Woodchuck Tank Series Belgian White

February 19, 2019February 16, 2019 cidersays review, Woodchuck belgian white, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Tank Series, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Tank Series Belgian White. They made this years ago, it went on hiatus, then they re-released it recently for a limited run. I previously tried this pre-blog, plus I’ve had most of Woodchuck’s 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: Tank Series, Belgian White
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with Belgian beer yeast

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Crafted with a classic Belgian beer yeast, cloudy with a rich, golden huge, it presents a delicate aroma and taste, with coriander and orange notes.

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 fora 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 $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Smells of orange with a hint of apple. Hazy light orange brown hue. Still (no carbonation).

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of apple juice, orange, and yeast. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed it. It actually tastes different than their other ciders, which all seem kinda similar to me.

Most Similar to: It almost reminded me of a still French cider with orange.

Closing Notes: This is one of my favorite Woodchuck special releases.

Have you tried Woodchuck Belgian White? What did you think?

Woodchuck Rosé

October 11, 2018October 8, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

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

Cider: Bubbly Rosé
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.1%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with “red” (red-fleshed?) apple juice, and purple carrot for color

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: A bubbly, fruit-forward blush cider made with a blend of red apples delivering a crisp mouth feel.

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: Pink hue. Low carbonation. Smells mildly fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of strawberry with a hint of floral. Quick finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked it. Fruity and easy to drink. However, I’m curious if I really tasted fruitiness from red-fleshed apples (looks like their unfermented juice was used to back-sweeten a drier cider), or my brain saw the pink hue and assumed it would be fruity.

Most Similar to: Angry Orchard Rosé

Closing Notes: This is yet another rosé cider release – it looks like every commercial cider brand has now jumped on the trend.

Have you tried Woodchuck Rosé? What did you think?

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).

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?

Woodchuck Tank Series Pear Ginger

March 5, 2018March 2, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Pear Ginger, Tank Series, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Pear Ginger, the first release in their new “Tank Series”, about which they said “Woodchuck has always been synonymous with innovation and our cider makers honor this pioneering spirit with the Tank Series.” I’ve tried most of their lineup; see here.

Cider: Pear Ginger
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and kegs)
Style: American commercial cider with ginger and pear flavors

Availability: wide release for 3-4 months, then replaced by the next Tank Series

Cider Description: A crisp ripe pear cider bursting with ginger for a taste that is light and refreshing.

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 ~ $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of sweet pear juice with spicy ginger.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of syrupy pear, pineapple, spicy ginger, and a hint of citrus. Moderate finish with lingering ginger. Low apple flavor. Mild to moderate ginger flavor (more spicy than burning). Moderate pear flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Mild complexity.

My Opinion: I’m not a ginger fan, so I was a bit ambivalent, but my husband really liked it. Light and refreshing, with the mild ginger made even milder with the sweet pear.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Out On a Limb Ginger Lovin’, except with more ginger and the added pear.

Closing Notes: This was originally released in summer 2017, as a new version of their Summer Time (which was previously blueberry). They also plan to have two more Tank Series releases this year.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pear Ginger? What did you think?

Wyder’s Pear Cider

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 cidersays review, Wyder's cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, pear, pear cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Wyder's

Review of Wyder’s Pear cider (previously “Dry Pear”). I’ve tried this before, but pre-blog. I’ve also had their Reposado Pear, Raspberry, and Prickly Pineapple ciders. They sent me a nice sampler of three ciders (plus a cool tote bag!), featuring new labels/packaging.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Wyder’s. 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: Pear
Cidery: Wyder’s Cider (part of Vermont Cider Co.)
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT (at the Woodchuck cidery)
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and 22oz bottles)
Style: American commercial apple cider with pear juice

Availability: wide release (in 40 states), year round (they have a locator here)

Cider Description: This light, crisp cider presents a tangy aroma while offering a distinct pear taste, and ends with a lively mouth feel that tickles the tongue.

Cidery Description: We have specialized in eclectic fruit-forward ciders for more than two decades. It’s a pretty hyper-connected world out there, grab a Wyder’s when you’re ready to unplug. Wyder’s wants to be a part of you finding the good in life and your Happy Place. We hope you enjoy, and bring us along!

Price: n/a (although it runs ~$9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Initially, browsing, although this time it just showed up.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of candied pear and pineapple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, bitterness, or tannins. Notes of pear, pineapple, and green apple. Quick finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate pear flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, and can definitely see why it is popular. Its easy to drink and refreshing. This would be a nice summer BBQ type cider. It doesn’t really have any complexity though, and is slightly commercial tasting.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Pear, Crispin Pacific Pear, Spire Mountain Sparkling Pear, Fox Barrel Pacific Pear, Pear UP Pear Essentials, Rambling Route Pear, Scandi Cider Pear, Flatbed Cider Pear, and Finnriver Pear, and Steelhead Peargatory.

Closing Notes: I’m glad to see they dropped the “Dry”, as it isn’t. I think my favorite Wyder’s cider is the Reposado Pear (tequila barrel aged), which is one of the few ciders that pairs well with Mexican food. Hopefully they continue making that one (it wasn’t included in this sample box).

Have you tried Wyder’s cider? What did you think?

Wyder’s Raspberry

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 cidersays review, Wyder's cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Raspberry, raspberry cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Wyder's

Review of Wyder’s Raspberry cider (previously “Dry Raspberry”). I’ve tried this before (see here). I’ve also had their Reposado Pear, Prickly Pineapple, and Pear ciders. They sent me a nice sampler of three ciders (plus a cool tote bag!), featuring new labels/packaging.

Cider: Raspberry
Cidery: Wyder’s Cider (Vermont Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT (at the Woodchuck cidery)
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and 22oz bottles)
Style: American commercial cider with raspberries

Availability: wide release (in 40 states), year round (they have a locator here)

Cider Description: This cider is light in body and features mouthwatering raspberry notes. It retains a dry and sparkling finish.

Price: n/a (although it runs ~$9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Initially, browsing, although this time it just showed up.

First Impression: Light pink hue. Nearly still. Smells of mild slightly-candied raspberry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor notes are just raspberry, maybe with hints of lemon & floral. Quick finish. Low complexity, flavor intensity, and apple flavor. High sessionability (as expected at only 4% ABV).

My Opinion: I thought it was pretty average, definitely commercial tasting. The flavor was very light and it seemed a bit watered down tasting. I liked that it wasn’t syrupy sweet though. It was refreshing and easy to drink. I almost thought this was a perry wih the flavor profile (especially as Wyder’s makes a couple pear ciders), but the ingredient list said “hard cider”, so I assume it is from apples.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck’s Raspberry cider, which is also only 4% ABV, although slightly sweeter.

Closing Notes: My favorite raspberry ciders remain Schilling Raspberry Smoothie and One Tree Raspberry. Both were very full-bodied, literally smoothie thickness, and quite sweet, but very very flavorful. I also really enjoy Pear UP’s Raspberry Perry (from pears not apples).

Have you tried Wyder’s cider? What did you think?

Wyder’s Prickly Pineapple

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 cidersays review, Wyder's cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, pineapple cider, Prickly Pineapple, tasting notes, Vermont, Wyder's

Review of Wyder’s Prickly Pineapple, with pineapple and prickly pear juices. I’ve tried this previously (see here). I’ve also had their Reposado Pear, Raspberry, and Pear ciders. They sent me a nice sampler of three ciders (plus a cool tote bag!), featuring new labels/packaging.

Cider: Prickly Pineapple
Cidery: Wyder’s (Vermont Cider Co.)
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT (at the Woodchuck facility)
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with pineapple and prickly pear juices

Availability: wide release (in 40 states), year round (they have a locator here)

Cider Description: An exotic duet, this cider combines the juices from both prickly pear cacti and pineapples. Tickling the tongue, each sip brings forward a light and sweet taste like a refreshing pina colada. Satisfy those fruit forward senses with Wyder’s^® Prickly Pineapple.

Price: n/a (although it runs $9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Initially, I looked for it after reading about it on Facebook. This time it just showed up.

First Impression: Light straw yellow with a hint of green. Low carbonation. Smells of pineapple candy.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium to full bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of pineapple, green apple, and a little something unique which I assume is the prickly pear juice (kinda like passion fruit?). Quick finish. High sessionabiliy. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, as its a bit unique, and nice and flavorful. Definitely on the sweeter and commercial tasting end though.

Most Similar to: Other sweeter pineapple flavored ciders, such as Schilling Trouble in Paradise (which has passion fruit), Ace Pineapple, and Jester & Judge Pineapple Express.

Random Thought: Has anyone made a cider with coconut? I bet pineapple coconut would be fun.

Have you tried Wyder’s Cider? What did you think?

Woodchuck Out on a Limb Ginger Lovin’

November 9, 2016November 4, 2016 cidersays Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, Ginger, ginger lovin', hard cider, Middlebury, Out on a Limb, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s latest Out on a Limb series variety, Ginger Lovin’. I’ve previously tried nearly their entire line-up; see here.

Cider: Ginger Lovin’
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider with ginger

Availability: semi wide release, for the next few months until a new Out on a Limb release comes out

Cider Description: Sugar and spice and everything…well, lots of spice. Like our favorite redheads, ginger adds a feisty bite to this cider. With zesty citrus undertones, the root and apple pair to Ginger Lovin’ perfection. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

Ingredients: Hard cider. Less than 1% of: natural flavor and sulfites.

Cidery Description: Here at the Woodchuck Cidery in Vermont, we handcraft every batch of Woodchuck Hard Cider. Our Cider Makers utilize the highest quality ingredients and meticulously oversee each small batch from start to finish. We reinvigorated American cider in 1991 and continue to lead the category through our commitment to craft innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (runs about $10 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Very light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of candied ginger and spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of very mild ginger (mostly in the finish, but not spicy) with some pie spices and a hint of lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I’m not at all a ginger fan, so I was surprised that I didn’t mind this. The ginger remains very mild, unlike every other ginger cider I’ve had where it was overpowering.

Most Similar to: I found the ginger in this less intense than ginger ciders from Argus, Apple Outlaw, Finnriver, Locust, Schilling, and Strongbow. It also didn’t have that after taste/bite like most ginger ciders.

Closing Notes: If you like a hint of ginger but don’t want it to be overwhelming or too lingering, this is a good cider choice.

Have you tried Woodchuck Ginger Lovin’? What did you think?

Woodchuck Semi-Dry

November 7, 2016November 4, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Semi-Dry, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Semi-Dry, their newest flagship cider. I’ve previously tried nearly their entire line-up; see here.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle 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: Semi-Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, including bittersweet apple juice

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Ready for a cider session? You’re going to want a crushable cider. Crisp and refreshing, Semi-Dry uses bittersweet apples to deliver a cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

Ingredients: Hard cider, less than 1% 0f: natural apple flavor, sulfites

Price: n/a (runs about $10 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light orange amber. Low carbonation. Smells of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: One the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor is purely watered down apple juice with a hint of alcohol. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: The flavor wasn’t all that impressive, intense, or complex, but this is surely more sessionable than most sugar-laden commercial ciders. I didn’t taste any rich bittersweet apple flavor.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Day Chaser, which is also semi-dry, although that one had some honey and citrus notes and a hint of bittersweet.

Closing Notes: The color of this cider is a bit interesting. It doesn’t say it was added (which has been listed in the past), so maybe there is a higher bittersweet apple percentage than I tasted…

Have you tried Woodchuck Semi-Dry? What did you think?

Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select

January 26, 2016January 22, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck barrel aged, Barrel Select, cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Middlebury, private reserve, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Barrel Select, one of their three current Private Reserve ciders (along with Pink and Pumpkin).

Cider: Private Reserve Barrel Select
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial bourbon barrel aged cider

Availability: Wide release, Nov-Feb. Winter Chill, one of their three current seasonal ciders, is also sold during that same time of year.

Cider Description: Private Reserve Barrel Select is aged in small batches to bring out balanced hints of bourbon over a crisp apple backdrop. The cider is aged for six months in genuine white oak Kentucky Bourbon barrels. The barrels impart a copper hue on the cider as well as gentle notes of oak, vanilla, and whiskey. A truly rare cider which proves that patience is indeed a virtue.

Price: ~$2 for a single bottle (runs $9-$11 a six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve bought this cider the last couple years when it came out, along with Winter Chill, as I love barrel aged cider.

First Impression: Deep copper caramel amber (note that although barrel aging imparts color, they also list “caramel color” on the ingredient list). A few medium sized bubbles and some foam upon pouring. Smells of caramel, molasses, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, oak, and toffee.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Low acidity and tartness. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. The scent notes continued into the flavor. Medium to strong apple flavor. Mild barrel influence. Moderate bourbon influence. Rich, bold, and full flavored. Medium bodied. Medium length warming finish.

My Opinion: Yum! However, its quite rich and caloric, so its something I’ll only drink one of. However, that is perfect for a middle of the week treat. It was especially tasty in a float with ice cream. I really wish they wouldn’t add caramel color and flavoring though.

Most Similar to: Not much…barrel aging programs at commercial cideries are pretty rare. However, this reminds me somewhat of Woodchuck Winter Chill (oak & vanilla but not spirit flavor), Woodchuck 802 (rich caramelized sugar notes but its not barrel aged), Crispin 15 Men (rum barrel aged with honey notes), and Spire Mountain Dark & Dry (rich molasses & brown sugar notes but its not barrel aged).

Closing Notes: Enjoying some Woodchuck Barrel Select is becoming an annual tradition for me. I prefer Winter Chill though, and plan to stock up on that one (although probably not as much as last year, when I got a full case of four 6 packs).

Have you tried Woodchuck Barrel Select? What did you think?

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