2 Towns Two Thorns

April 1, 2019March 31, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, raspberry cider, raspberry rose, tasting notes, Two Thorns

Review of 2 Towns Two Thorns. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: Two Thorns
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and cans and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with raspberries and rose petals

Availability: Spring seasonal, possibly in Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii, Chicago, and parts of Minnesota & Montana (see their cider finder)

Cider Description: Tart and floral, Two Thorns unites fresh-pressed Northwest apples, raspberries and rose petals. The result is a uniquely fragrant cider with a vibrant red hue.

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 (probably ~ $5.99 / 500ml bottle or ~ $11.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Moderate red hue. Still. Smells of tart raspberry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate to strong tartness. Moderate acidity. No sourness, funk, bitterness, or tannins. Notes of raspberry with hints of green apple, floral, and lemon. Moderate tart finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complex. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. Nice tart raspberry flavor, and super fruity for how dry it is (only 6g of sugar / 12oz).

Most Similar to: Most raspberry ciders I’ve had were much more sweet. However, this is most similar to a lower ABV version of Blue Moon Winery Apple Raspberry, which was also tart and dry.

Closing Notes: They had a previous cider with this same flavor and name which was only available in downtown Portland Oregon, a collaboration with the Portland Thorns women’s soccer team.

Have you tried 2 Towns Two Thorns? What did you think?

Apple Outlaw Pineapple Getaway

June 8, 2018June 3, 2018 cidersays Apple Outlaw, review Apple Outlaw, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, pineapple cider, Pineapple Getaway, Pura Vida, tasting notes

Review of Apple Outlaw’s Pineapple Getaway. This appears to also be sold as ‘Pura Vida’ in bottles. I’ve also previously tried Apple Outlaw’s Oaked Sweet Dark Cherry, Blackberry Bounty, Original, Tangerine Twist, Ginger Bite, Cranberry Jewel, Thompson Creek Whiskey Barrel Aged, Chocolate Raspberry, and Thompson Creek Creekside.

Cider: Pineapple Getaway
Cidery: Apple Outlaw
Cidery Location: Applegate, OR
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: kegs
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with pineapple juice

Availability: probably only in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: This Northwest cider has vibrant tropical aromas with fresh juicy flavor and a slightly sweet yet refreshing finish.

Cidery Description: We strive to be good stewards of the land. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to care for the small piece of our earth where our trees live and we take this responsibility seriously. We farm organically, irrigate conservatively, and encourage biodiversity.

Price: $7.50 / 14oz draft pour
Where Bought: Malt & Vine in Redmond WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing a tap list

First Impression: Pale yellow hue. Mild pineapple scent. Very low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of pineapple juice, granny smith apples, and lime. Quick finish. Low apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was rather average. For my personal tastes I prefer a more intensely flavored cider, which for dessert apple ciders typically means sweeter (my favorites tend to be semi-sweet).

Most Similar to: Portland Cider Pineapple (or a drier and less flavorful version of 2 Towns Pacific Pineapple, Jester & Judge Pineapple Express, or Reverend Nat’s Viva La Pineapple)

Closing Notes: I could see this appealing to folks who think that most other pineapple flavored ciders are too sweet.

Have you tried pineapple cider? What did you think?

Woodbox Double Barrel Ice Cider

April 23, 2018April 20, 2018 cidersays review, Woodbox cider, cider review, cider tasting, Double Barrel, hard cider, ice cider, oregon, portland, tasting notes, Woodbox

Review of Woodbox’s Double Barrel Ice Cider. I first tried this at Cider Rite of Spring (see here), but this time I am doing a full review of a bottle. By the way, ice cider is made by using freezing temperatures to naturally concentrate the flavor and sugar content in apple juice before fermenting it.

Cider: Double Barrel Ice Cider
Cidery: Woodbox
Cidery Location: Portland Oregon
ABV: 12.7%
How Supplied: 375ml bottles
Style: American craft ice cider, whiskey barrel aged

Availability: In general their ciders are sold in parts of Oregon and Washington (see here), but this may be more limited.

Cider Description: Layers of sweet and tart, bourbon and vanilla with hints of oak and dark caramel, this cider is meant for sipping. Cryoconcentrated to four times its normal strength, the juice is fermented then aged in whiskey barrels for six months giving it an irresistible bourbon kick, with alluring aromatics and a long warming finish.

Cidery Description: Woodbox Cider was started [in 2015] by the Thierfelder brothers and their mother, Mama Gibson. We’re a family owned and operated boutique cidery. We source all our apples locally, from our home state of Oregon and production happens in Portland’s very own Northeast quadrant. We’re pretty stoked to present you with several, signature cider blends that are becoming famous for their unapologetically bone dry flavor profiles.

Price: $17
Where Bought: Cider Rite of Spring in Portland Oregon (2017)
Where Drank: home
How Found: tasting at the event

First Impression: Medium caramel amber hue. Still. Smells of sweet caramelized baked apple, spice, whiskey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Full bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of caramel, baked apple, spice, whiskey, oak, leather, and orange. Long finish. Moderate apple flavor. High flavor intensity and complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. However, I remember liking it more at the event. That always seems to happen to me when trying a cider for a second time, even at home when I haven’t had other ciders first (its especially common when I buy a single bottle and like it, then pick up a six pack and am not as impressed). This time around it was a bit more dry and tart than I remembered. However, it is still a really tasty dessert cider, an excellent value, and impressive for their first ice cider release. This is significantly drier than most other ice ciders, so I imagine it may appeal to folks who typically find ice ciders too sweet.

Most Similar to: Eden Specialty Ciders’ Brandy Barrel Aged Heirloom and Northern Spy ice ciders (which I prefer; however, both cost almost twice as much and are much sweeter)

Closing Notes: Its great to see a local ish producer making ice cider, as it is still relatively rare in the cider world, and as far as I know, has only been made in the U.S. for about a decade.

Have you tried ice cider? What did you think?

2 Towns Passion Statement

March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Corvallis, hard cider, oregon, Passion Statement, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ newest limited release, Passion Statement. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had nearly every cider they’ve ever made (see here).

Photo Mar 06, 4 02 48 PM.jpg

Cider: Passion Statement
Cidery: 2 Towns Cider House
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.2%
How supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, D’Anjou pears, and Yellow Maracuyá passion fruit

Photo Mar 06, 4 03 12 PM Photo Mar 06, 4 03 23 PM Photo Mar 06, 4 03 34 PM

Availability: limited release, in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Chicago and parts of Minnesota (see their cider finder)

Cider Description: Sensational & exotic, Passion Statement stands out from the crowd, pairing stunning Yellow Maracuyá passion fruit with fresh-pressed Northwest pears and apples. With a pleasant tropical tang, this show stopping cider will turn heads, and pint glasses!

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.

They were founded in 2010 and have a tap room in Corvallis Oregon.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $5.99 / 500ml bottle)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

Photo Mar 10, 5 31 48 PM

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. No carbonation. Smells intensely of sweet passion fruit.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of passion fruit, pineapple, canned pear, lemon, and green apple. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, it was a bit tart for my tastes. I think more sweetness could have helped smooth out the initial mouth-puckering tartness. Interestingly, it was much less tart the second day, after being left in the fridge overnight, and I enjoyed it more then.

Most Similar to: Reverend Nat’s The Passion, which I prefer (although it is sweeter, less tart, and also has vanilla and coconut). Portland Cider Passion Fruit, which is milder. Also, Schilling Pineapple Passion, although that is more pineapple than passion fruit.

Closing Notes: 2 Towns has been on a role, releasing many popular ciders. Everyone won’t like every cider, but I think they do a great job creating ciders that have a wide appeal.

Have you tried 2 Towns Passion Statement? What did you think?

2 Towns Man Gogh

December 8, 2017December 8, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, imperial cider, Man Gogh, mango cider, oregon, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ latest new limited release cider, Man Gogh, a tropical mango and habanero imperial-style (high ABV) cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Bright Cider, Bad Apple, Serious Scrump, Out Cider, Cherried Away, Made Marion, Cidre Moscato, Throne of Thorns, Reserve #1 Barrel Select Blend, Prickle Me Pink, Nice & Naughty, Nice & Naughty Bourbon Barrel Aged, Dark Currant, Riverwood Brut 2014, Rhubarbarian, Pommeau, Ginja Ninja, Sun’s Out Saison, Return of the Mack, Hop and Stalk, La Mûre, Cot in the Act, Hollow Jack, Traditions Cider Bouche 2015, Traditions Riverwood 2015, Flight of the Kiwi, Prickle Me Pink ^2, Afton Field, and Traditions Cidre Bouche 2016.

Cider: Man Gogh
Cidery: 2 Towns Cider House
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft imperial-style cider from dessert apples, with mango and habanero

Availability: ~ Dec 2017 thru Jan 2018, limited, primarily in Oregon, Washington, and California (see their cider finder)

Cider Description: 2 Towns Ciderhouse releases Man Gogh, a tropical-inspired Limited Release Imperial Cider, available starting this week. Tangy and equatorial, Man Gogh is a true masterpiece, artfully bringing together tropical fruit and peppers. Fresh ingredients with opposing characteristics work together to whisk you away to paradise. Van Gogh himself once said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

“2 Towns created this cider as a ray of sunshine for the cold, dark days of winter,” says Matt Dickason, cellar manager. “The freshness of the juicy mango blends seamlessly with the hot habaneros. We went easy on the habanero burn and worked to capture the fruity profile of the peppers. The result is a work of art. ” We suggest pairing Man Gogh with Christmas tamales and Baja cuisine, like Wahoo tacos.

They were founded in 2010 and have a tap room in Corvallis Oregon.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $7.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mild, of mango juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of mango, pineapple, citrus, and a hint of habanero. Long warming finish (from both the high ABV and the habanero). Very low spiciness (not really noticeable until you drink a few sips, and mostly in the finish). Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Low apple flavor.

My Opinion: Great! I was really surprised I enjoyed this, as I was expecting it would be quite spicy, like every other cider I’d had with habanero, jalapeno, sriracha, etc. The flavor and sweetness were spot-on. I was also surprised how easy this was to drink, unexpected for an imperial-style spicy cider.

Most Similar to: I’ve tried spicy ciders before, such as Carlton Cyderworks AHH!!! Apricot Honey Habanero, Cockrell Raspberry Habanero, Elemental Jalapeno Lime Cilantro (Margarita), Schilling Sriracha Lime, Finnriver Habanero, and Schilling Peach Grapefruit Habanero. I’ve also tried mango infused ciders, such as Atlas Pineapple Mango, Bull Run Mango, Cider Brothers William Tell Apple Mango Muscat, Elemental Mango, and Locust Mango. Compared to those, this one was most similar to Elemental’s mango cider as far as flavor and sweetness, except with a hint of spice, on a similar level to Elemental’s Margarita.

Closing Notes: I can see this becoming a very popular release.

Have you tried 2 Towns Man Gogh? What did you think?

Apple Outlaw Thompson Creek Creekside Cider

November 15, 2017November 13, 2017 cidersays Apple Outlaw, review Apple Outlaw, Applegate, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, tasting notes, Thompson Creek

Review of Thompson Creek’s Creekside Cider. Thompson Creek is an offshoot of Apple Outlaw for their higher end ciders, made from heirloom and/or cider apples instead of dessert apples, since 2016. It is my first time trying anything from Thompson Creek, although I have had several of Apple Outlaw’s ciders (Oaked Sweet Dark Cherry, Blackberry Bounty, Original, Tangerine Twist, Ginger Bite, Cranberry Jewel, and Chocolate Raspberry)

Cider: Creekside
Cidery: Thompson Creek (by Apple Outlaw)
Cidery Location: Applegate Oregon
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from heirloom apples, bottled 2016

Availability: year round, likely only in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Arkansas Black, Blenheim Red, Macintosh and Rome Beauty all lend their unique complexities to this beautifully dry cider. Hints of apricot, honeydew, tropical fruit, and ripe pear complement its crisp acidity.

Cidery Description: Thompson Creek ciders are made from and inspired by the heirloom and cider apple varieties of apples we grow on our Applegate orchard. The cider makers of Apple Outlaw use various methods of maturation, aging, and blending to showcase the unique and exquisite qualities these apples have to offer. These ciders should be pondered with reflection, cellared neck up and are best served at 50-55 degrees.

Price: $14.50
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon, in Spring 2017
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. At that time I hadn’t seen any of Apple Outlaw’s Thompson Creek ciders, but I have since (including in the Seattle area).

First Impression: Still (no carbonation). Dark straw yellow hue. Smells very mild, of citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, herbs, and mineral, plus a buttery type of flavor and mouthfeel which is difficult to describe. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: On this cider, my opinion was rather indifferent, but that was primarily as I prefer slightly sweeter ciders with more flavor. I’d be interested in tasting a cider from them which was semi-dry cider and made from cider apples. Creekside became more flavorful and less sharp as it warmed up; therefore, same as recommended by the cidery, I’d suggest to drink it in between fridge and room temperature. Very food friendly.

Closing Notes: If you are a fan of truly dry cider from heirloom apples (ie. with some acidity and a touch of tannins), then I would recommend this one for you.

Have you tried any of Apple Outlaw’s Thompson Creek line of ciders? What did you think?

2 Towns Hollow Jack

September 15, 2017September 10, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Corvallis, hard cider, Hollow Jack, oregon, pumpkin cider, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ Hollow Jack, a seasonal cider with pumpkin, sweet potato, and pie spices. 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: Hollow Jack
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.4%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles, kegs
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, unfiltered, with caramelized heirloom pumpkin, sweet potato, honey, and pie spices (allspice, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon)

Availability: Seasonably (September to November), primarily CA, OR, & WA, although in general their ciders are available in AK, CA, HI, ID, IL (Chicago), MN, NV, OR, and WA. See their Cider Finder.

Cider Description: Mischievous & spiced, Hollow Jack is far from empty. A brew of fresh-pressed apples, caramelized pumpkin and sweet potatoes is finished with a dash of honey and spices to carve out this special Fall cider.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $6.99 / 500ml
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first tried it at Cider Summit Seattle 2016, but this time it just showed up

First Impression: Hazy straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells vegetal and of pie spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of baked apple, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato / yam, caramel, and pie spices. Quick to moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Low to moderate pumpkin & sweet potato flavor. Very low spice.

My Opinion: Although I’m not a huge pumpkin / spiced cider fan, I liked this one, and it is my favorite of the five I’ve tried.

Most Similar to: Doc’s Draft Pumpkin cider (although that was a full sweet) and Tieton’s Smoked Pumpkin cider (although that was quite intensely flavored compared to this). I’ve also tried pumpkin ciders from Ace and Woodchuck.

Closing Notes: Unlike many pumpkin ciders (and beers), this one is actually made with pumpkin. Many just add the pie spices but still call it a pumpkin cider (or beer). Also, it is well balanced, with both the pumpkin and spices remaining light.

Have you tried 2 Towns Hollow Jack? What did you think?

OR/WA Cider Collective Wild Plum

August 30, 2017August 31, 2017 cidersays OR/WA, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, OR/WA, OR/WA Cider, OR/WA Cider Collective, oregon, tasting notes

Review of the OR/WA Cider Collective’s Wild Plum cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery, or even hearing of them.

Cider: Wild Plum
Cidery: OR/WA Cider Collective
Cidery Location: Milwaukee OR
ABV: 6.4%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: craft cider from heirloom apples (80%) with wild plums (20%)

Availability: Only in Oregon

Cider Description: 80% heirloom apples from old growth, 20% wild plum

Cidery Description: The Oregon\Washington Cider Collective is a community of uncompromising American cider makers. We’re foraging the nation for the last remaining cider trees prohibition couldn’t kill. Our mission is to plant orchards of historical apple trees in the Pacific Northwest and bring back the finest USA-made cider since prohibition.

Price: $14
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland OR
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never heard of this cidery before.

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells acidic and of heirloom apples.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness, tannins, sourness, and funk. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, honey, stone fruit, and mineral. Moderate to long finish. Low apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Definitely not what I was expecting. I actually didn’t taste any plum, just a hint of apricot / peach. With the sourness and funk, I’d guess it was made with wild yeast. If you are into farmhouse-style ciders and such, then I’d recommend it. However, this isn’t a style of cider I enjoy (yet).

Most Similar to: Rustic & farmhouse-style ciders and Spanish Sidra and the like

Closing Notes: This was at a nice price point, especially for a small batch / limited release (hand-labeled!). I’d be interested in trying something else from them in the future.

ADDED – Additional Info from the Cidery: OR/WA commented on my Facebook post that this was a very limited bottle release (only half a case!?), the cider portion was farmhouse-style, and that Bushwhacker in Portland is the best place to find their small batch ciders (including some on tap). Very cool.

Have you tried anything from OR/WA Cider Collective? What did you think?

Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend

August 7, 2017August 4, 2017 cidersays Finnegan, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finnegan, Finnegan Cider, hard cider, Harvest Blend, Lake Oswego, oregon, tasting notes

Review of Finnegan Cider’s Harvest Blend. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Harvest Blend
Cidery: Finnegan Cider
Cidery Location: Lake Oswego OR
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American artisan cider from cider apples

Availability: Oregon, Washington, and California (per Cider Journal, as of 2015, although I have not seen them in the Seattle area), and appear to be distributed through Shelton Brothers

Cider Description: Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend highlights the ripe apple characteristics of class English, American, and French cider apples such as Porter’s Perfection, Chisel Jersey, Ashmead’s Kernel, Calville Blanc, and others. Our cider is a balance of the crucial elements of distinguished cider: tannin, acidity, and aromaticity. Finnegan Cider features aromas of honeysuckle, melon, and ripe apples, with flavors of peach, apricot, and cognac, and it pairs superbly from appetizer to entree.

Cidery Description: An artisan crafted hard cider using only traditional cider apples – Our commitment to a quality-cider experience.

Finnegan Cider has been around since 2010, and planted their own orchard in 2012. The owners/cidermakers are Colleen Finnegan and Josh Johnson. Here is a nice writeup from Beervana, who visited with Josh Johnson at their orchard. At least as of that 2013 article, Josh worked full time as a neurologist (impressive!).

Price: $7.35
Where Bought: Bushwhacker Cider in Portland Oregon
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I picked up a lot of ciders that day when I was in town for Cider Rite of Spring. I had never heard of this cidery and the description on the bottle sounded awesome.

First Impression: Light orange amber. Moderate to high carbonation (it tried to overflow after opening…). Smells rich, of ripe apples, caramel, and leather.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Hints of funk. No sourness. Notes of rich ripe apples, caramel, leather, orange, stone fruit, honey, oak, and apple brandy (?). Moderate to long finish. Moderate flavor intensity, apple flavor, and sessionability. High complexity.

My Opinion: Excellent. I liked the richness, carbonation, unique combination of flavor notes…everything. Also, this was surprisingly boozy tasting for the ABV (especially on the finish), but in a good way.

Most Similar to: It tastes in between English cyder and French cidre, with the high carbonation & apple-forward flavor of a French cider, the richness & tannins of an English cider, and the cider apple flavor & hint of funk from both.

Closing Notes: This cider is a great value; I would usually pay $15-20 for 750ml of cider from cider apples like this, so $10-13 for 500ml. Hopefully I can find more of their cider sometime soon. I’m actually surprised I’ve never heard of this cidery previously; they remind me of EZ Orchards, also in Oregon, sold in 500ml bottles, and an excellent value.

Have you tried Finnegan Cider Harvest Blend? What did you think?

2 Towns Cot in the Act

July 17, 2017July 16, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, apricot cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Corvallis, Cot in the Act, hard cider, oregon, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ Cot in the Act, an apricot infused seasonal cider. I sampled this last year (see here), and I’ve tried most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: Cot in the Act
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles, 6 packs of 12oz cans, kegs
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, unfiltered, with apricots (2 lb per gallon)

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

Cider Description: Luminous & divine, Cot in the Act is just too tempting to resist, coupling Northwest apples with local Rival apricots. Referred to as “golden eggs of the sun” by the Greeks, apricots make this seasonal cider the perfect summer treat.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $7.99 / 500ml or $11.49 / six pack of 12oz cans)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: It showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Very low to low carbonation. Smells of dried apricots.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness & acidity. Hints of bitterness & tannins. No sourness & funk. Notes of apricot, peach, and lemon, and a hint of herbal & floral. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed how flavorful and juicy this cider was without being sweet (and it tasted even sweeter than the listed sugar content). It is often difficult to find a drier but flavorful cider.

Most Similar to: I’ve also tried apricot ciders from Anthem, Atlas, Carlton, Locust, Stem, Summit, and Tieton. The most similar was from Summit (as it was also a semi-dry, but flavorful), followed by those from Atlas & Locust, (although both of those were sweeter).

Closing Notes: 2 Towns remains a favorite PNW cidery for a reason.

Have you tried 2 Towns Cot in the Act? What did you think?

Oregon Mead & Cider Free Press Cyser

June 7, 2017June 16, 2017 cidersays Oregon Mead & Cider Co., review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyser, hard cider, oregon, Oregon Mead & Cider, Oregon Mead and Cider, tasting notes

Review of Oregon Mead & Cider’s Free Press Cyser (a cross between cider & mead). It is my first time trying this, although I’ve had their Dry and Hopped ciders, and I’ve had cyser from Eaglemount, Finnriver, Moonlight (Last Apple and How Do You Like Them Apples), and Stem (Blood Orange). Note that Oregon Mead & Cider used to be called Stung Fermented.

Cider: Free Press Cyser
Cidery: Oregon Mead & Cider
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cyser (apples + honey)

Availability: Year round in Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Georgia

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: Our award-winning dry, sparkling meads and ciders are naturally gluten free, and we treat our Pacific Northwest honey and apple juice with respect: we never boil, filter, or add sulfites.

They were founded in 2013 and have a tasting room.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Moderate carbonation. Dark straw yellow hue. Smells acidic and mildly of honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. Carbonated mouthfeel. Very high acid. Moderate to high tartness. Hints of sourness and bitterness. No tannins or funk. Notes of honey, citrus, and floral. Long beer-like finish (my husband said it was like a Kolsch). Moderate apple and honey flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity, sessionability, and complexity.

My Opinion: I thought it was pretty average. Refreshing, but a bit mouth-puckering. Its not really a style I enjoy, but everyone has different tastes.

Most Similar to: Not much. All the other cysers I’ve tried have been much sweeter. I have sampled some drier meads before, but I usually like my beverages more full-flavored, so for mead I tend towards sweeter ones. It reminds me a bit however of Angry Orchard Walden Hollow.

Closing Notes: I’ve now tried their current full cider lineup, and to be honest, I don’t think they are for me (although my favorite of the three was the Hopped). If you like a dry, acidic, and more heavily carbonated cider (or mead), give them a try.

Have you tried cyser? What did you think?

2 Towns Prickle Me Pink ^2

June 5, 2017June 2, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cactus fruit, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, Prickle Me Pink, tasting notes, watermelon

Review of 2 Towns Prickly Me Pink ^2 , a new iteration of the previous limited release (which I reviewed here in 2015), with prickly pear cactus fruit, and this time, watermelon. I’ve also previously tried most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: Prickle Me Pink ^2
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.7%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with prickly pear cactus fruit and watermelon

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

Cider Description: Exuberant & quenching, Prickle Me Pink ^2 is pink and multiplied by pink. Glowing with a naturally derived color, this taste bud oasis is crafted with Northwest apples, prickly pear cactus fruit, and now watermelon.

Dave Takush, the head cider maker said, “If you’re wondering what to pair it with, we’d suggest a watergun fight set to the tunes of Wham..”

Price: n/a (runs $7.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first tried this at Cider Summit Seattle 2015.

First Impression: Bright pink hue. Nearly still. Smells moderate fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light to medium bodied. Mild tartness. Mild to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness and funk. Notes of cactus fruit, watermelon, strawberry, and kiwi. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. No apple flavor. High sessionability. Quick finish.

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed this, especially how fruity and flavorful it was for the dryness. It was too easy to drink. I had imaged this higher carbonated, but at the same time, I don’t think it would work as well as I think it would.

Most Similar to: Nothing much. I’ve not had any other ciders with cactus fruit except 2 Towns’ first release of this cider. I’ve had a handful of other ciders with watermelon though; namely, Pear UP’s Watermelon Perry.

Closing Notes: I’m surprised they went so dry with this; however, it worked. I think this was even tastier than the last release. The watermelon was a great addition, and also helped so the cider wasn’t quite so fluorescent pink (and likely reduced the ingredient cost too).

Have you tried 2 Towns Prickle Me Pink? What did you think?

Bushwhacker Cider Forgotten Trail

June 1, 2017May 31, 2017 cidersays Bushwhacker, review Bushwhacker, Bushwhacker Cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Forgotten Trail, hard cider, oregon, portland, tasting notes

Review of Bushwhacker Cider’s Forgotten Trail. I tried this previously on draft at their cider house (see here). My husband picked up a few bottles at that time as he liked it so much. This is the only house cider I’ve tried from Bushwhacker (although they offer some others).

Cider: Forgotten Trail
Cidery: Bushwhacker Cider
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 5.6%
How Supplied: single 12oz bottles and draft
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: Likely only at Bushwhacker’s cider house in Portland Oregon

Cider Description: Our flagship cider, named after a trail that you may not have time to travel on as much as you’d like. This is a blend of estate grown fruit, sourced from Eastern Oregon. It comes out as a semi-dry cider, appealing to fans of dry cider, yet has a bit of natural sweetness to please a customer with a sweet tooth.

Cidery Description: We opened Bushwhacker Cider – Brooklyn in the fall of 2010 as Portland’s first cidery and the country’s original cider pub. Starting with every cider available in Oregon, we had a measly selection of 35 bottles. This selection has exploded to over 340 bottles of cider from around the country and around the world. Located in Portland’s historic Brooklyn neighborhood our small pub quickly became a place to chat with neighbors and enjoy the diverse flavors that can be found in the cider world.

Price: ~$3 / single bottle
Where Bought: Bushwhacker’s cider house (which I did quite a bit of shopping at; see here)
Where Drank: home
How Found: drinking (and shopping) at their cider house

First Impression: Dark straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells very mild.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of apple juice and honey. Moderate length finish. Low flavor intensity. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I found this pretty average. Very easy to drink and plenty tasty, but a bit boring. Its unlikely to offend anyone, but I doubt too many folks would find it very impressive either. However, its a great local craft option which isn’t too sweet or too dry.

Most Similar to: Semi-dry flagship ciders from dessert apples, like 2 Towns BrightCider, McMenamins Edgefield Flagship, and Boonville Bite Hard

Closing Notes: This is a really interesting cider. My husband and I have tried it three times now (draft, and twice bottled, bought at the same time). It was completely different each time. The first time it was very dry and champagne-style, like my husband likes, so he picked up a few bottles to take home (and he’s not usually a cider drinker so that is saying something…). The second time, when we opened the first bottle, it was semi-sweet and rich, so he was disappointed but I was happy (I liked that version better than this one which I am reviewing). This time (second bottle), it was semi-dry and very mild. I’m guessing that what we tried on draft that time was a different one of their house ciders (maybe Alice? the hue was completely different too, nearly clear), and the bottles were from different batches. My husband asked the bar tender if they had any in bottles and she pointed us to the Forgotten Trail bottles in the cooler, but maybe she forgot my husband was drinking their Alice variety? Its an intriguing mystery.

Have you tried any Bushwhacker Cider flagship ciders? What did you think?

Bushwhacker Cider and Cider Purchases in Portland Oregon

April 5, 2017June 1, 2017 cidersays Bushwhacker, review Bushwhacker, Bushwhacker's, cider, cider review, cider shopping, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, portland, tasting notes

Bushwhacker Cider was the last stop of the weekend, on Sunday, on our way out of town. We arrived when they opened just after noon. It was quiet as expected due to the time of day, with only a couple people stopping in to buy some bottles while we were there. The atmosphere is very casual, with some bar seating, and high top & regular tables, as well as arcade games. The bartender was very friendly and helpful.

They offer up to 8 ciders on tap (mostly their own) plus 6 bottle pours, and some snacks. There are small and large pour size options too. I think the bottle pours are especially awesome as you don’t see that much; they focused on ciders which keep well (like the awesome Etienne Dupont Pommeau which I’ve tried previously; see here). I also really liked that they had detailed descriptions of the ciders they were pouring.

I started off by browsing their bottle selection, which was awesome by the way, on par with the Schilling Cider House, with hundreds of options. Everything was organized by region (and even subregion – their French ciders were labeled Normandy vs. Brittany), and refrigerated. There was a focus on Northwest ciders of course, but also selections from across the U.S., England, France, Spain, and more.

My husband sampled Bushwhacker’s flagship Forgotten Trail cider on tap, made from Oregon apples. After I finished picking out bottles, I sampled a bag in box pour of Hogan’s Picker’s Passion, an English cider (they also sell at least one Hogan’s variety packaged this way with 3 liters of cider, which would be a fun option for a party and apparently keeps very well long term too).

Bushwhacker Forgotten Trail (5.7% ABV): Nearly clear hue (the bar’s “house water” lol). Low carbonation. Dry. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of citrus and granny smith apples. Low apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. High sessionability. This reminds me of champagne except with lower carbonation. My husband really enjoyed it and bought a few single bottles. I thought it was average. Easy to drink and refreshing, but not remarkable.

Update – Based on my review of a bottled version of Forgotten Trail (see here), this may have been their “Alice” variety.

Hogan’s Picker’s Passion (5.3% ABV): Hazy unfiltered apple juice type hue. Still (no carbonation). Very thin bodied. Semi-dry. Low tartness, acidity, tannins, and bitterness. Hints of funk and sourness. Notes of apple pomace and bittersweet apple juice, but overall the flavor is simple and mild. Low flavor intensity and complexity. Moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Warming moderate to long finish. I thought it was average (I would have preferred more body and flavor). English cider is one of my favorite categories. So far I prefer English ciders from cideries such as Sheppy’s, Dunkertons, Worley’s, and Aspall over Hogan’s, Pilton, Burrow Hill, Thatchers, Sandford Orchards, and Ross on Wye, as I enjoy a flavorful cider without significant bitterness, sourness, or funk.

I thought this was a good post to summarize what bottles we purchased over the weekend, especially as the majority were from Bushwhacker’s.

We had a great cider weekend in Portland and look forward to another (hopefully longer) trip sometime soon!

Tasting Notes from Reverend Nat’s Tap Room in Portland Oregon

April 3, 2017March 31, 2017 cidersays Rev Nat's, review cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, portland, reverend nat's, tasting notes

Reverend Nat’s tap room was the next stop in our Portland Oregon cider weekend adventure after Cider Rite of Spring (see my event review and tasting notes), checking into our hotel (the Embassy Suites on Pine St – nice for being in a historic building), and dinner at The Ringside steakhouse (I’m not a steak eater but my husband was a big fan…dinner there was his only request of the weekend).

Reverend Nat’s Cider has been around officially since 2011, and moved into the current building in 2013, although “The Reverend” Nat West (he is actually ordained online) has been making cider since 2004. They specialize in making weird & interesting ciders that no one else would have the guts to make, and they actually sell very well.

It was shockingly quiet in the tap room for a Saturday night, but I guess its not really in an area which gets a lot of foot traffic, despite being in the downtown area. Its a cool building, with high ceilings, and one wall was a roll-up garage door. There were about four barstools at the main bar, a few at a center bar, one booth, and the rest were stools pulled around wine barrel tables. There were maybe six other patrons and one bartender there with us.

They have 12 ciders on tap (and sometimes bottle pours), and sell bottles & growlers of their ciders as well as some merchandise. Many of the ciders poured in the tap room are varieties which never leave the tap room. They also offer a “Tent Show” cider club which gives members first pick at special release ciders (and only if any bottles are left are they sold in the tap room); there is currently a waiting list to even sign up for their cider club.

The tap room is also the production area (although obviously not in use late at night), so I got to have a peek at the cidery itself. I was surprised how small it was compared to how large Reverend Nat’s (and Cascadia Ciderworks United‘s) cider distribution is.

the full menu

My husband and I ordered some tasters to share ($2-$5 for 4oz) of #7 Viva la Pineapple!, #10 Tent Show Wooden Hellfire, #11 Tassjara Peach Book, and #12 Belle de Boskoop (I’ve previously tried the Revival, Sour Cherry 2016 and 2015 versions, Hallelujah Hopricot, and New Moon Mandarin).

Viva la Pineapple! (6.0% ABV): Described as a granny smith apple cider with pineapple juice and cinnamon. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate pineapple flavor. Mild spice. This was reminiscent of their Tepache, but apple not pineapple based, less spiced, and more drinkable by itself. I really liked it.

Revelation Belle de Boskoop (6.8% ABV): Described as a single varietal cider from an heirloom apple variety. Semi-dry. Apple forward. However, the flavor for me was overwhelmingly vinegary with some sourness too. I wasn’t a fan.

Wooden Hellfire (16.6% ABV): This is a very unique cider which was started by boiling cider for 18 hours, making a concentrate (similar to freezing is used when making ice cider), then barrel aged for one year. Very dark hue. Dry to semi-dry. Rich flavor with notes of caramel, prune, oak, and smoke. High complexity and flavor intensity. I liked the flavor (although the prune was odd), but this is something more to sip on a shot of than drink in any quantity or frequency. My husband fell in love with it, saying it was the best cider he had ever tried, and ended up buying a bottle ($30, although its 750ml of 16.6% cider, if you can really call it cider anymore), plus two more bottles for some friends he told it about. I really wish they would have sold this in smaller bottles, as 750ml is a lot of an intense high ABV cider, plus that would decrease the price point.

Tassjara Peach Book (8.5% ABV): A cider with Mosaic hops, which are described as adding the scent and flavor of peaches to this cider without using any actual peaches. Semi-dry. There was definitely a very subtle peach flavor in addition to some citrus and hops notes. Moderately bitter finish. I found it to be average.

Bottom Line: To be honest, most of the ciders Rev Nat’s makes aren’t to my liking…they tend towards the weird, dry, spicy, sour, etc. However, some of the staples such as Revival are awesome. I also had a draft-only special release from them for last year’s Cider Summit (Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant) which I really enjoyed.

Cider Rite of Spring 2017 – Post 2/2 – Tasting Notes

March 31, 2017March 31, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns, 7 Bev, Alter Ego, Bauman's, Elk Horn, event, Finnriver, McMenamin's, NV Cider, Rev Nat's, Runcible, Square Mile, Swift, Tumalo, Woodbox, ^ 5 Cider cider, cider event, cider review, Cider Rite of Spring, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, portland, tasting notes

This is Part 2/2 on Cider Rite of Spring 2017 in Portland Oregon, which includes tasting notes on the 18 ciders I tried. See HERE for Part 1/2, covering the event itself. Note that I have more notes on some ciders than others depending on how much of it I tried and what was going on at the event (kinda tough to take notes with one hand while holding on to your tasting glass in the other!)…its not a reflection on the cider itself.

^ 5 Cider (Portland OR) Strawbasaurus Hop, 6.9% ABV, $6/500ml: This is a flagship hopped strawberry cider, and the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied with a lot of foam. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate bitterness. I couldn’t get past how overly hoppy the flavor was. The light strawberry flavor with the intense hopped flavor was also odd. I think hops are nice to enhance a cider’s flavor, but I don’t like when they overpower it.

2 Towns (Corvallis OR) Pommeau, 19% ABV, $23/375ml, VIP offering: This is an awesome Pommeau (apple brandy + apple cider, oak barrel aged for 1 year); see my previous review here.

7 Bev / Queen Orchard (West Linn OR) Green Man, 6.7% ABV, draft only: This cider is for the Willamette Ale & Cider House, expected to open in West Linn Oregon on June 15th, and is the first I’ve tried from the cidery. It was described as inspired by English cider, but I found it more farmhouse-style than anything else (none of the characteristic tannins of English cider). Hazy hue. Smells of sulfur, sourness, and funk, but those qualities oddly enough didn’t transfer to the flavor. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Apple-forward with citrus notes. Nice flavor, but the scent was off-putting. It could be a first production issue.

Alter Ego Cider (Portland OR) The Guardian Angel, 6.5% ABV, $8/500ml: This is a flagship blueberry pomegranate cider, and the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Dark berry hue. Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. High flavor intensity, with blueberry, pomegranate, and grape, but not much apple. High sessionability. Juice-like. Reminds me of Atlas’ ciders. I liked it.

Bauman’s Cider (Gervais OR) Peach Raspberry, 6.4% ABV, $12/22oz: This summer seasonal cider adds peaches and raspberries, and is the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate to high flavor intensity, with rather straight-forward peach and raspberry notes. Well balanced with a lot of flavor without being too sweet. I really enjoyed it.

Elk Horn Brewery (Eugene OR) Grape Perry, 6.0% ABV, draft only: This is a perry made from dessert pears, sweetened with Concord grape juice, and the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Very light fruity flavor, primarily grape. I was expecting a sweeter more flavorful cider between the pear (unfermentable sugars typically lead to a higher residual sugar content even if fermentation isn’t stopped early) and grape, although you can tell even from the color than not a lot of grape juice was used.

Elk Horn Brewery (Eugene OR) Cherry’s Pie, 7.5% ABV, draft only: This is a cider with cherries added. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. I found the flavor a bit weird…kinda bitter…but I just had a sip or two shared with me.

Finnriver (Port Townsend WA) Apply Ol’ Fashion cocktail, VIP offering: Made with Finnriver’s Spirited Apple Wine (brandy-fortified cider, 18.5% ABV, $25/500ml) and Oak and Apple cider (6.5% ABV, $10/500ml). I’ve previously had both ciders on their own, but I didn’t like this cocktail in the least, and neither did my husband or friend, as none of us are fans of bitters. Its likely the proportions may have got off since they made this rather rushed…it was quite an undertaking to serve a non-pre-mixed cocktail at a busy event like this. They were also offering pours of just the Apple Wine, which is what I should have chosen. See my Oak and Apple review here. My favorite from Finnriver however is their Fire Barrel (see here); this year’s vintage was just released, and it is a great value at ~$11/500ml.

McMenamins Edgefield Winery (Portland OR) Black Cherry Cider, 6.8% ABV, draft only: Semi-sweet. Nice real cherry flavor. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. High flavor intensity. I liked it. I had previously only tried Edgefield’s flagship cider.

Pear UP (formerly NV Cider, East Wenatchee WA) Raspberry Perry, unknown ABV, $5/500ml: This is a perry (only pears, no apples) with raspberries. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Nice moderate to strong fresh raspberry flavor with a hint of pear. Refreshingly flavorful. I was surprised how much more flavorful this was compared to their Watermelon Perry, as it is only slightly more sweet. I like the flavor intensity of this best of all their perries I’ve tried, but the watermelon flavor remains my favorite (I’m a huge watermelon fan).

Reverend Nat’s (Portland OR) New Moon Mandarin, 7.2% ABV, $7/500ml: This seasonal cider is made with mandarin and tangerine juice, and finished with chamomile flowers. Dry. Light bodied. High tartness. Moderate acidity. Very mild citrus flavor. Warm boozy finish. This was nice, but more subtle than I prefer.

Runcible Cider (Mosier OR) Light of the Moon, 8.1% ABV, $17/750ml: This is their flagship cider made using heirloom apple varieties, and the first I’ve tried from this cidery. Hazy hue. Semi-dry. Low tartness, bitterness, and tannins. Moderate acidity. Hints of sourness and funk. found this to be a slightly farmhouse-style apple-forward cider with some honey and citrus notes. I liked it.

Runcible Cider (Mosier OR) Old Hoot, 7.4% ABV, $17/750ml: This is their Farmhouse-style cider, made with English cider apple varieties. Very hazy hue. Dry. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low funk and tannins. Hints of sourness. This was well made, but a bit too rustic for my liking.

Shoutout to Kelly McCune of Runcible Cider – she had actually heard of Cider Says prior to the event, and said she likes my blog – very cool! They are a brand new cidery (this was their first event) and have their own orchard of 500 cider apple trees, which is awesome, as so many cideries actually aren’t orchard-based. I think it takes a cidery’s cider to the next level.

Square Mile Cider (Portland OR) Rosé, unknown ABV, draft only, VIP offering: This special release cider was made with hibiscus and rose hips. Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. High tartness. Moderate acidity. Very light fruitiness, with floral and herbal notes. This was nice, but more subtle than I prefer.

Swift Cider (Portland OR) Marionberry, 6.8% ABV, $8/22oz: This is a dry flagship cider with marionberries, and the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Low berry flavor intensity. This was nice, but more subtle than I prefer.

Tumalo Cider (Tumalo OR) Prickly Passion, unknown ABV, $6/500ml: This is the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Very low fruity flavor intensity. This was nice, but more subtle than I prefer.

Tumalo Cider (Tumalo OR) Hibiscus, unknown ABV, $6/500ml: Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness acidity. Low flavor intensity, more fruity than floral. Slightly more flavorful than the Prickly Passion. This was nice, but more subtle than I prefer.

Woodbox (Portland OR) Double Barrel Whiskey Barrel Ice Cider, 12.7% ABV, $17/375ml: This is a ice cider (made by using freezing temperatures to naturally concentrate the flavor and sugar content in apple juice before fermenting it) aged in whiskey barrels, and the first I’ve tried from the cidery. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Full bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Rich flavor notes including caramel and vanilla. High apple flavor. Moderate to high whiskey flavor. Moderate oak flavor. Awesome! They made a sign to highlight the cider’s price as the program had a mis-print of $33, which is quite a difference.

Closing Notes:

My favorite ciders of the event were the Woodbox Ice Cider and 2 Towns Pommeau (and my husband and friend agreed).
- The ice cider was an especially good value too (often they run $30+ as they are so expensive to make), and the only bottle we ended up picking up (although our friend bought a number of ciders).
Of the non-specialty ciders, I most enjoyed Alter Ego Guardian Angel, Bauman’s Peach Raspberry, Pear UP Raspberry Perry, and Runcible Light of the Moon.
I was surprised how many dry ciders were being offered, and especially how many cideries were only offering dry ciders, which is nice. However, especially when made from dessert apples, dry ciders can often end up very subtlety flavored, while I prefer a really in-your-face flavorful cider (whether an added flavor or due to use of cider apples). I usually go for semi-dry to semi-sweet, as they tend to be more flavorful, but not too sweet.
There were also a number of cideries breaking from the pack and going more Farmhouse-style (like Runcible and Baird & Dewar), which isn’t typically as crowd-pleasing, but sticks to the roots of early American cider.
There were plenty of sweet offerings too, but mostly from the more established / larger cideries that I had already sampled (like Portland Cider Co., and the Seattle-area’s own Locust and Schilling cideries).

That will do it for Cider Rite of Spring 2017. Stay tuned for more tasting notes from my Portland trip, from Reverend Nat’s tap room and Bushwhacker Cider!

Cider Rite of Spring 2017 – Post 1/2 – Event Review

March 29, 2017March 31, 2017 cidersays Cider Rite of Spring, event cider, cider event, Cider Rite of Spring, cider tasting, hard cider, Northwest Cider, oregon, portland

This past weekend I attended the 4th annual Cider Rite of Spring cider tasting event in Portland Oregon. My husband and I drove down from Seattle (about 4 hours away) and stayed overnight. It was a whirlwind with a lot of driving in two days, but fun. This is the first of a series of posts about my Portland cider weekend, and will cover the event itself, with a forthcoming post with tasting notes on the ciders I tried. Also refer to my preview of the event here.

Overview:

This cider tasting event was held from noon to 6pm on a Saturday at a three-story indoor event space near downtown Portland (The Evergreen PDX). It featured nearly 100 ciders from 31 cideries. The event cost $25-$45, depending on if you purchased a regular or VIP ticket, and pre sale vs. at the door. Entry included 8 drink tickets and a tasting glass. VIP tickets also included access to an upstairs VIP lounge. Each cidery had a booth with a cidery representative pouring 1-4 ciders, a mix of draft and bottle pours.

The event was hosted by the Northwest Cider Association, and also served as a fundraiser for the organization, which aims to bring cideries and cider lovers together to share knowledge, experience, and live the Northwest cider culture. They promote cider and sponsor classes, workshops, events, and more.

My experience:

I arrived a bit past noon with my husband and a friend of ours who lives out of state that we don’t get to see often enough (her parents live in Portland so she visits often). There was a line to get in when they opened, as it required the typical ID check, wristband application, and check in (printed tickets vs. will call tickets vs. ticket sales). We stayed about four hours total, tried over a dozen ciders, and bought some bottles to take home.

The VIP lounge on the top floor.

My favorite parts:

The hourly VIP tastings. They were all exclusive and/or rare releases, listed in the event program, and only being poured in the VIP area. Each hour featured a different cidery and cider to taste, no tickets required. The VIP lounge also included snacks (mostly cheese chosen to be paired with cider from Whole Foods) and some cider options available the entire time (although the one I tried was literally just cider apple juice, not fermented?).
Getting to try Oregon ciders which I don’t see in Washington, from cideries which don’t even distribute out of Oregon yet. Several cideries hadn’t even had their official launch yet.
The bottle shop. Many of the offerings were sold in the bottle shop (except some draft-only options). It was regular retail price, but proceeds went to the Northwest Cider Association, and many are difficult or impossible to find in stores.
The event was well-planned. There was sufficient information available online beforehand. There was sufficient signage and it was laid out well, although squished. The venue was nice besides the size, and indoors, so no weather to deal with. It was even decorated with fresh flowers (very Spring-like). They had water and non-alcoholic cider available, and jars to dump unwanted cider into.
Affordable ticket prices, as low as $25 plus a couple dollars in fees for pre-sales.

The bottle shop offerings.

My least favorite parts:

The crowds! It was literally elbow to elbow push & shove to get anywhere in the building, verging on dangerous. At first the air conditioning wasn’t even on so it was starting to get very hot with all the bodies in the small space, but thankfully that kicked in after awhile. Apparently this was a new venue for this year and they had approximately double the attendees as last year (900), so significantly more than they were expecting. However, I really think they should have capped ticket sales before it got that bad. There is already talk of a larger venue for next year. I don’t mind lines (especially as it ensures you don’t drink too quickly and encourages you to talk to folks you are in line with), but it was difficult to even know where lines were, and to get between them. There were less chances to talk to the cidery folks as someone was always behind you waiting. Even the VIP lounge was overcrowded, which defeated part of its purpose. This was tied for the most crowded tasting event I’ve ever been to.
Lack of seating, or even standing tables to set down your glass and take notes.
No early entry for VIP ticket holders. Often events let you in an hour early, which is nice to get one-on-one time with cidermakers. I had been hoping to get that in the VIP lounge, but it was busy there too.

The event space and crowds.

The in between:

Pours were on the smaller side. This can be good or bad…it enables you to try more ciders without feeling like you have to drink more than you want to or dump some out to try more, but it is easy to run out of tickets quickly (extras were being sold for $2 each).
This was a medium sized event. Less options than the Cider Summit events for example (which also typically includes some imports and aren’t as regional, with cideries outside of just Oregon & Washington for the Seattle event for example), but more than Summer Cider Day in Port Townsend WA.
Lack of food options. The only option was sushi, which seemed an odd choice as many folks don’t like it, and usually more carb-rich foods are better to go with alcohol. There weren’t however any lines for food as is typical at events, as it was a quick prep item (and possibly as there was less interest than typical food offerings). It was also priced low, especially for sushi. However, this was announced in advance, so it wasn’t an issue; we ate lunch before the event and I always travel with snacks.
The downtown location. This enabled us to stay at a hotel which was a cheap Uber ride to the event, restaurants, and cider bars, However, hotel prices and parking are more expensive downtown.

Event map and VIP tasting schedule.

My general cider tasting event tips:

As with any event, it is best to arrive early. If you arrive 5-10 minutes before it starts, you can be among the first in line and get some cider tasting in before the space fills up.
Wear comfortable closed toe shoes. Although there may not be much walking involved, there is typically a lot of standing. I was surprised how many women I saw wearing heels and/or sandals. I’m not a fan of having my feet hurting and toes stepped on…
Eat beforehand and bring some snacks. Crackers are a good choice to absorb alcohol and cleanse your palette. Not having to stop and eat a meal can save time as well (although sometimes taking a decent break is nice too).
Bring a bottle of water, although often it is easy enough to fill your tasting glass with provided water between ciders.
Bring a pen/pencil, and possibly a notebook. You may want to at least note on the program what ciders you don’t want to miss, which you enjoyed and want to purchase bottles of (or if you are like me, take tasting notes).
If possible, plan what ciders you want to try ahead of time. It is unfortunately impossible to try everything. They didn’t release the cider list in advance this time, but I looked through it off the bat to get an idea of what I wanted to taste. I suggest prioritizing ciders that are expensive, special releases, and/or not found in your area. If possible, taste from dry and simple to sweet and weird. What you taste before another cider can impact the next. At least however avoid spicy (hot) ciders until the end of the day, as those wreck the palette the most.
Consider trying multiple ciders from the same cidery/booth. That gives you a good idea of the range of the cidery’s options. Often they will pour you a smaller sample of each offering for a single ticket if you ask / if they aren’t too busy.
If they will have a bottle shop, bring a bag you can put some ciders in, and/or a bottle bag. At this event they were selling them for $5, or giving them away with the purchase of 6 bottles. We ended up buying some ciders midway through the event as we weren’t sure if they would sell out, so a backpack was handy to keep our hands free.
For outdoor events, bring a sun hat, sunblock, and a jacket.

Bottom line:

I liked the cider aspect of the event of course, especially all the new-to-me Oregon ciders/cideries, and the VIP tasting opportunities were awesome. However, I wouldn’t consider attending this event again unless they were going to hold it at a much larger venue with some breathing room and seating. I have every confidence they will remedy this for next year.

I really do like the indoor events though, as for me alcohol + sun/heat isn’t a good combination, and indoor toilets always beat port-a-pottys. Besides a larger venue, another option for them may be to split it into two sessions (with ticket sales for a specific session), which should then half the crowds.

Next time we do Portland we’ll definitely stay at least 2 nights and take some time off work. Doing the drive on two days in a row is rough, and made for a very long day to drive, attend the event, and go out that night. Plus now I’ve been playing catch up all week with all my usual weekend stuff, like house chores and blog posts.

Square Mile had a tiny house on display outside that they will be giving away in a contest…it must have been interesting to navigate downtown and park the large pickup truck with trailer!

Event program:

Stay tuned for Cider Rite of Spring 2017 post 2/2 covering tasting notes (NOW AVAILABLE – see here), as well as posts about my visits to Reverend Nat’s tap room and Bushwhacker Cider.

E.Z. Orchards Williamette Valley Cidre 2011

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017 cidersays E.Z. Orchards, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, E.Z. Orchards, EZ Orchards, hard cider, oregon, tasting notes, Williamette Cidre

Review of E.Z. Orchards’ Williamette Valley Cidre 2011. It is my first time trying this cider, but I have previously sampled their Semi Dry, Roman Beauty, Hawk Haus, and Poire.

Cider:  Williamette Valley Cidre 2011
Cidery:  E.Z. Orchards
Cidery Location:  Rickreall OR
ABV: 6.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American Artisan cider from French cider apple varieties, nothing else (no sulfites)

Availability: CA, OR, and WA, although this is a very old release

Description: The Pioneers who settled Oregon’s Willamette Valley in the 1850’s must have marveled at their good fortune. The soil was rich, the water plentiful, the winters mild, and summers ideal, crops seemed to burst from the ground. For more than 150 years small family farms have dominated the Willamette Valley – one of the most productive and diverse agricultural areas in the world. The Zielinski Family and E.Z. Orchards are part of this history and ongoing commitment to the land.

E.Z. Orchards Willamette Valley Cidre is the culmination of 10 years effort to develop our orchard and refine our fermentation technique. We grow a selection of French, English, and Early American apple varieties. The fruit contain essential characteristics, necessary to impart structure and aroma in our Cidre.

They use traditional French cider making methods–pressing their apples in a rack and cloth press, fermenting with wild yeast in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for 4-6 months, and bottling before fermentation is complete to allow secondary fermentation to take place in the glass. EZ Orchards has been growing apples since the 1920s. They were one of the first in the U.S. to plant cider apple varieties, starting in 2000.

Price: $17.99
Where Bought: A natural grocery store in a small town in Northern California in December. I haven’t seen this variety sold in the last couple years in the Seattle area.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I was super impressed with this store’s selection for now being in a major city or cider region. I picked up a number of bottles from several cidermakers and packed them in my suitcase for the flight home to Seattle.

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Moderate carbonation with significant foam. Smells rich, apple-forward, and tannic.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low tannins. Low bitterness. Moderate funk. Hints to low sourness. Notes of apple pomace, yeast, orange, grapefruit, and lemon. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it but didn’t love it. From the scent, I was hoping for more richness and tannins. The citrus notes and sourness were a surprise.

Most Similar to: A mix of a French and Spanish cider. It had the apple and yeast forward flavor of a French cidre with the citrus, funk and sourness of a Spanish cider. It was the later I didn’t like as much.

Closing Notes: I look forward to trying more E.Z. Orchards ciders. So far my favorite is Roman Beauty.

Have you tried E.Z. Orchards Williamette Valley Cidre? What did you think?

2 Towns Flight of the Kiwi

March 1, 2017February 24, 2017 cidersays 2 Towns 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, flight of the kiwi, hard cider, kiwi, oregon, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ Flight of the Kiwi, their newest special release cider, made with all NW ingredients – dessert apples, kiwi berries, and gooseberries, fermented with Sauvignon Blanc yeast, then oak aged. See the press release here. It is my first time trying this cider, although I’ve tried most of their lineup (see here).

Cider: Flight of the Kiwi
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with kiwi berries & gooseberries, oak aged

Availability: limited release, primarily in CA, OR, and WA

Cider Description: Corvallis, Oregon’s 2 Towns Ciderhouse has a new uniquely fruited hard cider out called “Flight of the Kiwi,” an oak-aged cider made with NW kiwi fruit, fresh-pressed apples, and some gooseberries for good measure. This tropical-flavored cider has a sessionable 5.8% ABV. Two pounds of hardy kiwi berries, small cousins of the better-known kiwifruit, go into every gallon of this cider, which is fermented cold with Sauvignon Blanc yeast and is named after New Zealand’s curious flightless bird….Flight of the Kiwi has the backbone to stand up to flavorful and hearty fare—try pairing it with chipotle pork or bacon grilled cheese sandwiches.

Price: n/a
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: cidery press release

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of kiwi and white grape.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of kiwi, white grape, mango, pineapple, mineral, lemon, and oak. Quick finish length. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low oak influence.

My Opinion: This was a subtle wine-like cider, which I usually don’t go for. However, I really liked the flavor and complexity of this one, plus it was very easy to drink and food-friendly.

Most Similar to: Moa Brewing Kiwifruit cider, which is the only other cider with kiwi added which I’ve tried; it also had a lot of wine-like subtlety, but was carbonated.

Closing Notes: This was another winner from 2 Towns!

Have you tried 2 Towns Flight of the Kiwi? What did you think?

Oregon Mead & Cider Co. Free Press Dry Cider

February 17, 2017February 11, 2017 cidersays Oregon Mead & Cider Co., review cider, cider review, cider tasting, dry cider, Free Press, hard cider, oregon, Oregon Mead & Cider, Oregon Mead and Cider, tasting notes

Review of Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Dry Cider. It is my first time trying any of their cider.

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

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

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 (the photo above was about 30 seconds after pouring). Smells mild, apple-forward and of peach.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Notes of yeast, peach, and a hint of hops. Quick finish. Low flavor intensity, complexity, and apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked the level of carbonation and the frothy texture. However, the hint of hops and flavor profile was odd, and I didn’t really like the bitterness. It was almost beer-like.

Most Similar to: Double Mountain Jumpin Jack Heirloom Cider

Closing Notes: I also picked up this cidery’s hopped cider (the only other cider from the cidery the bottle shop had).

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

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