Finnegan

Finnegan Cider Semi-Dry

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Review of Finnegan Cider Semi-Dry.  It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Harvest Blend.

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Cider:  Semi-Dry
Cidery:  Finnegan Cider
Cidery Location:  Lake Oswega OR
ABV:  6.9%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style: American orchard-based cider from cider apples, semi-dry

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Availability:  Oregon, Washington, and California (per Cider Journal, as of 2015, although I have not seen them in the Seattle area), and appear to be distributed through Shelton Brothers

Cider Description:  Our semi-dry cider is fermented to near-dryness and uses a blend of authentic, old-world English, American, and French cider apples such as Yarlington Mill, Foxwhelp, Domaines, Roxbury Russet, and others.  Our cider is a balance of the crucial elements of distinguished cider:  tannin, acidity, and aromaticity.  Finnegan cider features aromas of honeysuckle, melon, and ripe apples, with flavors of peach, apricot, and cognac.  It pairs superbly from appetizer to entree.

Cidery Description: An artisan crafted hard cider using only traditional cider apples – Our commitment to a quality-cider experience.

Finnegan Cider has been around since 2010, and planted their own orchard in 2012.  The owners/cidermakers are Colleen Finnegan and Josh Johnson.  Here is a nice writeup from Beervana, who visited with Josh Johnson at their orchard.

Price:  $22
Where Bought:  The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing

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First Impression:  Light gold hue.  Low carbonation.  Smells of rich sweet caramelized apple.

Tasting Notes:  Dry to semi-dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness.  High acidity.  Low tannins, bitterness, and funk.  Hints of sourness.  Notes of caramelized apple pomace, butterscotch, orange, lemon, and wood.  Moderate length finish.  Low apple flavor and sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked it, especially the flavor notes.  However, I would have preferred more sweetness and/or less tartness & acidity, as it was a bit harsh.

Most Similar to:  Wandering Aengus Wickson and Eve’s Scatterseed

Closing Notes:  I preferred their Harvest Blend, plus that one was much lower priced (although I bought them from different stores in different states, several years apart).

Have you tried Finnegan cider?  What did you think?

Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend

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Review of Finnegan Cider’s Harvest Blend.  It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

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Cider:  Harvest Blend
Cidery:  Finnegan Cider
Cidery Location:  Lake Oswego OR
ABV:  6.9%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  American artisan cider from cider apples

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Availability:  Oregon, Washington, and California (per Cider Journal, as of 2015, although I have not seen them in the Seattle area), and appear to be distributed through Shelton Brothers

Cider Description:  Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend highlights the ripe apple characteristics of class English, American, and French cider apples such as Porter’s Perfection, Chisel Jersey, Ashmead’s Kernel, Calville Blanc, and others.  Our cider is a balance of the crucial elements of distinguished cider: tannin, acidity, and aromaticity.  Finnegan Cider features aromas of honeysuckle, melon, and ripe apples, with flavors of peach, apricot, and cognac, and it pairs superbly from appetizer to entree.

Cidery Description:  An artisan crafted hard cider using only traditional cider apples – Our commitment to a quality-cider experience.

Finnegan Cider has been around since 2010, and planted their own orchard in 2012.  The owners/cidermakers are Colleen Finnegan and Josh Johnson.  Here is a nice writeup from Beervana, who visited with Josh Johnson at their orchard.  At least as of that 2013 article, Josh worked full time as a neurologist (impressive!).

Price:  $7.35
Where Bought:  Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I picked up a lot of ciders that day when I was in town for Cider Rite of Spring.  I had never heard of this cidery and the description on the bottle sounded awesome.

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First Impression:  Light orange amber.  Moderate to high carbonation (it tried to overflow after opening…).  Smells rich, of ripe apples, caramel, and leather.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-dry.  Light bodied with a frothy texture.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Low bitterness and tannins.  Hints of funk.  No sourness.  Notes of rich ripe apples, caramel, leather, orange, stone fruit, honey, oak, and apple brandy (?).  Moderate to long finish.  Moderate flavor intensity, apple flavor, and sessionability.  High complexity.

My Opinion:  Excellent.  I liked the richness, carbonation, unique combination of flavor notes…everything.  Also, this was surprisingly boozy tasting for the ABV (especially on the finish), but in a good way.

Most Similar to:  It tastes in between English cyder and French cidre, with the high carbonation & apple-forward flavor of a French cider, the richness & tannins of an English cider, and the cider apple flavor & hint of funk from both.

Closing Notes:  This cider is a great value; I would usually pay $15-20 for 750ml of cider from cider apples like this, so $10-13 for 500ml.  Hopefully I can find more of their cider sometime soon.  I’m actually surprised I’ve never heard of this cidery previously; they remind me of EZ Orchards, also in Oregon, sold in 500ml bottles, and an excellent value.

Have you tried Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend?  What did you think?