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!

Notes on Cider at Debuts and Discoveries 2017

March 27, 2017March 19, 2017 cidersays Chatter Creek, Elemental, event, Locust, Pear UP, review, Schilling, Steelhead, Woodinville Ciderworks cider, cider event, cider review, cider tasting, Debuts and Discoveries, hard cider, tasting notes

On March 18th, I attended a ‘Debuts and Discoveries’ tasting event in Seattle put on by the University Sunrise Rotary Club, to benefit Teen Feed. It featured about 7 cideries, 7 breweries, 12 wineries, and 11 distilleries. It was very cool to see an event with such a mix of beverage selections, as I’m only into cider and my husband is into everything else. I took the night off from blogging, so unfortunately I don’t have any photos or tasting notes. However, I thought I might as well do a quick writeup.

xn0nw

The Ciders:

Chatter Creek (Woodinville WA) brought their ‘Pilot Project’ Golden Cider, ‘Chaider Clipper’ Chai Tea, and ‘Luya’ Ginger-Honey.
Elemental (Woodinville WA) brought their ‘Carbon’ Semi-Dry, ‘Calcium’ Blood Orange, and ‘Oxygen’ Pomegranate.
Locust (Woodinville WA) brought their Chili Pineapple, Smoked Blueberry, Thai Ginger, and Vanilla Bean.
Pear UP (formerly Neigel Vintners) brought a number of perries, including Ginger Pear, Hoppin’ Pear, Pear Essentials, Pearfect Pie, and Watermelon.
Schilling (Auburn WA) brought their ‘Reboot’ Blood Orange, Blueberry Cobbler, and London Dry.
Steelhead (Lake Chelan WA) brought their ‘Chimera’ Cherry, ‘Furious George’ Ginger, and ‘Peargatory’ Vanilla Pear.
Woodinville Ciderworks (Woodinville WA) brought their Asian Pear and something else.

What I Tried:

Chatter Creek’s Chaider Clipper was tasty, semi-dry, with a smooth moderate spiciness from the Chai. I previously reviewed their Pilot Project.
Elemental’s Carbon and Blood Orange. I preferred previous versions of Carbon that were more rich than citrusy, and less tart (see here). My husband was crazy about the Blood Orange; the flavor was nice and mild. Both had higher levels of carbonation, which is great too. I previously sampled their Pomegranate.
Locust’s Blueberry + Vanilla and Chili Pineapple. I had tried both the Blueberry and Vanilla before (see here), finding the Blueberry rather average and the Vanilla to have an amazing creamy vanilla flavor but too sweet. However, mixed, they were an awesome semi-sweet concoction, and my favorite of the evening. The Chili Pineapple surprisingly didn’t have any noticeable spiciness (I’ve had a number of spicy ciders which were crazy spicy), just a nice pineapple flavor.
Pear UP’s Watermelon, which remains my favorite from them (see here). The pear and watermelon notes remain mild, but I’m a huge watermelon fan.
(I previously tried Schilling’s Blueberry Cobbler and London Dry)
Steelhead’s Cherry, which I previously tried (see here). Nice cherry flavor, but rather tart. I also previously tried their Peargatory.
(I previously tried Woodinville Ciderworks’ Asian Pear and Tropical)

The Event:

It was an indoor event (in an old hangar in Magnison Park – very cool), from 5-9pm on a Saturday. The $40 entry fee included 15! drink tickets and a $5 food voucher. They also provided free bottled water and snacks (like chips and trail mix), which I have never seen before and was much appreciated. The event was to focus on new craft beverage businesses, and their published cutoff was four years, but I know some of the companies were more than four years old (like Woodinville Whiskey, which started in 2010). There were four main food truck options (also indoors).

They had tables and chairs, but they could have used more (and unfortunately some folks would put their stuff down to “save” their spot, then leave). Bottle sales were available from most makers, and it was tax-free as it was a charity event (a HUGE savings for hard alcohol…my husband picked up four bottles which were about $35 instead of $55). The main negative for me was the live music…any live music indoors tends to be overly loud, making it was very difficult to hold a conversation, and giving me a headache. I felt bad for the booths right next to the band.

All in all it was a fun time and I look forward to attending again next year!

Schilling Cider House Visit 24 Tasting Notes

March 24, 2017April 6, 2018 cidersays Christian Drouin, Golden State, Greenwood, Liberty, Locust, Pilton, review, Schilling cider, cider flight, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 24th visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a random Thursday. I started with a flight.

Locust (Woodinville WA) Winter Banana (6.0% ABV): No, this isn’t a banana cider…it is a single varietal made from the Winter Banana apple. Draft-only. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Apple-forward flavor with honey and citrus. Nice flavor.

Liberty (Spokane WA) McIntosh (8.1% ABV): Another single varietal, this time of a more common apple, the McIntosh (which is actually the spelling for the apple pronounced MAK-in-tosh). Also available in bottles. Dry to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Higher carbonation. Moderate tartness. High acidity. For its dryness, it remained rather apple-forward, with some honey and citrus notes too. I think this is one of their better dry acidic ciders. I liked this, especially at first when it was cold (it got a bit harsh when it warmed up with the higher ABV).

Pilton (Somerset England) English Keeved (5.0% ABV): This is my first time trying any cider from Pilton, as well as my first time trying an English cider which is made using the keeving process, which is much more common for French cider. Keeving starves the cider of nutrients so it creates a naturally sweet apple-forward cider. Hazy hue. Dry to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Low sourness. Low tannins. Moderate funk. Notes of apple pomace, yeast, and citrus. This is rather dry for a keeved cider, which usually average semi-sweet. I wasn’t a fan of this due to the sourness; it reminded me more of a Normandy France style cider (due to the sourness & funk) than an English cider (which often have higher tannins & bitterness).

Golden State (Sebastopol CA) Mighty Dry (6.9% ABV): It is my first time trying their cider, which is newish to the Seattle area. Also available in cans. Semi-dry. Medium bodied, and a bit syrupy, which is interesting for the level of dryness. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Apple-forward with some pineapple and green apple notes. This is a nice flagship cider.

Christian Drouin (Normandy France) Poire (4.0% ABV): This is a French perry. Its nice to see these types of high end ciders on draft, as the bottles are expensive. Semi-sweet. Moderate to full bodied. Higher level of carbonation. Low tartness, acidity, and tannins. More pear fruit than pear juice forward, with notes of pineapple and mango as well. I loved this.

Greenwood (Seattle WA) Red River Wolf Crab (7.4% ABV): The interesting title for this draft-only cider refers to the use of red-fleshed crab apples as well as forraged apples from the Wolf River region. Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of sourness & funk. Apple-forward, with notes of sharp crabapples and citrus. Of a sad note, I was told they lost their lease, so they are no longer operating from Greenwood, but Lake City (both in Seattle); I imagine they will keep the name though. I thought this was pretty average.

Sarah also shared another cider with me:

Alpenfire (Port Townsend WA) Spiced Tonic Shrub (6.0% ABV): This interesting draft-only concoction is made using cider, vinegar, and spices. “Shrub” typically refers to a vinegared cocktail. This one definitely wasn’t to my liking, between the vinegar, saltiness, and pepper. Apparently it is selling really well though.

My favorite was the Christian Drouin Poire; it reminded me of selections from Eric Bordelet and Domaine Pacory.

Stay tuned for more Schilling Cider House tasting notes here at Cider Says! Have you had any good draft cider / cider flights recently?

Woodchuck Summer Time Pear Ginger

March 22, 2017March 21, 2017 cidersays Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, ginger cider, hard cider, pear cider, Summer Time, Summertime, tasting notes, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Pear Ginger, a new variety of Summer Time (which has previously only referred to their blueberry cider, which won’t be released this year at least). I’ve tried most of their lineup; 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: Summer Time Pear Ginger
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: American commercial cider with ginger and pear flavors

Availability: wide release, seasonal, starting in March

Description: Summer is here, bringing warm, carefree days and fun, festive nights. Woodchuck Summer Time delivers a crisp pear cider bursting with fresh ginger for a taste that refreshes like a cool jump in your favorite swimming hole.

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, but my husband really liked this cider. I could see it being a big seller.

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

Closing Notes: Interesting that they decided to also name this Summer Time…it may get confused with the blueberry version. I liked the flavor of the blueberry Summer Time, although it was rather sweet. The Woodchuck variety I really miss however is their Spring seasonal which had maple syrup; oddly enough they are currently skipping over Spring, and only doing Summer, Fall, and Winter seasonals.

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

Nashi Orchards Black Swan Cider

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017 cidersays Nashi Orchards black swan, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Nashi, Nashi Orchards, tasting notes, Vashon, Vashon Island

Review of Nashi Orchards’ Black Swan, a cider from apples foraged from Vashon Island Washington, then bourbon barrel aged. It is my first time trying this variety, although I have had their Issho Ni cider, Chojuro Blend Asian Pear Perry, Barrel Fermented Cider, and Island Harvest Perry.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Nashi Orchards. 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: Black Swan (2016 vintage)
Cidery: Nashi Orchards
Cidery Location: Vashon Island WA
ABV: 7.3%
How Supplied: 200ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from foraged apples, barrel aged

Availability: Vashon Island (including Nashi’s tasting room), Seattle, and Tacoma Washington, per their website

Cider Description: Island foraged apples (heirloom and bittersweet varieties) make up the base cider, which is then aged in a bourbon barrel (from Seattle Distilling).

Cidery Description: We strive to make Perry and Cider that expresses the best qualities of the Asian and European pears and heirloom apples that we grow and source. We carefully control fermentation to preserve some of the natural sweetness, use 100% juice pressed at our winery and do not add sugar or flavorings. Yes, we are purists.

Price: n/a ($7 retail)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: The cidermaker, Jim Gerlach, dropped off a sample for me. This year’s vintage was just released.

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

Tasting Notes: Dry. Moderate tartness. Very high acidity. Low to moderate tannins. Low bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp crabapples, lemon, grapefruit, peach, mineral, and a hint of honey. The finish length is moderate and a bit alcohol-forward. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. There is no overt barrel or spirit influence/flavor; in fact, I tasted this cider blind and wouldn’t have guessed it was bourbon barrel aged.

My Opinion: This is a wine-lover’s subtle food-friendly cider. Well made, but not my favorite style. Always nice to try something new though.

Most Similar to: Other dry high acid subtle ciders made from heirloom apple varieties, such as other ciders from Nashi, Dragon’s Head, and Farnum Hill, and Montana CiderWorks Spartan Dry-Style.

Closing Notes: I heard that Nashi is going to start kegging their perries and ciders, which is great, as it will increase their product visibility. I find it interesting they release their products in such a small bottle compared to the ABV, ie. 7 ounces of cider is less than a typical serving size. It must be a pain to fill all those little bottles without an automated line. However, it does decrease the price per bottle.

Have you tried cider from Nashi Orchards? What did you think?

Red Branch Peach Cider

March 17, 2017March 13, 2017 cidersays Red Branch california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, peach, peach cider, Red Branch, tasting notes

Review of Red Branch Cider Company’s Peach Cider (actually technically a cyser as it has honey added). It is my first time trying this cider, and any cider from this cidery.

Cider: Peach Cider
Cidery: Red Branch Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Sunnyvalle CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American cider with honey, peach juice, carbonated water, and sugar

Availability: A small batch release. Red Branch cider appears to only be available in California, plus through their online store.

Cider Description: We take great care in producing this hard peach cider from the finest ingredients available. We only use premium fruit juices and honey. This one has a twist though, we’ve added peach juice to give it a great flavor with a terrific peach aroma. If you love peaches, then this is for you. Try our other flavors, too and you might just find your favorite beverage choice is something new. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. If you don’t, tell us and we’ll make it right. Mike & Maria

Cidery Description: We believe that producing a quality hard cider of any variety is 90% art and 10% science. Toss in a bit of sweat and heartburn for good measure and you’ll have a typical small cidery. Crafting cider is a lot like crafting many other beverages, and our love of quality ingredients drives us to produce more than just an average cider, but what we believe, is the finest cider possible. Our passion is to create something special from one of the most natural substances on earth, and share it with everyone.

Quality and consistency are the most important aspects of our products, if they aren’t good enough for us to drink or offer to our own friends and family, then we won’t sell it to you! Red Branch Cider Company offers both traditional and seasonal ciders with an innovative honey twist.

They were established in 1995 and have a tap room in Sunnyvale CA.

Price: $8.49
Where Bought: a natural grocery store in a small town in Northern California
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. They had an impressive cider selection.

First Impression: Light peach hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of peach candy.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of peach candy at the beginning with a hint of nectarine, lemon, & honey, and a medicinal flat metallic bitter peach flavor at the end. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this cider odd. I think without the weird finish and with some carbonation it wouldn’t have been too bad.

Most Similar to: I’ve previously had the following peach ciders: Blue Mountain Peach, Blackfin Pacific Peach, Carlton Bourbon Peachy Keen, Finnriver Country Peach, Number 6 Peach Fuzz, Peach Grapefruit Habanero, and Tieton Bourbon Peach. This one was quite different than all the others – the sweetest and most candied tasting. My favorite of those is probably the Tieton one.

Closing Notes: Hopefully I have a chance to try something else from Red Branch in the future.

Have you tried Red Branch Peach Cider? What did you think?

Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Little Apples

March 15, 2017May 25, 2017 cidersays Moonlight Meadery, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, How Do You Like Them Little Apples, Moonlight Meadery, New Hampshire, tasting notes

Review of Moonlight Meadery’s How Do You Like Them Little Apples, a whiskey barrel aged cider. I have tried this cider a couple times previously on draft, but now it is available in cans. I’ve also previously sampled their How Do You Like Them Apples, Boys N Berries, Last Apple, and Crimes of Passion.

Cider: How Do You Like Them Little Apples
Cidery: Moonlight Meadery
Cidery Location: Londonderry NH
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider, aged in whiskey barrels

Availability: Semi wide release, in the U.S. in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WA, WA D.C., and WI, and Australia, China, and Japan. They also have an online store.

Cider Description: This hard cider is made from the finest New Hampshire apples that are available to us, usually a blend of Cortland, McIntosh, Gala, and Red Delicious varieties. We blend the fresh-pressed cider with just a touch of honey and natural sugar before we let it ferment and age in newly emptied rye whiskey barrels.

Cidery Description: We are a world class meadery and cidery from Londonderry, New Hampshire that specializes in meads, the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage made from honey, as well as hard ciders. The diversity of our offerings often leave people speechless, while the flavors have them asking for it from their local retailers. Stop by and try the oldest fermented beverage to find out why “History never tasted so good” ™.

They have been around since May 2010 and have a tasting room in Londonderry NH.

Price: $3 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband bought it for me.

First Impression: Hazy medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells musty, of vinegar, honey, and whiskey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low sourness, funk, and bitterness. Hints of tannins. Notes of vinegar, honey, must, and lemon, plus hints of oak and whiskey. Moderate length finish. Very low barrel influence. Low whiskey influence and apple flavor. Moderate complexity, flavor intensity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: This was very different than previous versions. I didn’t really enjoy the odd vinegar flavor with sourness and funk. Previously it was sweeter and richer, with more honey, oak, and whiskey.

Most Similar to: Spanish Sidra

Closing Notes: This was disappointing. Previous versions (like this) were much more enjoyable. Hopefully this was a one-time error or something, but it puts me off from wanting to buy it again and taking the chance it’ll happen again. I have heard that can liners sometimes don’t stand up to acidic cider, so over time the cider can turn vinegary. The second can was just as bad.

Have you tried Moonlight Meadery’s How Do You Like Them Little Apples? What did you think?

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?

Domaine du Verger Rosé Cidre Bouche

March 10, 2017March 3, 2017 cidersays Domaine du Verger, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Domaine du Verger, France, French, hard cider, red fleshed, rose, tasting notes

Review of Domaine du Verger’s Rosé Cidre Bouche, a French cider made with some red-fleshed apples to give it a rosé hue. It is my first time trying this cider and anything from this cidery.

Cider: Rosé Cidre Bouche
Cidery: Domaine du Verger
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 2.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottles
Style: French rosé doux/sweet cidre from French cider apples, including red-fleshed varieties

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: 100% apple juice from 90% bittersweet apples and 10% bitter apples. The pink coloration is natural from the adjunction of a specific variety of apple with red flesh named : Baya Marisa. To make a cider “doux /sweet” the alcoholic fermentation is shorten to about 5 weeks leaving higher natural residual sugar and resulting of a lower alcohol content. It is then followed by a filtration and an adjunction of Co2 for carbonation.

The bittersweet apple varieties are from Brittany France and the bitter apple varieties are from Normandy France.

Cidery Description: Since 1983 the Val de Rance cooperative has brought together the cider-making experience of 300 passionate local growers from Brittany. After recent investments, the cooperative has expanded and modernised its equipment. Today, Val de Rance represents over a 1,000 acres of orchards, producing ten to fifteen thousand tons of apples each year.

The cider from Domaine du Verger is produced from 100% apple juice. All the apples are harvested 90% from Brittany (bitter-sweet) region and 10% from Normandy (bitter). After being cleaned, the apples are gently crushed; they are then fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, and carefully filtered with the addition of Co2 for the carbonation.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was the first time I had seen the brand, and the first time I had seen a rosé French cidre.

First Impression: Light rosé hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mildly fruity.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium bodied, with a fluffy frothy texture. Moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of strawberry, white grape, and pomegranate. Low apple flavor. Low complexity. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked the flavor, and loved the higher carbonation and texture. However, it was sweeter, lower ABV, and more juice-like than I prefer.

Most Similar to: I’ve had several ciders from red-fleshed apples, including Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, and Snowdrift Red. This was quite different than any of those ciders, and quite different than any of the French ciders I’ve had. It tasted more like a cider from American dessert apples which was back sweetened with a lot of fruit juice, then highly carbonated.

Closing Notes: Rosé (grape) wine is from blush grapes. For cider, it typically refers to red-fleshed apples. Here is a nice article on rosé cider. Cidre Bouche literally means “cider with a cork”; many French ciders are named as such.

Have you tried Domaine du Verger Rosé Cidre Bouche? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 23 Tasting Notes

March 8, 2017March 8, 2017 cidersays Alpenfire, Bad Granny, Liberty, Portland Cider, review, Sandford Orchards, Schilling, Snowdrift, Tieton cider, cider bar, cider flight, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 23rd visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a Thursday for a Portland Cider tap takeover / luau / potluck. I started with a flight.

Alpenfire Cider (Port Townsend WA) Glow (6.8% ABV): This is a drier version of their Glow (made from red fleshed apples) than is found in bottles (which I’ve reviewed here), apparently as it had to be significantly more filtered when kegged. Semi-dry, compared to the bottled version which is semi-sweet to sweet. Compared to the bottled version, its not nearly as flavorful (strawberry and watermelon notes) or complex, and is more tart and lighter bodied. Very nice, but I prefer the intensely flavorful and sweet bottled version (which I have a bottle of in the fridge that my husband got me for Valentine’s Day).

Sandford Orchards (Crediton UK) The General (8.4% ABV): This is the first time I’ve seen any cider from this English cidery. This variety is made from Devon cider apples, then spirit-aged and casked. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness, acidity, and bitterness. Low tannins. Apple-forward flavor with some sharpness. Moderate to long finish. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. This tasted like a typical English cider, although more bitter and less complex than I prefer. Its good to see an international cider on tap, and made from cider apples too.

Liberty Ciderworks (Spokane WA) Cellar Series (8.0% ABV): This is an unknown variety of their Cellar Series (they are usually named with a letter and two numbers), draft only. Most of their cellar series ciders are wild yeast fermented and barrel aged. Orange amber hue. Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Hints of sourness and funk. Low bitterness. Sharp flavor with crabapple notes and hints of oak. Moderate to long finish length. Moderate apple flavor. Low to moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. I didn’t really like this one, as I found it a bit harsh.

Bad Granny (Lake Chelan WA) Green Apple (6.9% ABV): This cider is made from dessert apples and sold both in tallboy cans and on draft. Nearly clear hue. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Definite green apple flavor, plus some white grape. Moderate apple flavor. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. I liked it.

Portland Cider (Portland OR) Mojito (6.7% ABV): This draft-only limited release cider had mint, lemon, and lime added. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Notes of mint, citrus, and a hint of soap? Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. The flavor of this seemed weird, but maybe it is just me.

Tieton Ciderworks (Yakima WA) Russian Red (6.9% ABV): This draft-only special release cider is made from red fleshed apples (like Snowdrift Red and Alpenfire Glow). Bright red hue. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Notes of cranberry and cherry. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity and sessionability. Moderate complexity. I liked it.

They also had Portland’s Sangria and Pineapple ciders on tap. The Sangria is especially awesome by the way.

Sarah also shared a new Snowdrift release with me:

Snowdrift Cider (East Wenatchee WA) Cidermakers Reserve (8.3% ABV): They have had this Méthode Champenoise cider listed on their website for awhile, but I haven’t ever seen it, so I think they took a few years off from production (or else it was very limited release). This batch is only available in bottles. Odd scent which none of us could accurately describe, but it didn’t transfer to the flavor. Semi-dry. High carbonation. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. Fruity, with notes of sharp pomegranate and some crabapple. I really liked the flavor and the bubbles, but the scent was bizarre.

My favorites were the Alpenfire Glow, Tieton Russian Red, and Snowdrift CIdermakers Reserve. The Bad Granny was good too, especially for its simplicity. I really wanted to like Sandford Orchards The General as I’m an English cider fan, but it was quite bitter.

Stay tuned for more Schilling Cider House tasting notes here at Cider Says! Have you had any good draft cider / cider flights recently?

Eve’s Cidery 2015 Kingston Black, Dry Still Cider

March 6, 2017February 25, 2017 cidersays Eve's Cidery cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eve's, hard cider, Kingston Black, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Eve’s Cidery 2015 Kingston Black, Dry Still Cider. It is my first time trying this one, but I’ve previously had their Beckhorn Hollow and Autumn’s Gold.

Cider: 2015 Kingston Black, Dry Still Cider
Cidery: Eve’s Cidery
Cidery Location: Van Etten NY
ABV: 8.6%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: American artisan cider, a single varietal from Kingston Black cider apples

Availability: sold out (21 cases made)

Cider Description: 100% Estate grown Kingston Black. Primary fermentation in stainless steel. 21 cases bottled. Residual sugar 0.0%. Titratable Acidity 7.1 g/L. pH 3.8. On the nose, dried apples, macadamia nuts and dusty roses. On the palate, calendula flowers, cloves, wood and tobacco with tense, springy tannin. The finish is kerosene and sour apple.

More info on the cider is available here.

Cidery Description: Eve’s Cidery is a small family run orchard and cidery located in Van Etten, in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. We grow apples and other tree fruits and ferment artisanal ciders. We believe in nature, art, good food and hard work. These beliefs influence the way we farm, make cider and sell our product. We hope you can taste some of it in the bottle.

Their official tasting room is at the Finger Lakes Cider House in Interlaken New York.

Price: $16
Where Bought: Eve’s Cidery’s online store
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing Eve’s Cidery’s website, as they were having a free shipping offer in December.

First Impression: Moderate amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells amazingly rich and sweet.

Tasting Notes: Completely dry (the nose on this cider is definitely deceiving). Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and bitterness. Low to moderate acidity and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of concentrated apple juice, brown sugar, caramel, wood, and lemon. Moderate to long finish length, with a slight alcohol burn. High apple flavor. Low sessionability. High complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it, although I think I would have liked it even more with a touch of residual sugar (I prefer semi-dry to dry). This unique wine-like cider is definitely on the serious side.

Most Similar to: It reminds me of ice cider, except with all the sugar sucked out somehow. I’ve had two previous Kingston Black ciders – from Dragon’s Head (single varietal) and Whitewood (with a bit of Porter’s Perfection). All three were quite different from each other. The Whitewood one had some added complexity due to the whiskey barrel aging (and also had the highest ABV). Eve’s seemed the most characteristically Kingston Black if I had to guess.

Closing Notes: Awesome complexity and an amazing value! Its my favorite from them so far. I still have one bottle from Eve’s left, Rustica.

Have you tried any Kingston Black single varietals? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Spiced Apple

March 3, 2017February 26, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Spiced Apple, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Spiced Apple, their newest limited release cider, with pie spices, only available in their winter variety pack.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Angry Orchard. 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: Spiced Apple
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 12 pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apple varieties, with pie spices

Availability: January thru April, wide release, in the Winter Orchard Sampler Variety Pack (with Crisp Apple, Easy Apple, Stone Dry, Green Apple, Tapped Maple, and Spiced Apple)

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Spiced Apple was Inspired by the spices in this classic dessert and connection to the American cider making tradition. This hard cider achieves its balanced profile by combining bright and festive warming spices and a blend of culinary and bittersweet apples. This new limited release style is perfect for evenings with friends and family during the last months of winter.

Apple Varieties: Pacific Northwest dessert varieties (Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Gala French)

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, sulfites

Price: n/a (but retails for $15.99-$18.99 / 12 pack variety pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of sweet concentrated apple with pie spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of concentrated apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate spice intensity.

My Opinion: This is a pretty typical sweet spiced cider, which isn’t one of my favorite styles. I didn’t find any faults with it though.

Most Similar to: Most spiced ciders I’ve had have been drier, like Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple, 2 Towns Nice & Naughty, Carlton Cyderworks Sugar and Spice, Sonoma Cider The Sleigh, and AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced. D’s Wicked Baked Apple was on-par with this one as far as sweetness, but was more baked apple than spiced.

Closing Notes: Angry Orchard still appears to carry their Cinnful Apple, which is a fall seasonal, while this is a one-off only available in this winter’s variety pack.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Spiced Apple? 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).

>>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: 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.

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
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?

Angry Orchard Tapped Maple

February 27, 2017February 26, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, maple, Tapped Maple, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Tapped Maple, their newest seasonal cider, with Vermont maple syrup.

Cider: Tapped Maple
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.o%
How Supplied: 6 or 12 pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apple varieties, with maple syrup

Availability: January thru April, wide release, in individual 6 packs plus 12 pack variety packs

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Tapped Maple blends American culinary apples with maple syrup tapped from Vermont maple trees. The maple syrup – rich in flavor and natural maple sweetness – adds a delicate balance, creating a not-too-sweet cider with a strong maple-forward aroma, and full, round mouthfeel. This new seasonal style is perfect to enjoy around the dinner table or fire pit with friends during cooler months.

Apple Varieties: Pacific Northwest dessert varieties (Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala, and Pink Lady)

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, maple syrup, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, sulfites

Price: n/a (but retails for $8.99-$9.99 / 6 pack, or $15.99-$18.99 / 12 pack variety pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of concentrated apple with a hint of maple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of concentrated apple with hints of maple and citrus. Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. Very drinkable, as it isn’t too sweet. I was expecting more maple, but I’m glad they didn’t go overboard.

Most Similar to: The other ciders with maple I’ve had are Woodchuck Campfire Pancakes (which was fake maple overload and very sweet) and Seattle Cider Oaked Maple (which had even less maple flavor than this one, and was drier).

Closing Notes: This was a nice selection from Angry Orchard, although I’d like to see them improve their ingredient list.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Tapped Maple? What did you think?

Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Apples

February 24, 2017May 10, 2018 cidersays Moonlight Meadery, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyser, hard cider, How Do You Like Them Apples, mead, Moonlight, tasting notes

Review of Moonlight Meadery’s How Do You Like Them Apples. I had previously tried this on draft, but they recently began offering this (and the “Little Apples” version) in cans. I’ve tried a number of beverages from Moonlight Meadery: How Do You Like Them Little Apples, How Do You Like Them Apples, Boys N Berries, Last Apple, and Crimes of Passion

Cider: How Do You Like Them Apples
Cidery: Moonlight Meadery
Cidery Location: Londonderry NH
ABV: 13.5%
How Supplied: 12oz cans
Style: American craft honey apple wine (apple cider with honey and brown sugar), rye whiskey barrel barrel aged

Cider Description: A New England Hard Cider, made with the finest New Hampshire apples that were available to us, which we had fresh pressed into apple cider. This fresh cider was delivered the day it was pressed to our Meadery, where we blended it with just a touch of honey, and some brown sugar and let it ferment, then we let it age in freshly emptied Last Apple barrels, for a minimum of 6 months.

They have been around since May 2010 and have a tasting room in Londonderry NH.

Price: ~$6 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: my husband picked this up

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells rich, syrupy sweet, apple-forward, of honey, whiskey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium to full bodied. Low tartness, acidity, and tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of concentrated apple, honey, orange, oak, whiskey, caramel, and brown sugar. Moderate length finish, which is also the only time when the high ABV is noticeable. Low oak/barrel influence. Low to moderate whiskey influence. High apple flavor. Low sessionability. High flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Amazing. I really love the in-your-face rich complex flavor of this cider. However, it is best suited as an after dinner sipper, splitting the can among at least 2 people. By the end of the can I was a bit over it, as it was so sweet, even though I sipped on it throughout the evening. This tasted good anywhere between ice cold and close to room temperature.

Most Similar to: Ice cider and Moonlight Meadery Last Apple (although that one had more honey than apple flavor, in contrast to this one), which are both high ABV, have concentrated rich flavor notes, and are sweet

Side Note: I like that they added a dry-sweet indicator on the can, but I think they were off on this one…it is way closer to the sweet end of the spectrum than the middle (although maybe it was an appropriate rating based on the beverages they make at Moonlight.

Closing Notes: My husband also picked me up a couple cans of the “Little Apples” version of this cider, so stay tuned.

UPDATE: Like the canned How Do You Like Them Little Apples, the can of this I opened a month or two later was starting to turn vinegary.

Have you tried Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Apples? What did you think?

Virtue Cider The Mitten

February 22, 2017February 22, 2017 cidersays review, Virtue barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Michigan, Mitten, tasting notes, Virtue

Review of Virtue Cider’s The Mitten. I’ve tried this cider twice previously (see review #1 and review #2), but in a 750ml bottle. Virtue’s most popular cider is now available in a four pack of 12oz bottles (along with Michigan Brut and Michigan Harvest; see this press release). I’ve also previously tried their Cherry Mitten and Lapinette.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Virtue. 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: The Mitten
Cidery: Virtue Cider
Cidery Location: Fennville MI
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (and 750ml bottles and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from Michigan apples, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: Year round in DE, GA, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, WA, and WI, per this list

Cider Description: The Mitten, which was first released in 2013, is made with cider from 100% Michigan apples that has been aged for 11 months in 200 bourbon barrels from Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill. We taste through each and every barrel before we move to final blending. The aged cider is then blended together with juice from freshly pressed apples from this year’s harvest for a touch of sweetness. The result is a 6.8% ABV semi-dry cider that shows off a balanced blend of charred bourbon and high-acid apple flavors. Pronounced notes of vanilla and wood mingle with overripe apple, and maple flavors create a farm feel.

More info here.

Cidery Description: Virtue Cider is a Michigan-based craft cider company. We produce European-style ciders from fresh apples – never from concentrate – and employ traditional farmhouse production methods that include native and secondary fermentation, use of wild yeasts, and an expansive barrel aging program.

They have a tasting room in Fennville Michigan; see here.

Price: n/a (retails for $13.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery’s press release

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mild, of honey and oak.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey, lemon, oak, bourbon, vanilla, and white grape. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low oak/barrel influence. Low spirit/bourbon influence. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I’m a fan! This also seemed less harsh than the previous versions – my favorite so far. Usually I prefer a really intense cider, but for this one, I preferred it less so. This is a more sessionable barrel aged cider, which is nice.

Closing Notes: I think this will be a hit. It is a great deal too, at less than half the price per ounce vs. the 750ml bottle prices I’ve seen.

Have you tried Virtue The Mitten? What did you think?

Oregon Mead & Cider Co. Free Press Hopped Cider

February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 cidersays Oregon Mead & Cider Co., review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Oregon Mead and Cider, portland, tasting notes

Review of Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Hopped Cider. It is my first time trying this cider, although I tried their Dry variety the night before.

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

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

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: 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. Smells apple-forward, of hops with a hint of peach.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied with a frothy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Notes of hops, lemon, grapefruit, yeast, and a hint of floral & honey. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked the level of carbonation, the frothy texture, and the flavor profile. However, the bitterness was a bit much for me. Like the Dry, it seemed a bit beer-like.

Most Similar to: Double Mountain Jumpin Jack Heirloom Cider and Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Dry Cider

Closing Notes: I liked this much better than their Dry cider, which I though had a strange flavor profile.

Have you tried Oregon Mead & Cider Company’s Free Press Hopped Cider? 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

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?

Devoto Orchards 1976 Semi-Dry Cider

February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 cidersays Devoto california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Devoto, hard cider, orchard, Sebastopol, tasting notes

Review of Devoto Orchards 1976 Semi-Dry cider. It is my first time trying any of their cider. I picked up this bottle in California over Christmas break. Here is an article about the cidery.

Cider: 1976 Semi-Dry cider (2014 harvest)
Cidery: Devoto Orchards
Cidery Location: Sebastopol CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass screw-top wine bottle
Style: American Organic craft cider from heirloom apples

Availability: only in Northern California and a few online retailers (see here)

Cider Description: 1976 is a homage to the year Stan & Susan Devoto left Berkeley to move ‘back to the land’ and planted our family’s first orchard in west Sonoma County. Visionaries of their time, they valued biodiversity and cultivated vegetables, flowers, and 55 heirloom apple varieties that we still grow today. Every year to honor them, we craft a small batch of this special semi-dry cider blended from those original apple varieties they planted almost 40 years ago.

Profiles: Aromas of ripe tropical fruit lead to a creamy texture and lush fruit on the palate finished with soft tannins.
Pairings: green curry, spicy Vietnamese noodle soup, ceviche, green papaya salad, bean salads and stews, anything good and spicy.
Cheese Pairings: Meadow Creek Mountaineer (VA), Consider Bardwell Rupert (VT), Thistle Hill Tarentaise (VT)
Apple Blend: Pink Pearl, Gravenstein, Hubbardston Nonesuch

Cidery Description: We’re a farm and cidery in west Sonoma County. To make the best cider, your family better be, well, a tree.

Price: $12.29
Where Bought: a natural grocery store outside of Sacramento CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was my first time seeing their cider.

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

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of white grape, pineapple, peach, and honey. Quick finish. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. High sessionability. No apple flavor.

My Opinion: I thought this was average. It was wine-like and food friendly (ie. mild). I liked the flavor notes, but it wasn’t really cider-like.

Most Similar to: This cider didn’t really remind me of cider at all…it tasted most similar to watered down sweet white wine (like Moscato), as it was thinner bodied, low in flavor intensity, and had a lot of slightly sharp white grape notes.

Closing Notes: This cider was a great value for being made in small batches from organically farmed heirloom apple varieties. They also make at least two other varieties, Cidre Noir and Save the Gravenstein.

Have you tried Devoto Orchards cider? What did you think?

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