & Black Fox.

Most Similar to: I found this very very similar to Ross on Wye Medium Dry Lightly Carbonated Cider.

Closing Notes: I’ll have to see what else I can find from this cidery.

Have you tried Burrow Hill cider? What did you think?

Longueville House Cider

December 26, 2016December 22, 2016 cidersays Longueville, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cork, hard cider, ireland, irish cider, Longueville, tasting notes

Review of Longueville House cider, from Cork Ireland. Its my first time trying anything from this cidery, although I’ve tried two other Irish ciders, Cragie’s Ballyhook Flier and Dan Kelly’s Irish Cider.

Cider: Cider (flagship)
Cidery: Longueville House
Cidery Location: Cork Ireland
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Irish craft cider from cider apples

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Longueville House Cider is a medium dry artisan cider made on our 500 acre farm in the Blackwater Valley, Co. Cork. Longueville House (ca 1720) has been owned by the O’Callaghan family since the 10th century except for the 200 years when they were driven to “Hell or to Connaught” by Oliver Cromwell. Our 100% natural cider is hand-made from Dabinett and Michelin apples and contains no artificial sweeteners, additives, colourings, or preservatives. In Autumn we crush and press our apples on the farm within hours of harvesting. The apple juice is then naturally fermented for four months by the action of a unique natural yeast and sugar. The result is a medium dry cider, rich in amber colour. It is best drunk well chilled with no ice and is an ideal accompaniment to fish and meat.

Cidery Description: Longueville House Cider was first developed by the late Michael O’Callaghan back in 2000 as a means to an end in making his Apple Brandy. A pioneering spirit he planted 25 acres of Dabinett and Michelin cider apples at the north-west side of the property based in the heart of The Blackwater Valley. The apples are harvested in the autumn every year. Once picked the apples are crushed and pressed in an oak cider press machine located in the cider house on our farm. The pressed juice is naturally fermented over time incorporating natural sugars in the juice and natural yeast on apples and in the atmosphere, resulting in a rich amber coloured cider. The cider is then filtered, carbonated and pasteurised.

Price: $9.99
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of cider apple juice, yeast, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness, acidity, funk, and tannins. Hints of bitterness and sourness. Notes of tannic rich cider apples, barnyard, brown sugar, orange, leather, yeast, and honey. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked this cider. I could have done without the funk, but it had some nice flavor from the cider apples.

Most Similar to: Cider from Normandy France such as Christian Drouin Pays d’ Auge, due to the richness, flavor notes, and funk.

Closing Notes: This is the only variety from this cidery I’ve seen locally. However, I have another variety from Cragie’s to try (which is another Irish cidery).

Have you tried Longueville House Cider? What did you think?

Loic Raison Brut

December 23, 2016December 23, 2016 cidersays Loic Raison, review Brittany, Brut, cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Loic Raison, tasting notes

Review of Loic Raison 1923 Brut, a French cidre. Its my first time trying this one, although I’ve tried a number of other French ciders.

Cider: Brut
Cidery: Loic Raison
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: French cidre

Availability: wide release

Description: I couldn’t find one. Note that Brut simply means dry (although at 5 grams of sugar per 8oz this isn’t completely dry).

Price: $10.49
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. This is one of the major French cidre brands and commonly available in the U.S.

First Impression: Deep orange amber. Very low carbonation. Smells of bittersweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Simple flavor notes, just apple juice and yeast. Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was nice and definitely easy to drink, but it tasted flat (like it used to have higher carbonation) and overly juice-like. I’d rather pay half as much and pick up some Dan Armor at Trader Joe’s, or better yet, as it is in single serve bottles, Celt.

Most Similar to: Dan Armor and Celt, which are also both Brittany France cidre varieties. They have a very similar flavor profile to Loic Raison, but a higher carbonation and lower cost.

Closing Notes: I’m a fan of Brittany more than Normandy France cidres, Brittany cidres are typically apple & yeast forward, clean (no funk or sourness), and have a higher carbonation level.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

D’s Wicked Baked Apple

December 21, 2016December 18, 2016 cidersays D's Wicked, review baked apple, cider, cider review, cider tasting, D's Wicked, hard cider, Kennewick, tasting notes, washington

Review of D’s Wicked flagship Baked Apple cider. I’ve tried this before, but only on draft. I’ve also tried their Chanilla and Cranny Granny.

Cider: Baked Apple
Cidery: D’s Wicked
Cidery Location: Kennewick WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and bottles & draft)
Style: American craft unfiltered spiced cider

Availability: Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Reno Nevada, New Jersey, and New York (per this page).

Cider Description: d’s Wicked Baked Apple™ is a premium, artisanal, hand crafted cider made with natural flavors and the freshest Washington State grown apples. Off-dry with a hint of spice, Baked Apple™ hosts the flavors of Red Delicious and Honey Crisp apples, finishing with a perfect touch of allspice and cinnamon. Just like the apple pie Grandma made, only WICKED!

Cidery Description: We started brewing cider because we love great ciders! Try the wicked delicious flavors that inspired us…wicked good ciders…wicked good times! Using the very best apples from Washington State, we let the unique character of each apple variety guide our crafting, resulting in our sinfully delicious varietals. d’s ciders are crisp with the freshness of just picked apples, not too sweet, not too tart, just playful layers of flavor that are just plain WICKED GOOD. d’s ciders are naturally gluten free, rough filtered to maintain the richest apple flavor, contain no colorants, and use natural ingredients.

Note – cider is fermented like wine – not brewed like beer (no heat involved).

Price: ~$2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Hazy dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of baked apples and cinnamon.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium to full bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of baked apple, apple skin/pomace, cinnamon, and a hint of citrus. Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low spice level.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty average. Its a dessert cider for me as I found it quite sweet (12oz was more than enough). I can see why it is appealing, but its not a favorite type of mine.

Most Similar to: Downeast Original Blend and One Tree Crisp Apple, as they have the unfiltered slightly spiced flavor, although both are drier.

Closing Notes: This definitely isn’t off-dry as described, but it is a very popular cider, probably because it is sweet. People often say their want a drier cider, but sweet sells.

Have you tried D’s Wicked cider? What did you think?

Tilted Shed Barred Rock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thatchers Green Goblin

December 16, 2016December 17, 2016 cidersays Thatchers cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, Green Goblin, hard cider, tasting notes, Thatchers

Review of Thatchers Green Goblin. I’ve tried this before, but pre-blog. I’ve also tried their Gold variety.

Cider: Green Goblin
Cidery: Thatchers
Cidery Location: Somerset England
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 11.2oz bottles
Style: commercial English cider from bittersweet apples, oak aged

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Green Goblin looks after our orchards day and night. His love for bittersweet apples and mischievous character makes this cider distinctively different.

Green Goblin is a full flavoured cider, crafted from a blend of bittersweet apples such as Dabinett and Somerset Redstreak. This is a beautifully balanced cider, with a medium dry finish and fresh character. Rich and golden in appearance with an aroma that’s appley through and through and a finely balanced, full flavour.

Cidery Description: Thatchers Cider is a fourth-generation cidermaker based at Myrtle Farm, in Sandford, Somerset, England. Thatchers Cider has grown from a local farmhouse producer, to a family-led company that has developed substantially over recent years, but maintains a fundamental ethos that has its roots in heritage, family values, a sustainable future, craft and expertise, and a passion for quality. Thatchers Gold is the firm’s flagship brand and is the number two best-selling draught cider in the UK. Thatchers Cider employs 120 people and its ciders are now in demand in more than 22 countries worldwide.

Price: ~$2.50 / single bottle (runs $7.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Medium amber, a sort of weird looking hue for cider (almost like they added caramel color, although it wasn’t listed). Still (no carbonation). I really couldn’t detect much of a scent.

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

My Opinion: This is a nice easy to drink English cider. However, its definitely on the commercial end, not craft.

Most Similar to: I enjoyed this much better than their Gold cider. It doesn’t really compare to most other English ciders I’ve had such as from Aspall, Sheppy’s, Dunkertons, or Hogan’s, but those also cost much more. So, its probably most similar to Crispin Brown’s Lane.

Closing Notes: For this price, I’m game to buy it again. I actually enjoyed it more than most American multi pack ciders.

Have you tried Thatchers Green Goblin? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Company Addison

December 14, 2016April 8, 2017 cidersays Vermont Cider Co. Addison, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Addison. This and Wassail are their first two releases, described as “ultra-premium”. Vermont Cider Company is part of Vermont Hard Cider (along with Woodchuck, Magner’s, Wyder’s, Hornsby’s, and Blackthorn).

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

Cider: Addison
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped) or four pack of 16oz cans
Style: commercial cider from American dessert apples

Availability: Year round, only available in the Northeastern U.S., released December 2016 in bottles, and March 2017 in cans

Cider Description: Named for Addison County, where it is produced, Addison is crafted from 100 percent fresh pressed juice sourced only from Vermont and Northeastern orchards. “Addison is a semi-dry cider, but it is so much more,” said Bridget Blacklock, Vermont Cider Co. Director of Marketing. “It’s where we are from. Addison is Vermont. It’s where we craft what we believe is the finest cider in the world.” “For this flagship cider, we used premium yeasts and longer, cooler fermentations to capture and promote the delicate fresh apple flavors, with no added sugar,” said Ben E. Calvi, Director of Cider Making. “Addison is the ideal cider for consumers seeking drier options with strong, authentic roots.”

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

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / six pack of bottles or four pack of cans)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard about it online and requested samples.

First Impression: Still. Medium straw yellow hue. Smells syrupy, of apple, fruity, and a hint of vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied, slightly candied / syruppy. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple, pineapple, white grape, and honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. It is a seriously solid flagship cider selection. Definitely more on the commercial end, but Addison is also at the same price point as their more commercial Woodchuck ciders. I enjoyed the body and flavor of this, without too much acidity or sweetness. More often I’ve seen flavor notes like these in a drier and more acidic cider. It definitely has a flavor I have come to associate with Woodchuck cider though, more than the Wassail.

Most Similar to: Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider, which had a similar level of sweetness, body / syrupiness, and flavor notes.

Closing Notes: For the same price, I’d definitely drink this over many of the Woodchuck ciders. Its tasty and easy to drink.

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

Vermont Cider Company Wassail

December 12, 2016December 9, 2016 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company, Wassail, Woodchuck

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Wassail. This and Addison are their first two releases, described as “ultra-premium”. Vermont Cider Company is part of Vermont Hard Cider (along with Woodchuck, Magner’s, Wyder’s, Hornsby’s, and Blackthorn).

Cider: Wassail
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped)
Style: commercial cider from American dessert apples with mulling spices, rum barrel aged (note that I personally classify this as commercial not craft as it is made by a large company, the first ingredient is “hard cider” not apple juice, and they added apple extract for color)

Availability: This is a limited edition cider, only available in the Northeastern U.S., released December 2016

Cider Description: Wassail is inspired by the age-old tradition of celebrating with the orchards to ensure a good crop. Wassail begins with small batch hard cider infused with traditional mulling spices, including vanilla bean, ginger and cinnamon. The cider is then aged in rum barrels to produce a unique, rich cider that is ideal for the holidays. Like Addison, Wassail is made only from 100 percent fresh pressed Vermont and Northeastern apples.

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

<No, this color isn’t only from the barrel aging – they added “apple extract” for coloring.>

First Impression: Still (no carbonation). Caramel amber hue. Smells of sugar, spices, rum, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of brown sugar, burnt caramel, cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, and vanilla. Moderate length finish. Moderate spice. Moderate rum flavor. Low oak flavor. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability. Mild complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. My favorite component was the rum flavor. I’m usually not too into spiced ciders, but I don’t dislike them. I could have done without the ginger here (I really dislike the stuff, although here it was very very mild) and had the mulling spices toned down a bit (although I wouldn’t say it was overpowering). One of the spice additions was Cardamon, but I picked it up as allspice and cloves, which are more recognizable. Overall it still tasted a bit commercial though, more like something Crispin would make as a special release, but its a good value for the price point (ie. I wasn’t expecting a cider on par one to I would pay $20 / 750ml for). I think the mulling spices and rum barrel aging paired well together.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of spiced ciders (such as Sea Cider Wassail, 2 Towns Nice & Naughty, Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple, Tieton Spice Route, Reverend Nat’s Winter Abbey Spice, AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced, and Carlton Cyderworks Sugar & Spice) and some rum barrel aged ciders (Crispin 15 Men, Sea Cider Prohibition, and Alpenfire Calypso), but not combined.

Closing Notes: Next up, a review of Vermont Cider Company’s Addison.

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

Scandi Cider Pear

December 9, 2016December 8, 2016 cidersays Scandinavian Cider Baltic, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Estonia, hard cider, pear, Scandi Cider, tasting notes

Review of Scandi Cider’s Pear variety, from Estonia (in Northern Europe, on the Baltic Sea). I’ve previously tried their Apple and Green Apple ciders.

Nice looking bottles!

Cider: Scandi Cider Pear
Cidery:  Vohu Vein AS
Cidery Location:  Vohu village, Estonia, in the south Baltic Sea shore
ABV: 5.4%
How Supplied: four pack of 12.7oz corked champagne bottles
Style:  Norman-style cider made with Baltic apple & pear varieties in Estonia

Availability: semi wide release

Ingredients: fermented apple juice, fermented pear juice, carbonated water, sugar, malic acid, citric acid, sulfites

(Note that the addition of water typically means they use apple juice concentrate, which allows them to produce cider year round even though they only harvest once a year. However, there are different types of concentrate processes, some very commercial and some more craft, and I’ve heard its the norm in Europe.)

Cider Description: What makes Scandinavian cider a unique one? Special North Europe apples blend. Three basic elements create a structure for cider – acid, tannin, and sweetness. We use our specific mix of Baltic varieties of apples, including (but not limited to) – Tellisaare “,” Alwa “,” Suislepp “,” Liivi Kuldrenett “,” Krugeri tuvioun “,” Talvenauding “, and this gives a unique combination of acid, tannin, and sweetness. The cider professionals came to conclusion that the apples for the production of the specific type of cider must grow precisely in the climate and on the soil where cider will be produced.

Cidery Description: Vohu winery, the producer of Scandinavian Cider, was built in 1967 in Laane-Virumaa county, Vohu village, Estonia, located in the south Baltic Sea shore. Variety of apples grown on the Baltic Sea shores, added to the Nordic traditions of cider producing, make Nordic ciders unique. Almost 50 years of experience gained by Vohu winery makes sure that the Scandinavian cider is consistent with both traditional recipes and modern requirements of the European Union.

Price: ~$4 / single bottle
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I enjoyed Scandi Cider’s other two varieties and it is available in a relatively affordable (but small) single bottle, so it was an easy purchase to make.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of sweet pineapple and pear.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied with a frothy mouthfeel. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of pear, pineapple, green apple, and lemon. Quick finish. Moderate pear flavor. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was a tasty dessert cider. Definitely sweeter than their other two offerings, but pear ciders often are. It tasted a bit on the commercial side though, and I could definitely tell that sugar was added. I really enjoy the texture of their ciders, as well as the higher carbonation, which isn’t found too often here in the U.S. This pear cider varies from most as they fermented the pear juice in addition to the apple juice. It is more common to add unfermented pear juice to the fermented apple juice. However, it is not a perry as apple juice was added.

Most Similar to: This had some of the sweet pear-forward flavor of ciders such as Crispin Pacific Pear, NV Cider Pear Essentials, Flatbed Pear Cider, Wyder’s Dry Pear, Steelhead Peargatory, Angry Orchard Knotty Pear, and Bull Run Pear Ice Wine. However, the texture and level of carbonation was completely different.

Closing Notes: I’ve enjoyed all three of their ciders, but the Apple was my favorite. I believe they only make those three varieties.

Interesting Tidbit: Oddly enough this cider appears to be made in Estonia exclusively for export to the U.S. Probably a smart business choice as if I had to guess, cider would fetch a higher price in the U.S. than Estonia, even considering the high costs of shipping and such.

Have you tried Scandi Cider? What did you think?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Towns Return of the Mack

December 5, 2016December 3, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Corvallis, hard cider, oregon, Return of the Mac, Return of the Mack, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns Return of the Mack, a limited release unfiltered oak aged cider made with McIntosh apples. I previously tried an earlier release of this on draft (see here). I’ve also tried many other ciders from 2 Towns (see here).

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

Cider: Return of the Mack
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis Oregon
ABV: 8.4%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft unfiltered cider with McIntosh apples, aged 12 months in oak foeders

Availability: Limited release, but 2 Towns ciders are generally available in AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA, and Minneapolis MN & Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Rich and complex, Return of the Mack is a specialty cider aged for 12 months in 1800 liter oak foeders and finished with McIntosh apples. So good. Yes, I cried, yes, I cried.

From Dave Takush, head cider maker for 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Return of the Mack is super rich, exceptionally juicy and has a big oak tannin backbone. It makes a great pairing with dark and stormy nights, and 90s slow jams.

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

Price: n/a (retails for $7.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: It showed up at my door (I’m spoiled!).

First Impression: Hazy dark pumpkin straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells like tart unfiltered apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Smooth with a well-hidden ABV. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, lemon, orange, honey, and a hint of floral. Quick to moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low oak influence (I expect it smoothed the flavor out more than adding any significant overt oak flavor).

My Opinion: I enjoyed Return of the Mack, but it is more of a basic easy drinking cider which I would expect to find in a multi pack, vs. a single bottle specialty release.

Most Similar to: I’d call this a sweeter, more boozy, and slightly more complex version of 2 Towns Out Cider.

Closing Notes: 2 Towns makes some great stuff. My favorites are Traditions Bourbon Barrel 2012, Bad Apple, Hop & Stalk, Traditions Cidre Bouche 2015, and Pommeau 2015.

Have you tried 2 Towns Return of the Mack? 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?

2 Towns Traditions Riverwood New World Brut – 2015 Vintage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whitewood South Sounder

November 23, 2016November 22, 2016 cidersays Whitewood cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Olympia, South Sounder, tasting notes, washington, Whitewood

Review of Whitewood’s South Sounder. Its my first time trying it, but I’ve previously had their Summer Switchel, Kingston Black Whisky Barrel Aged, Red Cap, Gravenstein Old Fangled Series 2012 Harvest, Gravenstein Old Fangled Series Barrel Aged, Northland, Winesap, Gibb’s Farm, and Newtown Pippin.

Cider: South Sounder
Cidery: Whitewood
Cidery Location: Olympia WA
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from community sourced apples, with quince added (an astringent & sour fruit that looks similar to a pear)

Availability: Per this list, only in Washington, including Olympia, Seattle, Federal Way, Tacoma, and Eastern Washington.

Cider Description: Semi-dry cider. Community sourced apples & quince. Limited release. Made exclusively from 2015 harvest apples and quince provided by friends and farms of South Puget Sound.

Cidery Description: Whitewood Cider is the South Puget Sound’s first craft cidery. Officially we are a nano cider and can be hard to locate. Fear not as you’ll be able to find us at the finest bottles shops as well pubs and and restaurants that are the most dedicated to locally made craft cider.

Too often the word traditional is haphazardly thrown around when it comes to making cider. At Whitewood Cider Company we make hard cider seasonally, as traditional as it gets, just as cider has always been made.

We pick and press apples in the Autumn as they are ripe and properly sweated out to produce the thickest richest juices possible.
Our ciders ferment slow all throughout the Winter at the cold ambient temperatures of South Puget Sound
We rack and blend our ciders in the late Winter and early Spring.
Curing the late Spring after the ciders have had ample time torest and mature, we rack our cider once more and begin bottling and kegging.

When it comes to apple selection and cidermaking we have a “no compromise” approach. We believe cidermaking is an art and that the best fruit and the best practices yield the best cider possible.

Whitewood Cider is owned and operated by Dave White (of Old Time Cider) and Heather Ringwood. Visits to their Olympia Washington cidery are by appointment only.

Price: $16.25
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its one of the few (only?) ciders I hadn’t tried from Whitewood, so I was game to give it a go.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still. Smells of pineapple, mango, and green apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple skin, lemon, pineapple, mango, quince, grapefruit, and hints of floral & herbal. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. This would especially be a nice summer cider. Its very tart and fruity and finishes with a bite.

Most Similar to: Ciders with high tartness & acidity and tropical notes. Eaglemount Quince, which I think I prefer, as it isn’t as tart. Besides that the only other cider with quince that I’ve tried is Honey Moon CiderHead Quince, which had less complexity than both the Whitewood and Eaglemount ciders.

Closing Notes: My favorite Whitewood cider remains the Kingston Black Whisky Barrel Aged, as I prefer richer flavor. I also really liked Northland and Gibb’s Farm. I’ll have to see if I can find any more to try from Whitewood!

Have you tried Whitewood South Sounder? What did you think?

Cidrerie du Vulcain Transparente

November 21, 2016November 13, 2016 cidersays Cidrerie du Vulcain, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidrerie du Vulcain, hard cider, Swiss, Switzerland, tasting notes, Transparente

Review of Cidrerie du Vulcain’s Transparente, from Switzerland. Its my first time trying their cider.

Cider:  Transparente (2014)
Cidery:  Cidrerie du Vulcain
Cidery Location:  Le Mouret, Switzerland
ABV: 7.1%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: Swiss semi-dry sparkling cider from native heirloom apples, wild yeast fermented, made using traditional methods

Availability: unknown

Cider Description: Tart apples, peeled and sliced, just starting to brown, waiting to be arranged in a pie crust. With air: cinnamon —the pie is baking. The iron that you’d expect on Cidre de Fer. Floral. Slight animal. Near dry rather than off-dry. Heirloom fruit flavors. The acidity is savory like that of a bright rosé. Salt. A perfectly balanced trinity of salt, acidity, and delicate fruit, delivered with such lightness of texture —that Alpine feeling: not diluted but elusive and aerial, and incredibly refreshing.

Apple Varieties: Transparente de Croncels, Reinette de Champagne, Pomme Raisin, and Rose de Berne

Cidery Description: The cidery was started in 2006 by Jacques Perritaz; here is a great writeup.

Price: $19
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its the first time I’ve seen cider from this cidery or Switzerland.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Smells funky, yeast-forward and apple-forward.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Moderate carbonation, medium bodied, with a smooth frothy texture. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. Mild funk. Hints of sourness, bitterness, and tannins. Notes of apple pomace, yeast, honey, green apple, and grapefruit. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I was a bit put off by the funky scent, but it wasn’t as apparent in the flavor as it was in the scent. Great apple-forward flavor without tasting like alcoholic apple juice.

Most Similar to: A combination of typical ciders from Normandy and Brittany France.

Closing Notes: Fun fact – the cidery’s name is from the local Vulcan butterfly that feeds on the juice of fallen apples. Too bad I haven’t seen any of their other ciders locally. This was the first time I saw this one, so hopefully more will make it here soon.

Have you tried any ciders from Cidrerie du Vulcain? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 22 Tasting Notes

November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 cidersays Cockrell, Pomarina, Schilling, Seattle Cider, Snowdrift cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 22nd visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a random Thursday. I started with a flight.

Cockrell Brewing (Puyallup WA) Jonastar (6.9% ABV): This is a single varietal from Jonastar apples, and is likely draft-only. Slightly hazy medium straw yellow hue. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and sourness. No funk or tannins. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, floral, and green apple. Low apple flavor. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity. High sessionability. I thought it was pretty average.

Schilling Cider (Auburn WA) Blueberry Cobbler (6.6% ABV): This is a spiced blueberry cider, barrel aged 12 months, primarily available in bottles at Bartell Drugs (a collaboration; see here). Cherry hue. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of blueberry, pie spices, and a hint of vanilla. No apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. I didn’t pick up any barrel influence, but I imagine the other flavors could have overwhelmed them. This cider was a bit weird for my tastes.

Seattle Cider (Seattle WA) Washington Heirloom (7.0% ABV): This is a special release made from heirloom and cider apple varieties, also available in bottles. Higher carbonation. Medium straw yellow hue. Semi-dry to dry. Moderate tartness. High acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of lemon, lime, floral, and herbal. Low flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. I thought it was pretty average. There was more heirloom than cider apple flavor.

Snowdrift Cider (East Wenatchee, WA) Seckel Perry (8.6% ABV): This is a single-varietal perry (no apples, only pears) made from Seckel pears, also available in bottles. Slightly hazy light straw yellow. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness, tannins, and sourness. No funk. Notes of pear, citrus, green apple, and floral. Moderate sessionability. Moderate pear flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. I enjoyed it (more than their regular Perry, which I found had a lot of bitterness).

Sarah also shared a bottle pour with me of a Spanish Sidra which is new to the U.S.

Pomarina (Asturias Spain, 7.0% ABV): This Spanish Sidra was made in the style of methode champenoise (to naturally carbonate it). Semi-dry. Light bodied, frothy texture (although it had been open awhile so it didn’t have much carbonation left). Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low sourness. Hints of bitterness. No tannins or funk. Notes of citrus and green apple. Moderate length finish. Moderate sessionability. Low apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. I found this more approachable than most Sidra, as it was less sour. I’m not a fan of sourness though, so I didn’t care for it.

The Snowdrift Seckel Perry was my favorite.

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

Red Tank Roughneck

November 16, 2016November 13, 2016 cidersays Red Tank, review Bend, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, Red Tank, Roughneck, tasting notes

Review of Red Tank’s Roughneck. Its my second time trying it (I previously tried it on draft; see here), and I’ve also tried their Happy Cider, Yukon Cornelius, Sour Cherry, Tropical, and Pear Bear.

Cider: Roughneck
Cidery: Red Tank
Cidery Location: Bend Oregon
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: Year round in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Northern California

Cider Description: A powerfully complex cider blending all elements into each storied sip. Hints of yeast, earthy sour notes and an almost dry profile keep you wanting more.Our Roughneck Cider is for the hard working people of the NW who know that you can’t have the “sweet” without the “dry”. This is serious cider for a good time.

Cidery Description: Born from years of industry experience, Red Tank Cider creates real North West hard cider. We make cider because we have a serious, uncontrollable passion for it. We won’t stop. It’s not supposed to be easy. That’s why it tastes so good. We practice sustainable techniques in our cider house. We use only apples, yeast and natural sulfites to make our cider. We do not put in any chemical additives and present our craft in its natural form.

They have a tasting room in Bend Oregon.

Price: ~$2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells like acidic apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple juice, green apple, and a hint of floral. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This is a typical flagship apple-forward semi-dry cider. I thought it was rather average.

Closing Notes: I think I prefer their Happy Cider; it seemed more flavorful and complex (also, slightly sweeter).

Have you tried Red Tank Roughneck? What did you think?

33 Books Co.’s The Original Cider Tasting Mug and 33 Mugs of Cider Book

November 14, 2016February 18, 2017 cidersays 33 Books Co., book, review 33 Books, 33 mugs of cider, ceramic, cider, cider book, cider mug, cider tasting, cider tasting mug, hard cider

Today’s review is of two products from 33 Books Co. – The Original Cider Tasting Mug and the 33 Mugs of Cider Book. Their website sells the mug for $45 (+$5.75 shipping) and the book for $5 (+$2.60 shipping; discount for buying multiple books), among other products, all manufactured in Portland Oregon.

>>This is a review of sample products provided to Cider Says by 33 Books Co. Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received the products for free. The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my review cue. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.<<

MUG

Photos of the mug and box. The box has cardboard cutouts specifically to hold the mug in shipping without extra packaging. It was sent in an exterior USPS box.

Info: The mug was designed specifically for cider. It comfortably holds 12 ounces. It is made from ceramic, which is more insulating than glass. The white ceramic allows the taster to better see the color of the cider. A ceramic mug is also the traditional cider drinking vessel, not glass. Its features are designed to showcase a cider’s clarity and aroma. Ridges from the stamped “33” inside the bottom of the glass serve as nucleation sites to release carbonation.

My Opinion: First off, the packaging and product is high quality. It was easy to hold and drink from. However, the experience is quite different than drinking from glass, so it would take some getting used to. Comparing the color of cider in the mug vs. clear glass, it appears darker, so you can more easily spot differences in hue. The outside of the mug was also cooler to the touch than a glass. Another drinking experience difference is that the lip of the mug is much thicker than that of a typical glass. To me, the cider tasted slightly warmer from the mug, but otherwise no discernible taste difference. To my husband, the primary difference was in the scent–he said the mug concentrated it better.

Bottom Line: I think the mug is ideal for a cider lover who appreciates Artisan products and would like special drinkware for their cider. I’m not sure I’ve been convinced yet to switch from glassware, but I’ll keep trying it out. Note there are a couple other drinkware options marketed specifically for cider, such as made by Angry Orchard and Libbey, but they are glass.

BOOK

Info: The book is pocket-sized and designed to record tasting notes for 33 ciders. Each page has space for the cider name, maker, date, price, rating, format, carbonation level, notes, ABV, and a flavor wheel (to mark flavor notes, body, dry/sweet, acidity, tartness, tannins, etc).

My Opinion: This is definitely a good option for cider tasting notes. I like their flavor wheel as it can record a lot of information compactly and quickly. It has pretty much everything covered. However, it is geared more for folks that still like to take their notes with pen and paper, and would require remembering to bring it along when tasting ciders. Nowadays many people have digitized their lives. One electronic cider tasting notes option is Cider Expert (similar to Untappd or RateBeer, but cider-specific). I actually do carry a mini spiral notebook for cider tasting notes in my purse. I use those notes in writing my reviews (for Cider Says and on Cider Expert). I would go through these notebooks relatively quickly as they only have space for 33 ciders (although that keeps them compact), and I usually try at least a few new ciders a week (sometimes even a dozen at a time at a tasting event).

Bottom Line: I think the 33 Mugs book is a good option for someone who wants to get into taking tasting notes on ciders but doesn’t know where to start, and who is into pen and paper notes.

BOOK 2 (added Feb 2017)

33 Book Co. has come out with a special Golden Russet Edition of the 33 Mugs of Cider book, and sent me a sample copy (thanks!). The photos don’t really do it justice – the covers are way more gold than cardboard brown. This limited edition (1,000 copies) used Oregon Golden Russet cider in the ink, gold staples, and gold foil. Many cidermakers believe the Golden Russet is a special apple, as if the conditions are right, it contains just the right amount of sweetness, acidity, and tannins for cider. This journal debuted at CiderCon and still retails for $5, or 3 for $12, at this page of 33books.com. The inside pages are the same format for cider tasting notes.

SUMMARY

Both of these are great gift ideas for the cider-lover in your life. They aren’t something I would have purchased for myself, so it was nice to try them out. What cider-related products are you looking at this holiday season?

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