WA Cider Week 2020 Tasting Notes – Virtual Edition

Its that time of year – Washington Cider Week, the 10th annual, September 10-20th 2020. Usually Northwest Cider invites me and other media folks to an awesome exclusive preview tasting event. This year things are different. WA Cider Week is still on, but most events will be virtual, or for local pickup – check out the event calendar here. For me, this means a virtual private tasting, so here are my notes on 4 new cider releases to kick things off.

>>This is a review of sample bottles/cans provided to Cider Says by Greenwood, Spin, Locust, and Tieton. 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.<<

Some info on Spin Cider, as this is my first review of their cider – This is a Kitsap county cidery started last year by two cyclists. They are doing a virtual re-opening for WA Cider Week. Stay tuned as I’ll soon be reviewing 2 other releases from them, ‘Sammamish River Trail’ and ‘Tour de Lopez’. Their ciders are currently available online and for local pickup, but they plan to increase as the Covid situation improves in 2021.

Spin Cider (Olalla WA) An Apple for a Teacher (7.2%): This cider is dedicated to educators, as Cathie & Mark work in teaching & training so can understand the tough time they are having right now. The cidery is even offering special discounts to teachers as this blend rolls out. Mild apple scent, on the sweeter side of semi-dry, some tartness & carbonation, apple-forward with a bit of complexity reminiscent of heirloom apples, but super friendly and sessionable.

Tieton Cider (Yakima WA) Huckleberry 6.9%): This is a new seasonal release using Northwest huckleberries. See my previous Tieton reviews here. Smells of berry, on the sweeter side of semi-dry, low tartness, super juicy, moderate blackberry flavor with a hint of cranberry.

Locust Cider (Woodinville WA) Peach Ginger (6.0%): This is a new release for WA cider week, with peach juice and a hint of ginger, sold in a four pack of 16oz cans. See my previous Locust reviews here . Mild scent, on the sweeter side of semi-dry, mild stone fruit flavor with some citrus and a hint of ginger bite on the finish. It seems like most cideries go way overboard on ginger, but this was nice, as it was so subtle, and didn’t ruin my palette.

Greenwood Cider (Seattle WA) Whiskey Barrel Heirloom (9.0%): This is a new release, made from more than 13 varieties of heirloom, bittersweet, & bittersharp cider apples and aged for 6 months in Westland whiskey barrels. See my previous Greenwood reviews here. Smells of aged spirits, lovely darkened hue from the barrel, on the drier side of semi-dry, complex apple & whiskey flavor, and oak finish with a hint of bitterness.

Closing Notes: I enjoyed all four ciders. Its been awhile since I’ve had a tasting flight, and I had missed the experience. It was fun to have an excuse to open four different ciders too! Remember to check out the WA Cider Week calendar.

Greenwood Cider Dry

August 19, 2019September 7, 2019 cidersays Greenwood, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, dry cider, Greenwood, Greenwood cider, hard cider, Press Then Press, tasting notes

Review of Greenwood Cider’s Dry. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Huckleberry, Sweet Orange Cinnamon, Cedar Cider, Lavender Blackberry, Cherry, Red River Wolf Crab, Blush, Peach, and Lingonberry varieties. I got this through Press Then Press, a new online cider store focusing on small batch ciders. They are having a soft launch today, Aug 19, and an official 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: Dry
Cidery: Greenwood Cider
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 7.8%
How Supplied: 500ml 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 Western Washington

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 signature dessert apple blend finished with heirloom and wild apples picked from local farms, small homesteads, and abandoned orchards. Hand-pressed and unfiltered, this modern style dry cider sits just above complete dryness, with hints of apple peel, lime, and fresh straw.

Cidery Description: Andy and Ryan Short (yep, brothers) and Marshall Petryni of Greenwood Cider make their cider in Seattle! They got their start with apples leftover from a CSA that didn’t get picked up. A few fermenting sessions later, they were selling their ciders & Greenwood Cider was born. Nowadays the fruit supply they work with is more consistent, and it shows up in the two ciders we are featuring. Something I really enjoy about these guys is their sense of humor and style. And that sometimes you need a cider with breakfast.

Price: ~ $9.00
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through Press Then Press

First Impression: Hazy light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, and tart,

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

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I personally prefer a bit sweeter. This wasn’t as tart as many dry ciders, and I think that made it seem less dry. I was surprised that the higher ABV (7.8%) wasn’t more apparent.

Most Similar to: Bauman’s Dry, Seattle Cider Dry, and 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 Greenwood cider? What did you think?

Greenwood Lingonberry

August 8, 2019August 17, 2019 cidersays Greenwood, review berry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Greenwood cider, hard cider, lingonberry, lingonberry cider, Press Then Press, tasting notes

Review of Greenwood Cider’s Lingonberry. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Huckleberry, Sweet Orange Cinnamon, Cedar Cider, Lavender Blackberry, Cherry, Red River Wolf Crab, Blush, and Peach varieties. I got this 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: Lingonberry
Cidery: Greenwood Cider
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 7.8%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider with lingonberries

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

Cider Description: A Scandinavian staple, the lingonberry can also be found in parts of the Pacific Northwest in wild and domesticated forms. A relative of blueberries and cranberries, these small bright-red berries add tartness and a little color. Skål!

Price: ~ $10.50
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through Press Then Press

First Impression: Pink-red hue. Low carbonation. Smells of tart berry.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of berry, lemon, green apple, and floral. Quick finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Moderate sessionability. Low apple flavor.

My Opinion: I liked it, although it was drier and the flavor was milder than I prefer. My husband was a bigger fan, as this is his kind of cider.

Most Similar to: other drier tart berry or currant ciders, like others Greenwood has made, or Swift Marrionberry

Have you tried Greenwood cider? What did you think?

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