Left Field

Left Field British Dry

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Review of Left Field’s British Dry.  I picked this up at a cruise port stop in Victoria B.C.  It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Little Dry before.

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Cider:  British Dry
Cidery:  Left Field
Cidery Location:  Logan Lake, B.C., Canada
ABV:  6.2%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  Canadian craft cider from B.C. apples, including bittersweet varieties

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Availability:  Year round, only in B.C. and Alberta Canada

Cider Description:  Our English Dry cider is dominated by bittersweet cider apple varieties which originated in the United Kingdom.  The result is a cider that balances bitter tannins and stringency with rich apple aromatics.

Cidery Description:  Family-owned and operated by sisters Theresa and Kate, Left Field focuses on a small batch approach to traditional cider-making which brings out the natural characteristics of the apples. We make handcrafted, artisanal English-style cider by blending English and French cider varieties with BC dessert apples.

They have a tasting room open seasonally.

Price:  $9.05 CAN (~ $7.35 USD)
Where Bought:  The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing

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First Impression:  Light straw yellow hue.  Very low carbonation.  Smells acidic and of citrus.

Tasting Notes:  On the sweeter side of dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Moderate tartness.  High acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of juicy tart green apple, lemon, and mineral.  Moderate length acidic finish.  Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, complexity, and sessionability.

My Opinion:  I liked the juicy flavor.  However, I was disappointed by the lack of perceived bittersweet cider apple flavor and English cider qualities – it tasted more like a mix of dessert and heirloom varieties to me.  That said, I imagine the bittersweet apples added to the flavor of the final product, despite them not being individually identifiable.

Most Similar to:  Left Field Little Dry and Virtue Cider Michigan Brut

Closing Notes:  I’d recommend Left Field to fans of dry cider who live in B.C.  They remain one of the best choices for true craft cider in the area, along with Sea Cider, Tod Creek, etc.  Stay tuned for more reviews of B.C. cider here, as I picked up a number of bottles when I was there.

Have you tried Left Field cider?  What did you think?

Left Field Little Dry

cidersays Left Field, review , , , , ,

Review of Left Field Cider Company’s Little Dry.  I picked this up in Victoria B.C., a stop on our Alaska cruise.  Its the first time I’ve tried their cider.

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Cider:  Little Dry
Cidery:  Left Field Cider Company
Cidery Location:  Logan Lake, British Columbia, Canada
ABV:  6.5%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  Canadian dry craft cider

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Availability:  Only in British Columbia and Alberta Canada; see Left Field’s list

Cider Description:  Light and refreshing with a slight effervescence, our Little Dry is blended to highlight the natural characteristics of the crisp, fresh apples from which it was made.

They also have a drier flagship cider, Big Dry, but it sounds quite different, not just a drier version of Little Dry.

Cidery Description:  Family-owned and operated by sisters Theresa and Kate, Left Field focuses on a small batch approach to traditional cider-making which brings out the natural characteristics of the apples. We make handcrafted, artisanal English-style cider by blending English and French cider varieties with BC dessert apples.

They started in 2012 and have a tasting room in Logan Lake B.C.

Price:  $9.00 CAN (~$5.85 USD)
Where Bought:  The Strath in Victoria B.C.
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  Their ciders have been recommended online to me a few times.

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First Impression:  Pale straw yellow hue.  Nearly still.  Smells of citrus, white blossom, mineral, green apple, floral, and slight sourness & funk.

Tasting Notes:  Dry to semi-dry.  Medium to full bodied (much more than I’d expect from a drier cider, almost syrupy).  Moderate carbonation.  Moderate tartness.  Moderate to high acidity.  Mild bitterness.  Hints of sourness, funk, and tannins.  Notes of citrus, white blossom, mineral, green apple, floral, pineapple, and honey.  Quick finish.  Mild to moderate apple flavor.  Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion:  I enjoyed this cider.  It had a nice subtle wine-like complexity.

Most Similar to:  Stem Ciders Le Chene, Original Sin Extra Dry, and Boonville Bite Hard

Closing Notes:   I’m glad I got to try this.  I wish I would have picked up their Big Dry, as although its drier (which I don’t usually prefer), the description mentions bittersweet apples and tannins, which I love.

Have you tried Left Field ciders?  What did you think?