Cherry Cider Tasting

November 11, 2016November 6, 2016 cidersays Anthem, Doc's, Finnriver, Greenwood, Griffin Cider Works, Julian, Rev Nat's, review, Woodchuck Cherry, cherry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

There was recently a cherry cider tasting at my house (thanks Sarah, Merce, Kevin, and Si from Cider Log for sharing all the ciders!). I took a few tasting notes.

With all of these I didn’t pick up any flavor besides cherry, and maybe a bit of green apple or citrus. The apple flavor was also none to mild.

Woodchuck (Middlebury VT) Sour Cherry (6.9% ABV): This was part of their Cellar Series (since discontinued) and hasn’t been sold since July 2014, but this bottle held up better flavor-wise than the bottle I had that I opened a year ago (review here). Semi-sweet to sweet. Mild to moderate slightly cherry flavor. Still. Medium bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. Not bad.

Anthem (Salem OR) Cherry (6.2% ABV): This is sold year round and now also available in cans. Semi-dry. Mild cherry flavor. Low carbonation. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Mild apple flavor. I didn’t find it flavorful enough.

Julian (Julian CA) Cherry Bomb (6.99% ABV): This is sold year round. Semi-sweet to sweet. Moderate real cherry flavor. Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. I liked it.

Reverend Nat’s (Portland OR) Sacrilege Sour Cherry (6.5% ABV): This is a seasonal release. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Moderate cherry flavor, slightly sour. Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. I thought it was pretty average; I’d prefer no sourness.

Finnriver (Chimacum WA) Chimacum Kriek (6.0% ABV): This sour cherry cider is part of their Crew Selection series, a limited release in May 2016. Semi-dry. Mild to moderate cherry flavor, moderately sour. Still. Medium to full bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. I didn’t care for this at all, due to the sourness.

Griffin Cider Works (Westlake OH) Strong Woman (6.5% ABV): This is an English-style cider finished with cherry, sold March thru October, whose proceeds go towards fighting breast cancer. Semi-sweet. Moderate cherry flavor. Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Mild tannins. I thought it was pretty average. There was an additional flavor in this that none of us could identify. The tannins were unique.

Doc’s Draft (Warwick NY) Sour Cherry (6.0% ABV): This is sold year round. Semi-sweet. Moderate to strong real cherry flavor. Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. I really liked it.

Greenwood Cider (Seattle WA) Cherry (unknown ABV): This appears to be draft only. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Mild weird cherry flavor. Low carbonation. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. I thought this one was a bit strange, but ok.

Between the six of us at the tasting, the clear winner of the evening was from Doc’s. Unfortunately this variety isn’t sold in Washington in bottles, but can be found in Oregon, or sometimes on draft here. My second favorite was from Julian. What both of these had in common was they were a bit sweeter, more intense cherry flavor, and more “real” flavor (not medicinal). The least favorites were the Anthem, Greenwood, and Griffin varieties.

Woodchuck Out on a Limb Ginger Lovin’

November 9, 2016November 4, 2016 cidersays Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, Ginger, ginger lovin', hard cider, Middlebury, Out on a Limb, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s latest Out on a Limb series variety, Ginger Lovin’. I’ve previously tried nearly their entire line-up; see here.

Cider: Ginger Lovin’
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider with ginger

Availability: semi wide release, for the next few months until a new Out on a Limb release comes out

Cider Description: Sugar and spice and everything…well, lots of spice. Like our favorite redheads, ginger adds a feisty bite to this cider. With zesty citrus undertones, the root and apple pair to Ginger Lovin’ perfection. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

Ingredients: Hard cider. Less than 1% of: natural flavor and sulfites.

Cidery Description: Here at the Woodchuck Cidery in Vermont, we handcraft every batch of Woodchuck Hard Cider. Our Cider Makers utilize the highest quality ingredients and meticulously oversee each small batch from start to finish. We reinvigorated American cider in 1991 and continue to lead the category through our commitment to craft innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (runs about $10 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Very light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of candied ginger and spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of very mild ginger (mostly in the finish, but not spicy) with some pie spices and a hint of lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I’m not at all a ginger fan, so I was surprised that I didn’t mind this. The ginger remains very mild, unlike every other ginger cider I’ve had where it was overpowering.

Most Similar to: I found the ginger in this less intense than ginger ciders from Argus, Apple Outlaw, Finnriver, Locust, Schilling, and Strongbow. It also didn’t have that after taste/bite like most ginger ciders.

Closing Notes: If you like a hint of ginger but don’t want it to be overwhelming or too lingering, this is a good cider choice.

Have you tried Woodchuck Ginger Lovin’? What did you think?

Woodchuck Semi-Dry

November 7, 2016November 4, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Semi-Dry, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Semi-Dry, their newest flagship cider. I’ve previously tried nearly their entire line-up; see here.

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

Cider: Semi-Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, including bittersweet apple juice

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Ready for a cider session? You’re going to want a crushable cider. Crisp and refreshing, Semi-Dry uses bittersweet apples to deliver a cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

Ingredients: Hard cider, less than 1% 0f: natural apple flavor, sulfites

Price: n/a (runs about $10 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light orange amber. Low carbonation. Smells of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: One the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor is purely watered down apple juice with a hint of alcohol. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: The flavor wasn’t all that impressive, intense, or complex, but this is surely more sessionable than most sugar-laden commercial ciders. I didn’t taste any rich bittersweet apple flavor.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Day Chaser, which is also semi-dry, although that one had some honey and citrus notes and a hint of bittersweet.

Closing Notes: The color of this cider is a bit interesting. It doesn’t say it was added (which has been listed in the past), so maybe there is a higher bittersweet apple percentage than I tasted…

Have you tried Woodchuck Semi-Dry? What did you think?

Crispin The Saint

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

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

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

Availability: Wide release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tieton Spice Route

November 2, 2016October 29, 2016 cidersays review, Tieton cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Spice Route, spiced cider, tasting notes, Tieton

Review of Tieton’s Spice Route. It is my first time trying it, but I’ve had most of their ciders: Cidermaker’s Reserve, Sparkling Perry, Cranberry, Bourbon Peach, Frost (ice cider), Apricot, Smoked Pumpkin, Wind (Pommeau), Wild Washington, Cherry, and Blossom Nectar.

Cider: Spice Route
Cidery: Tieton Cider Works
Cidery Location: Yakima WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft spiced cider

Availability: Year round, since July 2015. Tieton ciders are available in WA, OR, AK, HI, B.C., ID, CA, NV, MT, WY, UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX, FL, MI, IL, and OH (per their website). They also take orders by phone to be shipped in WA (info here) and have a tasting room (info here).

Cider Description: An exotic and fresh cider. Expect a medium straw with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, clove and allspice. Reminiscent of a fresh baked apple pie.

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

Price: $8
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its one of the few ciders from them I hadn’t tried.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of hints of spices and vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of cinnamon, allspice, clove, vanilla, oak, grapefruit, and honey. Moderate to long spiced finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Moderate to high sessionability.

My Opinion: I’m usually not a fan of spiced cider, but I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t overly spiced or sweet. The complexity (especially the vanilla and oak notes) was nice too.

Closing Notes: This is one of my favorites from Tieton. My absolute favorite was Bourbon Peach, which was a tap-only special release.

Have you tried Tieton Spice Route? What did you think?

Woodinville Cider Tasting at Locust & Elemental – Visit 3

October 31, 2016October 30, 2016 cidersays Elemental, Locust, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Elemental, hard cider, Locust, tasting notes, Woodinville

I spent another afternoon in Woodinville Washington, cider tasting at the tap rooms for Locust and Elemental. See my notes here from visit 1 and here from visit 2.

At Locust I tried two bottle pours of ciders that are part of their new ‘Hootenanny’ series.

Locust Vanilla Bean, 5.0% ABV: Mild scent. Sweet. Medium bodied. Mild tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. No sourness, funk, or bitterness. The flavor was vanilla creamsicle–yum! Hints of citrus and pineapple. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. I really liked the flavor of this one, but it was too sweet.

Locust Smoked Blueberry, unknown ABV: This cider was made using smoked apples and blueberries. Mild scent. Sweet. Medium bodied. Mild to moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness and sourness. No funk. Notes of blueberry juice & skin and a hint of lemon. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. I didn’t find this overtly smoked, but I imagine it had some influence.

Elemental ‘Lithium’ Lemoncello, 6.5% ABV: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied with a fizzy mouthfeel. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. No bitterness, tannins, sourness, or funk. Lots of lemon, slight creaminess, and hints of grapefruit. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

Elemental Mango, 6.5% ABV: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of mango, citrus, and pineapple. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My favorite at Locust was Vanilla Bean, although I wouldn’t be able to drink an entire pint of it or anything as it was quite sweet. My favorite at Elemental was the Lemoncello, as it was more flavorful than the Mango.

Stem Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried Stem Ciders? What did you think?

Worley’s Mendip Hills

October 21, 2016October 17, 2016 cidersays review, Worley's cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Mendip Hills, tasting notes, worley's

Review of Worley’s Mendip Hills English cider. Its my first time trying this variety, but I’ve tried Worley’s other 2 ciders available locally, Special Reserve and Premium Vintage.

Cider: Mendip Hills
Cidery: Worley’s
Cidery Location: Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apples

Availability: Semi wide release

Cider Description: A slightly sparkling medium cider – smooth and rounded flavour with complex, mellow notes. Best served chilled. To create ciders of great depth and roundness, it’s imperative to blend a number of apple varieties and Mendip Hills is a lovely example of this art. Containing some 16 apple varieties, the flavour profile of Mendip Hills is full and rounded, yet smooth and satisfying. This accomplished cider is made from punchy late-season fruit that has had longer to mature in the cool orchard grass of some of Somerset’s finest orchards, before being fermented by wild yeasts and matured for several months. A very light carbonation is applied at bottling to produce a velvet-smooth cider with oodles of warm, spicy apple-pie notes.

Cidery Description: A hobby that got out of control. We first made cider as a bit of fun for ourselves and our friends. Now here we are nearly a decade later and we’re still having fun but we’re making a lot more cider! Our first experience of making was when we bought 50 gallons of juice off the farm press from the iconic Roger Wilkins in Mudgely, Somerset. We made the mistake of adding in a bit of sugar and ended up with 10.5% cider. It was lethal and one of the neighbours spent a few hours in a ditch as a result of downing a couple of pints. Lesson learned, we began to find our own fruit in various small Somerset orchards and gradually started to master the mysterious arts of fruit selection and fermentation. A few years ago we decided if wanted to carry on making cider we’d need the cider to start making a contribution to its upkeep. So we gradually started selling a bit. Now we’re making over 30,000 litres a year and don’t have time to have proper jobs any more!

Price: $11
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve tried the other 2 varieties from Worleys available locally, and figured I’d try the 3rd one.

First Impression: Medium pumpkin amber. Moderate carbonation with some foam. Smells tannic, sweet, and of cider apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity and tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of cider apples, pomace, orange, leather, and caramelized sugar. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor and complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. I prefer this to their Premium Vintage and Special Reserve.

Most Similar to: Other English ciders, compared to which its on the entry level end, due to its sweetness, lower tannins, and no sourness or funk. I also found some similarities with French cider, with its higher carbonation, sweetness, and being apple-forward.

Closing Notes: I hope Worley’s offers more ciders in the U.S. soon.

Have you tried Worleys cider? What did you think?

Reverend Nat’s Revival

October 19, 2016October 16, 2016 cidersays Rev Nat's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, portland, reverend nat's, Revival, tasting notes

Review of Reverend Nat’s Revival. I’ve tried this cider before in 500ml bottles and draft, but not a six pack. I’ve also previously tried his ¡Tepache!, Hopland #5 / Envy, Newtown Pippin, Ciderkin, Winter Abbey Spice, Hallelujah Hopricot, Deliverance Gin & Tonic, Revival Dry, Sour Cherry, The Passion, and Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant.

Cider: Revival
Cidery: Reverend Nat’s
Cidery Location: Portland Oregon
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and 500ml bottles & draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Mexican piloncillo sugar and two yeast strains

Availability: Year round in AK, CA (Southern), HI, ID, OR, and WA, as well as B.C. Canada, Singapore, and Tokyo & Nagano Japan, although the 500ml bottles are easiest to find.

Cider Description: My newest release is Revival Hard Apple 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.

Cidery Description: Reverend Nat is a single-minded cider evangelist who searches the world for superior ingredients to handcraft the most unusual ciders that no one else will make.

Price: $13.99
Where Bought: Target
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its easy to find the single 500ml bottles, but this is only the second time I’ve seen the six packs. The first was at Whole Foods, but only once. Per ounce the six packs are a good deal. I was very surprised to see it at Target, which otherwise only had commercial ciders.

First Impression: Light amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells of apples and yeast.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple juice, apple pomace, yeast, brown sugar, and honey. Slight richness. Quick finish length. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! This is a tasty everyday cider. It varies quite a bit batch to batch, more than any other cider I’ve tried (but that is typical for craft ciders). Sometimes I like it better than other times, but its always good.

Most Similar to: Breton French cider, as it is apple-forward and yeast-forward, although less carbonation.

Closing Notes: This is Reverend Nat’s most typical cider, and my favorite from him.

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

Alpenfire Spark!

October 17, 2016October 15, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, Spark, tasting notes, washington

Review of Alpenfire Spark!, their semi-sweet cider. I’ve tried it a couple times before, but only bottle pours. I’ve tried most of Alpenfire’s ciders–Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, and Shrub.

Cider: Spark!
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 8.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Organic American craft cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, sugar added

Availability: Year round in Washington and their online store

Cider Description: Spark! is blended from Melrose, Kings, Gravenstein, Winter banana, burgundys and other heritage apples as well as traditional cider apples. This bottle conditioned, unfiltered cider has the wonderfully crisp flavor of a just picked fall apple. This semi sweet cider is delicious with a appetizers, especially cheese and fruit.

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

Price: $15.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve been wanting to pick up an Alpenfire bottle, and this is one of my favorites from them (in addition to Smoke, ApoCalypso, and Glow).

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Low carbonation and foam. Smells tannic, of honey and apple pomace.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acid. Low to moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Apple-forward and rich. Notes of apple pomace, honey, orange, and leather. Moderate finish length. Moderate to high apple flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Moderate complexity,

My Opinion: Awesome! I forgot how much I like this cider. Its easily in my top 10 favorites, and has all my favorite cider qualities. It would be a great introduction to “real” cider (made with cider apples), as it is sweeter and doesn’t have any overwhelming qualities.

Most Similar to: English cider such as from Aspall (except a bit sweeter and less yeast-forward), Bertolinos, and E.Z. Orchards Semi-Dry.

Closing Notes: I think this cider is a great choice and a good value too. Their Smoke is my favorite, but I need to be in a certain mood for that one…Spark is way more easy drinking.

Have you tried Alpenfire Spark? What did you think?

Nectar Creek Waggle Wildflower Session Mead

October 14, 2016October 9, 2016 cidersays mead, Nectar Creek, not cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, mead, Nectar Creek, tasting notes, Waggle, wildflower

Review of Nectar Creek’s Waggle, a Wildflower Session Mead (lower alcohol content). I’ve previously only tried their Honeycone hopped session mead, at Cider Summit last month (see here). This obviously isn’t a cider, but sometimes I cover non-cider beverages.

Mead: Waggle, Wildflower Session Mead
Meadery: Nectar Creek (Oregon Honey Products)
Meadery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft mead (made from Oregon wildflower honey, water, yeast, and sulfites)

Availability: Year-round, at least in CA, GA, ID, MN, OR, TX, and WA (see their locator)

Mead Description: The complex essence of Oregon wildflower honey is captured in this session mead with flavors and aromas of ripe fruit and fresh honeycomb.

Meadery Description: Founded by two brothers native to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Nectar Creek combines a passion for beekeeping, agriculture and brewing into delicious, sessionable meads.

They were founded in 2012 and have a tasting room in Corvallis Oregon (which is also home to 2 Towns cider).

Price: $8.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of honey with a hint of floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Simple flavor, primarily of honey, with some floral and citrus. Quick finish length. Low to moderate honey flavor. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Tasty. I liked it. Simple and sessionable. However, I prefer more flavor. It tasted a bit watered down.

Most Similar to: This was similar to their Honeycone, except Waggle was more honey forward and not hopped. Nectar Creek is the only session mead maker on the market I’ve seen.

Closing Notes: This was nice, but I think I prefer the higher ABV sweeter meads, which I’ve found to be more flavorful. Check out some of my other mead reviews here.

Have you tried Nectar Creek Session Meads? What did you think?

Ole Swede Blend of 9 Cider

October 13, 2016October 9, 2016 cidersays Ole Swede, review Blend of 9, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ole Swede, tasting notes, washington

Review of Ole Swede’s Blend of 9 Cider. I’ve previously tried their Blueberry cider.

Cider: Blend of 9 Cider
Cidery: Old Swede
Cidery Location: Tonasket WA
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert & cider apple varieties, oak aged

Availability: Only in WA

Cider Description: A unique blend of Kingston Black, Storks Red, Harry Masters Jersey, Dabinett, Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious and Pink Lady apples. Lightly oaked.

Cidery Description: Our ciders are hand crafted from farm to bottle. Out family farm was homesteaded in 1899 as new territories were opened in the west, near Havillah, Washington. Old Swede is born from our roots in North Central Washington’s Okanagan Highlands, a place of natural beauty perched above a valley known around the world for apple production. We moved back to the family homestead in 2014 and began to take our cider into the world in 2015.

They don’t have a tasting room, but do offer mobile juicing and event catering.

Price: $9
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of oak and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey and citrus. Moderate length finish with some warming. Low apple flavor, oak influence, flavor intensity, and complexity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I really liked the flavor, but wanted more of it. It tasted a bit watery.

Closing Notes: This is the third cider from Ole Swede I’ve seen in the Seattle area (in addition to Blueberry and Cherry Perry).

Have you tried Ole Swede cider? What did you think?

Longdrop Over Yonder

October 12, 2016October 8, 2016 cidersays Longdrop, review cider, cider tasting, hard cider, Idaho, Jonathan, Longdrop, Over Yonder, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Longdrop’s Over Yonder, from Idaho. I’ve previously tried their Tanager Pear Cider, Vanilla Honey, Derby Canyon, Semi-Sweet, and Electric Cherry.

Cider: Over Yonder
Cidery: Longdrop
Cidery Location: Eagle Idaho
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from Idaho-grown Jonathan apples (single varietal)

Availability: Year round in Idaho, Seattle WA, and Portland OR.

Cider Description: Idaho Jonathan cider. Fresh pressed in Fall.

Cidery Description: The wise chef knows to start with the ingredient, not the recipe. That’s our philosophy as well. We work with a team of local and regional foragers who source ingredients for ciders that respect the seasons. We never use stuff like high fructose corn syrup, or phony colors and flavors. Just Northwest and Idaho grown apples and other of the earth’s goodness. Enjoy.

They will soon have a Cider House in Boise Idaho.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I have tried the other Longdrop varieties available locally, but keep missing this one on draft, so I picked up a bottle.

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of sharp apples, honey, and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apples, citrus, honey, mineral, and floral. Moderate to long bitter finish. Moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: I found this a bit average. There was some bitterness and sharpness I wasn’t expecting from it being made from dessert apples (Jonathans). My favorite part was the honey notes.

Most Similar to: Wandering Aengus Wanderlust

Closing Notes: Longdrop’s Vanilla Honey remains my favorite so far.

Have you tried Longdrop Over Yonder? What did you think?

One Tree Crisp Apple

October 11, 2016October 8, 2016 cidersays One Tree, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crisp Apple, hard cider, One Tree, Spokane, tasting notes, washington

Review of One Tree’s Crisp Apple cider. I’ve tried it before, but only a draft sample, not canned. I’ve also tried their Lemon Basil, Caramel Cinnamon, Huckleberry, Dark Cherry, and Raspberry ciders.

Cider: Crisp Apple
Cidery: One Tree
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Year-round in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana; see here.

Cider Description: An army of apple have made their way to your door, housed in a tough metal can. This cider is crisp and delicious with just enough tart apple flavor to keep you coming back for more. Keep that ice chest stocked with One Tree Hard Cider cans. Your taste buds will thank you.

Cidery Description: It all started with a love for the Washington apple and a father’s day gift of an at home cider kit … and the rest is history. One Tree Hard Cider is made from locally grown ingredients right here in Washington State. When we started on the journey we wanted to use a wide range of ingredients and flavors in our hard ciders to show that it all starts with apples but it doesn’t end there! Our flavors range from Lemon Basil, Crisp Apple, and Caramel Cinnamon to Huckleberry, Cranberry and other seasonal or limited release options. Whether you like your cider sweet or tart, you’ll find a One Tree Hard Cider just for you!

They have a tasting room in Spokane WA.

Price: ~$ 3 / single can (runs ~$10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I tried Crisp Apple at One Tree’s release party at the Schilling Cider House in Seattle awhile back (see here), and wanted to give it another go, but only a single can.

First Impression: Hazy orange lemonade hue. Low carbonation. Smells of baked apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of baked apple, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon. Quick finish length. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! Its simple, but tasty. I like that its less filtered and flavorful, and less sweet than their other ciders (my preference is semi-dry to semi-sweet).

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Out Cider, except it is slightly sweeter and more flavorful.

Closing Notes: This is probably my favorite One Tree cider so far; it is the most drinkable of their ciders for me, something I could actually have an entire pint of. Sweet sells though, and One Tree’s ciders are very popular in the Seattle area. They won the Fruit Cider Challenge at Cider Summit Seattle 2016 with their Raspberry cider with peanut butter whipped cream (see here).

Side note: “Crisp Apple” is a popular name for ciders…Angry Orchard, Flatbed, Zeffer, Hornsby’s, Foster’s, and Newton’s all also use it.

Have you tried One Tree Crisp Apple? What did you think?

Wandering Aengus Wanderlust

October 6, 2016September 10, 2017 cidersays review, Wandering Aengus cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, Salem, tasting notes, Wandering Aengus, Wanderlust

Review of Wandering Aengus’ Wanderlust. I previously tried this at Port Townsend’s Summer Cider Day (see here), although I haven’t done a full review. I’ve had a number of their other ciders (see here).

Cider: Wanderlust
Cidery: Wandering Aengus
Cidery Location: Salem OR
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle
Style: American craft cider from heirloom apples

Availability: At least in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Wanderlust is a semi-dry cider with a rich body and a long spicy finish. Enjoy slightly chilled with BBQ, pork, turkey, or aged cheddar. 2015 Oregon Harvest of Organically Grown Golden Russet (45%), Roxbury Russet (21%), Ashmead’s Kernel (16%), Ribston Pippin (12%), and Cox Orange Pippin (6%). Bottled June 30, 2016.

Cidery Description: At Wandering Aengus Ciderworks we press and blend over 20 cider apple varietals to craft our ciders. Our cider specific apples originate from France, England, and pre-prohibition America, but are grown now in Oregon. These heirloom varieties are essential for the depth of flavor, excellent body, and delightful aromatics of our distinctive ciders. All our ciders are always GLUTEN FREE.

They have a tasting room in Salem Oregon.

Price: $4.75
Where Bought: PCC (a local natural food store chain)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I remembered liking this at Port Townsend’s Summer Cider Day (see my tasting notes here), and for $4.75, I thought it was worth another try. At my next trip to PCC I found their ciders were on sale for $4, so I picked up a bottle of Bloom, which I haven’t had in awhile.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells acidic, slightly tannic, and of citrus, honey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Low to moderate carbonation. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low to moderate bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Sharp flavor. Notes of lemon, honey, green apple, mineral, and oak. Moderate to long finish length. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it, but it was slightly more bitter, sharp, and acidic than I prefer. However, it mellowed a bit as it warmed some from fridge temperature. I have found all of the Wandering Aengus ciders I’ve tried so far to have more bitterness than other similar ciders.

Closing Notes: I liked this better when I tried it at Summer Cider Day (where I picked up some bittersweet cider apple flavor, vs. this time there was more sharpness & acidity). As its a relatively small batch craft product, I imagine it changes batch to batch and year to year. However, it was still enjoyable and a good value.

Have you tried Wandering Aengus Wanderlust? What did you think?

Honeywood Winery Hard Apple Cider

October 5, 2016October 1, 2016 cidersays Honeywood, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard apple cider, hard cider, Honeywood, oregon, Salem, tasting notes, winery

Review of Honeywood Winery’s Hard Apple Cider. This is the winery’s only cider, and the first time I’ve tried it.

Cider: Hard Apple Cider
Cidery: Honeywood Winery
Cidery Location: Salem Oregon
ABV: 11%
How Supplied: 750ml corked clear glass wine bottle
Style: American apple wine

Availability: Oregon and Washington. They also have an online store.

Cider Description: Nothing says autumn like Apples! There’s bobbing for apples, an apple for your teacher, and of course apple pie. Honeywood’s Hard Apple Cider is made from Pacific Northwest Apples, the best grown in Washington and Oregon, specially blended into a great Hard Cider. Rich, clean, fresh and fruity, and very flavorful. Can be served heated…add a cinnamon stick or other spices.

Cidery Description: In 1933, Honeywood Winery was founded by Ron Honeyman and John Wood. It was originally called Columbia Distilleries, and produced fruit brandies, cordials and liqueurs. Eventually, they settled on making premium wines and decided a name change was in order for the winery. Contrary to the obvious, Messrs. Honeyman and Wood did not use a contraction of their names to make Honeywood, and in fact, objected to the name on those grounds. An advertising consultant provided the rationale with a line from Oliver Goldsmith’s play, “The Good Natured Man,” wherin the products of fermentation were referred to as, “smooth as HONEY…aged in WOOD…the drink of the good natured man.” Honeywood became synonymous with the elite in wines. A winery must be close to its source of ingredients, and so it is with Honeywood. Located in Salem, in the heart of Oregon’s great and fertile Willamette Valley, the winery is minutes away from some of the world’s finest vineyards, cane berry fields and fruit orchards. Honeywood is the oldest producing winery in Oregon. The winery produces a full line of premium vinifera wines and the most extensive listing of premium fruit and specialty wines. We offer complimentary tasting and our tasting room includes a gourmet marketplace that sells Oregon food products and wine related gifts.

Price: $12
Where Bought: a wine shop in Port Townsend WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never heard of or seen this cider, and couldn’t find any detailed information online, so I decided to pick it up. I call these finds “mystery cider”.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells like sweet acidic white wine, with a hint of cork.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of white grape, honey, pineapple, and green apple. Quick but boozy finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: Definitely not what I was expecting. I had guessed this would be dry (based on it being 11% ABV and being made by a winery), but it was the opposite. However, I enjoyed it. More of a dessert beverage than something to have with dinner.

Most Similar to: A cross between sweet white wine and sweet mead.

Closing Notes: This cider was a good value too.

Have you tried Honeywood Winery’s cider? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Branch and Bramble

October 4, 2016September 30, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders Branch and Bramble, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Denver, hard cider, Raspberry, Stem, tasting notes

Review of Branch and Bramble from Stem Ciders, their dry raspberry cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Malice, Remedy, and Blood Orange Cyser. My husband brought this and 4 of their other ciders (plus even some Pommeau!) back from Colorado for me.

Cider: Branch and Bramble
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft dry cider made from dessert apples, with raspberries

Availability: Only in Colorado, year round, at these retailers.

Cider Description: Intense raspberry aromas and ruby hues. Tartness from the raspberries and apples meld in this dry, refreshing cider. A light tannin structure from the raspberries lingers on the palate.

Price: $10 / four pack
Where Bought: Stem Ciders tasting room in Denver
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Stem Ciders online. Last time my husband was in Colorado, he picked me up a bunch of ciders, including Stem Le Chene. I keep hearing about their Banjo special release cider, but I’m 0/3 as far as finding it (apparently its only available about 1 month a year; its currently still barrel aging). This time around I thought I’d make it easier on my husband and give him a shopping list all from the same cidery, so he could just stop by the tap room (vs. trying to find ciders at multiple bottle shops). I e-mailed the cidery ahead of time and they were nice enough to send me a list of what they had in stock.

First Impression: Light pink/red hue. Low carbonation with foam. Smells of sweet tart raspberries.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. The flavor is almost purely sharp raspberry, with hints of green apple and lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Tasty and refreshing, with a surprising amount of flavor for how dry it is.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of raspberry ciders, from Wyder’s, Woodchuck, Doc’s, Schilling, One Tree, Raven’s Moon, and Eaglemount, but they were all sweeter. Raven’s Moon was the driest, a semi-dry, but was much higher in ABV, and the most tart cider I’ve ever had.

Closing Notes: I think this was my favorite of their three canned ciders. Next up I have their Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot and Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Branch and Bramble? What did you think?

Hecks Somerset Tremletts Bitter

October 3, 2016September 30, 2016 cidersays Hecks, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, English Cider, hard cider, Hecks, single varietal, Somerset, tasting notes

Review of Hecks Tremletts Bitter, from Somerset England. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, although I’ve sampled many other English ciders.

Cider: Tremlett’s Bitter
Cidery: Hecks
Cidery Location: Street, Somerset, United Kingdom
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass twist-top bottle
Style: Somerset England farmhouse-style, single varietal from Tremletts Bitter apples

Availability: Unknown. Imported by B. United International Inc., Oxford CT.

Cider Description: A butterscotch aftertaste is just one of the surprises of this cider from the popular Devon variety. It is sharp and dry without too much acidity, a popular choice wherever cider is made.

Cidery Description: We have been making traditional Somerset Farmhouse cider since 1841. Today we offer a range of traditionally made farmhouse ciders, single variety ciders, farmhouse perry, single variety perry, non-alcoholic apple juices, cider vinegars and a range of other products, all produced from the harvests in our own Somerset orchards. Our products are made following family traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, using tried and tested methods. We hope you enjoy our delicious products as much as we enjoy making them.

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

First Impression: Medium amber. Still (no carbonation), with a foam/bubble ring. Smells rich, tannic, apple-forward, of must, caramel, and some funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Very light bodied. Flat dull mouthfeel. Low tartness and acidity. Low to moderate sourness, at the back of the palette. Moderate funk/barnyard. Moderate bitterness. Moderate tannins, but they were of an interesting sort, coating the teeth instead of drying the mouth, maybe due to the combination of tannins and sourness. Notes of leather, orange, and caramel. Moderate length finish with lingering sourness. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I wasn’t a fan. The flavor was odd and not what I expected from an English cider. I guess I hadn’t previously tried a Farmhouse-style English cider. I thought it smelled much better than it tasted.

Most Similar to: This cider seemed to combine the qualities of English cider (richness & tannins) with American Farmhouse-style cider (sourness & funk). I can’t think of anything similar.

Closing Notes: This isn’t a style I enjoy. However, if you like your cider with some sourness & funk, you may enjoy it. This is the only variety from Hecks I’ve seen locally.

Have you tried Hecks Cider? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Remedy Dry Hopped Apple Cider

September 30, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Denver, hard cider, hopped cider, Remedy, Stem, tasting notes

Review of Remedy from Stem Ciders, their dry hopped cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Blood Orange Cyser, and Malice. My husband brought this and 4 of their other ciders (plus even some Pommeau!) back from Colorado for me.

Cider: Remedy
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans, and kegs
Style: American craft dry cider made from dessert apples, with Cascade & Citra hops

Availability: Only in Colorado, year round, at these retailers.

Cider Description: Dry hopped with Cascade & Citra hops. Floral and citrus fruit intermingle with apple on the nose giving way to a tart apple zing without any bitterness.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of hops and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Moderate bitterness. Low astringency. No sourness or funk. Notes of hops, citrus, floral, herbal, honey, mineral, and green apple. Long bitter finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, although it was a bit more bitter than I prefer. It has a light wine-like flavor which would pair well with food.

Most Similar to: Incline Explorer, Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, and Tod Creek Mala-Hop

Closing Notes: This is a nice hopped cider option for folks who like dry ciders and want something available in a multipack. Next up I have their Branch & Bramble (raspberry) cider, then special releases Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot and Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Remedy? What did you think?

Rustic Roots Organic Snow Cider Dry Apple

September 29, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays review, Rustic Roots cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, organic, Rustic Roots, Snow Cider, tasting notes

Review of Rustic Roots Organic Snow Cider Dry Apple, from British Columbia. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, and this is the only cider this winery makes.

Cider: Organic Snow Cider Dry Apple
Cidery: Rustic Roots
Cidery Location: Cawston B.C. Canada
ABV: 7.6%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian Organic craft cider

Availability: unknown

Description: unknown

Price: $7
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mild, sharp, of floral and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of herbal, floral, lemon, green apple, white grape, pineapple, crab apples, and mineral. Moderate to long finish. Moderate sessionability, apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: Tasty. I was surprised how flavorful it was for its level of dryness. Juicy and sharp.

Closing Notes: This is a great value, considering it is imported (although not very far) and Organic. I haven’t seen any other varieties from them yet though (it looks like they primarily make grape wine).

Have you tried Rustic Roots Snow Cider? What did you think?

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