Aspall Perronelle’s Blush

May 29, 2018May 27, 2018 cidersays Aspall, review aspall, cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Aspall Perronelle’s Blush, an English cider with blackberry juice. I tried this previously at Cider Summit Seattle 2016, but this is a full review of a bottle. I’ve tried a few Aspall varieties, every one that I have seen locally – Dry, John Barrington, Imperial (black label), Demi Sec, Imperial (blue label), and Grand Cru.

Cider: Perronelle’s Blush
Cidery: Aspall
Cidery Location: Suffolk, England
ABV: 5.7%
How Supplied: 500ml tall bottle
Style: commercial English cider with blackberry juice

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Perronelle’s Blush Suffolk Cyder is inspired by our Grandmother Perronelle, who loved foraging for blackberries in the hedgerows around the orchards at Aspall. Taste Descriptor: Attractive apple and blackberry define a sweetish palate, with good acid balance and a long soft fruit finish. Serving Suggestion: Wonderful with duck & hoisin sauce, and sharp fruit-based puddings such as tarte au citron and gooseberry fool. Apple Variety: Bittersweet, Culinary & Dessert.

Their website lists this at 4% ABV, while the bottle says 5.7%, so they may have both local and for export only versions, or they changed the recipe at some point.

Price: $4.99 (on sale from $6.99 – I’m guessing they are clearing out inventory to discontinue selling it)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I originally tried this at Cider Summit Seattle; this time I was just browsing

First Impression: Purple-red hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of berries.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of raspberry, blackberry, green apple, and lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it – nice balanced berry flavor and a perfect level of sweetness for my tastes. However, there was no noticeable English cider characteristics; I would have guessed this was a U.S. cider from dessert apples. However, at the price point and for the style (flavored), I didn’t mind.

Most Similar to: A U.S. made craft cider from dessert apples with berries or berry juice added.

Closing Notes: My favorite Aspall by far is the black label Imperial, but they appear to have replaced that with the blue label Imperial. I think they are all pretty tasty though, an entry level English cider (not as tannic or funky as many, so well suited to those not yet familiar with the style).

Have you tried Aspall cider? What did you think?

Oliver’s Gold Rush Cider

January 12, 2018January 16, 2018 cidersays Oliver's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, Gold Rush, hard cider, Oliver's, tasting notes, United Kingdom

Review of Oliver’s Gold Rush Cider, batch #2. This was a collaboration between Tom Oliver (of Oliver’s Cider and Perry in the UK) and Gregory Hall (of Virtue Cider in Chicago). I’ve previously tried Oliver’s Herefordshire Perry and Desire.

Cider: Gold Rush
Cidery: Oliver’s Cider and Perry
Cidery Location: Herefordshire United Kingdom
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 750ml twist-top bottle
Style: English still cider from cider apples, wild yeast fermented, oak aged, secondary fermentation

Availability: limited, although in general Oliver’s can at least be found in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, and USA (see here).

Cider Description: Have you noticed similarities between Tom Oliver’s wild yeast- fermented ciders and traditional lambics? You aren’t the only one. During a visit to Oliver’s farm in 2011, Greg Hall – former brewmaster at Goose Island, and current cidermaker at Virtue Cider in Chicago – proposed a collaborative cider made in the traditional way, but with a lambic yeast thrown in for further complexity. The result is the Gold Rush: a…sparkling, medium dry cider with a deep, burnished color made from 100% bittersweet and sharp vintage cider apples from traditional Herefordshire farms. The juice was slow fermented by wild yeasts in old oak barrels through a cold winter and underwent malolactic fermentation in the warm spring. Oliver then added fruit sugar and lambic yeasts for a second alcoholic fermentation, adding a touch more alcohol and complexity. It was finished in oak, for maturity, before final blending and bottling. The first transatlantic cider that is everything a bittersweet cider should be.

Cidery Description: Oliver’s strives to produce premium products, while valuing the health and well being of its consumers, its employees, the earth’s natural resources, and the environment. In fact, Oliver’s have created a charter that they hope all cider makers will follow. Its tenets are these:

To help secure the future of UK orchards and their ecosystems
Preserve the integrity of cider and perry as valuable products of recognized quality using only UK fruit
Declare ingredients (with traceability), based on a minimum juice content of 85%, control and minimize additives and use only natural products.”

Price: $14.99
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing during a cruise port stop.

First Impression: Moderate amber hue. Still (no carbonation) with some froth. Smells amazingly complex, of bittersweet apple juice, caramel, and a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, and bitterness. High tannins. Hints of funk. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet apple, caramel, leather, orange, brown sugar, must, and spice. Long finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and complexity. Low sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Amazing! This was crazy rich and complex. I love the color too – it is so rare to find such a naturally dark cider. I was surprised to not find more funk or any sourness, which is rare for a wild fermented cider. This is now one of my favorite English ciders. Best drank at cellar temperature (in between fridge and room temperature).

Closing Notes: I hope I get the opportunity to try more varieties from Oliver’s! I liked this one just slightly more than Desire (as Gold Rush was more tannic and complex).

Have you tried Oliver’s Gold Rush? What did you think?

Sandford Orchard Straw & Oak

June 19, 2017June 11, 2017 cidersays review, Sandford Orchards cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Sandford Orchards, Straw & Oak, Straw and Oak, tasting notes

Review of Sandford Orchards Straw & Oak, an English cider from cider apples pressed through straw, then oak barrel aged. It is my first time trying this cider, although I’ve previously had The General and Chestnut Cask from this cidery, and English ciders are a favorite of mine.

Cider: Straw & Oak
Cidery: Sandford Orchards
Cidery Location: Crediton UK
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apples, pressed through straw, oak barrel aged

Availability: semi wide release, imported into the U.S. by B. United International Inc. out of Oxford CT (the cidery also has an online store if you are in England)

Cider Description: Pressed through wheat reed and barley straw in 2013 this cider is full of fresh grapefruit, pear and elderflower aroma and has developed a superb astringent, mature oak finish. (aged for one year in oak barrels)

Apple Varieties: Harry Masters Jersey, Michelin, and Browns

Cidery Description: Sandford Orchards is craft cider producer from the heart of idyllic, rural Devon. Our methods are simple and so is our ethos: we only bottle the best. We are enormously proud to have been recognised for our endeavours. We are a family business full of passion for our products, we believe that Devon ciders and juices are the best in the world – we want you to taste them!

This appears to be a for-export-only cider variety for them. Sandford Orchards was founded in 2003, so they are well-established, but not one of the very old English cideries (like Aspall and Sheppy’s).

Price: $6.85
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

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

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low to moderate bitterness. Moderate tannins. Low funk. Hints of sourness. Notes of orange, grapefruit, leather, caramel, must, oak, earthiness, and bittersweet apples. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. High complexity. Low oak flavor.

My Opinion: I loved the flavor notes of this cider, but didn’t enjoy the bitterness and mouth-puckering tartness/acidity. More sweetness probably could have balanced out those qualities. Pressing through straw added a unique twist to this one, and there was an interesting combination of tart fruitiness with richness.

Closing Notes: Imported English ciders can be an awesome value, and I’m always on the lookout for new ones to try. However, I prefer English ciders more like Dunketons, Aspall, and Sheppy’s.

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

Henney’s Dry Cider

June 9, 2017June 16, 2017 cidersays Henney's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, dry, England, English Cider, hard cider, Henney's, Herefordshire, tasting notes

Review of Henney’s Dry Cider, from England. It is my first time trying it, although I’ve sampled their Vintage variety. I’m also a big fan of English cider in general, having tried a number of selections (see here for some examples).

Cider: Dry
Cidery: Henney’s
Cidery Location: Worcester, Herefordshire, England
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apple varieties (such as Browns Apple, Michelin, Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, and Tremletts Bitter)

Availability: semi wide release (imported by Shelton Brothers)

Cider Description: Our best selling cider. Smooth, light and refreshing. Sweet, appley aroma. Palate has a delicious bittersweet apple character with some spicy bite and a bit of a tannic grip. Very fruity and quite pure, with a nice savoury twist.

Cidery Description: At Henney’s we believe that the best way to make cider is to start with high quality ingredients and to keep the process as simple as possible. This has helped us to win many prestigious awards in recent years. Each Autumn, carefully selected, locally grown, varieties of genuine cider apples are milled, pressed, and fermented. The resulting cider is then blended and stored through the winter allowing it to mature and develop a rich and mellow flavour.

Mike Henney started making cider in 1996, went commercial in 1999, and by 2013, cider production was over 250,000 gallons a year.

Price: $6
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never seen their cider, but had heard of it.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, slightly tannic and acidic.

Tasting Notes: Dry (but not completely). Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low to moderate tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple pomace, honey, pineapple, and stone fruit like apricot. Long finish. Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, complexity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. Its surprisingly fruity and refreshing, yet it still maintains great English cider flavor, tannins, etc (just not quite as rich as many English ciders).

Most Similar to: Sheppy’s Somerset Draught (more in style than flavor though), Dunkertons Black Fox, and Aspall Grand Cru & Demi Sec, although all are sweeter

Closing Notes: As much as I liked it, I have to say I much preferred their Vintage (although there would be times / meals the Dry would be better).

Have you tried Henney’s English cider? What did you think?

Henney’s Vintage Still Cider 2014

May 15, 2017May 15, 2017 cidersays Henney's cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, English cidre, hard cider, Henney's, Herefordshire, tasting notes

Review of Henney’s Vintage Still 2014 cider. It is my first time trying any of their cider, but I am a big English cider fan (see here for some examples).

Cider: Vintage Still Cider 2014
Cidery: Henney’s
Cidery Location: Worcester, Herefordshire, England
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apple varieties (such as Browns Apple, Michelin, Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, and Tremletts Bitter)

Availability: semi wide release (imported by Shelton Brothers)

Cider Description: This Vintage cider is made from a single year’s harvest. It is naturally still and has been only coarsely filtered in order to retain as much flavour as possible. Sip or quaff, we don’t mind, as long as you enjoy it. Cheers!

No artificial sweetener, colourings, or flavourings added. May appear cloudy and have some sediment. Serve lightly chilled. Contains sulphites to preserve freshness.

Mike Henney started making cider in 1996, went commercial in 1999, and by 2013, cider production was over 250,000 gallons a year.

Price: $6
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never seen their cider, but had heard of it.

First Impression: Light amber hue. Still. Smells mildly rich, slightly sweet, and of caramel.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. Low bitterness. Moderate tannins. Hints of funk. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet apple pomace, caramel, leather, orange, tea, and a hint of stone fruit. Moderate to long finish, bitter and astringent. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I started off a bit on the fence about this one, but as it warmed up from fridge temperature, the flavor got more rich & complex, and surprisingly, less bitter. I think this cider has a wonderful balance; I’ve had a number of English ciders that go too dry and/or too bitter for my liking, but this was just about perfect. I wouldn’t have minded a touch more sweetness, but I certainly didn’t miss it either.

Most Similar to: Dunkertons Dry

Closing Notes: Next up I have Henney’s Dry variety (they also offer Medium and Sweet varieties, but it doesn’t appear that either of those makes it to the U.S., only the Vintage and Dry). This cider is an amazing value at $6. I’m always surprised that you can get an imported cider made from cider apples for less than the cost of a local craft cider made from dessert apples (due the larger scale of production of those types of ciders and the lower cost of cider apples in the UK). Too bad I haven’t seen it in Seattle yet. I also haven’t yet seen Dunkertons in Seattle, and can no longer find Sheppy’s Oak Matured. Too bad, as those are three of my favorite English ciders (Aspall Imperial is another). Next time I’m in Portland I’ll have to pick up a lot of English cider!

Have you tried Henney’s cider? What did you think?

Burrow Hill Medium Dry Cider

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

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

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

Availability: semi wide release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thatchers Green Goblin

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

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

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

Availability: semi wide release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

>>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.<<

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

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.).

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

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: $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?

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?

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?

Aspall Grand Cru

July 14, 2016July 8, 2016 cidersays Aspall, review aspall, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyder, England, English Cider, English Cyder, Grand Cru, hard cider, Suffolk

Review of Aspall’s Grand Cru cider, from England. I’ve also tried a number of their other varieties.

Cider: Grand Cru
Cidery: Aspall
Cidery Location: Suffolk England
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 500ml tall black bottle
Style: English cider made from sweet, sharp, and bittersweet apple varieties

Availability: Semi wide release (through Artisanal Imports)

Cider Description: Rich, golden colour. Traditional bittersweet cyder-apple aroma with orchard fruit and floral notes. Palate initially slightly sweet, then mouth- filling and full bodied. Complex array of fruit flavours balanced by gorgeous soft tannins, producing a bone dry finish. Very long aftertaste, a true sign of a classic cyder of the highest quality. An ideal partner for highly flavoured meat dishes, especially duck confit and exotic food from Asia and North African with a hint of sweetness.

Apple Varieties: 40% Sweet (Discovery, Worcester Pearmain, & Chivers Deligh), 25% Sharp (Bramley Seedling, Grenadier, & Lord Darby), and 35% Bittersweet (Tremlett’s Bitter, Yarlington Mill, Medaille d’Or, & Kingston)

Cidery Description: The Chevalliers have been making cyder at Aspall for eight generations, since 1728 when Clement Chevallier fermented his first batch of Normandy style Suffolk cyder. They still produce cyder using only the fresh juice of whole Suffolk apples and the philosophy championed by their founding ancestor, Clement. Still owned and managed by the Chevallier family, Aspall is the oldest direct lineage cyder maker in the United Kingdom. There are no hidden partners or parent companies enabling Aspall to focus on making the best possible product without compromise. Truly family owned.

Price: $7.00
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’m a big fan of Aspall, and hadn’t tried this one.

First Impression: Pale amber hue. Low carbonation with some foam upon pouring. Smells of apple juice, yeast, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Moderate carbonation. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Mild tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Rich flavor. Notes of granny smith apple skin, apple juice, yeast, honey, floral, stone fruit, mineral, and pineapple. Long strong finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate to strong flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! Aspall hasn’t disappointed me yet. I love the richness and tannins, and the extra sweetness, tartness, and flavor notes add some uniqueness.

Most Similar to: This seems like a combination of English, French, and American cider…it has the tannins of an English cider, some yeastiness & additional carbonation of a French cider, and the sweetness & tartness of an American cider. Its flavor is unique and I can’t really name any similar ciders.

Closing Notes: This cider is quite enjoyable and an exceptional value too. I look forward to continuing to try every Aspall variety I can find. My favorite remains the Imperial (black label), although it seems they have may have replaced it with the blue label version.

Have you tried Aspall Grand Cru? What did you think?

Hogan’s Medium Cider

March 14, 2016March 14, 2016 cidersays Hogan's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Hogan's, Medium Cider, UK

Review of Hogan’s Medium Cider, from the UK. This is the first cider I’ve tried from them, although I’m a fan of English cider.

Cider: Medium Cider
Cidery: Hogan’s Cider
Cidery Location: Alcester, England
ABV: 5.4%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle
Style: English craft medium dry cider

Availability: UK, U.S. (including at ShipCider.com), Russia, Hong Kong, Finland, Australia, Ireland, Lithuania, Estonia, Norway, and Germany.

Cider Description: Hogan’s Bottled Cider is fermented from only 100% fresh pressed English cider apples. Our cider tastes so good because we do not use apple concentrate and we do not add any sugars prior to fermentation. Containing more than 85% cider apple juice our premium bottled cider is made only from fresh pressed cider fruit and precious little else. Hogan’s bottled cider brings you the authentic taste of the English orchard.

Hogan’s Medium Bottled Cider is golden, well balanced, slightly sparkling cider with caramel, butterscotch and dried fruit aromas.

Cidery Description: Hogan’s ciders and perries are fermented from just fresh pressed English apples and pears, no sugars are added prior to fermentation and no apple or pear juice concentrate is used.

We think cider should be made only from fresh pressed apples. What we do is source fruit in the Autumn from lots of apple orchards in the counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

Price: $7.25
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’m a big English cider fan and hadn’t seen this one before. Their Dry Cider can also be found in my area.

First Impression: Light pumpkin orange amber. Ring of foam and large bubbles. Smells of rich ripe apples, yeast, and tannins.

Tasting Notes: Between semi-dry and semi-sweet. Mild tannins. Moderate acidity. Mild tartness. Hints of bitterness and sourness. Still. Medium bodied. Slight richness with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and yeast. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: This was a bit disappointing; I’d call it average. That slightest bit of sourness threw me off (I’ve never tasted that in English cider and I’m not a fan of sour in a cider at all). I also found the depth of flavor just wasn’t there vs. other English craft ciders I’ve had. I find it odd that they use sugar to back sweeten (vs. juice or stopping fermentation early) and list water as an ingredient (usually water is only required if a cidery uses concentrate, and they said only fresh pressed apple juice was used…so was it used to water down the cider to a certain ABV?).

Most Similar to: Other English ciders, such as from Aspall and Sheppy’s, both of which so far I like better.

Closing Notes: English ciders are one of my favorite categories. Maybe I’ll have to give another variety from Hogan’s a try.

Have you tried Hogan’s Cider? What did you think?

Thatchers Gold English Cider

January 22, 2016January 16, 2016 cidersays review, Thatchers cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English, Gold, hard cider, Thatchers, Thatchers Gold, UK

Review of Thatchers Gold English Cider. I’ve previously tried Green Goblin from Thatchers.

Cider: Gold
Cidery: Thatchers
Cidery Location: Sandford, Somerset, England
ABV: 4.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 11.2oz bottles
Style: English medium dry cider

Availability: Unknown. Thatchers Gold launched in September 2014 in the U.S. with plans to roll out to 20 states. I read its the second best selling cider in bars in the UK.

Cider Description: Thatchers Gold is a full flavored medium dry cider with a smooth and refreshing taste made using traditional techniques and expertise gained since 1904. Enjoy chilled.

Thatchers Gold tastes as good as it looks. Using the best of our traditional approach and modern techniques for a refreshing cider with a smooth appley taste and a bright sparkle.

10 grams of sugar per 11.2 ounces. I read its made from cider apples including Dabinett, Redstreak, and Porters Perfection.

Cidery Description: For generations we’ve been perfecting our orchards, our craft, and our cider.
Today we’ve got a whole range that takes you from fresh, vibrant and modern, to traditional, vintage, specialty and single variety

Price: ~$2.25 for a single bottle (runs $7.50-$9.00 for a four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Previously I’ve only seen (and tried) their Green Goblin cider. English cider is one of my favorite varieties, so I was game to try a bottle.

First Impression: Pale gold. Low carbonation with tiny bubbles. Smells like champagne, dry, of yeast and must, with only a hint of apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Moderate acidity. Low tartness. Hints of bitterness, funk, and tannins. No sourness. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate apple flavor. Light butterscotch notes but otherwise low in flavor. Light bodied. Quick finish.

My Opinion: I thought this cider was pretty average. It overall tasted very commercial and was lacking in flavor (seemed watered down). Plus the flavor seemed a bit odd, starting with the smell of champagne. Definitely don’t let this one warm up.

Most Similar to: I’d guess Magners and/or Bulmers, but I haven’t tried that one yet. From those that I have tried: Stongbow British Dry, plus Crispin Browns Lane (although less flavorful), Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider (although it had more cider apple flavor), and Dan Kelly’s Irish Cider (although not wild fermented).

Closing Notes: This was nice to try, but I was a bit disappointed. It seems to have good reviews online though.

Have you tried Thatchers cider? What did you think?

Aspall English Imperial Cider (Black Label)

December 2, 2015April 19, 2016 cidersays Aspall, review aspall, cider, cider review, England, hard cider, imperial, Suffolk

Review of Aspall’s English Imperial Cider. I’ve previously had their Dry and John Barrington varieties, which are impressive. Aspall has got to be one of the oldest cideries out there, founded in 1728! Aren’t their tall bottles awesomely distinctive? Note that it appears this cider has since been switched to a light blue label (similar description and same ABV), but I don’t have confirmation.

Cider: Imperial
Cidery: Aspall
Cidery Location: Suffolk England
ABV: 8.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle

Availability: Semi-wide release. If you can’t find it locally, you can actually get it for $7 from ShipCider.com, which ships to a number of states. Shipping can be spendy, but their cider prices are the lowest I’ve seen, so overall its not too bad, especially considering you can pick up ciders you normally don’t have access to.

Cider Description: We called this cyder Imperial in honour of our great grandfather JB Chevallier’s success at the Imperial Fruit Show in 1921. Every year we craft a special vintage. This is our 285th….Rich fudgy, tantalising flavour enhanced by bitter-sweet apples from a single year’s crop. Notes of raisins, dates and prunes. Sweet mellow finish.

Apple Composition:
Sweet (35%): Orange Cox Pippin, Royal Gala
Sharp (35%): Bramley Seedling, Howgate Wonder
Bittersweet (30%): Tremlett’s Bitter, Yarlington Mill, Medaille d’Or, Kingston

Cidery Description: Our family cyder-making business was established in 1728 by Clement Chevallier. He planted the orchards at Aspall Hall in Suffolk. The Chevallier family still live and work among Clement’s orchards and today Aspall is run by the eighth generation of the family….Aspall has been home to our family for nine generations. A tiny hamlet north of the small market town of Debenham in mid-Suffolk. It’s a rural and agricultural area characterised by the young river Deben flowing through our orchards.

Price: $8?
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Rich amber. No carbonation except for a few bubbles on the border of the glass. Smells like rich ripe apples, tannins, oak, earth, and a hint of spice and honey.

Opinion: Between semi-dry and semi-sweet. Lovely rich full-flavored English cider. Warming from the slightly higher ABV, but doesn’t taste boozy. Moderate tannins. No to low bitterness and tartness, Low acidity. No sourness or funk. Medium bodied. Medium length finish. Still (no carbonation). Tastes oaky (but isn’t barrel aged as far as I know) and has some caramelized sugar notes. I particularly enjoyed the lack of bitterness and that the level of tannins was noticeable but not extreme. I can definitely taste the bittersweet apple character. From their website I also learned they use champagne yeast on all their ciders. I found this cider’s taste didn’t too significantly change as it warmed up, so I’d recommend anywhere between fridge and room temperature, based on your preference. My go-to cider pairing is pretzel bread, and it didn’t disappoint!

Most Similar to: Other English ciders, such as Aspall, Worley’s, and Sheppy’s, English-style ciders such as from Liberty Ciderworks (English Style and its barrel aged cousin, Stonewall) & Montana Ciderworks (Darby Pub), and higher tannin ciders such as Cider Riot 1763, Alpenfire Ember, Traditions Bourbon Barrel 2012, and Whitewood Kingston Black.

Closing Notes: Awesome! Probably easily in my top 10 favorite ciders, and my favorite Aspall variety so far (although their others are also awesome). This cider is the epitome of my favorite qualities in a cider. Its also a great value, at approximately the same cost as a lot of local craft ciders I see, many of which are made from dessert apples and have flavors added (fruit, hops, spices, etc), when this is imported and contains some cider apple juice. Aspall makes some amazing ciders, and I look forward to trying more. Their website it super informative on their history, cidermaking, and more, so check it out. I highly recommend their ciders! That said, its all a matter of taste…if you prefer a lighter flavor and easy drinking / low ABV / sessionable cider, this isn’t it.

Have you tried Aspall Imperial? What did you think?

Sheppy’s Oak Matured Somerset Cider Vintage Reserve 2013

August 26, 2015August 21, 2015 cidersays review, Sheppy's cider, cider review, England, hard cider, hard cider review, Oak Aged, Oak Matured, Sheppy's, Somerset, UK, Vintage Reserve

Review of Sheppy’s Oak Matured Somerset Cider Vintage Reserve 2013. I had been on the lookout for a cider with a bold barrel influence, and this one matches that description!

Cider: Oak Matured Somerset Cider, Vintage Reserve 2013
Cidery: Sheppy’s
Cidery Location: Somerset, Taunton, UK
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml brown glass bottle

Availability: Wide release in UK, but likely limited in the U.S.

Cider Description: Vintage Reserve is a fine traditional English cider from the Sheppy family cidermakers. This quality sparkling cider is crafted from apples from a single year’s harvest grown in the Sheppy orchards in Somerset, England.

Cidery Description: Farming 320 acres at Three Bridges Farm since 1917, three generations of the Sheppy family have weathered the ups and downs of farming and cidermaking by embracing change and opportunity. Craftsmen cidermakers for over 200 years. Quality is central to all our ciders, which are produced from local and home-grown apples here at Three Bridges Farm. Modern technology has been used to assist the completely traditional production of fine English cider, but never to compromise the quality which is associated with the name Sheppy’s Cider. We are proud to share with visitors from far and wide our beautiful farm and orchards, and to show you as much as possible of how and where we make our delicious ciders.

Price: $7.00 / 500ml bottle
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, remembering a recommendation from Sarah of Cider Log

First Impression: Golden amber. Little carbonation. Distinct rick oak apple scent.

Opinion: Semi-dry. Wow, this is actually heavily oak aged! I had been on the lookout for a cider I could say that about, and found it. For me, it is a favorable heavy oak flavor. I also pick up caramel, burnt sugar, and vanilla. My only complaint is the moderate bitterness with the medium-length finish. However, once it warmed up a bit from fridge temperature, it became less bitter and the flavor smoothed out a bit.

So, I’d recommend between fridge and room temperature with this cider. At room temperature it got a bit funky. I find it odd this was described as sparkling cider when I found little carbonation, but maybe they meant not still? It was also a relatively non-descriptive description on the bottle, which didn’t do this cider justice. I like that they vintage this cider, as I’d imagine the cider crop can vary significantly year to year, which can definitely impact the flavor, so this way consumers know they may be getting a slightly different product than they had previously. This is a thick, rich, earthy, and smokey cider with a strong oak barrel flavor.

Most Similar to: English ciders, but with a more rich & heavy oak flavor. If you want something sweeter with a less intense but still bold flavor, I’d recommend Thistly Cross Whisky Cask.

Closing Notes: Yum! I started off questioning whether I liked this cider, but it really grew on me, and I was sad when the bottle was empty. For an imported craft cider this seemed to be a good deal at $7. Full Throttle Bottles is the only shop I’ve seen Sheppy’s at so far, and they had one other variety when I bought this one (Somerset Draught Cider I believe).

Have you tried Sheppy’s Oak Matured cider? What did you think?

Do you have any other recommendations for me for ciders with a heavy barrel influence?

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