Far West Proper Dry

Review of Far West Cider’s Proper Dry. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their San Joaquin Sparkler and Orchard Blend No. 1. I got this bottle through Press Then Press, a new online cider store focusing on small batch ciders. They had a soft launch Aug 19, and will officially launch Sept 9 2019.

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

Cider: Proper Dry
Cidery: Far West Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider, dry

Availability: only through Press Then Press (which ships to 43/50 states), unless you happen to be at a specific store in California

Distributor Description: Don’t taste the same, taste the difference! Press Then Press – Farm to you small batch cider. We focus on small batch and hard to find cider. Please visit our curated online store! We are a mom and pop who wanted more fine cider available to everyone (over 21), so we started this up. Press Then Press will email you when a fine cider is available for purchase. If you want it, visit our site and purchase it! Pick up your cider in Seattle, or we ship to you. Sign up with your email to be included on future available ciders. You will hear about it first! 1)Press the fruit then 2) Press the order button

Cider Description: Our Proper Dry cider uses a mixed blend of apples from our orchards with an emphasis on the crisp and clean acidity that gives most tart apples their zing. This blend packs a whole bunch of fruit on the nose while keeping a crispy clean and fully dry finish on the palate. We think it pairs well with your favorite fish on a dish, mornings on the sundeck, and trying hard, but not too hard.

Cidery Description: Californian ciders from a 4th generation family farm in San Joaquin County.

Price: $15
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through Press Then Press

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of crisp citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Low carbonation. High tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of lemon, green apple, and mineral. Long tart finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: This was a bit too tart and dry for my personal liking. However, it had a nice flavor profile, similar to the Greenwood Dry I tried at the same time. I’d recommend this to folks who like tart dry ciders, and even champagne lovers, as although this is lower carbonation, the flavor profile reminded me of champagne.

Most Similar to: a tart version of Bauman’s Dry, Seattle Cider Dry, or Original Sin Extra Dry

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying the other ciders in Press Then Press‘ introductory lineup. Their website is well laid out and informative, making the order process easy, and providing access to unique ciders which otherwise wouldn’t be available to most folks.

Have you tried Far West Cider? What did you think?

Far West Cider Orchard Blend No. 1

August 16, 2019August 18, 2019 cidersays Far West, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, Far West Cider, hard cider, Orchard Blend, Press Then Press, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s Orchard Blend No. 1. I’ve previously sampled a different vintage of this cider (see here), plus Far West’s San Joaquin Sparkler. I got this bottle through Press Then Press, a new online cider store focusing on small batch ciders. I got a sneak peak, but they are ~~planning to launch late Aug / early Sept 2019~~ having a soft launch Aug 19 and an official launch Sept 9 2019; sign up for e-mails to be first in the know.

Cider: Orchard Blend No. 1
Cidery: Far West Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: only through Press Then Press (which ships to 43/50 states), unless you happen to be at a specific store in California

Cider Description: This cider uses a combination of GoldRush, Cripps Pink and Granny Smith apples grown on Chinchiolo Family Farms. It is fermented with Champagne yeast at very low temperatures and aged to develop more complexity than your typical cider. Fruit-forward, sparkling, and just barely semi-sweet with great acid balance

Cidery Description: Californian ciders from a 4th generation family farm in San Joaquin County.

Price: $15
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: originally browsing when in a bottle shop in San Francisco CA, now through Press Then Press

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, tart.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple, lemon, pineapple, and honey. Moderate length tart finish. Low to moderate apple flavor, complexity, and overall flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. Tasty and easy to drink. This perceives a bit drier (less sweet) than the last vintage I tried, possibly because it is more tart & acidic than that version. Overall I’d expect this to have wide appeal.

Most Similar to: Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet and Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider

Have you tried Far West Cider? What did you think?

Far West Orchard Blend No. 1

January 24, 2019January 21, 2019 cidersays Far West, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, hard cider, Orchard Blend, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s Orchard Blend No. 1. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their San Joaquin Sparkler.

Cider: Orchard Blend No. 1
Cidery: Far West Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: mostly only in Northern California (see here), plus online sales

Cidery Description: Californian ciders from a 4th generation family farm in San Joaquin County.

They have a taproom in Richmond CA.

Price: $11.99 (although its $11 at their online store)
Where Bought: Village Market in the ferry building in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, tart.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, citrus, and pineapple. Long tart finish. Low to moderate apple flavor, complexity, and overall flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. Tasty and easy to drink. Overall this would probably have wide appeal.

Most Similar to: Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet and Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider

Closing Notes: I thought it was a bit spendy for being a typical craft cider from dessert apples, like you’d often find in a 4 or 6 pack for this price.

Have you tried Far West Cider Orchard Blend No. 1? What did you think?

Far West San Joaquin Sparkler

April 20, 2018April 20, 2018 cidersays Far West, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, hard cider, San Joaquin Sparkler, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s San Joaquin Sparkler. It is my first time trying anything from this California cidery.

Cider: San Joaquin Sparkler, 2015 harvest
Cidery: Far West Cider
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from primarily Cripps Pink apples (aka Pink Lady), wild yeast fermented, off dry

Availability: only in California (see here), plus online sales (although at the time of review I didn’t see this cider in stock)

Cider Description: This cider uses primarily Cripps Pink apples. We encourage a slow native fermentation in the freshly pressed apple juice before inoculating with Champagne yeast to finish this cider to dryness. After aging for a minimum of two months, this off-dry cider shows some deep woody apple notes and phenolic spiciness. Paris well with leather chairs, old books, easy conversation, and difficult-to-pronounce cheeses.

Cidery Description: Every bottle of Far West Cider is a product of our fourth generation family farm in San Joaquin County, California. All of the apples used in this cider are harvested and pressed by hand on our ranch and cared to throughout fermentation, aging, and bottling to help express the best of the fruit that we grow.

They have a tasting room in Richmond CA (see here).

Price: $9.49
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, when we were there on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Barely noticeable smell, acidic dry apple with a hint of nuttiness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Subtle notes of tart green apple, lemon, herbs, butter, almonds, and must. Moderate length finish with a hint of brine. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor and complexity.

My Opinion: I was indifferent about this one, I didn’t personally like or dislike it. The flavor was subtle and quite peculiar, difficult to describe. However, the description said phenolic, and based on my experience with a FlavorActiv sensory analysis kit, my taste buds don’t detect it well. It tasted nearly like a farmhouse-style cider, but didn’t have the sourness or funk I’d expect with that style (and wild fermented ciders in general). I’d recommend this for folks who like interesting wine-like ciders.

Most Similar to: nothing I’ve tasted

Closing Notes: I’d be interested in hearing from others as far as what flavors they picked up with this cider. It looks like this cider is rated well on untappd, but none of the reviews really described it.

Have you tried Far West Cider? What did you think?

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