Woodchuck Pearsecco

October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Pearsecco, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Pearsecco. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Woodchuck. 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: Bubbly Pearsecco
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.1%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with pear

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Inspired by sparkling wines, this dry pear cider is full of bubbles with a clean, crisp finish.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (retails for $9.99-10.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of yeast brought to the surface by carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of green apple, pear, and pineapple. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and apple & pear flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. This is probably the driest cider I’ve had from Woodchuck, but it still wasn’t completely dry (not that I really expected that from a commercial cidery). Fuller bodied than I expected for the dryness, but all of Woodchuck’s ciders seem to end up that way. Nice light flavor, easy to drink, and higher carbonation.

Most Similar to: A drier and more bubbly version of Crispin Pear or Angry Orchard Pear. Its actually pretty rare to have a drier pear cider – looking at my list the only one I can think of is Neigel Vintners (now Pear UP) Half Past Prudent, which is no longer made.

Closing Notes: Next up will be a review of their Rosé, released at the same time – both are said to be inspired by wine and have higher carbonation.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pearsecco? What did you think?

Somersby Apple Cider

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 cidersays review, Somersby cider, cider review, cider tasting, Denmark, hard cider, Somersby, tasting notes, Victoria

Review of Somersby Apple Cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Citrus Fruit cider.

Cider: Apple Cider
Cidery: Somersby
Cidery Location: Copenhagen Denmark
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: draft (and cans and bottles)
Style: commercial cider from dessert apples, back sweetened

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Somersby Apple is refreshing cider made from fermented apple juice and natural apple flavouring. No artificial sweeteners, flavours or colourings. Its uniquely juicy apple taste makes it a tasty and natural choice for the relaxed moments with your friends. Best served over ice for maximum happiness… Enjoy!

Cidery Description: Lord Somersby is the father of many great discoveries – but the most famous of them all is probably Somersby cider, which was once known as the favorite drink of celebrities like Napoleon, Cleopatra and Newton. Or at least that is what we have heard.

Available in many different delicious variants but the most popular variants of the Somersby portfolio is Apple, Pear and Blackberry. Somersby has obtained a reputation of spreading joy and sunny togetherness where ever it is served and attracting curious and open-minded people from all over the world.

If you are attracted to Somersby – but not exactly in the mood of travelling all over the world to taste one, don’t worry. You can enjoy a refreshing bottle of Somersby in more than 43 countries.

Price: ~ $7 CAN / pint
Where Bought & Drank: a bar in Victoria B.C. Canada
How Found: this was their only cider on draft

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells of apple juice. Served with a few ice cubes.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of apple juice with a hint of grapefruit. Quick finish. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: This was surprisingly tasty. It really hit the spot after walking around all morning. Way better tasting than their ‘Citrus Fruit’ variety (which I found to be overly sweet and artificial tasting). Yes it is definitely in the alcoholic apple juice category, but for me this one wasn’t overly sweet, syrupy, fake, etc, and a better choice than many other commercial ciders. As much as I enjoy craft and especially heritage ciders, sometimes you just want something easy to drink and/or have to drink whatever is the best available option.

Most Similar to: Stella Artois Cidre

Closing Notes: I don’t think I’ve seen this sold in my area, but I believe it is available in some other parts of the U.S.

Have you tried Somersby? What did you think?

Portland Cider Pumpkin Spice

September 20, 2018September 18, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, portland, Portland Cider, Pumpkin Spice, pumpkin spice cider, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider’s Pumpkin Spice, a seasonal spiced cider (no pumpkin, just pie spices). It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, Hop’Rageous, London Dry Gin, Apple, Crooked Cock Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Sangria, Mojito, Cranberry, and Concord Grape.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Portland Cider. 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: Pumpkin Spice
Cidery: Portland Cider
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: craft cider from dessert apples with pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, clove, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg)

Availability: seasonally, in fall (Sept-Nov), in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Take the flavors of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Allspice, and Ginger, blend them in just the right proportions, and you get our Pumpkin Spice cider. Full of all the spices of your favorite pumpkin pie, this cider is a delicious tribute to the flavors of autumn. A familiar Fall spice blend blended to pair perfectly with a classic American semi-sweet apple cider made with 100% Northwest apples.

Cidery Description: Portland Cider Company was started in October 2012 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing cider, handcrafted in the English tradition, to the Northwest. It has two taproom locations: Portland Cider House at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214; and Portland Cider Co. Taproom & Cidery at 8925 SE Jannsen Rd, Bldg. F, Clackamas, OR 97015.

Price: unknown
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of sweet apple juice and spice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of tart apple, pie spices, and citrus. Moderate length finish with a hint of ginger. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Low to moderate spice level.

My Opinion: I liked it. Definitely drier than expected based on the style and the scent. It also interestingly seemed to have more of a fresh tart apple flavor than the baked apple flavor which I more often pick up with spiced ciders, although maybe that is more of a perceived thing? Spiced cider isn’t my favorite, but my husband enjoys it, and was especially a fan of this one, due to it being on the drier side.

Most Similar to: Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple

Closing Notes: I always find it interesting when products are labeled as “pumpkin spice”, as I think pumpkin + spice, when the convention is just referring to the spices that go with pumpkin pie. There are a handful of ciders that actually add pumpkin though, like Tieton Smoked Pumpkin, Woodchuck Pumpkin, Doc’s Pumpkin, Locust Pumpkin, and 2 Towns Hollow Jack.

Have you tried spiced cider? What did you think?

Portland Cider Perfect 10 Imperial Apple

September 18, 2018September 18, 2018 cidersays Portland Cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, imperial cider, Perfect 10, portland, Portland Cider, tasting notes

Review of Portland Cider’s Perfect 10 Imperial Apple, an imperial-style (high ABV) cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Passion Fruit, Pearfect Perry, Kinda Dry, Hop’Rageous, London Dry Gin, Apple, Crooked Cock Scrumpy, Strawperry, Pineapple, Sangria, Mojito, Cranberry, and Concord Grape.

Cider: Perfect 10 Imperial Apple
Cidery: Portland Cider
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 10%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and draft)
Style: imperial-style craft cider

Availability: year-round in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Crafted in the style of a traditional English Scrumpy or Imperial Cider, with a clean Northwest finish. It’s a blend of 100% NW apples, fermented cold and slow to preserve fresh apple flavors and aromas. The cider makers allow the cider to rest for more than two months to further develop the rich flavors. The cider is then sweetened with a touch of juice and balanced with a little acidity to round out the higher tannin profile.

Price: unknown
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light gold hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of high-ABV apple-forward cider.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of alcohol and apple juice, with hints of wood and citrus. Long finish. Moderate apple flavor and overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it, but it was a bit alcohol-forward for my tastes, as expected with an imperial style cider. My husband was a bigger fan, as this is one of his favorite styles. I recommend drinking this cider very cold.

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Bad Apple, although that is a bit more complex, with some honey & vanilla, while Perfect 10 is more apple-forward

Closing Notes: This is a neat addition to their line-up, and the first imperial-style cider I can remember them releasing in bottles. My favorite Portland Cider selection probably remains Sangria, which has a ton of different fruity notes.

Have you tried imperial style cider? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 33 Tasting Notes

September 14, 2018September 9, 2018 cidersays Channel Marker, Honey Moon, review, Schilling cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 33rd visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Its actually been a few times more than that as sometimes I just pop in to buy bottles. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a Thursday afternoon, before the event for the 4th anniversary of the cider house. It has been so long since my last visit as its not on my way home from work anymore, as I now both live and work up North, so its a bit of a long drive. I got a flight, as usual. Its pretty sweet that even with all the ciders I’ve tried, there were still plenty of new-to-me varieties (I skipped some which didn’t sound interesting though).

Schilling (Auburn WA) Passionfruit Lime (8.0% ABV): This is a draft-only trial of a passionfruit cider with lime. Semi-sweet. Full bodied, and juice-like. Notes of tart passionfruit and orange with a lime finish. Hidden ABV. I especially enjoyed the lime flavor.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Imperial Passport (8.5% ABV): This is a draft-only trial of an imperial (higher ABV) version of their “Passport” cider, pineapple-passionfruit. Very similar to the one above, except with pineapple instead of lime. On the sweeter side of semi-sweet. Full bodied, and juice-like. Tart notes of passionfruit with hints of pineapple and mango. Hidden ABV. I like both this and the original version of Passport (see my review of a similar cider here).

Channel Marker (Seattle WA) Cucumber Blackberry (7.0% ABV): This is my second time trying their cider. On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Very tart. Slightly fruity, but to me it was more cranberry-pomegranate than blackberry, and I didn’t pick up any cucumber. I thought it was average.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Impearial (8.5% ABV): This is a draft-only trial version of sweeter version of their new Excelsior (see my review here), except with pear. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Notes of tart pear, bittersweet apple, and oak. Hidden ABV. I liked this, especially as it is less tart as the canned version of Excelsior.

Honey Moon Mead & Cider (Bellingham WA) Cider Head Pineapple Rum (6.1% ABV): This appears to be a draft-only new release. Nearly clear and nearly scent-less. On the drier side of semi-dry. Mild pineapple flavor with an alcohol-forward rum & oak finish. I would have preferred more flavor with this one.

My favorites were the three Schilling releases. I also got a pint of the Passionfruit Lime, but didn’t finish it, as it was a bit filling and sweet to have in that quantity. I was able to pick up some bottles to take home, but they were out of my favorite English ciders, so I guess I’ll just have to come back! I tried a new food option this time, a poke bowl from Just Poke (a few doors down the street), which was awesome.

Stay tuned for more Schilling Cider House tasting notes here at Cider Says. Have you had any good draft cider / cider flights recently?

Cider Summit Seattle 2018 Post 2/2 – Tasting Notes

September 12, 2018September 7, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, Angry Orchard, Blue Mountain, Brownrigg, Chelan Craft, Cider Riot, Cider Summit, D's Wicked, Herb's, Herout, Idun, Manoir du Parc, Miloslawski, Ole Swede, One Tree, Pear UP, Possman, review, Ruwet, Schilling, Seattle Cider, Tieton cider, cider summit, cider summit seattle, cider tasting, cider tasting event, hard cider, seattle, tasting notes

This is post 2/2 on Cider Summit Seattle 2018, with tasting notes on 21 ciders. Post 1/2 covered the event. Sorry some of these photos aren’t that great, but this isn’t a photography blog…

The Tasting Notes

2 Towns (Corvallis OR) Pommeau – I’ve had their Pommeau (cider + apple brandy) a number of times (see my full review here), and have a bottle in my “cellar”, but its probably my favorite U.S.-made Pommeau. Both me and my husband didn’t want to pass up a sample. Semi-sweet, rich, easy to drink despite the high ABV, and awesome as always.

Angry Orchard (Walden, NY) Dear Brittany – This is one of the small batch ciders made at their Innovation Cider House, a French-style keeved cider. Semi-dry, tart, and funky, with a hint of sourness, although I picked up more heirloom than bittersweet apple flavor. As expected for a keeved cider, it was very apple-forward and flavorful in general for not being very sweet.

Blue Mountain (Milton-Freewater, OR) Pete Limely – Semi-dry to dry with notes of tart citrus (especially lemon-lime). This was a bit too dry and mildly flavored for me, but I liked the overall flavor notes.

Brownrigg (Seattle WA) Rum Barrel Aged – This is apparently not a new cidery (I read they started in 2014), but this is my first time seeing them, and my first time trying their cider. Dry. Very mild flavor, slightly tart, with a rum finish. I think I would have liked this better if it was a bit sweeter.

Chelan Craft Cider (Chelan WA) Cider with Lemon – This is a new cidery, and my first time trying their cider. Semi-dry, with lots of tart refreshing lemon flavor. I liked it. ~~I’m curious how they will do in the market though, as their bottles were listed for $23 / 750ml~~ [update – I was told that was a mistake and the real price is $15/bottle]. I couldn’t tell what type of apples they used – maybe dessert, maybe heirloom. The price would be more in-line with heirloom~~, but still on the high end of what I see in store~~s.

Cider Riot! (Portland OR) Everyday Passionfruit – Awesome tropical scent, on the drier side of semi-dry, but the passionfruit flavor was very mild and mostly on the finish, which was a bit of a let down.

d’s Wicked (Kennewick WA) Tropical – On the sweeter side of semi-dry, tart, with notes of orange, pineapple, and passion fruit. I liked how flavorful it was without being sweet.

Herb’s Cider (Bellingham WA) Triplet Special Reserve French Oak Aged Semi-Dry – This is a new cidery, and my first time trying their cider. Semi-dry to dry, thin bodied, super mild flavor intensity, with notes of heirloom apples and hints of oak. This was a bit too mildly flavored for me.

Hérout à Auvers (Normandy France) Pommeau de Normandie AOC – Imported by Beauchamp Imports (French Cider Inc.) – they have online sales too by the way. This Pommeau is made from 3/4 apple cider and 1/4 Calvados (French apple brandy), then aged at least 14 months in oak barrels. Semi-sweet, both rich/oaky/earthy and fruity (both my husband and I agreed on strawberry), clean (no funk or sourness), easy to drink for the higher ABV, and overall awesome. I bought a bottle to take home, and think it was an awesome value at $40 / 750ml (as most local Pommeaux run $25 / 375ml). Pommeau keeps very well by the way, and you can leave a bottle open for months and just have a bit at a time – I think this will be perfect at cellar temp in my cider fridge. They also brought La Chouette Rosé, Kystin Opalyne, and Herout AOC Cotentin Extra-Brut, which I’ve previously sampled.

Idun Cider (Seattle WA) Heirloom Dry – This is a new cidery, and my first time trying their cider. They currently only have this single flagship release. On the sweeter side of semi-dry, medium bodied, very apple forward, but overall mild in flavor. I didn’t really taste the heirloom apples (this is listed as having Gravenstein, Winesap, and Newtown Pippin), but I kinda liked it.

Manoir du Parc (Normandy France) Authentic Rosé – Made from red-fleshed apples and pears. Semi-sweet, lovely fluffy natural carbonation, and notes of strawberry, watermelon, and pear. Very reminiscent of La Choute Rosé. Awesome!

Manoir du Parc (Normandy France) Authentic Cidre – I also re-tried their flagship cidre. On the drier side of semi-dry, funky and tannic, apple and yeast forward, with a hint of sourness. My husband surprisingly liked this (usually he dislikes funk, like I dislike sourness). I think it was because the cidermaker? (or at least some very knowledgeable French dude) was telling us all about it during the tasting. That sort of experience is what makes me love Cider Summit.

Miloslawski (Poland) Perry – Imported by Browar Polska Imports. Semi-sweet to semi-dry, with a very mild canned pear flavor. I surprisingly liked it. I was expecting it to be super sweet, but it was a perfect sweetness level for me.

Ole Swede (Tonasket, WA) Bada Bing! Cider – 90% apple and 10% cherries, co-fermented. Semi-dry, tart, with a mild real cherry flavor. They also have a Cherry Perry, which I thought I had tried, but I can’t find anything that I wrote about it, so I guess not!

One Tree (Spokane WA) Tropical – Semi-sweet, full bodied, juice-like, with a very very similar flavor to Schilling’s Imperial Passionfruit that I tried the night before (as it was made using the same puree from Oregon Fruit Products), but with a hint of pineapple (which One Tree added in addition to the puree and apple juice). I really enjoyed it, and think it would have been awesome to use it in a cocktail with rum.

Pear UP (Wenatchee WA) Barrel Hoppin Pear – A barrel aged version of their hopped perry (100% pears, no apple). On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Smooth, mild flavor, with hints of pear, hops, and oak. I usually don’t go for the mild flavored ones, but that worked well for this one, as hops isn’t something you want to go too overboard with.

Possmann (Germany) Pure Cider Rosé Black Currant – Imported by Browar Polska Imports. Semi-sweet with a light fruity flavor, although I couldn’t specifically identify black currant. I surprisingly liked this, despite the commercialness.

Ruwet (Belgium) Cidre – Imported by Browar Polska Imports. Semi-dry, mild overall flavor with apple & citrus. It tasted a bit commercial to me though, and I would have liked more flavor intensity. I think this is my first Belgium cider, very cool.

Schilling (Auburn, WA) Red Wine Barrel Aged Pommeau (paired with chocolate) – Semi-dry, smells of red wine barrel, but for me the flavor was mostly apple-flavored alcohol burn. A bit too boozy for my liking. My husband was a bigger fan. They also have this on tap at Schilling Cider House right now.

Seattle Cider (Seattle WA) Red Wine Barrel Berry – On the drier side of semi-dry, super mild, with hints of berry, oak, and botanicals, and a red wine finish. Characteristically Seattle Cider. Surprisingly complex, but for some reason I didn’t really like it, although I couldn’t say why.

Tieton Ciderworks (Yakima, WA) Oak Barrel Aged Cider Summit Collaboration – Semi-dry, higher carbonation, tart, super mild smooth citrus & oak flavor.

In Summary

It was impossible to taste all the ciders at the event (or even one from each producer), so I’d also like to share previous tasting notes and reviews of ciders from the other cideries I didn’t get to highlight: Alter Ego, Anthem, Avid (previously Atlas), Bad Granny, Chatter Creek, Double Mountain, Dragon’s Head, Eaglemount, Eden, Elemental, Finnriver, Hi-Wheel, Incline, Jester & Judge, J. Seeds, Liberty, Locust, Longdrop, Louis Raison, Maeloc, Montana, Moonlight Meadery, Portland, Reverend Nat’s, Samuel Smiths, Sea Cider, Snowdrift, Steelhead, Swift, Wandering Aengus, Washington Gold, WildCraft, and Worley’s

My favorites of the day were Herout Pommeau, 2 Towns Pommeau, One Tree Tropical, d’s Tropical, and Manoir du Parc Authentic Rosé.

This event is always the highlight of Washington Cider Week, and the biggest and best cider event of the year in the Seattle area!

Cider Summit Seattle 2018 Post 1/2 – The Event

September 10, 2018September 12, 2018 cidersays Cider Summit, review cider, cider event, cider summit, cider summit seattle, cider tasting, hard cider, seattle

Epic! This was my fourth year attending (see here for previous posts), but was the ninth annual Cider Summit in Seattle Washington. It took place on Friday & Saturday September 7th & 8th. This is post 1/2, covering the event. Post 2/2 will cover tasting notes on the dozens of ciders I tried [update – post 2/2 is now up – see here].

Photo Sep 07, 2 17 17 PM

Info

See my preview here. I attended Friday afternoon, which is awesome as it isn’t too crowded yet, especially the VIP hour (2pm-3pm). See here for the full event info and here for the full list of cideries (~50?) and ciders (~150-200?). There were some substitutions and even some cidery cancellations / no-shows, but there were plenty of options, even for someone like me who had tried most of the lineup from most of the cideries. There was even ice cider, Pommeau, non-apple fruit wines, mead, cyser, and cider cocktails.

Although most ciders were from the PNW, there were a good number of national and international ones as well. Also, the selections were primarily on the craft (vs. commercial) end. Angry Orchard made its first appearance at the event, although they mostly brought their fancy ciders. The biggest changes this year were that the pour size was cut from 4oz to 2oz (and they used plastic not glass), and the number of tickets was doubled. I really liked that change, as it was easier to try more ciders, and I didn’t have to request small pours. I wonder if it created longer lines on Saturday though (as folks would be trying more ciders), so it’ll be interesting to see if they repeat it next year.

Entry included a tasting glass, tickets (16 for regular and 24 for VIP, each one good for a 2oz pour of most ciders, less for Pommeau and such though), and wristband. A cool feature of this event is that in addition to in & out privileges, one entry fee gets you in both days (and you can even skip the line on the second day). This event is very well organized, by far the best I have gone to. It is also very consistent year-to-year.

Everything from detailed pre-event information online (even a full cider list) to signage at the event to thinking of the little things like having rinse water available and standing tables in addition to seating. It is crazy to think about how much work goes into an event of this magnitude…renting a space, tables, canopies, and even fencing…finding volunteers, hiring staff for liquor enforcement and safety (at emergency exits), having extra ice and cider available, etc.

Another thing about this event that I really like is that the folks pouring the cider are associated with the cidery (cidery employees, sometimes even the cidermakers, or the distributor), so you can ask about the cidery and cider. The crowd was really varied, from cider enthusiasts like myself to people who just wanted to drink. There were also lots of vendors trying ciders (as it was common for a cidery to bring 2-3 people and swap out). A number of people brought their dogs.

Photo Sep 07, 2 17 23 PM.jpg

Layout

Besides the main attraction of cider booths, they had an event store (with t-shirts and such), an audio booth where they did interviews with some of the cidery reps, food for sale from Capitol Cider, Nutflours Bakery, and a german-style pretzel place (my hubby and I shared a giant pretzel and it really hit the spot, although they were festival priced), some other vendors (jerky, bottled water, Amazon Restaurants, Imperfect Produce, Bark Thins, Drink Cider towels), a dog lounge, and info from the Northwest Cider Association. The amenities were also above average for an outdoor event, with multiple food options for sale, standing tables, tables & chairs (some covered), port-a-potties (and outdoor sinks), and free water.

Photo Sep 08, 12 09 41 PM.jpg
<my haul from the event store, combined with what I got from Schilling Cider House the night before>

My Tips

Friday is typically much less busy than Saturday, especially earlier in the afternoon. My game plan this year involved sleeping in, having a big lunch, visiting all the cidery booths in order, taking breaks to sit & snack, and getting through all the ciders I wanted to try before dinner time.

I recommend good walking shoes, as you are on your feet for most of these types of events, and there was uneven dirt and patches of grass at this site. Also, pants with pockets, to put your tasting tickets and cell phone and such in. I also like bringing my own snacks, especially something starchy, like crackers. Other must-haves for me are a water bottle, hat & sunblock & sunglasses, notebook & pencil, and some baggies to put the tasting glasses in afterwards when they are sticky. Its nice having a bag to put all that stuff in, as well as any free swag you want to collect (handouts, stickers, bottle opener keychains). ID is required to get in, and cash never hurts, although some places (like the Summit store) take cards.

There are also a number of restaurants (and Whole Foods) within walking distance, so another food option is leaving, then coming back after a bit. I have done that before, but this year we were done by dinnertime on Friday when we left. Then my husband and I dropped stuff at the car (we parked under the Whole Foods, which is the most convenient and secure, but pricey, $15 after getting $6 off for a validation after buying stuff at Whole Foods), and walked to Rocco’s pizza (mmmm).

A great way to get free admission is to volunteer; they had several shift options each day, and I heard that if you work closing on Saturday you may even get leftover bottled cider. For the best ticket price, buy them in advance, although there are taxes & fees for online sales. Although VIP tickets are online sales only, if you want the best price on a regular ticket, you can go to Capitol Cider to avoid the fees. The event didn’t sell out as far as I know, but the ticket price was higher at the door. Designated driver tickets ($5) were only available at the door.

2017-09-08 14.12.05.jpg

In addition to Seattle, there are Cider Summits in Chicago IL (February), San Francisco CA (April), and Portland OR (June).

Alpenfire Rosy Pommeau

September 6, 2018September 3, 2018 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Pommeau, port townsend, rosy pommeau, tasting notes

Review of Alpenfire’s Rosy Pommeau. This is apple brandy from bittersweet & heirloom apples + cider from Aerlie red-fleshed apples. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, Shrub, Spiced Tonic Shrub, Traditional Heirloom Cider, Flame, Tempest, and Foxwhelp SV.

Cider: Rosy Pommeau, 2015 vintage, 2018 release
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 18%
How Supplied: 375ml tall bottles
Style: American craft Pommeau from bittersweet & heirloom apple brandy + Aerlie red-fleshed apple cider, oak aged

Availability: limited, 58 cases released in 2018, likely only available in WA, plus online sales

Cider Description: Alpenfire’s Rosy Pommeau, Rich, red, high acid juice from Aerlie red apples is partially fermented before halting the fermentation with the addition of the eau de vie. The eau de vie is distilled from our estate organic cider varietals and locally grown organic heirloom apples. Once blended pommeau is aged in neutral oak for 15 + months before bottling. Great as an aperitif or accompanying dessert.

Cidery Description: We invite you to experience the distinctive flavors of our estate grown ciders. Shaped by our maritime climate’s mild summers and tempered by the foggy mist rolling off of Discovery Bay, our apples maintain the qualities they’ve been treasured for by generations of cider lovers. Soft tannins, high sugars, hints of bitterness, and an incredible flavor range are the tools the apples bring us. Slow, cool fermentation, lengthy maturation, and attention to detail is the way we say thank you!

Price: $26.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Pink-orange hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of caramelized strawberry alcohol.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of strawberry, watermelon, kiwi, and rich apple. Long finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Very low sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I prefer Alpenfire’s red-fleshed apple cider Glow, or a Pommeau from typical apples, not so much this combination, as for me the fruity red-fleshed apple flavor competed a bit with the rich boozy Pommeau. My husband really enjoyed it however.

Most Similar to: I’ve never had Pommeau from red-fleshed apples, although I’ve had several ciders from red-fleshed apples (Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, Snowdrift Red, Tieton Russian Red) and several Pommeaux (from 2 Towns, Wandering Aengus, EZ Orchards, Etienne Dupont, Finnriver, and Stem).

Closing Notes: My favorite Alpenfire dessert cider is Smoke.

Have you tried Pommeau? What did you think?

Tin City Liliko’i Volume 2

September 4, 2018September 4, 2018 cidersays review, Tin City cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Liliko'i, tasting notes, Tin City

Review of Tin City’s Liliko’i Volume 2. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Liliko’i Volume 2
Cidery: Tin City
Cidery Location: Paso Robles CA
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider co-fermented with passion fruit, oak aged

Availability: limited, likely only in Northern CA, although they have online sales of some of their canned ciders

Cider Description: Liliko’i is fermented with locally-grown passion fruit, then barrel-aged in French oak barrels for four months, and bottle-conditioned. This process produces a fantastic, semi-dry cider that is perfectly balanced and delicious.

Cidery Description: As a collaboration between three California wine makers, Tin City Cider was founded in Paso Robles, CA to make fantastic ciders using only the best west coast apples.

Price: $17.99
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, while on vacation last year

First Impression: Hazy dark yellow. Very high carbonation. Smells of sour passion fruit.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low sourness and funk. Hints of bitterness and tannins. Notes of passion fruit, orange, lime, earth, and heirloom apple. Moderate length finish. Low sessionability and apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: This isn’t a style of cider I enjoy. It was more in line with my husband’s tastes, so I was happy to let him drink it instead. Super fizzy at first, and it was impossible to open the bottle without it foaming over, even after letting it sit. Then we had to let it sit again to get the copious yeast sediment to settle. I would recommend this for folks who enjoy drier ciders which are wild fermented / sour / rustic / farmhouse style.

Most Similar to: A drier, milder flavored, and sour version of 2 Towns Passion Statement or Reverend Nat’s The Passion.

Closing Notes: I’d like to give Tin City another try if I find a cider from them which is of a different style.

Have you tried Tin City cider? What did you think?

Alpenfire Foxwhelp SV

August 21, 2018August 21, 2018 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Foxwhelp, hard cider, port townsend, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Alpenfire Foxwhelp single varietal. It is my first time trying this cider, but I’ve had most of their other ciders – Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, Shrub, Spiced Tonic Shrub, Traditional Heirloom Cider (batch 1 or 2), Flame, Traditional Heirloom Cider (unknown batch), Tempest

Cider: Foxwhelp SV
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft orchard-based organic cider from Foxwhelp apples

Availability: limited, probably only in Washington, plus online sales

Cider Description: Our first 100% estate single varietal, produced from our organically grown Foxwhelp apples. The Foxwhelp is an English bittersharp cider apple, known for its aromatics and versatility, one of the oldest surviving cider apples still in use, originally from the Gloucestershire area. Historically a single strength cider from this apple would fetch the same price on the market in London as imported French Wine.

Price: $16.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’m always game to buy anything Alpenfire, as they make some awesome ciders. They have been coming out with all sorts of new varieties lately.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Smells very mild, acidic and musty. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and funk. Low to moderate tannins. No sourness. Notes of acidic heirloom apple, lemon, must, nut/wood, yeast, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. I had expected more of a rich cider apple flavor, as Foxwhelp is a bittersharp, but this tasted more like an heirloom apple cider than a cider apple cider. I enjoyed it though, as it was less acidic and more tannic than most heirloom apple ciders, so despite it being fairly dry, it wasn’t at all harsh for my tastes. However, I still prefer a bittersweet cider apple cider, more like Alpenfire’s Ember.

Most Similar to: This reminds me of some of Eve’s ciders, although the flavor notes were different.

Closing Notes: I’m interested to try more of Alpenfire’s new ciders. I already have a bottle of their Rosy Pommeau at home for example.

Have you tried a single varietal cider? What did you think?

Louis Raison Rouge Delice

August 16, 2018August 13, 2018 cidersays Louis Raison, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Louis Raison, Rouge Delice, tasting notes

Review of Louis Raison Rouge Delice. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve also sampled their Organic Dry version. This article gives a nice overview of the cidery, such that they started in 1923, and are the top selling cidermaker in France.

Cider: Rouge Delice
Cidery: Louis Raison
Cidery Location: Le Theil-sur-Huisne France
ABV: 5.5%
Brix: 6.57 (23 g sugar / 11.2 oz)
How Supplied: six pack of 11.2 oz bottles
Style: commercial French cider, from 10% Rouge Delice red-fleshed apples + 90% bittersweet apples

Availability: wide release in Europe, plus at least sold in Washington & Oregon in the U.S. since March 2018

Cider Description: [Rouge Delice] is comprised of Rouge Delice and Bittersweet apples. Rouge Delice apples – grown only in France – are recognized for their unique red flesh, delivering the natural rose hue of the liquid itself. On the nose, this cider is citrusy with bright acidity, accompanied by hints of strawberry and cranberry. The taste is floral with hints of white tea, spiced apple, and melon. Rouge Delice finishes with a soft, sweet hint of playful plum and fruit flavors. 2017 Tastings Gold Medal recipient.

Ingredient List: hard cider, apple juice, liquid sugar, citric acid, natural flavors, color: E163

Cidery Description: Observing the growth that the American cider industry has experienced, Louis Raison saw an exciting opportunity to introduce high-quality French cidre to US consumers. With such a rich history in cider making, it seemed like a natural fit. After almost a century of production, the Raison team has shown dedication to the longevity of their cider-making expertise, respect for its cooperative values, and the development of sustainable agriculture. Nothing short of a modern-day family, it is only with the knowledge and expertise of its 300 producers and members of the cooperative that Louis Raison has become the market leader of cidre in France. Years of experience have earned Louis Raison the mastery of the sustainable cultivation of apples from orchard to glass. Ultimately, Louis Raison is proud of its cooperative spirit – between producers of apples, employers of factory workers, and providers to cider drinkers alike, all are a part of the Raison family. Santé!

Price: ~$2 / single bottle (runs ~$9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about them online, and tried another variety at Cider Summit last year

First Impression: Light red hue. Low carbonation. Smells sweet, of apple, and slightly fruity.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium bodied with a fluffy texture. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of sweet apple, strawberry, and watermelon, with hints of rich bittersweet apple. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I really liked the flavor, but it was a bit too sweet for me. Perfect for summer though.

Most Similar to: Two other French ciders I’ve had which were made using red-fleshed apples, Domaine du Verger Rosé Cidre Bouche and La Chouette Cidre Rosé. All three only used red-fleshed varieties as part of a blend. The La Chouette was my favorite of the three, as it isn’t as sweet, but still flavorful, the most complex, and the least commercial tasting, although it also cost the most per ounce.

Closing Notes: Louis Raison’s ciders are definitely more commercial tasting than most other French ciders I’ve tried, but are at a nice low price point, and will likely eventually be fairly widely distributed, and therefore able to introduce more folks to French cider, which I think overall is a good thing. I think it was slightly deceptive to name this ‘Rouge Delice’ and highlight their use of this red-fleshed apple variety when they were only 10% of the mix, but at least the ingredient list on the label clearly stated the percentage, which is better than some other cideries have done (Angry Orchard, I’m thinking of you).

Side Note: If you are interested in trying American ciders from 100% red-fleshed apples, I recommend Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, and Snowdrift Red.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Crispin Rosé

August 14, 2018August 14, 2018 cidersays Crispin, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crispin, hard cider, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes

Review of Crispin Rosé. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Original, Pacific Pear, Blackberry Pear, The Saint, Bohemian, Honeycrisp, Venus Reigns, Steeltown, 15 Men, Browns Lane, and Bourbon Char.

Cider: Rosé
Cidery: Crispin
Cidery Location: Colfax CA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from apple & pear juices, with rose & hibiscus petals

Availability: wide release, since Jan 2018 – see their cider locator

Cider Description: Blend of 50% apple cider & 50% pear cider and. Rose petals and Hibiscus give a light tannic quality and “Provence style” Rose’ Wine color. Hints of fresh Strawberry and Honeydew with a tickle of sweetness.

Ingredient List: filtered water, fresh-pressed hard apple cider, fresh-pressed hard pear cider, pear juice concentrate (finishing sweetener), natural flavors, malic acid, contains sulfites

Cidery Description: Crispin® ciders are naturally fermented using the raw, unpasteurized juice of fresh-pressed American apples and pears. Through classic cold-fermentation and specially selected wine yeasts, we always stay true to the fruit with authentic flavors and unique aromatic notes that are only present in fresh-pressed cider.

Price: ~$2 single bottle ($7.99-$8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Still. Light pink hue. Smells mild, sweet and fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. No sourness, funk, tannins, or bitterness. Notes of granny smith applies with hints of berry, floral, and dried pear. Quick finish. Low pear and apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty average. I liked that it was drier, but probably because of that, it was lacking in flavor. I was a bit puzzled as the description said they used hibiscus and rose petals, but they weren’t on the ingredients list (only “natural flavor”).

Most Similar to: a slightly drier and blander version of Angry Orchard Rosé

Closing Notes: I think Crispin is a great cider option for folks who live in areas which only get mass produced ciders, as they are a bit drier and less commercial (more real) tasting. Ace is a bit similar, a commercial cidery with offerings that include some on the drier side, and which taste less commercial. Crispin’s Original is probably my favorite commercial cider.

Have you tried Crispin Rosé? What did you think?

Finnriver Lavender Black Currant

August 10, 2018August 5, 2018 cidersays Finnriver, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finnriver, hard cider, Lavender Black Currant, port townsend, tasting notes, washington

Review of Finnriver Seasonal Botanical Series Lavender Black Currant. I’ve had this at least a few times, but hadn’t done a full review of a bottle. I’ve also tried the majority of their other ciders; see here. They have new labels, which I think look really neat, more high end and sophisticated.

Cider: Lavender Black Currant
Cidery: Finnriver
Cidery Location: Chimacum WA (outside of Port Townsend)
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and draft)
Style: American Organic craft cider from dessert apples, with black currant and lavender

Availability: summer seasonal, sold in AZ, CA, CO, IL, MT, NV, NY, OR, TX, WA, and WI in the U.S., plus Alberta and British Columbia Canada (plus online sales, plus they have a plain Black Currant sold year round for $1-2 less)

Cider Description: Farmcrafted in our Chimacum barn with a select blend of Washington organic apples, organic black currant juice, organic lavender flowers from Olympic Peninsula farms (Jardin du Soleil, Wilderbee, and Purple Haze), and organic cane sugar.

Cidery Description: At Finnriver we ferment out dreams and pour our hearts into each bottle. Our Botanical Ciders are rooted in ancient wisdom, inspired by the seasons and crafted with a spirit of adventure! This bottle is an invitation to discover the possibilities of the apple and the earthly abundance of the farmed fields and wild meadows of the Olympic Peninsula. We are glad to share the beauty and county of the land!

Check out their website for more info. They have a tasting room on their farm+orchard outside of Port Townsend WA which is a family friendly destination, with food, games, and more. If you are heading to Port Townsend, also check out Alpenfire and Eaglemount, and I highly recommend staying at the Inn at the Resort at Port Ludlow (check out my review here, which also links to my reviews of all 3 Port Townsend area cideries).

Price: $9.99
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first tried this on draft at Schilling Cider House

First Impression: Deep purple-red hue. Low carbonation. Smells rich, fruity, and of lavender.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of grape, pomegranate, and blueberry (all three of which I imagine are the black currant flavor – I actually have never tried currants outside of cider so couldn’t really identify their flavor), plus hints of lavender especially on the finish. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity and sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoy this one. I usually don’t go for something this tart, but the sweetness helps balance that. It has some complexity beyond what you’d typically see for a flavored cider from dessert apples. Its also pretty neat that they can make Organic cider from local ingredients for only $10 / bottle (even less on draft).

Most Similar to: their plain Black Currant cider, except with lavender

Closing Notes: This is my favorite cider from Finnriver’s regular lineup. My other favorites are Fire Barrel (especially the previous recipe – I wasn’t nearly as big of a fan of the latest release), Farmstead, Oak & Apple, and Honey Meadow. Both this and their regular year-round Black Currant are even better on Nitro draft, tasting crazy smooth.

Have you tried any of Finnriver’s botanical ciders? What did you think?

Cider Summit Seattle 2018 Preview

August 8, 2018August 6, 2018 cidersays Cider Summit, event, preview cider, cider event, cider summit, cider summit seattle, cider tasting, cider tasting event, hard cider, seattle

The epic 9th annual Cider Summit is returning for 2018 to Seattle Washington on Friday September 7th (3-8pm) and Saturday September 8th (noon-5pm), at the South Lake Union Discovery Center Lawn. Check out my previous posts on Cider Summit from 2015 thru 2017 here, with a preview, event review, and cider tasting notes from each year.

See here for the full event info and here for the lists of cideries and ciders. The plan is for 52 cideries (or in some cases, distributors) to be represented, pouring 3-6 selections each. That is over 200 ciders, cysers, meads, fruit wines, Pommeaux, apple brandies, cider whiskies, cider cocktails, etc. So, there are plenty of options for all tastes, and even folks like me will have multiple new ciders to try. They of course skew towards the NW, but there are cideries from all over the country and world represented too.

Regular tickets are sold in advance online ($43.60 including fees), at Capitol Cider, or at the door ($45), and includes a tasting glass + 16 drink tickets. VIP tickets are sold in advance online ($55.76 including fees) only, and get you in an hour early on Friday (2pm instead of 3pm), and includes a tasting glass + 24 drink tickets. Note that this is double the number of drink tickets as last year, as they have reduced the pour size from 4oz to 2oz, so you can try twice as many ciders – very cool. Additional drink tickets are sold at the event. Designated driver tickets are available at the door for $5.

This outdoor event is 21+ but dog friendly. They have covered seating, stand up tables, cold water on tap, and port-a-potties. The event also includes a merchandise shop, bottle shop, food sales, and a dog lounge. Plus, new for this year, paired bites from Capitol Cider and other local producers. Another special feature is the Fruit Cider Challenge; many cideries are bringing a special fruity cider, and attendees can vote for their favorite. Most booths have folks from the cidery (sometimes even the cidermaker) pouring ciders, a mix of keg and bottle pours. They may also still be accepting volunteers (includes free admission after your shift and 50% off wearables).

The event has in & out privileges (if you keep your wristband and glass), so you can leave to grab food (such as from the Whole Foods just down the street), or even return the next day. On Friday it usually doesn’t get too busy until closer to 5pm, but it is pretty busy from then on (line down the street when they open on Saturday, which you can skip by the way if you already have a wristband & glass). However, the event is so well laid out and there is enough space, so there are fewer & shorter lines and less crowds than the smaller events.

Cider Summit Seattle is part of Washington Cider Week (Sept 6-16). Stay tuned for more posts here at Cider Says on Cider Summit and Washington Cider Week 2018 events.

Anyday Rosé

August 6, 2018August 6, 2018 cidersays Anyday Brands, review Anyday, Anyday Rosé, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes

Review of Anyday Rosé, 85% hopped cider with 15% rosé wine. It is my first time trying this.

Cider: Anyday Rosé
Cidery: Anyday Brands
Cidery Location: based in New York, but production is in Paso Robles CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from west coast dessert apples with Cascade & Citra hops and rosé wine

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Anyday Brands. 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.<<

Availability: online sales, to most U.S. states (all except AK, AL, DE, HI, KY, MS, OK, and UT)

Cider Description: Our delicious Rosé cider is a masterfully blended recipe of West Coast apples, rosé wine and cascade and citra hops. Our company is based in New York, but our rosé is crafted in the heart of the Central Coast Wine Region in Paso Robles, CA. Anyday is 85 percent crisp cider and 15 percent rosé wine with hops, creating the perfect blend of cider and rosé. Oh, and our rosé has an alcohol content of 6.9 percent (we know, nice).

Nutrition Facts: From their website, per 12oz can – 125 calories, 6g carbs, 1g sugar.

Cidery Description: Anyday Rosé was created by former NFL player Pat McAfee and former Barstool Sports advertising director Louis Roberts. The pair teamed up with winemakers Andrew Jones of Tin City Cider and Michael Zinke of Zinke Wines. For more info, see here.

Price: $32 (including shipping) for two four-packs [or less per can for higher quantities – they even sell a pack of 365 cans]
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the co-founder contacted me, Louis Roberts

First Impression: Medium red hue (more than I expected for being only 15% rosé). Mild to moderate carbonation. Smells mild, only of hops.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness from the hops. No tannins, funk, or sourness. Notes of green apple, hops, citrus, and hints of floral & non-specific fruitiness. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability and flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity and hops flavor.

My Opinion: This one really grew on me. At first I wasn’t really getting why you’d mix a hopped cider with a rosé, but by the end of the can I liked it. Despite this being dry and hopped, which you think would limit their market a bit as not everyone likes both of those, I could see this having more appeal. It drinks like it is a bit sweeter, likely due to that bit of fruitiness. It was plenty easy for me to drink even though I don’t usually go for a fully dry cider. Plus it actually had some unexpected complexity. I did however find it interesting that their marketing emphasizes the rosé part and nearly skips over that this is hopped, as for me the hops made more of an impact on the flavor than the rosé aspect. Maybe because rosé is so hot right now? At $4 / can for their lowest quantity option it isn’t the cheapest, but not super expensive either.

Notes on Shipping: As this product is only available online, unlike most of my review ciders, receiving it through the mail was part of the standard process, so I thought I’d add a bit about that. They ship from Paso Robles CA and use FedEx, which is awesome as they are way more alcohol-friendly than UPS. If you won’t be home during the day to sign for it, you can have the package held at a number of location options (like FedEx shipping stores), instead of only the main UPS facility (which for me is about 45 minutes away, so a big pain). You don’t even need to have a FedEx account to do that (through the tracking number you can manage the shipment as a guest as long as you know the address info and such). It was packaged in a cool branded box.

All 8 cans arrived intact, although a few had small dents. I think the packaging was average – likely sufficient in the majority of cases, but I’ve seen better. I received several order status updates by e-mail. Overall everything went smoothly and it was convenient. The only drawback to only online sales that I can see is the delay between ordering and receiving, plus unlike picking it up at a store, it won’t arrive pre-chilled (most stores around me have the majority of their beers & ciders in fridge cases), except maybe in winter I guess.

Most Similar to: a drier version of Incline Compass Rosé, which is also a hopped rosé cider, although only available in the NW

Closing Notes: This is a unique product in that it is only sold online, seems to be targeting younger folks / Millennials (very Instagramable), and they even have a guarantee of a full refund if you don’t like the product (I can’t think of any cidery which has that in writing, although I’m sure most of them would make it right if you contacted them about being dissatisfied. Its a nice thing to have when spending $32+ on something new.). I’m interested to see what they will release next – whether it will be another cider, or something else, like a beer or wine.

Have you tried Anyday Rosé? What did you think?

Barns Etc / Hard Cider Shed’s Country Elegance Heirloom Blend Medium

July 31, 2018April 15, 2019 cidersays Country Elegance, review cider, cider review, Cider Shed, cider tasting, Country Elegance, hard cider, heirloom, tasting notes, washington, Wenatchee

Review of Barns Etc (Hard Cider Shed) Counry Elegance Heirloom Blend cider, Medium sweet. “Barns Etc” is the cidery in Wenatchee WA, and they have a tasting room called “The Cider Shed” in Cashmere WA. This is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Country Elegance Heirloom Blend, Medium
Cidery: Barns Etc / Hard Cider Shed
Cidery Location: Wenatchee/Cashmere WA
ABV: 7.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from heirloom cider apples

Availability: very limited (see here), mostly only through their tasting room, plus local delivery for large orders, a few shops in the Cashmere / Wenatchee / Leavenworth WA area, and possibly shipping

Cider Description: Our attention to blending sweet and tart heirloom apples provides this wonderful cider. Grilled salmon pairs nicely with our Country Elegance Heirloom blend ~ medium.

Cidery Description: Country Elegance artisan hard ciders are hand crafted using all natural fresh pressed heirloom apples from Cashmere and Wenatchee, Washington family orchards. The delicate blending of sweet and tart apples provide a pure and uniquely flavorful blend of ciders.

Price: $22
Where Bought: Broken Barrel, a bottle shop + tasting room with wine & cider in Leavenworth WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, when we were in town for a few days in early December 2017; see my Leavenworth cider roundup post here

First Impression: Light gold hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of acidic heirloom apple cider.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and sourness. No funk or bitterness. Notes of heirloom apple juice & pomace, caramel, orange, and grapefruit. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Moderate to high sessionability and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. Nice flavor and complexity. A perfect amount of sweetness for my tastes. Not super tart/acidic like so many heirloom apple ciders (likely balanced by the additional sweetness, as so often they go fully dry). However, it would have been awesome without that hint of sour (I’m really sensitive to it and it just hits my taste buds wrong). Also, at $22, I think it is a bit spendy, costing more than most all other local ciders I’ve bought, even those from cider apples, which usually run ~ $15-20, like from Alpenfire, Snowdrift, Liberty, Dragon’s Head, and Whitewood. Although 750ml can look like a lot, its only 25.4 oz, and at only 7% ABV, it was easy for me to finish the bottle by myself in one night. Its always great to see ciders made from heirloom and/or cider apples, instead of the flavored ciders from dessert apples which make up the majority of the market.

Most Similar to: nothing really, as it had a different flavor profile than most heirloom apple ciders I’ve had, but it was a bit similar to Frecon Farms Scrumpy and Eden Guinevere’s Pearls

Closing Notes: They also have dry and sweet versions of this heirloom cider, as well as a cherry cider and a perry, all retailing for $22.

Have you tried any cider from north central Washington? What did you think?

Grand Illusion Street Magic

July 27, 2018July 27, 2018 cidersays Grand Illusion, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Grand Illusion, hard cider, hopped cider, Street Magic, tasting notes

Review of Grand Illusion Hard Cider’s Street Magic, a hopped grapefruit cider. I have previously tried their Mystic Citra Pineapple and Blue Illusion.

Cider: Street Magic
Cidery: Grand Illusion Hard Cider
Cidery Location: Carlisle PA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Citra & Centennial hops and grapefruit

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Grand Illustion. 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.<<

Availability: in Pennsylvania, primarily at their taproom, but soon, at some other locations

Cider Description: This mouth-puckering, subtropical grapefruit cider is pure sunshine. The balance achieved between tart and sweet complement the citrus and floral notes provided by Citra and Centennial hops.

Cidery Description: We are Grand Illusion, a hard cider production company located in Carlisle, PA. We use fresh pressed apples from Adams and York County to create magical ciders for all to enjoy. Our taproom in downtown Carlisle has become a destination, with 15 ciders, 5 beers, and 8 wines – all on draft and all from Pennsylvania.

Here is an article from a local newspaper on the cidery. They serve both their own ciders and ciders from other cideries at their taproom; see their tap list here.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $44 / case, likely ~ $11 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery owners contacted me

First Impression: Light yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of hops with hints of lemon, orange, and grapefruit.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Moderate bitterness. Hints of sourness. No funk or tannins. Notes of hops, citrus, and grapefruit. Long bitter hoppy finish. Moderate hops intensity and overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability.

My Opinion: I wasn’t personally a fan. It was too bitter for my liking, without enough sweetness to counter it. My husband liked it better, but we both preferred the pineapple hopped one (Mystic Citra Pineapple), as it was less bitter, more sweet, and more complex. Same as Mystic Citra Pineapple, I think this would appeal best to beer drinkers, and tasted less sweet than the labeled 17 grams of sugar. The great thing about the cider industry right now is that there are so many options; every cider or cidery won’t appeal to everyone, but there will be others out there that will. Grand Illusion’s ciders are doing well on untappd and such, so there are definitely plenty of folks who enjoy their ciders even if they weren’t my personal favorite.

Most Similar to: a hopped version of Cascadia Grapefruit Tangerine

Closing Notes: Of the three I tried, their Mystic Citra Pineapple was my favorite. I’m curious to see the evolution of their cidery and ciders over time.

Have you tried hopped cider? What did you think?

Grand Illusion Blue Illusion

July 25, 2018July 27, 2018 cidersays Grand Illusion, review Blue Illusion, blueberry, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Grand Illusion, hard cider, Lavender, Pennsylvania, tasting notes

Review of Grand Illusion Hard Cider’s Blue Illusion, a blueberry-lavender cider. I previously tried their Mystic Citra Pineapple.

Cider: Blue Illusion
Cidery: Grand Illusion Hard Cider
Cidery Location: Carlisle PA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with blueberries and English lavender

Availability: in Pennsylvania, primarily at their taproom, but soon, at some other locations

Cider Description: This well-balanced blueberry-lavender cider offers a pleasant sweetness and a light berry fruitiness; it finishes with a touch of English lavender.

Here is an article from a local newspaper on the cidery. They serve both their own ciders and ciders from other cideries at their taproom; see their tap list here.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $44 / case, likely ~ $11 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery owners contacted me

First Impression: Lovely purple-blue hue. Low carbonation. Smells of lavender with a hint of berry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of citrus and a hint of berry. Moderate length finish with a hint of hops? (I had this after one of their hopped ciders, but my glass was clean, I also picked it up straight out of the can, and my husband was able to taste it too). Low apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it, but I would have liked more sweetness and flavor. I only picked up the lavender in the scent, where it was quite prevalent, so it was a bit of a letdown for it to not transfer to the flavor. However, I’ve had that happen with quite a few ciders I’ve tried. The finish with hops was unexpected. The flavor combination was nice though, and it was quite drinkable, plus for me it was more sessionable than their two hopped varieties I tried, due to the lack of bitterness.

Most Similar to: Greenwood Lavender Blackberry. Or, a less sweet and lower flavor intensity version of Finnriver Lavender Black Currant (which I really enjoy). I was surprised upon searching my list that I’ve tried at least 7 ciders with lavender and 6 ciders with blueberry; I would have guessed less.

Closing Notes: Per Cider Culture, this was Grand Illusion’s first release, in April. Next up I have their hopped grapefruit variety.

Have you tried lavender infused cider? What did you think?

Grand Illusion Mystic Citra Pineapple

July 23, 2018July 23, 2018 cidersays Grand Illusion, review Carlisle, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Grand Illusion, hard cider, hopped cider, Mystic Citra Pineapple, Pennsylvania, tasting notes

Review of Grand Illusion Hard Cider’s Mystic Citra Pineapple, a hopped pineapple cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider:  Mystic Citra Pineapple
Cidery:  Grand Illusion Hard Cider
Cidery Location:  Carlisle PA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Citra & Cascade hops and pineapple

Availability: in Pennsylvania, primarily at their taproom, but soon, at some other locations

Cider Description: Has a pineapple ever played tricks on you? This cider will. Floral and fruity with passion fruit, grapefruit, pineapple and lemongrass overtones. Dry hopped with a combination of Cascade and Citra hops.

Here is an article from a local newspaper on the cidery. They serve both their own ciders and ciders from other cideries at their taproom; see their tap list here.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $44 / case, likely ~ $11 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery owners contacted me

First Impression: Light yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of hops, pineapple, and stone fruit.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of sourness. No funk or tannins. Notes of hops, pineapple, apricot/peach, and grapefruit. Long slightly bitter hoppy finish. Moderate hops intensity and overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability.

My Opinion: I would have liked it better with less bitter of a finish, but overall the flavor combination and level of sweetness were nice. My husband was a bigger fan. It was neat how many extra flavors there were. Also, more fruity than citrus or floral, which I’d expect from Citra hops (they did say Cascade were also used though). I think this would appeal well to beer drinkers. It tasted less sweet than the labeled 17 grams of sugar; possibly as the acidity and bitterness helped cut that, or else this was less sweet of a batch.

Most Similar to: Swift Pineapple Hop

Closing Notes: Next up I have their blueberry-lavender and hopped grapefruit varieties.

Have you tried hopped cider? What did you think?

Kystin Cuvée XVII

July 13, 2018September 10, 2018 cidersays French Cider Inc., Kystin, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Cuvée XVII, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Kystin, tasting notes

Review of Kystin’s Cuvée XVII, a French cidre. The “XVII” refers to the 16 apple varieties plus a 17th ingredient, chestnuts. I’ve previously tried their Opalyne.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by French Cider Inc. / Beauchamp Imports. 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: Cuvée XVII
Cidery: Kystin
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Breton French Demi-Sec (sweet) cidre from 16 varieties of cider apples, with chestnuts

Availability: limited, imported by French Cider Inc.

Cider Description (translated): After seven long years of experimentation, a maceration of chestnut, raw, crushed, for many months in the juice will finally be retained to tie apple and chestnut: La Cuvée XVII is born! Today, it offers us a particularity and unique flavor, amazing Chefs and Sommeliers of very beautiful establishments, honoring the Gastronomy and knowing how to put forward the difference. Its sublime amber color, its tuberous nose, its attack very fresh honeyed apples gradually gives place to the flavors of Chestnut and its notes of undergrowth. There is also the creamy chestnut, cocoa and floral notes very intense.

Cidery Description: Created in 2012, Kystin offers a range of original and very unique gourmet ciders, made of unusual ingredients such as chestnuts, pears and ginger. With a history dating back to the 14th century, Kystin ciders combine fruit, tradition and authenticity to create an unforgetabble taste. The brand recently released “Kalysie” – a pear ginger cider named as a tribute to the Khaleesi character from popular TV series Game of Thrones.

Price: n/a (retails for $26.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through French Cider Inc.

First Impression: Light orange hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of sweet apple with earth and nut.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apple & pomace, yeast, nuts, orange, leather, and earth. Long tannic nutty finish. High apple flavor, sessionability, and complexity. Moderate to high flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Excellent! I love the uniqueness of this cider. Quite complex and flavorful. Probably the most tannic French cidre I’ve ever had, which I enjoyed, and the nuttiness paired perfectly. Also less sweet than I was expecting for a Demi-Sec, which makes it quite versatile. I drank this at cellar temperature (in between fridge & room temps), which the cidery recommended, and I agree with.

Most Similar to: I’ve actually tried two Chestnut themed ciders, an English cider aged in a Chestnut wood cask (Sandford Orchards Chestnut Cask), and a cider with Chestnut crabapples and aged with toasted oak spirals (Number 12 Chestnut), but neither were with actual chestnuts. The most nutty cider I’ve had was an English Perry from Hogan’s, but again, no nuts.

Closing Notes: Next up is Kystin’s Kalysie, a perry (100% pears) with ginger. So far I’m quite impressed, especially considering this is a relatively new cidery (2012), especially in comparison to the age of many other French cideries which have been around for generations.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

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