Stoked Blue Palm

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 cidersays review, Stoked Blue Palm, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Stoked, tasting notes

Review of Stoked Blue Palm, a blueberry-pineapple hopped cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Blue Palm
Cidery: Stoked Cider
Cidery Location: Westlake Village CA (although I’m guessing that is their office, as the can said Stevenson WA, so they probably use a co-packer in apple country)
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples w/ Mosaic hops, blueberry, & pineapple

Availability: limited, likely only in CA, plus online sales

Cider Description: HOP ON THIS CIDER WHALE AND CRUISE YOUR WAY TO FLAVOR ISLAND. THIS IS A JUICY HOP MONSTER, REFRESHINGLY DRY WITH A BURST OF TROPICAL FRUIT AND FRAGRANT WEST COAST HOPS.WE CRAFTED THIS CIDER FOR BIKINI BABES, BIG WAVE SURFERS, AND HOP HEADS WHO ENJOY A HEALTHIER BUZZ. DRY HOPPED WITH MOSAIC HOPS, THEN BLENDED WITH FRESH BLUEBERRIES AND PINEAPPLES. DIVE RIGHT IN AND GET YOUR HAIR WET, THEN STICK YOUR FEET IN THE SAND AND SIP ’TIL YOU SWAY LIKE A LAZY PALM BENDING WITH THE SEA BREEZE

Cidery Description: WELCOME TO THE MOST CRUSHABLE CRAFT CIDER ON THE PLANET. WE ARE ALL ABOUT OUR BLENDS, ALWAYS MADE USING FRESH PRESSED JUICE AND NEVER TOO SWEET. WE MAKE CIDER FOR THE WEST COASTER, BRINGING YOU A HEALTHIER BUZZ. 6.9% ABV. 3 GRAMS OF SUGAR. UNFILTERED. TOTALLY.

Price: $3.99 / single can
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA on a cruise port stop in fall 2018
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light pink-orange hue. Low carbonation. Smells hopped and fruity.

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

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty ok. I had no problem finishing it, but its not really my sort of thing (a bit too dry and bitter). It had a bit of complexity and had a good deal of flavor & fruitiness, which was nice to see.

Most Similar to: other drier fruity hopped ciders like ^5 Strawbasaurus (strawberry hopped), Incline Cider Scout (hopped marionberry), or Swift Pineapple Hop (although in this category my favorite is probably 2 Towns Hop & Stalk, although oddly enough I wouldn’t say I like either hops or rhubarb)

Closing Notes: Surprisingly I got more watermelon than blueberry flavor from it, maybe due to the combination of flavors going on.

Have you tried Stoked Blue Palm? 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 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?

Ramborn Cascade Hopped Cider

September 27, 2017September 27, 2017 cidersays Ramborn, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Luxembourg, Ramborn, Ramborn Cider, tasting notes

Review of Ramborn’s Cascade Hopped Cider. This is my first time trying any cider from this Luxembourg cidery. See my first post on their Perry for more info (I tried them at the same time).

>>This is a review of a bottle gifted to Cider Says by Ramborn. 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: Cascade Hopped Cider
Cidery: Ramborn Cider
Cidery Location: Born, Luxembourg
ABV: 7.4%
How Supplied: four packs of 330ml bottles
Style: cider from Luxembourg cider apples, with Cascade hops from Oregon (U.S.A.) – which hits quite close to home for this imported cider!

Availability: Mostly in Europe, although they are just starting to come to the U.S., as they launched in Milwaukee Wisconsin in August 2017.

Cider Description: We have taken some of our Luxembourgish cider and infused it with American-grown whole-cone Cascade hops. Cascade hails from Oregon in the USA’s Pacific Northwest. First released in 1971, it is loved by craft brewers the world over for its signature citrus/floral aroma. We specially selected a base cider to bring out the full characteristics of Cascade, which in turn compliments the crisp acidity of our traditional cider apples.

Cidery Description: Ramborn is the first Luxembourgish cider producer. We only ferment the freshly pressed juice of apples and pears grown exclusively in traditional orchards of large, standard trees. No concentrate. No industrial plantations.

Price: n/a (and unknown really)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery contacted me

First Impression: Light amber gold hue. Low carbonation. Smells of cider apple juice and hops.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low to moderate tannins, especially on the finish. No sourness or funk. Notes of rich cider apples, hops, floral, and citrus. Moderate length slightly bitter hoppy finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate complexity, sessionability, hops intensity, and overall flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked it but didn’t love it. The rich traditional English-like cider was an interesting combination with the hops that I hadn’t had before. I think if I had this on its own it would have stood out more, but I drank it right after their amazing perry. I can say however that it was balanced, and the main thing I didn’t care for was the bitterness on the finish (although the tannins helped make up for it).

Most Similar to: Nothing I’ve had! I’ve only had hopped ciders which used dessert apples as the base (not cider applies), although I’ve heard of a few cideries in England picking up on this American trend, such as Oliver’s. As a whole, the flavoring of cider is an American thing, as we don’t have as many heirloom & cider apples, so dessert apples are often used. Some of my favorite hopped ciders have been 2 Towns Hop & Stalk (with rhubarb), Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, and Tod Creek Mala Hop, which in general had more citrus/floral/herbal flavor than bitter hop flavor.

Closing Notes: Its pretty cool than a European cidery did a hopped cider. I hope to see their ciders in the Seattle area soon, especially if they are at a four pack (instead of single bottle) price. The perry was amazing, so I’d like to try more straight ciders from cider apples or pears.

Have you tried Ramborn Cider? What did you think?

Grizzly Ciderworks The Bruin Dark & Dry Hopped

August 14, 2017August 7, 2017 cidersays Grizzly Ciderworks, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dark & Dry Hopped, Dark and Dry Hopped, Grizzly Ciderworks, hard cider, hopped cider, tasting notes, The Bruin

Review of Grizzly Ciderworks’ The Bruin, Dark & Dry Hopped. It is my first time trying this one, but I have had Grizzly’s The Ridge, Woodlander Wit, and Pomnivore.

Cider: The Bruin, Dark & Dry Hopped
Cidery: Grizzly Ciderworks
Cidery Location: WA and/or OR (it isn’t specific)
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with Molasses & Willamette hops

Availability: year round in Washington, Idaho, and Montana

Cider Description: THE BRUIN is crafted with a dry apple base, blended with dark sugars and steeped with light touch of Willamette hops. The nose has a nice earthiness with a palate of ripe apple, rich sugars and earthy spice. Excellent with pork, steak and other meat dishes or hearty flavors.

Cidery Description: Over three years in the making, Grizzly Ciderworks is pleased to release our entire line of products to the public. We’ve test-marketed over a dozen ciders in kegs and bottles, with varying labels and names, produced in multiple facilities in two states, and worked with a vast network of local vendor partners for each and every ingredient to make our product. From labels to fruit, caps to hops, cases to spices, everything piece of a Grizzly Cider bottle comes from within 150 miles of our cidery. These ingredients are ALL-NATURAL and the ciders are all GLUTEN-FREE.

They started in Woodinville WA in 2013 but moved to the Walla Walla Valley of SE Washington / NE Oregon in 2015. Many of their ciders are beer-inspired (their bottle even said their ciders are brewed?!).

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve been more into hopped ciders lately, plus I’m a fan of Mollasses in cider, so this sounded good.

First Impression: Nearly still (very low carbonation). Moderate orange amber hue. Smells of bitter hops and sweet caramel.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of orange, hops, molasses, caramel, and wood. Moderate to long hopped finish. Low hops intensity. Moderate flavor intensity, apple flavor, and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this. It was surprisingly complex, and had a nice mix of earthy & sweet notes without being overly sweet. It was missing the typical citrus/herbal/floral type flavor notes, likely due to the molasses being more dominant than the hops.

Most Similar to: Spire Dark & Dry and Woodchuck 802 (except less sweet and with hops), and Grizzly’s The Ridge & Woodlander Wit.

Closing Notes: Grizzly makes some solid ciders, but so far this is my favorite. Its a nice price point too. I could see this selling well in a multi pack (and for a beer-inspired mid-priced cider, I’m surprised they haven’t gone that route yet…maybe as a canning line costs much more than a bottling line to set up).

Have you tried Grizzly Ciderworks The Bruin? What did you think?

Schilling Road Trip (Peach Citra)

July 28, 2017July 27, 2017 cidersays review, Schilling cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Peach Citra, road trip, Schilling, Schilling Cider, tasting notes

Review of Schilling Cider’s Road Trip (Peach Citra), a cider with peach and Citra hops. It is my first time trying this, although I’ve previously sampled their Gold, Grapefruit, Oak Aged, Chaider, Ginger, Hopped, Sriracha Lime, Barrel #1, Barrel #2, Mischief Maker Pom-Cran, Grumpy Bear Coffee Nitro, Pineapple Passion, LumberJack (Rhubarb), Blackberry Pear, Dry, King’s Shilling, Vanilla Clove, Raspberry Smoothie, Peach Grapefruit Habanero, Bailout, Trouble in Paradise, Blueberry Cobbler, French Bittersweet, Pippin, and Afterglow ciders.

Cider: Road Trip (Peach Citra)
Cidery: Schilling Cider
Cidery Location: Auburn WA
ABV: 6.6%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles and draft
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with peach and CItra hops

Availability: Schilling Cider is sold at least in AK, AZ, CA, CT, ID, MN, NC, NV, OR, SC, VA, and WA, but this is a summer seasonal release (July-September) and is therefore likely to have more limited distribution.

Cider Description: Sweet and juicy peach and farm fresh citra hops.

Cidery Description: We capture the essence of the Pacific Northwest by creating hard ciders that are deliberately innovative, bold, and flavor forward.

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing.

First Impression: Light peach amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells mildly hopped and fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of peach, tropical fruit, hops, and citrus. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low hops influence. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. Refreshing, with peach and citrus. Nice level of sweetness and balanced flavor.

Most Similar to: Other cider which were both fruity and hopped, such as 2 Towns Hop & Stalk, Incline Lemongrass Lure, Reverend Nat’s Hallelujah Hopricot, and Ratel Cider Dry Hopped

Closing Notes: Schilling has really stepped up their game since they started out. My favorite cider from them however remains King’s Shilling, a brandy barrel aged cider which is also an excellent value (as low as $4.50 / 22oz).

Have you tried Schilling Road Trip? What did you think?

Gumption Cider Co. Citrus Freak

June 12, 2017June 9, 2017 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. cider, cider review, cider tasting, citrus, Citrus Freak, Gumption, hard cider, hopped cider, tasting notes, Woodchuck

Review of Citrus Freak from Gumption Cider Co. (part of Vermont Cider Co., which also includes Woodchuck). This is the second year-round offering from the series, along with the original Gumption (which I reviewed here). Gumption started in 2015 under the Woodchuck brand, but it branched out as its own brand in 2016.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by the Vermont Cider Co. 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: Citrus Freak
Cidery: Gumption Cider Co. (part of the Vermont Cider Co.)
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with citrus and Cascade hops

Availability: Year-round, wide release

Cider Description: Part prankster, part gangster, Gumption’s right-hand man is the Citrus Freak. A perfect pairing of eating apples, grapefruit, and Cascade hops, this semi-dry cider delivers an all-day enjoyable citrus experience.

Gumption Description: The Circus of Ciders. Originally launched under the Woodchuck brand in 2015, Gumption® is a bold and audacious brand which has been wildly successful with consumers. In December 2016, Gumption spun off from Woodchuck® as its own brand with line extensions including the rotational Late Show series and Citrus Freak.

Vermont Cider Co. Description: Vermont Cider Co. introduced the U.S. to the craft cider category 25 years ago. Dedicated exclusively to cider making, they are the proud producers of their namesake brand, the original American hard cider, Woodchuck, the northeast premium hard cider brand, Vermont Cider Co., the circus of ciders, Gumption, the west coast native, Wyder’s Cider, and importers of Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn. With an unparalleled focus on quality and innovation, Vermont Cider Co. leads the category in releasing the most premium liquid and pioneering new ciders made from the finest ingredients. Under the watchful eyes of two award-winning cider makers, Vermont Cider Co. produces and distributes from Middlebury, VT, blending together the passion of their consumers, their creativity, and their heritage within the green mountains.

Price: n/a (retails for $8.99-$10.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Very pale straw yellow. Nearly still. Smells mildly of sweet citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of grapefruit, lemon, orange, and a hint of citrus-forward hops. Moderate length finish. High sessionability. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked the start of this cider, but after a few sips the citrus got a bit fake, almost air freshener ish, more of grapefruit extract than grapefruit juice. I was surprised the hops were almost imperceptible, but I imagine some folks will like that. I liked that they went drier on this one too.

Most Similar to: Schilling Grapefruit & Chill and Somersby Citrus Fruit (or for a more real-tasting grapefruit cider, Elemental Hydrogen)

Closing Notes: I’d love to see this go more natural tasting, then I’d be a fan, as I like the idea of it.

Have you tried Gumption Citrus Freak? What did you think?

2 Towns Hop and Stalk

June 5, 2017June 16, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Hop and Stalk, hopped cider, rhubarb cider, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ Imperial Hop and Stalk, a seasonal release with Citra hops and rhubarb. I sampled this last year (see here), and I’ve tried most of their line-up (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by 2 Towns. 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: Hop and Stalk
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 8.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles and kegs
Style: American Imperial (high ABV) craft cider made from dessert apples, with Citra hops and rhubarb

Availability: Seasonably (May-Aug) in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA.

Cider Description: Fresh and citrusy, Hop & Stalk packs a Northwest punch. Fresh-pressed apples and rhubarb are dry-hopped with Citra hops, creating a cider erupting with fresh aromatics and a tart, biting backbone.

Cidery Description: At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider.

Price: n/a (runs $7.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy lemonade medium straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells very aromatic, primarily of citrus, with some hops and strawberry-rhubarb.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of citrus (lemon, lime, and orange), hops, floral, rhubarb, and strawberry. Long finish with some baked apple. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. Moderate to strong hoppiness.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, but I liked last year’s batch better, as it seemed a tad more balanced (more fruity / less hoppy).

Most Similar to: Hopped ciders with lots of citrus notes and some fruitiness. Portland Cider Hop’Rageous also uses Citra hops, so you get more citrus & floral than bitter hops. Tod Creek Mala-Hop also had a lot of citrus notes, but used Chinook, Sterling and Centennial, not Citra hops. This is the most citrusy hopped cider I’ve tried though, and the only one with another fruit addition.

Closing Notes: Another winner from 2 Towns!

Have you tried 2 Towns Hop and Stalk? What did you think?

Oregon Mead & Cider Co. Free Press Hopped Cider

February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 cidersays Oregon Mead & Cider Co., review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Oregon Mead and Cider, portland, tasting notes

Review of Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Hopped Cider. It is my first time trying this cider, although I tried their Dry variety the night before.

Cider: Free Press Hopped Cider
Cidery: Oregon Mead & Cider Company
Cidery Location: Portland Oregon
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider, with hops

Availability: Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin

Cider Description: Hard Cider Made Easy. Our ciders were born from the bounty of the Northwest and the pioneering spirit of our grandparents. A perfect balance of dry and tart, our ciders are made by the people, for the people. Press on.

Cidery Description: Oregon Mead & Cider Co. creates award-winning, dry, sparkling meads and ciders from premium Northwest ingredients. All of our beverages are gluten-free, unfiltered, and completely dry. Oh, and we never use sulfites. Ever.

They have a tasting room in Portland (see here).

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was my first time seeing anything from this brand, although I had heard of them.

First Impression: Light amber hue. Moderate carbonation with a large amount of foam. Smells apple-forward, of hops with a hint of peach.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Notes of hops, lemon, grapefruit, yeast, and a hint of floral & honey. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked the level of carbonation, the frothy texture, and the flavor profile. However, the bitterness was a bit much for me. Like the Dry, it seemed a bit beer-like.

Most Similar to: Double Mountain Jumpin Jack Heirloom Cider and Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Dry Cider

Closing Notes: I liked this much better than their Dry cider, which I though had a strange flavor profile.

Have you tried Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Hopped Cider? What did you think?

Anthem Hops

February 1, 2017January 29, 2017 cidersays Anthem anthem, cider, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, hops, tasting notes

Review of Anthem Hops. It is my first time trying this one, although I have previously tried their flagship cider, Raz & Boyz, Ap-Bee-Cot, Rose Pinot, and Cherry.

Cider: Hops
Cidery: Anthem (Wandering Aengus)
Cidery Location: Salem Oregon
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American large craft cider from dessert apples, finished with Cascade hops

Availability: CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, MI, MT, NJ, NM, OR, PA, TN, TX, UH, VA, WA, and WA D.C.

Cider Description: Anthem Cider’s tribute to the Northwest’s love of hops, Anthem Hops is a gluten free cider dry hopped with Oregon grown Cascade hops for over three weeks. The result is a light lagerish cider with all the beautiful citrus and floral aromas of Cascade hops with a only slight bitterness on the finish. Shy of Dry. Mild Tart. 10 IBU. 5.5% to 6.9% ABV. GLUTEN FREE.

Cidery Description: We only use fresh pressed apples and other fruits, herbs sourced from the Pacific Northwest of known varieties – they are listed on every bottle and keg. To make great real cider, the varieties of apples, fruit additions and herbs matter. As does where the ingredients are grown and how far removed they are from their original form (degrees separated through processing from the farm to the bottle).

The fresh pressed apples we use provide all the sugars for fermentation and the malic acid (source of the tartness). Any and all residual sweetness in Anthem is provided by the apples we started with or the fruits we finish with. The result is a line up of real ciders made the way you expect; apples pressed and fermented.

Price: ~$3.50 / single bottle
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve been getting into hopped ciders, and realized I hadn’t tried this one.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of hops, citrus, and floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Moderate bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, hops, green apple, mineral, and a hint of floral. Moderate to long finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked the flavor, but it was a bit too bitter for my preferences.

Most Similar to: Square Mile Spur & Vine and Incline Explorer (although both are less bitter)

Closing Notes: Hopped ciders have really grown on me. I like the citrus flavors they impart, and especially enjoy them when they aren’t bitter.

Side Note: After purchasing it, I realized the bottling date was June 2015 (batch 64).

Have you tried Anthem Hops? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Remedy Dry Hopped Apple Cider

September 30, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Denver, hard cider, hopped cider, Remedy, Stem, tasting notes

Review of Remedy from Stem Ciders, their dry hopped cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Blood Orange Cyser, and Malice. My husband brought this and 4 of their other ciders (plus even some Pommeau!) back from Colorado for me.

Cider: Remedy
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans, and kegs
Style: American craft dry cider made from dessert apples, with Cascade & Citra hops

Availability: Only in Colorado, year round, at these retailers.

Cider Description: Dry hopped with Cascade & Citra hops. Floral and citrus fruit intermingle with apple on the nose giving way to a tart apple zing without any bitterness.

Cidery Description: At Stem Ciders, we are committed to creating ciders of the highest quality that honor the purity and complexity that is inherent to the apple. We can’t wait to introduce you to your perfect cider match. We are dedicated to reviving the cider tradition, which goes far beyond what you enjoy in your glass. We hold our growers in the highest regard, and by fostering relationships with them we reward their hard work and promote the regrowth of heirloom apple cultivation. We love our home-base in Denver, and embrace the Colorado lifestyle that makes us lug a bottle to share up a mountain to enjoy a drink with a view. Most importantly, we love nothing more than seeing that smile on your face when you have your first sip of one of our crisp, refreshing ciders.

Price: $10 / four pack
Where Bought: Stem Ciders tasting room in Denver
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Stem Ciders online. Last time my husband was in Colorado, he picked me up a bunch of ciders, including Stem Le Chene. I keep hearing about their Banjo special release cider, but I’m 0/3 as far as finding it (apparently its only available about 1 month a year; its currently still barrel aging). This time around I thought I’d make it easier on my husband and give him a shopping list all from the same cidery, so he could just stop by the tap room (vs. trying to find ciders at multiple bottle shops). I e-mailed the cidery ahead of time and they were nice enough to send me a list of what they had in stock.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of hops and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Moderate bitterness. Low astringency. No sourness or funk. Notes of hops, citrus, floral, herbal, honey, mineral, and green apple. Long bitter finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, although it was a bit more bitter than I prefer. It has a light wine-like flavor which would pair well with food.

Most Similar to: Incline Explorer, Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, and Tod Creek Mala-Hop

Closing Notes: This is a nice hopped cider option for folks who like dry ciders and want something available in a multipack. Next up I have their Branch & Bramble (raspberry) cider, then special releases Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot and Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Remedy? What did you think?

Square Mile Spur & Vine Hopped Cider

September 16, 2016September 11, 2016 cidersays review, Square Mile cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Spur & Vine, Spur and Vine, Square Mile, tasting notes

Review of Square Mile’s Spur & Vine hopped cider. I’ve previously tried their other variety, Original.

Cider: Spur & Vine
Cidery: Square Mile (part of Craft Brew Alliance)
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: six packs of 12oz bottles and 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples, with Galaxy hops

Availability: Year round in WA, OR, CA, HI, AK, NV, AZ, TX, MT, ID, MI, & CO

Cider Description: Spur & Vine puts a Northwest twist on our classic American hard cider. Starting with the same apples and yeast as The Original, we added a generous amount of Galaxy hops during cold conditioning. Since no heat is applied to the hops, our cider takes on flavors and aromas of peach, melon and honeysuckle but none of the traditional hop bitterness. Spur & Vine is best served straight up to allow the complexities of this cider to shine.

Cidery Description: Inspired by the pioneering spirit of those who traveled the Oregon Trail in the pursuit of a dream, we offer Square Mile Hard Cider. We set out to reinvigorate an enduringly classic American beverage with a blend of apples hand-selected for the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Our hard cider pays homage to the fortitude and perseverance of the original pioneers.

They were founded in 2013.

Price: $1.99 / single bottle (runs ~ $9 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. A couple people have told me they liked this, and its even won awards, but I held off for awhile as I didn’t care for their Original cider.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells of hops, floral, and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of citrus (lemon), hops, floral, herbal, mineral, lemongrass, and honey. Moderate to long finish. Moderate hoppiness, apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I’m a fan. Nice hops flavor without going too overboard, and without the bitterness. Oddly enough I found this less beer-like than their Original cider. Its probably my favorite hopped cider to date. This category has grown on me. I think I started off on the wrong foot, not liking beer, then having Reverend Nat’s Envy (an intensely hopped bitter dry cider) being the first I tried.

Most Similar to: Other hopped ciders. This one has a nice balance of citrus, floral, and herbal flavor from the hops. Some other hopped ciders sway only towards citrus or floral.

Closing Notes: Now I’ve tried both offerings from Square Mile; oddly enough they only make two.

Have you tried hopped cider? What did you think?

Incline Explorer Hopped Cider

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016 cidersays Incline, review Auburn, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Explorer, hard cider, hopped cider, Incline, washington

Review of Incline Cider Company’s The Explorer – Hopped Cider. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, and this was the first cider this company released (January 2016).

Cider: The Explorer – Hopped Cider
Cidery: Incline Cider Company
Cidery Location: Auburn WA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six packs of 12oz cans
Style: American craft hopped cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Year round in Washington and Oregon

Cider Description: On the drier end of the scale while remaining very smooth and well balanced. The Explorer Hopped Cider is produced from our blend of Yakima apples. A hearty dose of hops is added in to create a extremely balanced, complex, and refreshing cider. NO added sugar, no concentrates, nothing funky.
Cheers!

Cidery Description: On a mission to share craft cider with the nation. Incline Cider Company was established by dreamers turned cider adventurers. Founded through a long time passion with the industry and for quality craft cider, Incline was born. Our mission is to produce craft cider of the highest quality and share it with the world.

We stay true to “craft”. This means no apple concentrates and no artificial additives. To put it simply – we let the apples, yeast, and our expertise do the talking. GMO and Gluten Free. Family owned and operated..

Price: ~$2 for a single can
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I had read about this cider online and seen full six packs in other stores

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of hops, citrus, floral, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Hop-forward (moderate). Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of hops, citrus, floral, and honey. Moderate finish length. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I found this easy to drink, but its not something I’d buy again, as I prefer a higher flavor intensity and less overt hoppiness (ie. citrus & floral notes vs. actual hop flavor). I liked that the bitterness didn’t linger, which I’ve found some some hoppier ciders.

Most Similar to: Other moderately hopped ciders, such as Portland Cider Hop’Rageous and Tod Creek Mala-Hop.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this. I can no longer say that I don’t enjoy hopped ciders, although they aren’t my first choice. I think Incline did well staying middle of the road as far as hoppiness to appeal to both cider and beer drinkers. I’m curious what they will come out with next. Their website lists The Scout Hopped Marionberry Cider, but I haven’t seen it yet.

Have you tried Incline Explorer? What did you think?

Rhinegeist Cidergeist Dry Hopped

June 28, 2016June 27, 2016 cidersays Cidergeist, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cidergeist, Cincinnati, Dry Hopped, hard cider, hopped cider, Ohio, Rhinegeist

Review of Cidergeist Dry Hopped, a dry hopped cider made by Rhinegeist, a brewery in Cincinnati Ohio. They released two ciders for the first time in Fall 2015, Semi Dry and Dry Hopped. They sent me samples of both.

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Rhinegeist. 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 Hopped
Cidery: Rhinegeist Cidergeist
Cidery Location: Cincinnati Ohio
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 6 pack of 12oz cans (and kegs)
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apple juice concentrate, with hops

Availability: year round in areas including Ohio, Kentucky, and Massachusetts

Cider Description: Dry hopped with Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest for citrus aromatics, this fine dry cider builds layers of delight upon the essence of the apples.

Cidery Description: Countless days and nights were spent studying the art of making cider, drinking the best we could find across the country and testing a variety of juices, yeasts and techniques in fermentation—the result is Cidergeist. Semi Dry and Dry Hopped will be sure to blow your buds with the bright snap of delicious apples.

Cidergeist gives us the opportunity to play in a lighter and drier zone than beer is able to achieve, introducing a flavor profile more akin to white wine and refreshing in a uniquely fruity way. Fermented with juices from the Pacific Northwest, these Cidergeist Hard Ciders sparkle to deliver a blend of acidity and apple-ness with bountiful aromatics that strike the right balance of refreshingly dry with just a shy suggestion of sweetness.

Price: n/a (retails around $10 / 6 pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Rhinegeist contacted me

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Nearly still (no carbonation). Smells strongly of Citra hops.

Tasting Notes: Completely dry (3 grams sugar / 12oz). Mild tartness and acidity. Moderate bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Strong hoppiness with milder notes of citrus (orange) and floral. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Wow! This is quite a hoppy cider. I’m not a fan of beer, so unfortunately I wasn’t a fan. My husband thought this was quite similar to IPA beer. There have been a few hopped ciders I enjoyed, but they were much more mild, such as 2 Towns Hop and Stalk, Tod Creek Mala-Hop, and Portland Cider Hop’Rageous. I think I would have enjoyed this with more sweetness and less hops.

Most Similar to: Reverend Nat’s Hopland #5 / Envy, which was also heavily hopped.

Closing Notes: Fans of heavily hopped beers such as IPA would probably enjoy this cider.

Have you tried Cidergeist? What did you think?

2 Towns Imperial Hop and Stalk

May 24, 2016May 23, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, Corvallis, hard cider, Hop and Stalk, hopped cider, hops, oregon, rhubarb

Review of 2 Towns’ Imperial Hop and Stalk, a seasonal release with Citra hops and Crimson Red rhubarb. I’ve tried most of their line-up; see my reviews here.

Cider: Hop and Stalk
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles and kegs
Style: American Imperial (high ABV) craft cider made from dessert apples, with Citra hops and Crimson Red rhubarb

Availability: Seasonably (May-Aug) in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA.

Cider Description: An outrageous amount of Citra hops, locally grown Crimson Red rhubarb, and fresh-pressed NW apples create a trenchant hard cider with huge floral, citrus & passion fruit notes. The outspoken dry-hopped character of this cider is best when fresh, so make sure to exercise your Stalk Hoptions before they expire!

Price: n/a (runs $7-$9)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Low to moderate carbonation upon pouring. Smells primarily of citrus, with some hops and strawberry-rhubarb.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. No sourness, tannins, or funk. Moderate length finish. Moderate hoppiness, although with less bitterness and lingering flavor than many hopped ciders. Notes of citrus (lots!), hops, strawberry, rhubarb, passion fruit, honey, and floral. Low apple flavor. Moderate to strong overall flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I wasn’t expecting to like this cider as I wouldn’t call myself a fan of hops or rhubarb. However, I really enjoyed it–I loved the complexity and uniqueness.

Closing Notes: Another winner from 2 Towns!

Have you tried 2 Towns Hop and Stalk? What did you think?

Tod Creek Mala-Hop

November 4, 2015October 25, 2015 cidersays review, Tod Creek cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Mala-Hop, Malahop, Tod Creek

Review of Tod Creek’s Mala-Hop. This is the second cider I’ve had from Tod Creek. The name is a reference to Malahat, Vancouver Island’s dividing mountain between Victoria and its southern tip, and that is a hopped cider.

Ron from DrinkingCider.com brought me two Tod Creek ciders from his Vancouver detour to his Cider Summit Seattle 2015 / WA Cider Week trip! See here for my review of Tod Creek’s Tod Cider Vancouver Island.

Cider: Mala-Hop
Cidery: Tod Creek
Cidery Location: Victoria B.C. Canada
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 500ml glass bottle

Availability: Vancouver Island, Vancouver, and a couple store in the interior of British Columbia. They are entering their second season, and have plans to expand into the Kelowna area, possibly Alberta, and hopefully eventually the U.S.

Cider Description: All juice hard apple cider with triple-hop flavour….

Premium cider with a West Coast bite. Cruising the Malahat is a rite of passage for most Islanders, the mountain at your side as Finlayson Arm and Saltspring Island creep into view. Whether you’re heading to Victoria or leaving the capital city, the Malahat is an essential part of Island life. This hard apple cider is prefect for beer-lovers and cider enthusiasts, featuring a touch of tartness from the Granny Smiths and three different hops delivering that distinct flavour and aroma loved by true hop-heads….

This sparkling cider is all juice — no water added to dilute the great taste. Mala-Hop is a triple-hopped treat and tastes great on its own or paired with a spicy pepperoni pizza, nachos loaded with jalapenos, or a hearty beef stew….

Ingredients: apple juice, maple syrup, sulfites, hops….

Hopped cider has been around for years, but only recently in the Pacific NorthWest has it really become discovered and loved by so many. This cider is for the beer drinker, or for anyone who wants to have the tremendous nose and flavour of hops in their cider. Kinda like peanut butter and chocolate….

We use a blend of Granny, Golden, Jona, Sparton apples, and this year we’re also using Mac. In the Mala-Hop is also some cider variety such as Yarlington and Tremlett, with some crab as well.

The three hops we’re using are Chinook, Sterling and Centennial, all sourced from the organic growners HOOH (harvest our organic hops) in Liloette, BC.

Cidery Description: Tod Creek Craft Cider makes small batch, handcrafted cider with BC apples. We source our apples from local trees on Vancouver Island as well as from farmers in the BC interior. Long, slow fermentation brings about great flavours in the traditional way. We typically ferment each batch for about four months. If you want the super-sweet, watered-down canned stuff, we can’t help you. Our ciders are all-juice blends to bring a clean, crisp, enjoyable drink that goes great with dinner, friends, or all by itself. As a small batch cider, you’ll notice that each year the ciders will vary slightly, much like a good wine does. Our apples will be influenced by the sun, the amount of rainfall, and other factors, so each year will yield a slightly different taste. Most of our ciders are coarse filtered, and our hopped cider isn’t filtered at all. Filtering can take some of the flavours out of cider, so we try to limit the amount of filtering we do.

They opened in June 2014 and have a micro-cidery setup, their own orchard in Victoria, and lease an orchard in Kelowna. A tasting room is in the works (hoping for Summer 2016), but they will do a tasting & tour by appointment. Sea Cider and Merridale are also in the same area.

Price: n/a (appears to run $7.60 CAD, or $5.77 USD a bottle)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Ron gave it to me. I’d never heard of Tod Creek cider before as it isn’t available here in the Seattle area.

First Impression: Almost no carbonation. Light straw yellow with a hint of honey hue, slightly hazy. Mild aromas of hops, floral, citrus, wood, and maple.

Opinion: Semi-dry. This cider tasted spot-on to how it smelled, with the same mild hops, floral, citrus, wood, and maple notes. Low bitterness, astringency, acidity, and tartness. Medium bodied. Very smooth. On the unfiltered side. Balanced complex flavor. Average length finish. The hops are present throughout the sip, but remain very mild. I’m surprised it wasn’t more tart as I pick up a lot of granny smith aple notes, but I imagine the other apple varieties, hops, and maple syrup balanced out the flavor. I’m impressed they really kept the bitterness down. My main comment is that it could use more carbonation, but I say that about almost all ciders!

Most Similar to: Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, which is the only other hopped cider I’ve tried that I actually liked (tasting notes here). Hop’Rageous also has very little hop flavor, more floral & citrus notes with a slight hops aftertaste. Most hopped ciders seem to go quite overboard on the amount of hops, only appealing to beer lovers, which I definitely am not.

Closing Notes: Not bad! I was pleasantly surprised. My husband also enjoyed it. I’m not sure Mala-Hop is something I would buy if it was available here as its not really my type of cider, but like Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, I’d recommend it to anyone who is curious about hopped ciders and looking for something on the mild end of the spectrum. I didn’t have any problem finishing the bottle, which was definitely unexpected. Hopefully I’ll be able to try more ciders from Tod Creek in the future.

Have you tried any cider from Tod Creek? What did you think?

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