Review of Strongbow’s Limited Edition Minis.  I’ve previously tried their British Dry (original version), Gold (U.S. version), and Red Berries, Ginger, and Honey Apple.

Cider:  Limited Edition Minis
Cidery:  Strongbow
ABV:  4.5-6.0%
How Supplied:  four pack of 5.1oz cans
Style:  American commercial cider (with color and flavor)

Availability:  wide release, in the U.S. (see here)

Gold Apple Description:  Crisp, refreshing taste with a hint of golden apple and a smooth, elegant finish.
Orange Blossom Description:  Spring-like fresh orange blossom aroma with a touch of sweetness and a juicy apple finish.
Cherry Blossom Description:  A cherry blossom aroma with a subtle sweetness and a ripe apple finish.
Artisanal Blend Description:  Crafted with semi-sweet, cold-pressed heirloom apples.

Price:  $0.99
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I had read about these online, but only saw them at Total Wine, several months after other folks talked about it.

Artisanal Blend Notes:  Hazy hue.  Low carbonation.  Semi-sweet to semi-dry.  Light to medium bodied.  Low tartness and acid.  Apple-forward but mildly flavored, with hints of honey and citrus.  I didn’t get any sort of heirloom apple flavor or complexity out of this.

Cherry Blossom Notes:  Light pink/red hue.  On the sweeter side of semi-sweet.  Slightly cherry cough syrupy, with a moderate flavor intensity, and little to no apple flavor.

Orange Blossom Notes:  Light orange hue.  Semi-sweet.  Reminiscent of orange soda, with a moderate flavor intensity, and little to no apple flavor.

Gold Apple Notes:  Light gold hue.  Sweet.  Medium bodied.  Overly apple juice like, with a moderate to strong flavor intensity.

My Opinion:  The Artisanal was my favorite by far, and something I actually wouldn’t mind drinking again, unlike everything else Strongbow makes.  However, it wouldn’t be anywhere near my first choice.

Most Similar to:  The overall style/flavor and sweetness of Strongbow Artisanal reminded me of Angry Orchard Easy Apple, but Easy Apple was significantly more complex.

Closing Notes:  I’d recommend these for folks who typically drink sweet commercial cider, like Angry Orchard or Woodchuck.

Have you tried the U.S. version of Strongbow?  What did you think?