Review of Alpenfire Traditional Cuvée.  It is my first time trying this variety, but I have had most of their lineup (see here).

Cider: Traditional Cuvée
Cidery:  Alpenfire
Cidery Location:  Port Townsend WA
ABV:  6.9%
How Supplied:  500ml bottles
Style:  American orchard-based cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, dry

Availability:  probably only through their website and in a limited number of specialty shops in WA

Cider Description:  This cider cuvée has a classic balance of traditional & heirloom apples. The cider apples are organically grown in our orchard while the heirloom apples come from two other organic growers, Lazy J Farm in Port Angeles and Heirloom Orchards in Hood River. Cider apples provide depth of flavor and a tannic sizzle while heirloom apples provide acidity and bright flavors. Cool fermentation, lengthy maturation and no filtration create complexity and rich body. Try this well rounded orchard based cider with breads & cheese, burgers, or just about everything.

Cidery Description:  We invite you to experience the distinctive flavors of our estate grown heritage 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! Try Alpenfire Cider today and find your favorite expression of the Northwest.

Price:  $11.99
Where Bought:  Alpenfire’s online shop
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  browsing their website when I made a large order when they were offering free shipping

First Impression:  Medium gold hue.  Smells of dry, tart, tannic, heirloom apple with a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes:  On the sweeter side of dry.  Light bodied.  Moderate tartness and acidity.  Low tannins.  Hints of bitterness and funk.  No sourness.  Notes of heirloom apple juice & pomace, wood, lemon, and floral.  Moderate length tannic finish.  Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, and overall flavor intensity.  Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked it.  It didn’t seem quite as tart/sharp as many other dry ciders, which I enjoyed, as I usually tend towards sweeter ciders, and tartness makes dry ciders taste even drier for me.

Most Similar to:  Eden Heritage Cider, Dragon’s Head Heritage, and also reminiscent of Snowdrift but not any 1 specific release

Closing Notes:  Alpenfire’s lineup is really wide-ranging in type, so there is something for everyone

Have you tried Alpenfire Traditional Cuvée?  What did you think?