Worley’s Red Hen

Review of Worley’s Red Hen.  It is my first time trying this English cider, but I have had their Special ReservePremium Vintage, and Mendip Hills.

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

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Availability:  semi wide release

Cider Description:  Red Hen is a rich, satisfying cider made from a blend of early-season bittersweet cider apples with sharp apples from the same part of the season.  It is naturally the colour of golden straw and its two main characteristics are distinctive fruity apple and a lingering spicy tannin.  The name is inspired by our lovely flock of chickens.

Cidery Description:  Worley’s ciders are made on a 17th Century farm in England using fresh-pressed apple juice to create modern ciders with bold tannins and deep flavours.

Price:  $8
Where Bought:  Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing; this is the first time I’ve seen this variety

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First Impression:  Medium orange amber hue.  Very low carbonation.  Smells rich, tannic, and funky.

Tasting Notes:  On the sweeter side of semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and funk.  Moderate tannins.  No sourness.  Notes of caramel, orange, and leather.  Moderate length finish.  Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, sessionability, and complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked it.  However, its not one of my favorites, mostly due to the bitterness.

Most Similar to:  Worley’s Premium Vintage, although that seemed more complex and cost $11, and this was only $8.

Closing Notes:  My favorite Worley’s is Mendip Hills.

Have you tried English cider?  What did you think?

Aspall Perronelle’s Blush

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 – DryJohn BarringtonImperial (black label), Demi SecImperial (blue label), and Grand Cru.

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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

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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.

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.

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

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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

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.

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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

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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.

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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).

Most Similar to:  Henney’s VintageRocquette XC Exceptional Cider, and Finnegan Harvest Blend

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?

Newton Court Gasping Goose Organic Cider

Review of Newton Court’s Gasping Goose Organic cider.  It is my first time trying this, but I recently sampled their perry on draft.

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Cider:  Gasping Goose Organic Cider
Cidery:  Newton Court
Cidery Location:  Herefordshire England
ABV:  4.8%
How Supplied:  330ml single bottles (and multi-packs, kegs, and bag-in-box)
Style:  English Organic craft cider from cider apples

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Availability:  Unknown.  It looks like they are in at least a few other major U.S. cities, such as San Francisco, plus obviously, England.

Cider Description:  This cider is the result of 14 years of Paul’s experience growing, pressing and blending the best cider apples in the country – and now it’s certified organic. Gasping Goose is a complex medium cider with a slightly tannic finish. Pair it with a pork belly or with a chicken pie – it’s a refreshing proper cider that loves hearty real food.

Cidery Description:  Paul started Newton Court Cidery back in 2000. His mum and dad still come over most days to help out with the lambing and whatever else needs fixing…For us, craft cider means cider that’s pressed at our farm by a master cider maker named Paul (and a few of his local friends). It means making cider out of proper apples. It means a cidery surrounded by orchards, not industrial equipment. It means people covered in mud and apple peels, not people in suits. Buying craft cider supports local business, the heritage and the countryside…But most of all, craft cider tastes much, much better.

Price:  $4 / single bottle
Where Bought:  Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  Sarah (my friend and the Cider House manager) mentioned she tried when she was in England last year and they were newly available here.  They also had a perry from this cidery on draft when I bought this bottle.

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First Impression:  Dark straw yellow hue.  Low to moderate carbonation.  Smells rich and tannic.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Hints of bitterness and funk.  Moderate to high tannins.  No sourness.  Notes of bittersweet cider apples, leather, oak, butterscotch, and orange.  Long tannic drier finish.  Moderate sessionability, apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion:  Awesome!  I really enjoyed it.  Rich, tannic, apple-forward, mid-level sweetness, and no sourness….I don’t have a single complaint.  This is one of my favorite English ciders.

Most Similar to:  Dunkertons Black Fox and Henney’s Vintage

Closing Notes:  I like that this is available in single bottles, but hopefully I can find somewhere that sells it in a multi pack so it costs a bit less (although $5 / 330ml is less than $8 / 500ml, which is pretty typical for English cider around here, although they were going for less at Bushwhacker in Portland).

Have you tried Newton Court cider?  What did you think?

Sandford Orchard Straw & Oak

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.

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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

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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

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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.

Most Similar to:  Sandford Orchards Chestnut CaskSandford Orchards The GeneralHecks Tremletts Bitter, Ross on Wye, and Merridale Scrumpy Cider

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?

Worley’s Special Reserve

Review of Worley’s Special Reserve, a keeved English cider (a process more common with French cidre, and which makes a naturally sweet and sparkling cider).  I previously tried this at Cider Summit Seattle 2015 (see here), but wanted to give it another go.  I’ve also tried Worley’s other two ciders which are available in the U.S., Premium Vintage and Mendip Hills.

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Cider:  Special Reserve
Cidery:  Worley’s
Cidery Location:  Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK
ABV:  5.4%
How Supplied:  750ml corked & caged bottle
Style:  English craft cider from cider apples, keeved, medium sweet, naturally sparkling

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Availability:  semi wide release

Cider Description:  Worley’s Special Reserve is made from 100% pure cider apple juice using the ancient art of keeving.  This creates a naturally sparkling cider of outstanding fruity character with subtle undertones of caramel.  It has a sweetness and rounded tannins lifted by a long-lasting carbonation.  Bottle-conditioning results in a natural sediment.  Store and chill upright and pour with care to leave sediment in the bottle.

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:  $16.99
Where Bought:  The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  initially at Cider Summit Seattle

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First Impression:  Light amber hue.  Low to moderate carbonation with some foam.  Smells funky, of bittersweet cider apples.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Medium bodied with a fluffy texture.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Low bitterness.  Moderate tannins.  Moderate to high funk, especially on the finish.  Hints of sourness.  Moderate to long finish.  Notes of bittersweet cider apple juice and pomace, orange, caramel, and barnyard.  High apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity.

My Opinion:  I enjoyed this.  It has an interesting mix between lightness and richness.  However, I would have liked less funk (although the quality has grown on me in the last couple years).

Most Similar to:  A cross between English and French cider, which are both favorites of mine.

Closing Notes:  I’ve been in a big English cider mood lately, but the selection of them has decreased in the Seattle area oddly enough (seems like the imports don’t move very quickly, so the shops haven’t been re-ordering them).  My favorite Worley’s cider so far is Mendip Hills, which had all the flavor without the funk.

Have you tried keeved cider?  What did you think?

Henney’s Dry Cider

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).

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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)

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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.

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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

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).

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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)

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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.

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.

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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?

Aspall Dry

Review of Aspall’s Dry cider.  I tried this awhile ago, but at an event (this is the first bottle I’ve bought).  I’ve also previously sampled their John Barrington, Imperial (black label), Demi Sec, Imperial (blue label), Grand Cru, and Perronelle’s Blush.

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Cider:  Dry
Cidery:  Aspall
Cidery Location:  Suffolk England
ABV:  6.8%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles (and draft)
Style:  English cider from cider apples

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Availability:  Semi wide release (through Artisanal Imports)

Cider Description:  Mid straw-gold colour. Clean, light floral aroma of dessert apples. Dry, round and creamy on the palate with medium fullness. Good acid balance, pleasant soft tannins and elegant, long finish. A highly versatile partner for all kinds of food, for example charcuterie, sweet & spicy, and a variety of cheeses.

Apple Varieties:  50% Sweet (Cox Orange Pippin, Early Windsor, Royal Gala, Katy), 35% Sharp (Bramley Seedling, Howgate Wonder), and 15% 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:  $8
Where Bought:  Schilling Cider House
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  I first tried Aspall (this one) at the Seattle International Beerfest in 2015, one of the first events I blogged (see here).

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First Impression:  Dark straw yellow hue.  Very low carbonation.  Smells rich and tannic.

Tasting Notes:  Dry to semi-dry.  Moderate tartness, acidity, and tannins.  Low bitterness.  Hints of funk.  No sourness.  Notes of apple pomace, lemon, and herbs.  Low apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability, flavor, and complexity.

My Opinion:  This isn’t my favorite Aspall, but it is a very solid selection and a great value.  I haven’t disliked anything I’ve tried from them so far.  I like slightly sweeter than this however as I find them more flavorful.

Most Similar to:  Other Aspall ciders (although this is their driest selection in the U.S. at least), Dunkertons Dry, and Crispin Browns Lane

Closing Notes:  I think there are still some Aspall varieties left for me to try.  The biggest disappointment is that they appear to have stopped selling the black label Imperial cider in the U.S., and now only have the blue label one (which is still great, but I liked the black label one better).

Have you tried Aspall English cider?  What did you think?

Sandford Orchards Chestnut Cask

Review of Sandford Orchards Chestnut Cask, an English chestnut wood aged cider.  It is my first time trying this cider, although I’ve previously had The General from this cidery, and English ciders are a favorite of mine.

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Cider:  Chestnut Cask
Cidery:  Sandford Orchards
Cidery Location:  Crediton UK
ABV:  6.8%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  English cider from cider apples, Chestnut wood aged

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Availability:  semi wide release (they also have an online store if you are in England)

Cider Description:  Pressed in 2013 fermented and aged in Chestnut wood.  Rich and round tannins with a delicate residual sweetness and bitter finish that will please a cultured palate.

Apple Varieties:  Sweet Alford, Court Royal, Dabinett

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

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First Impression:  Light orange amber.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells rich, tannic, slightly sweet, and of caramel.

Tasting Notes:  On the drier side of semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Moderate bitterness.  Moderate tannins.  Hints of sourness and funk.  Notes of wood, earth, almonds, caramel, and butterscotch.  Long bitter finish.  Low to moderate apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion:  This cider was too bitter for my liking, especially on the finish.  However, I really liked the flavor profile and tannins.  I think a touch more sweetness could have helped to balance out some of the bitterness too.

Most Similar to:  English and English-style ciders with are drier and more bitter, such as Sandford Orchards The GeneralHecks Tremletts Bitter, Ross on Wye, and Merridale Scrumpy Cider

Closing Notes:  If you don’t mind bitterness, Sandford Orchards make some solid ciders, and they are a great value at under $7 a bottle for a cider made from cider apples (and imported too!).  However, I prefer less bitter English ciders, like Dunketons, Aspall, and Sheppy’s.  I think this is the first time I’ve had (or even seen) a Chestnut wood aged cider (oak is most common).

Have you tried English cider?  What did you think?

Burrow Hill Medium Dry Cider

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.

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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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.

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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?

Hecks Somerset Tremletts Bitter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried Hecks Cider?  What did you think?

Dunkertons Black Fox

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.<<

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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

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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

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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?

Dunkertons Dry Organic Cider

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.

>>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.<<

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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

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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:  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

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

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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

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.

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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

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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.

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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?

Rocquette XC Exceptional Cider

Review of Rocquette’s XC Exceptional Cider, from the Channel Islands in the UK.  Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, although I’m a fan of English cider.

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Cider:  XC Exceptional Cider
Cidery:  Rocquette
Cidery Location:  Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK
ABV:  4.5%
How Supplied:  clear glass 11.2oz bottles
Style:  English cider made from cider apple varieties

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Availability: Mostly in the UK, but at least some U.S.A. availability (through Half Pint Ciders).

Cider Description:  XC – Exceptional Rocquette Cider has been crafted from specially selected apples to produce a lighter, more refreshing drink.

Apple Varieties: Dabinett, Michelin, Tom Putt, Angela, Helene, Amanda, Three Counties, Bramleys, Red Falstaff, and 10% community gathered apples in Guernsey.

Cidery Description:  Nestled in the Fauxquets Valley in the heart of Guernsey countryside and with distant views of the English Channel, the Meller family farm has become established as the home of Rocquette Cider.

To produce a quality, local cider has always been our dream. From planting the seed to creating a finished packaged product, which competes on an international stage, we are committed to continuing the long established cider heritage of Guernsey.

We are proud of our sustainable approach to cider making and passionate about our brands. We hope that you become immersed in this as you explore our site.

Price:  $4 / single bottle
Where Bought:  Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing

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First Impression:  Deep caramel amber hue (lovely!).  Nearly still.  Smells rich, of bittersweet apples, caramel, and tannins.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry to semi-sweet.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness and acidity.  Low to moderate bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of bittersweet apples, caramel, brown sugar, coffee, apple pomace, and orange.  Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.  Moderate to long finish.

My Opinion:  I really enjoyed this cider; the flavor was unique.  However, its not one of my favorite English ciders (which so far is Aspall Imperial, black label).

Most Similar to:  Other English ciders from bittersweet apples.  It also reminds me some of Locust Bittersweet Reserve, which on draft had some similar coffee and orange notes (although more body, sweetness, and unfiltered qualities).

Closing Notes:   This is a unique English cider, with some impressive color and flavor.  I haven’t seen it sold anywhere else, and I haven’t seen any other varieties from them, but if I do, I’ll give them a try.

Have you tried Rocquette?  What did you think?

Aspall Grand Cru

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

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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

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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.

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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?

Merridale Scrumpy Cider

Review of Merridale’s Scrumpy Cider.  This is the first cider I’ve tried from them.  It isn’t available in the U.S., but I picked it up in Victoria B.C., a port stop on our Alaska cruise (one of six ciders I bought).

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Cider:  Scrumpy
Cidery:  Merridale
Cidery Location:  Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada
ABV:  11.0%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  Canadian craft cider made from cider & crab apple varieties

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Availability:  Only in British Columbia Canada.  See Merridale’s website for locations.

Cider Description:  Winner of Gold & Silver North American Brewers Awards in Idaho Springs. If you’re a Scotch drinker, try this one. Scrumpy is strong and sharp, and rich in the flavours of our strongest cider apples. Once you acquire a taste for Scrumpy, nothing else will do! In old England, scrumpy was a cider made by farm workers who stole or ‘scrumped’ apples from the orchard.

Cidery Description:  Here at Merridale, we use cider apple varieties that have been proven for centuries in England, France, and Germany to make the best cider. All of our ciders are made from 100% pure juice, and only the first pressing is used. We do not add water or re-press the apples to increase the yield because we believe this compromises the flavour. Being purists, we do not use concentrates, chemicals at bottling, pasteurization, or fine filtration of juice. We ferment our juice slowly and naturally, to delicately bring out all of the flavour the fruit has to offer.

The Cowichan Valley mirrors the optimum growing and climate conditions of the renowned cider regions in the UK and Europe. Merridale’s location was chosen, after years of research, as the perfect combination of climate, aspect and soil conditions (our terroire) to grow world-class fruit. As with fine wines, you need world-class fruit to make a world-class beverage! We have two rows of Jonagold apples, the only dessert apples in the orchard. The rest are cider-specific varieties like Tremlett’s Bitter, Michelin, Yarlington Mill, Dabinett, Chisel Jersey, Kermerien, Julienne, Judaine, Frequin Rouge, and Hauxapfel.

At Merridale we take no shortcuts with our cider. We are passionate about following practices and procedures that do not ever compromise the quality. Greater care requires more labour and time, but the result is worth it. The way we handle our fruit, our fermentations, our packaging and our customers is consistent with this philosophy. We believe that consumers appreciate our passion. Some of our practices are important to know so that you can understand what is unique about Merridale.  As cider makers, our customers and our staff continue to inspire us. We hope you can taste the passion of our producers and all of us at Merridale.

Price:  ~$7.50 USD with the current exchange rate
Where Bought:  The Strath in Victoria B.C. (which had a great cider selection for a small shop by the way)
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I had heard of them, and I love high ABV (Imperial) and English-style ciders, so this sounded really good.

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First Impression:  Orange amber hue.  Low carbonation upon pouring.  Smells rich, of tannins, caramel, and honey.

Tasting Notes:  Dry to semi-dry.  Nearly still.  Medium bodied.  Moderate tannins.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  Moderate bitterness.  No sourness.  A hint of funk.  Notes of apple pomace, caramel, honey, and oak.  Long warming finish.  Moderate apple flavor.  Low sessionability.

My Opinion:  Tastes like an English-style cider with an extra kick of ABV (which I assume is from the crab apples, which are high in sugar) and slightly harsher flavor.  I really enjoyed it, but this is probably not for everyone (my husband didn’t like it at all, although he’s not a fan of English-style ciders like I am).

Most Similar to:  English Imperial style ciders and ciders made with crabapples.  This reminds me of a cross between Liberty’s Stonewall and Manchurian Crabapple.

Closing Notes:   I’m impressed!  This was also a good value with it being made with cider apples and being oak cask aged, especially good with the current exchange rate.  Hopefully I can try something else from Merridale in the future.

Have you tried Merridale cider?  What did you think?