Dunkertons Black Fox

September 12, 2016September 11, 2016 cidersays Dunkertons Black Fox, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dunkertons, English Cider, hard cider, organic, tasting notes

Review of Dunkertons Black Fox, an Organic medium dry sparkling cider from England. This is the last of three bottles I received from them (see my Dry and Perry reviews).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Dunkertons. 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: Black Fox
Cidery: Dunkertons
Cidery Location: Pembridge, Leominster, United Kingdom
ABV: 7.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: organic English cider from cider apple varieties

Availability: Dunkertons is just becoming available in the U.S. for the first time, so its probably not in stores quite yet, but look for it at finer bottle shops in the future (distributed through Winesellers, Ltd.).

Cider Description: From the earliest times, rural communities have told stories of fantastic and unusual creatures which have supposedly lived in their locality. The lush rolling countryside of North West Herefordshire is no exception. Here stories tell of an animal which has evaded capture by farmer and huntsman alike; a Black Fox. The red fox has always existed, but the belief grew that there was also a fox “as black as night, so that it might live in a man’s shadow and so never be seen”. A favored haunt of the BLACK FOX is………the Cider Orchard.

Translucent in color with light golden honey hues. Fragrant notes of apple pie fillings and honey aromas. This is a deliciously robust with a mouth full of lively sweet and sour flavors of green apples, honeycomb and fresh lemon.

Apple Varieties: Brown Snout, Foxwhelp, Kingston Black, Balls Bitter Sweet, Stoke Red, Dabinett

Cidery Description: We make premium award winning organic cider and perry at our Cider Mill in Herefordshire. Our success is down to our unique blending method using traditional varieties of organic cider apples and pears grown in our own orchards. We started making our ciders and perry in 1980. We only ever use the finest tasting traditional varieties of certified organic apples and pears. It is this careful selection of fruit that gives our drinks the delicate and aromatic characteristics required to be award winning.

Price: retails for $8
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells tannic, slightly sour & funky, fruity, and of citrus.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tannins. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness, sourness, and funk. Notes of cider apples, orange, yeast, honey, and stone fruit. Moderate to long warming finish. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Awesome! This is different but similar to their Dry. It is a bit more approachable than their Dry as it is slightly sweeter and lower in tannins, and has slightly more fruity than rich flavor notes.

Most Similar to: Medium dry moderately tannic English and English-style ciders such as Sheppy’s Somerset Draught.

Closing Notes: I highly recommend Dunkertons cider if you can find it in your area. They are high quality and affordable (and even Organic). I think the Dry and Black Fox are tied for my favorite; each is well suited for a different mood and/or menu.

Have you tried Dunkertons cider? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 20 Tasting Notes

September 9, 2016October 8, 2017 cidersays Christian Drouin, Greenwood, Red Tank, Rev Nat's, review, Schilling, Seattle Cider, Steelhead cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 20th visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

<can’t beat 32 cider taps!>

I was there on Labor Day for a random visit, since I had the day off work. I started with a flight.

Steelhead (Manson WA) Peargatory (Vanilla Pear), 5.5%: This is from a brand new cidery, and available in bottles as well. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Pear-forward, with green apple, pineapple, and mineral notes. I didn’t notice the vanilla, but I didn’t know about it until I looked it up later either. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. High sessionability. High pear flavor. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. Pretty good (I definitely preferred it over Red Tank’s as it was more flavorful).

Greenwood (Seattle WA) Lavender Blackberry, 7.4%: This is a draft-only release. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of lavender, blackberry, and a weird herbalness. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. Moderate sessionability. No apple flavor. I didn’t care for this one.

Red Tank (Bend OR) Tropical, 5.8%: This appears to be a draft-only release. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of pineapple and green apple. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. I thought this was ok, but needed more flavor.

Red Tank (Bend OR) Pear Bear, 5.8%: This appears to be a draft-only release. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Pear and pineapple notes. Long boozy finish. High sessionability. Low to moderate pear flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. The flavor was a bit weird on this one.

Seattle Cider (Seattle WA) Gin Botanical, 6.5%: This seasonal release is also available in bottles. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Light herbal flavor from the gin botanicals. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Not bad; I can see why its popular.

Christian Drouin (Rouen Normandy France) Pays d’Auge, 4.5%: This is also available in bottles, made from cider apples, and wild yeast fermented. Smells rich and a bit funky. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied, frothy and foamy. Low tartness and acidity. Low sourness, funk, tannins, and bitterness. Notes of bittersweet apples, brown sugar, and orange. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. Great! I was expecting more sourness and funk, but it was quite tolerable.

Reverend Nat’s Revival Dry: Although this shares the name with their popular sweeter Revival variety, its quite different…2/3 English & French bittersweet and 1/3 American heirloom varieties, partial wild fermentation, multiple yeast strains, and no piloncillo. Only in 750ml bottles. A friend shared some with me. Smells fruity. Dry. Light bodied. Mild sharp tropical flavor. Mild sourness, tannins, and funk. Moderate tartness, acidity, and bitterness. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. I prefer the regular version. This would probably appeal well to wine lovers.

The Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge was my favorite, which isn’t a surprise as it is the only one made from cider apple varieties.

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

Dunkertons Organic Perry

September 8, 2016September 8, 2016 cidersays Dunkertons, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dunkertons, England, hard cider, organic, perry

Review of Dunkertons Organic Perry from England. Perry is only made from pears (no apples). I previously tried their Dry Organic cider.

Product: Organic Perry
Cidery: Dunkertons
Location: Pembridge, Leominster, United Kingdom
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Organic English perry

Product Description: A delicious sparkling Perry made from organically grown, Perry pears. Though relatively uncommon, the trees are easily identified in Herefordshire’s orchard landscape by their great height and cascading white blossom; some are over 300 years old. These mature trees can very often produce over a ton of Pears. Using a traditional press and mill (circa 1930) the cider is carefully made using time honored methods. Each variety of cider pear is fermented separately, stored and then blended a year after pressing.

It pours golden and slightly hazy with very gentle bubbles. The nose has over-ripe pear evanescence. The taste is buttery & biscuity with notes of peaches plus a touch of farmyard. A creamy mouthfeel with a good balance between initial sweetness and the dryness of the finish.

Pear Varieties: Merrylegs, Red Horse, Moorecroft, Painted Lady, and Thorn

Price: $9 retail
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light straw yellow, slightly hazy. Low carbonation. Smells of sour citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied, slightly syrupy. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low to moderate sourness. Low bitterness, funk, and tannins. Notes of citrus (lemon and grapefruit), mineral, white grape, pear, and floral. Long warming sour finish. Moderate sessionability, pear flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: Well crafted and a good value. It wasn’t to my personal tastes though due to the slight sourness. However, I shared it with a few friends who tends towards liking sour ciders and they really enjoyed it.

Fun Facts: Its often said to plant pears for your heirs, as it can take decades for a pear tree to bear fruit. Also, perries don’t ferment fully dry like ciders can, as pears have unfermentable sugars (such as sorbitol), contributing to a higher residual sweetness. More info on perry here.

Most Similar to: WildCraft Cider Works Pioneer Perry, although more sweet and less sourness. It had a subtle complexity similar to E.Z. Orchards Poire and Nashi Orchards Chojuro Blend.

Closing Notes: Next up, Dunkertons Black Fox.

Have you tried Dunkertons Perry? What did you think?

Wyder’s Prickly Pineapple

September 7, 2016September 4, 2016 cidersays review, Wyder's cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pineapple, prickly pear, Prickly Pineapple, Wyder's

Review of Wyder’s newest cider, Prickly Pineapple, with pineapple and prickly pear juices. I’ve previously tried their other three ciders (Dry Raspberry, Dry Pear, and Reposado)

Cider: Prickly Pineapple
Cidery: Wyder’s
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT (they are from British Columbia Canada, but their U.S. ciders are made at the Woodchuck facility)
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with pineapple and prickly pear juices

Availability: wide release, as of August (they have a locator here)

Cider Description: An exotic duet, this cider combines the juices from both prickly pear cacti and pineapples. Tickling the tongue, each sip brings forward a light and sweet taste like a refreshing pina colada. Satisfy those fruit forward senses with Wyder’s^® Prickly Pineapple.

Cidery Description: We have specialized in eclectic fruit-forward ciders for more than two decades. It’s a pretty hyper-connected world out there, grab a Wyder’s when you’re ready to unplug. Wyder’s wants to be a part of you finding the good in life and your Happy Place. We hope you enjoy, and bring us along!

Price: ~ $2 / single bottle (runs $9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had been on the lookout since reading about it on Facebook

First Impression: Light straw yellow with a hint of green. Low carbonation. Smells of pineapple candy.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of pineapple, green apple, and a little something unique which I assume is the prickly pear juice. Quick finish. High sessionabiliy. low apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: Not bad for a commercial cider, as its a bit unique, and nice and flavorful. Definitely on the sweeter end though. I don’t exactly agree it tastes like a pina colada, but its definitely not just a pineapple cider. Side note – has anyone tried to do anything coconut with a cider? I bet pineapple coconut would be good.

Most Similar to: Other sweeter pineapple flavored ciders, such as Schilling Trouble in Paradise, Ace Pineapple and Jester & Judge Pineapple Express.

Closing Notes: I imagine this will sell well.

Have you tried Wyder’s Prickly Pineapple? What did you think?

Dunkertons Dry Organic Cider

September 6, 2016September 17, 2016 cidersays Dunkertons, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dunkertons, England, English Cider, hard cider, organic, tasting notes

Review of Dunkertons Dry Organic Cider, from England. This is my first time trying their cider. This is one of three samples I got from them, so it won’t be the last I try.

Cider: Dry Organic Cider
Cidery: Dunkertons
Cidery Location: Pembridge, Leominster, United Kingdom
ABV: 7.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: organic English cider from cider apple varieties

Cider Description: An offering of a drier, crisper blended cider for the connoisseur, or more adventurous enthusiast. Sharp, crisp and to the point. Certified organic by Soil Association Organic Standard. Pours a red hued gold with a slight haze. Moderately strong aromas of toffee and hints of farmhouse/blue cheese character to ground it. Flavors bring tannins from the bittersweets to the fore with freshly picked apples, honey, and wisps of smoke playing strong support. Full bodied with a carbonation that makes a strong first impression before finishing with a sharp dryness.

Apple Varieties: Brown Snout, Sheeps Nose, Foxwhelp, Kingston Black, and Yarlington Mill

Price: retails for $8
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy light orange amber. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells of tannic cider apples, must, orange, and leather.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Moderate to high tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of cider apples, must, orange, leather, mineral, caramel, toffee, and smoke. Long warming tannic finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate to high complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Awesome! A cider this dry and tannic isn’t for everyone, but its a taste I’ve acquired. I liked how it wasn’t too bitter and was quite complex. I’m hoping we can get more ciders like this in the U.S. as more orchards of cider apples grow up. Until then, imports like this can be surprisingly affordable.

Most Similar to: Other dry tannic English ciders. Sheppy’s and Aspall are some of my favorites, but are more entry level than this one (sweeter and lower tannins). Worley’s makes some great higher tannin ciders too, but they are sweeter. This was actually really similar to Alpenfire Ember.

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying the other two bottles from Dunkertons.

Have you tried Dunkertons cider? What did you think?

Slyboro Hidden Star

September 2, 2016August 29, 2016 cidersays review, Slyboro cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Hidden Star, New York, Slyboro, tasting notes

Review of Slyboro Hidden Star, from New York. I’ve previously only tried their Old Sin cider.

Cider: Hidden Star
Cidery: Slyboro
Cidery Location: Granville NY
ABV: 6.9%
Residual Sugar: 2.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider made from heirloom apple varieties

Availability: Year round in limited markets

Cider Description: Discover the secret in the apple! Cider from historic, hearty Northern Spy apples blended with ecologically grown Liberty apples, brings a deeply rooted American tradition to the modern table for your enjoyment.
Made from apples grown at Hicks Orchard, a family farm in the Adirondack foothills and New York?s oldest U-Pick orchard. Clean, crisp, aromatic and refreshingly smooth, like a ripe apple just picked from a tree. Hidden Star pairs well with Summer barbeques, Autumn picnics, Winter festivities, and Spring frolics.

Cidery Description: Named for the centuries-old hamlet that is home to Hicks Orchard, Slyboro Ciderhouse re-introduces the lost craft of traditional American ciders. Just as grapes are transformed into wine, our ciders are fermented from our own orchard-grown apples; unlocking the full potential of the apple by creatively blending a a distinctive range of delicious, award-winning ciders.

We at Slyboro Ciderhouse are dedicated to reclaiming cider – “true cider” – as America’s favorite drink. We invite you to explore and discover the flavors and delights of Slyboro Ciders. In any season, for special occasions, or to enrich the moment, “consider cider.”

Slyboro has a tasting room open seasonally, July through Christmas.

Price: $17 (which is apparently $5 more than the going price in New York)
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I previously tried and enjoyed their Old Sin, so I was game to try something else from Slyboro.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Smells fruity, of stone fruit and pineapple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation, tiny bubbles. Moderate tartness and acidity. Mild tannins. Hints of bitterness and funk. No sourness. Notes of honey, peach, pineapple, mineral, green apples, and a slight metallic flavor. Long finish with some sharpness and warming (tasting higher than 6.9% ABV). Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, although I prefer their Old Sin (which is richer). This is a nice summery cider in flavor, although not sessionable.

Most Similar to: Eve’s Beckhorn Hollow (although Hidden Star is sweeter and more fruity). It even reminded me a bit of ciders which used some crabapples (such as Raven’s Moon and Dragon’s Head Columbia Crab), as it had a sharp flavor. It also seemed a bit boozy, especially in the finish, like something Sea Cider or Eaglemount would make.

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying more from Slyboro, and the East Coast / New York in general. I have seen two more varieties from them locally.

Have you tried Slyboro Hidden Star? What did you think?

Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider

September 1, 2016August 29, 2016 cidersays review, Scandinavian Cider cider, cider review, cider tasting, Estonia, green apple, hard cider, Scandi Cider, Scandinavian Cider, Vohu Vein AS

Review of Vohu Vein AS Scandi Cider’s Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider, from Estonia (in Northern Europe, on the Baltic Sea). I’ve also tried the regular version of this cider (see here).

Cider:  Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider
Cidery:  Vohu Vein AS Scandi Cider
Cidery Location:  Vohu village, Estonia, in the south Baltic Sea shore
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 12.7oz corked and caged champagne bottles (I believe a 4 pack, but it was split up)
Style:  Norman-style cider made with Baltic apple varieties in Estonia

Availability: semi wide release

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.

In the years of Soviet power in the USSR in the small village Vohu Vein plant for the production of fruit wines he became plant-millionaire. The plant is surrounded by apple orchards with special cider varieties. Its territory is flowing river, full of trout plant endlessly supplying spring water two wells are located here. Guests visiting the factory, admire everything. And especially – competently planned and extremely streamlined production process that combines humane technology of the 18th century with modern technology. The proportion of manual labor takes exactly as long as necessary to “Sunny wine” was alive. “Chip” of the plant – is automatic line, which is the product of blending gravity separation in the filter room and more – up to the bottling line. In the cellars of the plant throughout the year to maintain the same temperature.

In the production of apple cider recipe uses a traditional Norman cider from special varieties of pears, too, is made according to old recipes of the north. Bottles of sparkling cider Scandinavian with the smell of yellow apples, green grapes and golden honey in sodas, decorated modestly in northern reserved. Juicy pear cider spicy taste reminiscent of nutmeg, but softened by a sweet creamy mousse through which emerges a weak note of lemon peel. We hope that the rich taste of apple and pear cider will satisfy the Americans.

Price: $4.99 (this has greatly increased in price since I bought a four pack of the original variety for $9.99; however, my local Whole Foods now only sells single bottles for $4.99)
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had previously tried the regular version of this cider, and although I’m not usually a green apple cider fan, I thought I’d give it a try.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue with a hint of pink. Very high carbonation. Smells fairly strongly, of green apples and citrus, sweet and fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry (quite different from how sweet it smelled). Light bodied with a frothy sparkling texture. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apples (but not Jolly Rancher), citrus (primarily lemon), pineapple, and mineral. Quick finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: Good, but not overly memorable. I’ll admit this isn’t a style of cider I typically like (I preferred their richer regular version). However, if you like a true sparkling cider and love the tart acidity of green apples, this is for you. For how sparkling and acidic it was, I think it needed a bit more sweetness. Oddly enough ciders typically leave me wanting more carbonation, but I think it was a bit overdone in this case.

Most Similar to: Drier champagne-style ciders such as Finnriver Artisan Sparkling Brut, Argus Fermentables Ciderkin, and Portland Cider Kinda Dry

Closing Notes: This is a unique cider. From their website it appears they make it solely for import into the U.S., which seems unusual. They also make original and pear versions, but I haven’t seen the pear, and have only seen the origianl and green apple ciders at Whole Foods. The green apple variety seems quite new, as there wasn’t even information on the cidery’s website.

Have you tried Scandinavian Cider? What did you think?

Ross on Wye Traditional Farmhouse Medium Dry Lightly Carbonated Cider

August 31, 2016August 29, 2016 cidersays Ross on Wye cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Herefordshire, Ross on Wye

Review of Ross on Wye’s Traditional Farmhouse Medium Dry Lightly Carbonated Cider. I may have tried this awhile back (if so, it was pre-blog). I’m a fan of English cider though.

Cider: Traditional Farmhouse Medium Dry Lightly Carbonated Cider
Cidery: Ross On Wye
Cidery Location: Peterstow, Herefordshire, England
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: commercial English cider

Availability: semi wide release (imported by Shelton Brothers)

Cider Description: Ross-on-Wye Medium Dry Cider is produced only with apple juice and natural sugar. Our Cider is a whole juice produce fermented with natural yeasts.

Apple Varieties: bittersweets and bittersharps

Cidery Description: Cider has been made at Broome Farm by the Johnson family for over 80 years. There are now over 80 varieties of cider apples growing on the farm enabling the creation of individual blends of quality cider.

Price: $8
Where Bought: Schilling CIder House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I couldn’t remember if I’ve ever tried it, and thought I’d give it a go, as I’ve been wanting more English (and French) cider.

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Low carbonation and foam. Smells of rich bittersweet apples, tannins, and caramel.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low to moderate tannins and bitterness. Hints of to low funk. No sourness. Notes of caramel, brown sugar, leather, oak, and orange. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, its not one of my favorite English ciders. It tasted a bit more commercial than some English ciders which I prefer (such as Aspall and Sheppy’s).

Most Similar to: Other English ciders. It has a fairly traditional taste, and would be a fairly good introductory English cider, as its not too high in tannins, has some residual sugar, and isn’t too funky. My current favorite English ciders are Aspall Imperial (black label) and Sheppy’s Oak Matured.

Closing Notes: English ciders remain one of my favorite categories; I love the richness and tannins, so different than most American ciders. Imported ciders can be surprisingly affordable as in Europe, cider apples are in larger abundance and cider is produced in larger quantities.

Have you tried Ross on Wye or other English ciders? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Easy Apple

August 30, 2016August 29, 2016 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Easy Apple, hard cider, sessionable, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Easy Apple, their newest release, added to their core ciders. It is marketed as a less sweet and easy drinking (low ABV) cider.

>>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: Easy Apple
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 4.2%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert & cider apple varieties

Availability: Currently (since early Aug) year round in RI, WA, OR, ID, MT, and AK, and it will be in variety packs Aug-Dec 2016.

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Easy Apple is a less sweet, refreshing and easy-to-drink hard cider. It is unfiltered with an apple-forward taste, slightly hazy appearance and a refreshingly dry finish. It never weighs you down, making it the perfect drink choice for those long, relaxing days.

Apple Varieties: Dessert (Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Gala) and French Bittersweet (Dabinett, Harry Master Jersey, Frequin Rouge, and Bisquet)

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice from concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, sulfites

Price: n/a (but retails for $8.99-$9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Slightly hazy amber orange hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of apple juice with a hint of sharp apples and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of apple juice, citrus (orange), honey, and honeycomb. Hints of richer tannic cider apple flavor. Quick finish. High sessionability. Moderate to high apple flavor. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Better than I expected–I actually enjoyed this. It was very easy to drink and refreshing. It was very simple, but had hints of complexity (I would have liked to see a higher percentage of cider apples). While it remains on the sweet size, it isn’t too sweet for me (ie. I could actually drink more than one of these). Too bad these drier (superior in my opinion) varieties don’t make it to restaurants and bars and such like their flagship Crisp Apple does. However, I’m not all that pleased with the ingredient list (its definitely commercial).

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Out Cider, One Tree Crisp Apple, and Downeast Original, which are apple-forward and less filtered. Easy Apple also reminds me a bit of Angry Orchard’s Traditional Dry variety, which I think they discontinued, which was a similar sweetness level and seemed to have hints of cider apple flavor. The honeycomb notes reminded me of Long Drop Vanilla Honey.

Closing Notes: This was surprisingly tasty. Angry Orchard is definitely trying to keep up with changing expectations in the cider market, and they remain the market leader by far.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Easy Apple? What did you think?

Alpenfire Calypso – Blackberry Rum Barrel Aged Cider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried Alpenfire Calypso? What did you think?

Le Brun Organic Cidre

August 24, 2016September 10, 2017 cidersays Le Brun, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, France, French, hard cider, Le Brun, organic, tasting notes

Review of Le Brun Organic Cidre. I’ve tried this previously on tap (the only cider I’ve tried from Le Brun), but wanted to give a bottle a go.

Cider: Organic Cidre
Cidery: Le Brun
Cidery Location: Plovan in the Brittany region of France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: Brittany French cidre, organic, secondary fermented

Availability: semi wide release (imported by Winesellers Ltd., Niles IL)

Cider Description: This cider presents lightly sweet, fruit and then develops to be more dry as the taste goes on. Tannins feel fairly high, acidity is moderate and a fairly bitter/sharp to end, with a mild hint of wood in the aftertaste. This cider has a juicy feel to it, but also has depth and character.

Apple Varieties: Kermerrien, Marie Ménard, Douce Moên, Peau de Chien, Douce Coëtligné

Cidery Description: Le Brun Cidres have been produced in Brittany, France since 1955. our cidres are made using the traditional method of natural fermentation of pure pressed juices from handpicked apples

Price: $10.99
Where Bought: The Wine Seller in Port Townsend WA, which had a nice cider selection for a small shop, including this one (which I haven’t seen locally lately) and a couple others I hadn’t even seen in Seattle (I picked up one other bottle too)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Amber orange hue. Moderate carbonation with foam upon pouring. Smells of rich apples with hints of funk and must.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness, acidity, funk, and tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Notes of bittersweet apples, apple juice, apple pomace, orange, floral, and must. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed this. I’m a fan of Brittany France ciders in general too (but not typically Normandy France ciders, which tend to have sourness). However, I remember it tasting more clean (no funk) when I tried it on tap, which I prefer.

Most Similar to: Other ciders from Brittany France, such as Celt and Dan Armor, which I think I slightly prefer, and are both more affordable too ($8 for a four pack of 11.2oz bottles of Celt and $5 for a 750ml bottle of Dan Armor – only sold at Trader Joe’s).

Closing Notes: This is a nice selection from Le Brun. I hope I can find their other varieties locally to try (I know at least a couple others get imported).

Have you tried French Cidre? What did you think?

Magners Original Irish Cider

August 23, 2016August 15, 2016 cidersays Magners cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Irish, irish cider, Magners, Original, tasting notes

Review of Magners Original Irish Cider. Its my first time trying it oddly enough (I had never got around to it).

Cider: Original Irish Cider
Cidery: Magners (C&C Group)
Cidery Location: County Tipperary in Ireland
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles
Style: commercial Irish cider

Availability: wide release (over 50 countries)

Description: We love making cider, but we reckon there’s only one way to do it properly. That’s why we’re still taking inspiration from the historic methods we used when we started making cider back in 1935. That’s part of the Magners taste. So in this way we use 17 varieties of apples, waiting until they drop before pressing and filtering them in the traditional way. We take time to ferment the cider and even more time to let it mature, up to 2 years in fact, tasting it along the way. Sure, there are faster ways of making cider, but then it wouldn’t be Magners.

Price: ~ $1.50 / single bottle
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I realized I had never tried Magners, which is often one of the first ciders people try.

First Impression: Fake orange amber hue. Nearly still. Smells of apple juice and a fake chemical scent.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. The notes didn’t go too beyond apple, with a touch of caramel. Quick finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: It was what I was expecting…simple and fake tasting. It was drier than I was expecting, but that is more typical for European ciders (vs. American commercial ciders).

Most Similar to: Other commercial ciders, although this had a bit of English cider twist with the hints of bitterness and tannins.

Closing Notes: Now I can finally say I’ve tried Magners. I don’t really get why this sells so well, but I guess its easy to drink.

Have you tried Magners? What did you think?

Reverend Nat’s ¡Tepache!

August 19, 2016August 12, 2016 cidersays not cider, Rev Nat's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pineapple, reverend nat's, tasting notes, Tepache

Review of Reverend Nat’s ¡Tepache!. Note this technically isn’t even cider, as it is only made using pineapple juice, no apples. I tried this awhile back, and I’ve sampled a number of ciders from Reverend Nat’s (see here).

Cider: ¡Tepache!
Cidery: Reverend Nat’s
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 3.2%
How Supplied: 22oz brown bottles
Style: American craft fermented pineapple juice with spices

Availability: Summer Seasonal sold in Oregon, Washington, Southern California, Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, British Columbia Canada, Japan, and Singapore

Cider Description: During a holiday in Veracruz I had a chance meeting with a peddler hawking Traditional Tepache out of a push-cart. A few pesos poorer and I was on Cloud Nine. ‘I unquestionably must have that recipe!’ I shouted. My Spanish is dreadful and his English was no better but over a few minutes of pictographic correspondence, I felt sanguine in my capacity to recreate that sumptuous drink upon my return to Portland.

Composed exclusively of pineapples sourced from my second cousin’s plantation in Costa Rica, piloncillo from the Mexican state of Michoacan and a furtive selection of spices, this lightly alcoholic elixir is sure to please your palate.

Much like American Apple Pie, there is no recipe for Tepache. It is a traditional Mexican drink, frequently consumed out of a plastic baggie with a straw, sold by street vendors in Jalisco and made at home. It’s not a cider – NO APPLES! The fermentation happens on the scales and rind of the pineapples, imparting a deep and unique flavor. This beverage is low-alcohol and sweet like a Summer Shandy or Radler due to a partial fermentation of the pineapples. Available starting Cinco de Mayo.

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: $6.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It sounded good, and I wanted to try mixing it with cider this time versus drinking it straight, so it ended up being an impulse try.

First Impression: Hazy yellow/brown hue (I recommend to lightly shake before pouring to distribute the sediment). Still. Smells strongly of pineapple and moderately of spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of juicy pineapple, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Moderate length finish. Moderate pineapple flavor and moderate amount of spice. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! Great by itself or mixed with cider. I tried it with Number Six Dry 99 (although that didn’t help boost the 3.2% ABV much as its only 4.2% ABV). I agree with the suggestion to use more Tepache than cider (or 50-50). I don’t like beer so I can’t comment on that mixture, although it appears plenty popular.

Most Similar to: Nothing really. You can’t really compare it to pineapple cider as it doesn’t use apples. However, like a number of other beverages, I thought the pineapple came across more in the scent than the flavor. I only know of one other cidery doing Tepache, Argus Cidery in Texas, although I haven’t tried it as I heard its sour and thats not my thing.

Closing Notes: If you are looking to try something unique and like pineapple and spices, Tepache may be to your liking. This definitely isn’t an everyday drinker (like his Revival, which remains my favorite from Rev Nat’s), but its unique.

Have you tried Tepache? What did you think?

Number Six Dry 99

August 18, 2016August 12, 2016 cidersays Number Six, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dry 99, hard cider, Number 6, Number Six, seattle, tasting notes, washington

Review of Number Six Hard Cider Dry 99. Its my first time trying this cider, although I’ve tried a couple others from them (see here).

Cider: Dry 99
Cidery: Number Six Hard Cider
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 4.2%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft dry sessionable cider from dessert apples

Availability: Western Washington

Cider Description: None given. It is marketed as a dry low calorie cider (99 calories per 12oz serving). Note however that any dry low ABV cider will have a similar calorie count.

Cidery Description: Whats Number Six? It’s a tunnel in the mountains. But this is no ordinary tunnel. This mile of rail at 7000 Sierra Nevada feet connected east to west like no other. In 1867, Transcontinental Tunnel Number 6 finally broke through solid granite after 2 years of hand picks, dynamite, willpower and a startling disregard for safety. Number Six was the most deadly and ambitious railway tunnel ever built. What used to take 25 days to cross, now could be done in a matter of hours. People, materials, and cider now flowed freely.

Number 6 Hard Cider is a tribute to hard fought progress and the connections it creates. Come taste our flagship True Cider and crafted seasonal releases at our rail-side cidery and taproom. 100% Washington apples and a relentless toil for perfect taste is what we’re made of. Raise a cold, crisp pint to progress. Onward!

They have a tasting room in Seattle Washington.

Price: ~ $2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I hadn’t tried it, and was picking up some Reverend Nat’s Tepache (fermented pineapple juice with spices), and this sounded like it would mix well.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Completely still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of sharp apples.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low astringency. Low bitterness. No sourness or funk. Sharp bite. Notes of lemon, honey, mineral, and floral. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I found this to be an average dry sessionable cider. As expected, it wasn’t overly flavorful. It did however mix well with Reverend Nat’s Tepache (although it didn’t add much to Tepache’s 3.2% ABV).

Most Similar to: Original Sin Extra Dry (which I prefer as I found it to be more complex) and Ace Joker (which is carbonated). It is becoming easier to find drier ciders, even on the more commercial end of the industry.

Closing Notes: If you are in Washington and a fan of dry sessionable ciders, this may be something you’d enjoy. Although this is on the conservative end of Number Six’s lineup, they also have some ciders which push the envelope, like their Cold Brew Coffee cider (which I haven’t tried yet, although I have tried Schilling’s take on it, Grumpy Bear, which is now available in Nitro cans).

Have you tried Number 6 Dry 99? What did you think?

Eden Imperial 11 Rosé

August 17, 2016August 8, 2016 cidersays Eden, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, ice cider, imperial, red currant, rose, Vermont

Review of Eden’s Imperial 11 Rosé. This is their newest cider, an Imperial cider made with red currant, sweetened with a bit of ice cider. I’ve previously tried a number of their ciders; see here. I ordered this and a few other bottles through their online store, so stay tuned for more Eden reviews.

Cider: Imperial 11 Rosé
Cidery: Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Newport VT
ABV: 11.o0%
How Supplied: 375ml (and 750ml) bottles
Style: American craft Imperial (high ABV) rosé (blush colored) cider with red currant, sweetened with ice cider

Availability: Their ciders are at least sold in AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, SC, VT, WA, and British Columbia, although this one has less distribution, and likely didn’t make it too far beyond VT. Eden also offers online sales when allowed by state.

Cider Description: Heirloom apple cider made with red currant and lightly dosed with ice cider. It is just off-dry and gently fizzy, with bright acidity and chewy tannic structure. A perfectly refreshing summer sipper!

This semi-dry tannic rose cider is fermented with red currant juice and slightly sweetened. It is made from a blend of traditional and heirloom apple varieties grown within 200 miles of our cidery.

Cidery Description: Eden Orchards and Eden Ice Cider began on a trip to Montreal in 2006 when we first tasted ice cider and wondered why nobody was making it on our side of the border. We had dreamed for years of working together on a farm in the Northeast Kingdom; it was a dream that had vague outlines including an apple orchard, cider, and fermentation of some sort. That night we looked at each other and knew ice cider was it. In April 2007, we bought an abandoned dairy farm in West Charleston, Vermont and got to work. Since then we have planted over 1,000 apple trees, created 5 vintages of Eden Vermont Ice Ciders, and have introduced a new line of Orleans Apertif Ciders. Out goals are to create healthy soils and trees in our own orchard, to support out Vermont apple orchard partners who do the same, to minimize our carbon footprint, to contribute to the economic and environmental health of our employees and our Northeast Kingdom community, and most of all to make world-class unique ciders that truly reflect our Vermont terroir.

They have a tasting bar on the main floor of the Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in downtown Newport VT. Their current product line includes at least eight ice ciders, two Aperitif ciders, and dry & semi-dry sparkling ciders. They also have a cider club where members get access to special release ciders not available to the public.

Price: $7.00 (for 375ml; or $14 for 750ml)
Where Bought: Eden’s online store
Where Drank: home
How Found: I had read about its release on Facebook, and had been wanting to do an online order for awhile, as there are a number of varieties not available locally.

First Impression: Lovely rosé red hue. Low carbonation with tiny tiny bubbles. Smells of strawberries and watermelon.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of red currant, strawberry, watermelon, honeydew melon, and raspberry. Long slightly boozy finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! I also think this cider is an excellent value, especially considering the high ABV (the 375ml bottle was plenty for me for the evening due to the 11% ABV) and the high cost of heirloom apples and red currants.

Most Similar to: I more commonly see black currant used in cider. The only one with red currant I’ve had is Finriver’s newish Liberry Brandy Wine (see here), although I heard Schilling made a Red Currant Ginger cider recently. I’ve a huge fan of Imperial cider though.

Its uncommon to have a fruity/flavorful Imperial cider. I think it would be quite difficult to pull off, as a high ABV cider typically requires high sugar content apple juice fermented completely dry, which often results in a less flavorful cider. Yet in this case the red currants still shown through, which I think is a sign of experienced cidermaking (and likely a lot of experimentation!). I think the bit of ice cider back sweetening helped in this case make it less harsh, as a completely dry, tart, and high ABV cider can be a bit much.

Closing Notes: Another winner from Eden!

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

Cider Summit Seattle 2016 Preview

August 16, 2016September 10, 2016 cidersays Cider Summit, event cider, cider event, cider summit, cider tasting, hard cider, seattle, South Lake Union, washington

The epic 7th annual Cider Summit is coming to Seattle Washington on Friday September 9th (3-8pm) and Saturday September 10 (noon-5pm) at South Lake Union Discovery Center Lawn. Check out my posts from last year: info, cider list preview, event, and tasting notes.

See here for the full event info and here for the full list of cideries (60) and ciders (196 ish). I found at least 40 ciders I haven’t tried and am interested in tasting, so I’ll see if I can get through that many in the two days.

Regular tickets are sold in advance online ($30 + service charge) or at Seattle-area Whole Foods ($30, also said to include access to a Whole Foods VIP tasting area, new this year), or at the door ($40), and includes a tasting glass + 8 drink tickets. VIP tickets are sold in advance online ($45 + service charge) and get you in an hour early on Friday (2pm not 3pm), and includes a tasting glass + 12 drink tickets. Additional drink tickets are available at the event for $2 each. Designated driver tickets are also available at the door for $5.

This outdoor event is 21+ but dog friendly. Last year they had covered seating, stand up tables, cold water on tap, and port-a-potties. The event also includes a merchandise shop, bottle shop, food sales, cider cocktails (using the same drink tickets as ciders), and a dog lounge. Another special feature is the Fruit Cider Challenge; many cideries are bringing a special fruity cider, and attendees can vote for their favorite. Last year many booths had employees (or even cidermakers) from the cideries pouring ciders, a mix of keg and bottle pours. They may also still be accepting volunteers (includes admission, t-shirt, and cider benefits).

Last year my husband and I got a hotel down the road as I wanted to attend both days, and it makes it way easier (especially not having to find parking two days in a row), even though we live fairly close. We’re doing the same again this year. The event has in & out privileges (if you keep your wristband and glass), and we left on Friday to grab food down the road at the Whole Foods (and cool off in their a/c, as it was HOT last year) – although they did sell food. I had a VIP ticket last year and it was great, as I could get photos and try ciders before it got busy. On Friday it didn’t get too busy until closer to 5pm. On Saturday I didn’t stay too long, getting there when they opened at noon and leaving after a couple hours, but was much busier.

Cider Summit Seattle is part of Washington Cider Week (Sept 8-18). Stay tuned for more posts on Cider Summit and Washington Cider Week events.

Sea Cider Flagship

August 15, 2016August 7, 2016 cidersays review, Sea Cider British Columbia, Canada, cider, cider review, cider tasting, flagship, hard cider, organic, Saanichton, Sea Cider

Review of Sea Cider’s Flagship variety. Its the first time I’ve tried this, but I’ve sampled a number of their other varieties (see here).

Cider: Flagship
Cidery: Sea Cider
Cidery Location: Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 7.1%
How Supplied: 750ml flip-top bottle
Style: Canadian cider from dessert & heirloom Organic apple varieties, German-style, ultra dry, without sulfites

Availability: semi wide release, at these locations, including in Canada, WA, OR, and CA

Cider Description: This German-style cider is one of few commercial ciders in the world free of added sulphites. Slowly fermented with Champagne yeast, the ultra-dry Flagship has crisp herbaceous notes framed by soft tannins and lively acidity. It features both smoky and herbal aromas and is best paired with risotto, fish and chips, mild cheeses, poultry, and grilled seafood.Certified Organic by PACS 16-259.

We named this cider Flagship because it was the first cider we made and it is as pure as cider gets. Flagship is one of only a handful of ciders in the world free of added sulphites, and was the first fully certified organic cider in North America. It is German in style, meaning very acidic, which is achieved by fermenting high acid apples such as Granny Smiths, Empires and Winter Bananas (all certified organic). A strain of Champagne yeast is used which can tolerate a low pH. Because there are no sulphites to control oxidation and spoilage, the production team must take extra precautions in apple selection and washing, aging and bottling.

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

Price: n/a, as it was a gift (retail is $15-$20 however); some friends picked it up for me in B.C. (although it is sold in the U.S.)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light amber hue. Moderate carbonation upon pouring. Smells only of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Sharp flavor, very apple-forward, with hints of honey, lemon, and herbs. Moderate to long slightly boozy finish. Strong apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I found this to be an enjoyable basic cider selection. While it was simple, I also found it to be sophisticated (which is was very apple forward, it didn’t taste like alcoholic apple juice). It pairs well with food as it won’t overpower.

Most Similar to: I found the sharp flavor of this cider similar to many ciders which use crabapples (although this one doesn’t list crabapples), such as Dragon’s Head Columbia Crab, Blue Moon Cidery Raven’s Moon, and Liberty Ciderworks New World Style.

Closing Notes: Sea Cider hasn’t disappointed me yet. However, my favorite so far is their Prohibition / Rum Runner.

Have you tried Sea Cider Flagship? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 19 Tasting Notes

August 12, 2016August 7, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, Dragon's Head, Dupont, Incline, Locust, review, Schilling cider, cider bar, cider review, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 19th visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

<can’t beat 32 cider taps!>

I was there on a Monday for 2 Towns’ re-release of Made Marion (this time in cans) and the re-release of their Cot in the Act cider (this time as a Fruit Seasonal).

I enjoyed a flight of four ciders, then samples of Cot in the Act and Made Marion.

Incline (Auburn WA) Lemongrass Lure (6.5% ABV): This is a draft-only limited release cider with Citra hops and lemongrass. Smells of lemongrass, citrus, and herbs. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light bodied with a nice frothy texture. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, herbs, and only a hint of hops. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. I enjoyed it; I think it had just the right amount of hops–not overpowering (the flavor was primarily lemongrass).

Locust Cider (Woodinville WA) Berry Session (4.0% ABV): This is a draft-only sessionable berry cider. Smells of blackberries and strawberries. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. The flavor is just berry, mostly blackberry with some strawberry. High sessionability. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. I’m usually not a huge fan of berry ciders as I find them overly simple, but I thought it was pretty good.

Dragon’s Head (Vashon WA) Columbia Crab (6.0% ABV): This is a new draft & bottled cider made from crabapples. Smells of sharp crabapples, honey, and lemon. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Light flavor, not as sharp as most crabapple ciders. notes of crabapples, honey, lemon, and white blossoms. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. This is much sweeter than the other ciders I’ve tried from them, which was surprising, but I’m guessing it may have been perceived. I enjoyed it.

Etienne Dupont (Pays d’Auge France) Aperitif / Pomme / Pommeau (17% ABV): This is a special release of Pommeau (cider mixed with apple brandy). It is Cidre Bouche from bittersweet apples, aged in a Calvados barrel, with 1998 reserve Calvados mixed back in. Smells boozy, like Pommeau, rich, and of caramel. Semi-sweet to sweet (although apparently it is very low residual sugar so it may just perceive sweeter). Still. Medium to full bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. Mild tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk (which was surprising considering the base Cidre Bouche definitely had that going on). Notes of rich bittersweet apples, caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla. No sessionability. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate complexity. High flavor intensity. Amazing!

<2 Towns Cot in the Act>

2 Towns (Corvallis OR) Cot in the Act (6.0% ABV): Although this unfiltered apricot cider has been out for a few years, it is being newly released as a Fruit Seasonal, in both bottles and kegs. Smells mild and fruity. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hint of bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of apricot and peach. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

<2 Towns Made Marion>

2 Towns (Corvallis OR) Made Marion (6.0% ABV): Smells strongly of blackberries. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor is primarily blackberry, with hints of blueberry. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

The Etienne Dupont Pommeau was my favorite; I wish bottles were available of it locally. I thought it was worth the $5 for 2oz! Its probably my favorite Pommeau so far, although I also enjoy the 2 Towns and Finnriver varieties.

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

PACORY Cidre Le Costaud

August 11, 2016August 7, 2016 cidersays Pacory, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Cidre Le Costaud, France, hard cider, Pacory

Review of PACORY’s Cidre Le Costaud. This is a cidre from Normandy France. I’ve previously tried their Poire Domfront (French perry).

Cider:  Cidre Le Costaud
Cidery:  PACORY
Cidery Location:  Mantilly Normandy France
ABV: 7.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked champagne bottle
Style: French cidre made from traditional cider apples

Availability: selected regions in the U.S.A. (imported by Charles Neal Selections, Richmond CA)

Cider Description: This cider was made from a large number of traditional apple varieties grown on standard rootstock on our farm in southern Normandy. It was aged for three months in old calvados barrels.

Cidery Description: In the heart of the Bocage Domfrontais, pear and apple trees dominate our prairies.A from fruits selected with great care, we produce Calvados, Pommeau, Cider and Poiré. Created with passion and know-how acquired over many generations, our products are recognized for their exceptional quality. It is with pleasure that we invite you to discover these treasures Domfrontais.

Price: $14.50
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had previously enjoyed their Poire Domfront (French perry), so I thought I’d give this variety of their cidre a try, especially as I love barrel aged cider.

First Impression: Hazy amber orange brown. Moderate carbonation. Smells rich, sweet, and slightly sour.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied, frothy mouthfeel. Low tartness, bitterness, sourness, funk, and tannins. Moderate acidity. Notes of overly ripe apples, honey, orange, and brown sugar. Moderate to high apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: This wasn’t what I expected. I didn’t pick up any oak or Calvados (apple brandy) notes from the barrel aging. I’m not a fan of sourness or funk, so I didn’t really enjoy this cider. Their Domfront Poire wasn’t sour, so I hadn’t expected sourness.

Most Similar to: Other cidre from Normandy France, which often has some sourness and funk, although is typically drier.

Closing Notes: I think I’ll stick to the cidre from Brittany France, which is more to my liking, as it typically lacks the sourness and funk.

Have you tried PACORY Cidre Le Costaud? What did you think?

Summer Cider Day 2016 in Port Townsend WA – Tasting Notes

August 9, 2016September 10, 2017 cidersays Bull Run, event, Nashi Orchards, New West, Rambling Route, review, Snowdrift, Spire Mountain, summer cider day, Wandering Aengus, Whitewood cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, summer cider day, tasting notes, washington

This is Part 2/2 on Summer Cider Day 2016 in Port Townsend Washington, which includes tasting notes on the ciders I tried. See HERE for Part 1/2, covering the event itself.

Bull Run Pear Ice Wine, 12% – This is a 9% residual sugar ice perry, made from Hood River Oregon Bosc and Anjou pears, similar to how ice cider or ice (grape) wine is made (using the natural cold to concentrate the sweetness & flavor of the fruit). Semi-sweet to sweet (less sweet than a typical ice cider oddly enough, despite perries usually being sweeter than ciders as pears have non-fermentable sugars). Moderate to full bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. I found this unique, like a complex pear syrup, with a well-hidden ABV. In addition to all the pear flavor, there were some honey, citrus, and melon notes. Moderate length finish. Moderate pear flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

Nashi Orchards Barrel Fermented Cider, 6.9% – This is a cider made from primarily Winesap apples with some French & English bittersweets (from the WSU Mt. Vernon Cider Research Center), aged in neutral French oak barrels. Dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Definite Winesap apple flavor with hints of richness from the bittersweet apples. Notes of oak (low) and honey. Moderate to long slightly boozy finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Low flavor intensity. Overall this is quite subtle, similar to their other products I’ve tried. I would love to see them do something made from only bittersweet apples and barrel aged, as those are my favorites, but alas, good cider apples are hard to come by / expensive, so its not done much here in the U.S. (which is why I am also a big fan of English & French imports).

Nashi Orchards Island Harvest Perry, 6.7% – This perry is from 90% Asian pears (Shinsseiki and perry pears) and 10% seedling pears foraged on Vashon island. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Hints of bitterness. Notes of pear, lemon, lime, and mineral. Moderate sessionability. Low pear flavor. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. I found it to be very light; I think this would be great to pair with food. It was also very subtle.

New West Cidery – I thought I’d add a little about this cidery, as I hadn’t even heard of them before this event (their cider isn’t distributed to Seattle). They are part of Sasquatch Brewing in Portland Oregon, which was founded in 2011. They started making cider a few years ago under the New West name. They are opening a separate cidery in Northwest Portland in a couple months which will have 90 barrel fermenters (which is very large capacity considering a standard keg holds half a barrel). At the brewery’s tap room in Portland they currently offer 12 cider taps (including guest taps).

New West Black & Blue, 6.8% – Lovely deep berry hue. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Low tartness and acidity. Very mild pure berry flavor, 50-50 blackberry and blueberry. Quick finish. No apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity. I like a more flavorful cider, so I didn’t really care for this.

New West Señor Cider, 6.8% – Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Notes of several different hot peppers and a hint of citrus & honey. Moderate heat, mostly at the end of the sip, which lingers with a long finish. Low apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. I don’t like spicy ciders, so I didn’t like this at all. I think a spicy cider works better when the spice level is low, it has higher residual sugar, and there is some flavor balance (like significant honey notes). Enough people must like these though, as cideries keep making them (for example – the Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA actually has a tap line dedicated to a rotating selection of spicy Schilling ciders).

Rambling Route Pear, 6.9% – This is the second cider in Tieton’s Rambling Route line, their Apple variety with Bartlett pear juice added. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Nearly still. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Moderate apple flavor. Very light pear flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity and complexity. I think I prefer their Apple variety, although I’m not really a fan of either. I think Tieton’s regular line of ciders is superior (although that is likely to be expected from the price point), especially the recent draft-only Bourbon Peach (my tasting notes here).

Snowdrift Cornice, 7.3% – I’ve tried this before (see here), but it was awhile back, and I was curious how this year’s version turned out. This is their barrel aged cider made from cider apple varieties. Smells mildly oaky. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. Notes of oak, smoke, and honey. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate complexity. Low flavor intensity. I found this vintage to be more approachable than their previous one, but I really enjoyed both.

Spire Mountain Dark & Dry, Jack Daniels Barrel Aged, 5.0% – This is a special version of their typical Dark & Dry cider which was aged in Jack Daniel whiskey barrels for 8 months. Smells strongly of whiskey, plus some oak and brown sugar. Semi-dry to dry. Medium bodied. Moderate to high bitterness. Low tartness and acidity. Notes of brown sugar, molasses, whiskey, vanilla, and coffee. Long bitter finish. High spirit influence. Low barrel influence. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Its crazy how the barrel aging changed this cider from a fairly simple sweet cider to a bitter complex dry cider! I think they are on to something with barrel aging this cider, but it was aged too long for my liking (something I thought I’d never say…I always say I wish a cider was aged longer!), as it was too intensely bitter.

Spire Mountain Dry Hop Apple, 5.0% – This is their Red Apple cider with Citra hops, their new Summer Seasonal. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied, slightly syrupy. Low tartness, acidity, and bitterness. Subtle hops flavor, more herbaceous than citrusy, which is unusual for a Citra hopped cider. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. I thought this was pretty decent for a commercial cider; I liked how the hops flavor wasn’t overwhelming, although I think I like a more citrus-forward hopped cider.

Wandering Aengus Wanderlust, 6.9% – This was their first cider variety they made 12 years ago. Its an off-dry (0.5% residual sugar) English-style cider made from primarily heirloom sharp plus some bittersweet apples. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. Notes of bittersweet apples, oak, and mineral. Sharp flavor with hints of richness. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity. This time around I enjoyed it better than when I tried it awhile back; either this batch had less bitterness than previously and/or I’m not as sensitive to it anymore.

Whitewood Gibb’s Farm, 6.7% – They nicknamed this limited release cider a “Farmer’s Reserve”. It was made from a large number of varieties of apples only from Grant Gibbs’ farm outside of Leavenworth WA. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Low carbonation. Medium bodied with a nice texture, slightly syrupy. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Notes of sharp apples, honey, and lemon. Moderate to long slightly boozy finish. Moderate to strong apple flavor. Moderate sessionability and flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. I enjoyed it.

Whitewood Newtown Pippin, 6.9% – This is a Newtown Pippin apple single varietal, part of their Old Fangled Series, made from 2016 harvest apples from Hood River Oregon. Semi-dry. Medium bodied, with a nice frothy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. Moderate sessionability. I found this to be very mild, which is characteristic of Newtown Pippins, but not something I prefer.

I didn’t taste ciders from every cidery there (as I had tried the remainder of the lineup), but here are photos of the other booths.