Finnriver Pommeau

October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 cidersays Finnriver brandy, cider, cider review, Finnriver, hard cider, Pommeau, tasting notes

Review of Finnriver’s Pommeau, which is a mix of cider and apple brandy. I tried a bottle pour of this awhile back. I picked up this bottle in February when my husband took me to Port Townsend for cider tasting for my birthday (see here, plus posts on Finnriver, Eaglemount, and Alpenfire). I’ve previously tried most of Finnriver’s line-up; see here.

Cider: Pommeau
Cidery: Finnriver
Cidery Location: Chimacum WA
ABV: 18.5%
How Supplied: 500ml square short bottle (cork in cap)
Style: American craft Pommeau apple wine (cider + apple brandy), oak aged

Availability: Likely difficult to find outside of their Port Townsend area cidery & farm and their booth at the Ballard Farmer’s Market. In general, Finnriver ciders are sold in WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, TX, IL, CO, and Alberta & BC Canada (detailed info here). They also have an online store (which can ship to WA, OR, CA, AK, CO, MN, FL, & WA D.C.).

Cider Description: Fermenting at Finnriver is a process of discovery – a blend of ancient wisdom, modern chemistry, farm ingenuity, and nature’s magic. We are inspired by the generosity of the orchard and by the possibilities of the apple. We hope this bottle of elegant, aged apple wine gives you a rich and rewarding sip of the earth’s bounty.

Pommeau in general is made from apple juice (typically unfermented but sometimes fermented) and apple brandy. This one was oak aged, and released in January 2016.

Cidery Description: At Finnriver we gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you farmcrafted hard ciders and spirited fruit wines. We are inspired by the allure of the fruit, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our mission is to inspire a deeper connection to the land that sustains us….Some of these ciders are small-batch, seasonal and labor-intensive. Others are produced with contemporary methods and more readily available year-round…Finnriver grows over twenty varieties of traditional and heirloom apples in our organic orchard, to feature in our traditional and specialty ciders. They have a tasting room open seven days a week, noon to 5pm, and are on the Olympic Pennsylvania cider route along with Eaglemount and Alpenfire cideries.

Price: $40
Where Bought: Finnriver’s tasting room in Chimacum WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I tried this awhile back when some friends brought it to a cider tasting party at my house.

First Impression: Medium amber. Still. Smells boozy, apple forward, and of caramelized and brown sugars.

Tasting Notes: I preferred this with an ice cube or two. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, honey, leather, oak, and hints of spice. Long warming finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I really liked it. However, it wasn’t nearly as good as when I tried it before; the flavor seemed muted and it had an odd texture in the mouth. Maybe as this bottle had a lot of floating particulates (yeast?).

Most Similar to: Other Pommeau. Besides Finnriver, I’ve tried selections from 2 Towns (2015 release), Traditions (2 Towns, 2013 release), Etienne Dupont, and Wandering Aengus. I’d put Finnriver’s Pommeau somewhere in the middle of the list as far as my favorites go. I like the sweet flavorful ones best.

Closing Notes: This was a special treat! One of the great things about Pommeau is that due to the high alcohol content, it has a longer shelf life after opening it than other ciders, so I can enjoy this bottle for weeks to come.

Have you tried Finnriver Pommeau? What did you think?

Stem Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider

October 26, 2016October 22, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Stem, tasting notes, Whiskey Barrel Aged Apricot

Review of Stem Ciders’ Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Malice, Blood Orange Cyser, Remedy, and Branch and Bramble. My husband brought 4 ciders, a cyser, and a Pommeau back from Stem Ciders in Colorado for me.

Cider: Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot Cider
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: special release American craft cider with dried apricots, whiskey barrel aged

Availability: Their ciders are available only in Colorado, at these retailers, but this is a special release which may only be found at the cidery.

Cider Description: Fresh pressed apple juice barrel aged for 8 months. Dried apricot dipped in smokey butterscotch oak.

Cidery Description: At Stem Ciders, we are committed to creating ciders of the highest quality that honor the purity and complexity that is inherent to the apple. We can’t wait to introduce you to your perfect cider match. We are dedicated to reviving the cider tradition, which goes far beyond what you enjoy in your glass. We hold our growers in the highest regard, and by fostering relationships with them we reward their hard work and promote the regrowth of heirloom apple cultivation. We love our home-base in Denver, and embrace the Colorado lifestyle that makes us lug a bottle to share up a mountain to enjoy a drink with a view. Most importantly, we love nothing more than seeing that smile on your face when you have your first sip of one of our crisp, refreshing ciders.

Price: $16
Where Bought: Stem’s tasting room.
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Stem Ciders online. Last time my husband was in Colorado, he picked me up a bunch of ciders, including Stem Le Chene. I keep hearing about their Banjo special release cider, but I’m 0/3 as far as finding it (apparently its only available about 1 month a year; its currently still barrel aging). This time around I thought I’d make it easier on my husband and give him a shopping list all from the same cidery, so he could just stop by the tap room (vs. trying to find ciders at multiple bottle shops). I e-mailed the cidery ahead of time and they were nice enough to send me a list of what they had in stock.

First Impression: Pale straw yellow. Low carbonation. Smells of dried apricot and apricot pit, honey, and hints of oak & whiskey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apricot pit, dried apricot, peach, honey, and lemon. Moderate length finish with some whiskey flavor, moderate warming, and hints of smoke. Moderate sessionability. Low apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low barrel and spirit influence. I finished the bottle the following day and the flavor seemed more sharp.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, the flavor intensity was lower than I was expecting and I prefer. This cider would pair well with food and is a bit wine-like.

Most Similar to: I’ve previously had Apricot ciders from Tieton, Locust (Apricot), Anthem (Ap-Bee-Cot), Atlas (Apricot), Summit (Apricot), and Carlton (AHH!!! Apricot Honey Habanero).

Closing Notes: I have one last selection left, Stem’s Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Ciders? What did you think?

Worley’s Mendip Hills

October 21, 2016October 17, 2016 cidersays review, Worley's cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, Mendip Hills, tasting notes, worley's

Review of Worley’s Mendip Hills English cider. Its my first time trying this variety, but I’ve tried Worley’s other 2 ciders available locally, Special Reserve and Premium Vintage.

Cider: Mendip Hills
Cidery: Worley’s
Cidery Location: Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: English cider from cider apples

Availability: Semi wide release

Cider Description: A slightly sparkling medium cider – smooth and rounded flavour with complex, mellow notes. Best served chilled. To create ciders of great depth and roundness, it’s imperative to blend a number of apple varieties and Mendip Hills is a lovely example of this art. Containing some 16 apple varieties, the flavour profile of Mendip Hills is full and rounded, yet smooth and satisfying. This accomplished cider is made from punchy late-season fruit that has had longer to mature in the cool orchard grass of some of Somerset’s finest orchards, before being fermented by wild yeasts and matured for several months. A very light carbonation is applied at bottling to produce a velvet-smooth cider with oodles of warm, spicy apple-pie notes.

Cidery Description: A hobby that got out of control. We first made cider as a bit of fun for ourselves and our friends. Now here we are nearly a decade later and we’re still having fun but we’re making a lot more cider! Our first experience of making was when we bought 50 gallons of juice off the farm press from the iconic Roger Wilkins in Mudgely, Somerset. We made the mistake of adding in a bit of sugar and ended up with 10.5% cider. It was lethal and one of the neighbours spent a few hours in a ditch as a result of downing a couple of pints. Lesson learned, we began to find our own fruit in various small Somerset orchards and gradually started to master the mysterious arts of fruit selection and fermentation. A few years ago we decided if wanted to carry on making cider we’d need the cider to start making a contribution to its upkeep. So we gradually started selling a bit. Now we’re making over 30,000 litres a year and don’t have time to have proper jobs any more!

Price: $11
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve tried the other 2 varieties from Worleys available locally, and figured I’d try the 3rd one.

First Impression: Medium pumpkin amber. Moderate carbonation with some foam. Smells tannic, sweet, and of cider apples.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity and tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of cider apples, pomace, orange, leather, and caramelized sugar. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor and complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. I prefer this to their Premium Vintage and Special Reserve.

Most Similar to: Other English ciders, compared to which its on the entry level end, due to its sweetness, lower tannins, and no sourness or funk. I also found some similarities with French cider, with its higher carbonation, sweetness, and being apple-forward.

Closing Notes: I hope Worley’s offers more ciders in the U.S. soon.

Have you tried Worleys cider? What did you think?

Reverend Nat’s Revival

October 19, 2016October 16, 2016 cidersays Rev Nat's, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, portland, reverend nat's, Revival, tasting notes

Review of Reverend Nat’s Revival. I’ve tried this cider before in 500ml bottles and draft, but not a six pack. I’ve also previously tried his ¡Tepache!, Hopland #5 / Envy, Newtown Pippin, Ciderkin, Winter Abbey Spice, Hallelujah Hopricot, Deliverance Gin & Tonic, Revival Dry, Sour Cherry, The Passion, and Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant.

Cider: Revival
Cidery: Reverend Nat’s
Cidery Location: Portland Oregon
ABV: 5.8%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and 500ml bottles & draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Mexican piloncillo sugar and two yeast strains

Availability: Year round in AK, CA (Southern), HI, ID, OR, and WA, as well as B.C. Canada, Singapore, and Tokyo & Nagano Japan, although the 500ml bottles are easiest to find.

Cider Description: My newest release is Revival Hard Apple and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you. I start with a secret blend of Washington-grown apples and add piloncillo, dark brown evaporated cane juice, purchased direct from Michoacan, Mexico. I ferment this dark base to all the way to dry using two exotic yeast strains: a beer yeast known for the round mouthfeel in Saisons and a rarely-used secret culture which produces aromas of pineapple, guava and peaches. This cider is brilliantly golden in color and deeply complex while remaining subtly familiar, with just the right amount of sweetness and acidity to be an everyday beverage.

Cidery Description: Reverend Nat is a single-minded cider evangelist who searches the world for superior ingredients to handcraft the most unusual ciders that no one else will make.

Price: $13.99
Where Bought: Target
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its easy to find the single 500ml bottles, but this is only the second time I’ve seen the six packs. The first was at Whole Foods, but only once. Per ounce the six packs are a good deal. I was very surprised to see it at Target, which otherwise only had commercial ciders.

First Impression: Light amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells of apples and yeast.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple juice, apple pomace, yeast, brown sugar, and honey. Slight richness. Quick finish length. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! This is a tasty everyday cider. It varies quite a bit batch to batch, more than any other cider I’ve tried (but that is typical for craft ciders). Sometimes I like it better than other times, but its always good.

Most Similar to: Breton French cider, as it is apple-forward and yeast-forward, although less carbonation.

Closing Notes: This is Reverend Nat’s most typical cider, and my favorite from him.

Have you tried Reverend Nat’s Revival? What did you think?

Alpenfire Spark!

October 17, 2016October 15, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, Spark, tasting notes, washington

Review of Alpenfire Spark!, their semi-sweet cider. I’ve tried it a couple times before, but only bottle pours. I’ve tried most of Alpenfire’s ciders–Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, and Shrub.

Cider: Spark!
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 8.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Organic American craft cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, sugar added

Availability: Year round in Washington and their online store

Cider Description: Spark! is blended from Melrose, Kings, Gravenstein, Winter banana, burgundys and other heritage apples as well as traditional cider apples. This bottle conditioned, unfiltered cider has the wonderfully crisp flavor of a just picked fall apple. This semi sweet cider is delicious with a appetizers, especially cheese and fruit.

Cidery Description: Alpenfire Organic Cider is made from our estate and locally grown organic apples. We planted our WSDA certified organic orchard in 2004 with over 800 trees and 10 varieties of English, French & Early American cider specific apples. These apples have been used for hundreds of years for the unique qualities they bring to cider production. Namely the tannins and bitters not found in dessert style apples. While the juice, much less the fruit, of many of these apples would be hard to enjoy by the glass they become amazing with a little fermentation. One of our favorites, the “Muscadet de Dieppe”, has a viscous, winey, yes, even musky juice. It takes months of slow, cool fermentation for that to develop the subtle aroma and flavor you will find in our bone-dry cider. We augment our juice and mellow the flavors with organic apples from other local orchards.

Price: $15.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve been wanting to pick up an Alpenfire bottle, and this is one of my favorites from them (in addition to Smoke, ApoCalypso, and Glow).

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Low carbonation and foam. Smells tannic, of honey and apple pomace.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acid. Low to moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Apple-forward and rich. Notes of apple pomace, honey, orange, and leather. Moderate finish length. Moderate to high apple flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Moderate complexity,

My Opinion: Awesome! I forgot how much I like this cider. Its easily in my top 10 favorites, and has all my favorite cider qualities. It would be a great introduction to “real” cider (made with cider apples), as it is sweeter and doesn’t have any overwhelming qualities.

Most Similar to: English cider such as from Aspall (except a bit sweeter and less yeast-forward), Bertolinos, and E.Z. Orchards Semi-Dry.

Closing Notes: I think this cider is a great choice and a good value too. Their Smoke is my favorite, but I need to be in a certain mood for that one…Spark is way more easy drinking.

Have you tried Alpenfire Spark? What did you think?

Nectar Creek Waggle Wildflower Session Mead

October 14, 2016October 9, 2016 cidersays mead, Nectar Creek, not cider, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, mead, Nectar Creek, tasting notes, Waggle, wildflower

Review of Nectar Creek’s Waggle, a Wildflower Session Mead (lower alcohol content). I’ve previously only tried their Honeycone hopped session mead, at Cider Summit last month (see here). This obviously isn’t a cider, but sometimes I cover non-cider beverages.

Mead: Waggle, Wildflower Session Mead
Meadery: Nectar Creek (Oregon Honey Products)
Meadery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft mead (made from Oregon wildflower honey, water, yeast, and sulfites)

Availability: Year-round, at least in CA, GA, ID, MN, OR, TX, and WA (see their locator)

Mead Description: The complex essence of Oregon wildflower honey is captured in this session mead with flavors and aromas of ripe fruit and fresh honeycomb.

Meadery Description: Founded by two brothers native to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Nectar Creek combines a passion for beekeeping, agriculture and brewing into delicious, sessionable meads.

They were founded in 2012 and have a tasting room in Corvallis Oregon (which is also home to 2 Towns cider).

Price: $8.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of honey with a hint of floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Simple flavor, primarily of honey, with some floral and citrus. Quick finish length. Low to moderate honey flavor. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Tasty. I liked it. Simple and sessionable. However, I prefer more flavor. It tasted a bit watered down.

Most Similar to: This was similar to their Honeycone, except Waggle was more honey forward and not hopped. Nectar Creek is the only session mead maker on the market I’ve seen.

Closing Notes: This was nice, but I think I prefer the higher ABV sweeter meads, which I’ve found to be more flavorful. Check out some of my other mead reviews here.

Have you tried Nectar Creek Session Meads? What did you think?

Ole Swede Blend of 9 Cider

October 13, 2016October 9, 2016 cidersays Ole Swede, review Blend of 9, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ole Swede, tasting notes, washington

Review of Ole Swede’s Blend of 9 Cider. I’ve previously tried their Blueberry cider.

Cider: Blend of 9 Cider
Cidery: Old Swede
Cidery Location: Tonasket WA
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert & cider apple varieties, oak aged

Availability: Only in WA

Cider Description: A unique blend of Kingston Black, Storks Red, Harry Masters Jersey, Dabinett, Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious and Pink Lady apples. Lightly oaked.

Cidery Description: Our ciders are hand crafted from farm to bottle. Out family farm was homesteaded in 1899 as new territories were opened in the west, near Havillah, Washington. Old Swede is born from our roots in North Central Washington’s Okanagan Highlands, a place of natural beauty perched above a valley known around the world for apple production. We moved back to the family homestead in 2014 and began to take our cider into the world in 2015.

They don’t have a tasting room, but do offer mobile juicing and event catering.

Price: $9
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of oak and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey and citrus. Moderate length finish with some warming. Low apple flavor, oak influence, flavor intensity, and complexity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I really liked the flavor, but wanted more of it. It tasted a bit watery.

Closing Notes: This is the third cider from Ole Swede I’ve seen in the Seattle area (in addition to Blueberry and Cherry Perry).

Have you tried Ole Swede cider? What did you think?

Longdrop Over Yonder

October 12, 2016October 8, 2016 cidersays Longdrop, review cider, cider tasting, hard cider, Idaho, Jonathan, Longdrop, Over Yonder, single varietal, tasting notes

Review of Longdrop’s Over Yonder, from Idaho. I’ve previously tried their Tanager Pear Cider, Vanilla Honey, Derby Canyon, Semi-Sweet, and Electric Cherry.

Cider: Over Yonder
Cidery: Longdrop
Cidery Location: Eagle Idaho
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from Idaho-grown Jonathan apples (single varietal)

Availability: Year round in Idaho, Seattle WA, and Portland OR.

Cider Description: Idaho Jonathan cider. Fresh pressed in Fall.

Cidery Description: The wise chef knows to start with the ingredient, not the recipe. That’s our philosophy as well. We work with a team of local and regional foragers who source ingredients for ciders that respect the seasons. We never use stuff like high fructose corn syrup, or phony colors and flavors. Just Northwest and Idaho grown apples and other of the earth’s goodness. Enjoy.

They will soon have a Cider House in Boise Idaho.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I have tried the other Longdrop varieties available locally, but keep missing this one on draft, so I picked up a bottle.

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of sharp apples, honey, and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apples, citrus, honey, mineral, and floral. Moderate to long bitter finish. Moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: I found this a bit average. There was some bitterness and sharpness I wasn’t expecting from it being made from dessert apples (Jonathans). My favorite part was the honey notes.

Most Similar to: Wandering Aengus Wanderlust

Closing Notes: Longdrop’s Vanilla Honey remains my favorite so far.

Have you tried Longdrop Over Yonder? What did you think?

One Tree Crisp Apple

October 11, 2016October 8, 2016 cidersays One Tree, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crisp Apple, hard cider, One Tree, Spokane, tasting notes, washington

Review of One Tree’s Crisp Apple cider. I’ve tried it before, but only a draft sample, not canned. I’ve also tried their Lemon Basil, Caramel Cinnamon, Huckleberry, Dark Cherry, and Raspberry ciders.

Cider: Crisp Apple
Cidery: One Tree
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Year-round in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana; see here.

Cider Description: An army of apple have made their way to your door, housed in a tough metal can. This cider is crisp and delicious with just enough tart apple flavor to keep you coming back for more. Keep that ice chest stocked with One Tree Hard Cider cans. Your taste buds will thank you.

Cidery Description: It all started with a love for the Washington apple and a father’s day gift of an at home cider kit … and the rest is history. One Tree Hard Cider is made from locally grown ingredients right here in Washington State. When we started on the journey we wanted to use a wide range of ingredients and flavors in our hard ciders to show that it all starts with apples but it doesn’t end there! Our flavors range from Lemon Basil, Crisp Apple, and Caramel Cinnamon to Huckleberry, Cranberry and other seasonal or limited release options. Whether you like your cider sweet or tart, you’ll find a One Tree Hard Cider just for you!

They have a tasting room in Spokane WA.

Price: ~$ 3 / single can (runs ~$10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I tried Crisp Apple at One Tree’s release party at the Schilling Cider House in Seattle awhile back (see here), and wanted to give it another go, but only a single can.

First Impression: Hazy orange lemonade hue. Low carbonation. Smells of baked apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of baked apple, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon. Quick finish length. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! Its simple, but tasty. I like that its less filtered and flavorful, and less sweet than their other ciders (my preference is semi-dry to semi-sweet).

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Out Cider, except it is slightly sweeter and more flavorful.

Closing Notes: This is probably my favorite One Tree cider so far; it is the most drinkable of their ciders for me, something I could actually have an entire pint of. Sweet sells though, and One Tree’s ciders are very popular in the Seattle area. They won the Fruit Cider Challenge at Cider Summit Seattle 2016 with their Raspberry cider with peanut butter whipped cream (see here).

Side note: “Crisp Apple” is a popular name for ciders…Angry Orchard, Flatbed, Zeffer, Hornsby’s, Foster’s, and Newton’s all also use it.

Have you tried One Tree Crisp Apple? What did you think?

Wandering Aengus Wanderlust

October 6, 2016September 10, 2017 cidersays review, Wandering Aengus cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, oregon, Salem, tasting notes, Wandering Aengus, Wanderlust

Review of Wandering Aengus’ Wanderlust. I previously tried this at Port Townsend’s Summer Cider Day (see here), although I haven’t done a full review. I’ve had a number of their other ciders (see here).

Cider: Wanderlust
Cidery: Wandering Aengus
Cidery Location: Salem OR
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 500ml bottle
Style: American craft cider from heirloom apples

Availability: At least in Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: Wanderlust is a semi-dry cider with a rich body and a long spicy finish. Enjoy slightly chilled with BBQ, pork, turkey, or aged cheddar. 2015 Oregon Harvest of Organically Grown Golden Russet (45%), Roxbury Russet (21%), Ashmead’s Kernel (16%), Ribston Pippin (12%), and Cox Orange Pippin (6%). Bottled June 30, 2016.

Cidery Description: At Wandering Aengus Ciderworks we press and blend over 20 cider apple varietals to craft our ciders. Our cider specific apples originate from France, England, and pre-prohibition America, but are grown now in Oregon. These heirloom varieties are essential for the depth of flavor, excellent body, and delightful aromatics of our distinctive ciders. All our ciders are always GLUTEN FREE.

They have a tasting room in Salem Oregon.

Price: $4.75
Where Bought: PCC (a local natural food store chain)
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I remembered liking this at Port Townsend’s Summer Cider Day (see my tasting notes here), and for $4.75, I thought it was worth another try. At my next trip to PCC I found their ciders were on sale for $4, so I picked up a bottle of Bloom, which I haven’t had in awhile.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells acidic, slightly tannic, and of citrus, honey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Low to moderate carbonation. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low to moderate bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Sharp flavor. Notes of lemon, honey, green apple, mineral, and oak. Moderate to long finish length. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it, but it was slightly more bitter, sharp, and acidic than I prefer. However, it mellowed a bit as it warmed some from fridge temperature. I have found all of the Wandering Aengus ciders I’ve tried so far to have more bitterness than other similar ciders.

Closing Notes: I liked this better when I tried it at Summer Cider Day (where I picked up some bittersweet cider apple flavor, vs. this time there was more sharpness & acidity). As its a relatively small batch craft product, I imagine it changes batch to batch and year to year. However, it was still enjoyable and a good value.

Have you tried Wandering Aengus Wanderlust? What did you think?

Honeywood Winery Hard Apple Cider

October 5, 2016October 1, 2016 cidersays Honeywood, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard apple cider, hard cider, Honeywood, oregon, Salem, tasting notes, winery

Review of Honeywood Winery’s Hard Apple Cider. This is the winery’s only cider, and the first time I’ve tried it.

Cider: Hard Apple Cider
Cidery: Honeywood Winery
Cidery Location: Salem Oregon
ABV: 11%
How Supplied: 750ml corked clear glass wine bottle
Style: American apple wine

Availability: Oregon and Washington. They also have an online store.

Cider Description: Nothing says autumn like Apples! There’s bobbing for apples, an apple for your teacher, and of course apple pie. Honeywood’s Hard Apple Cider is made from Pacific Northwest Apples, the best grown in Washington and Oregon, specially blended into a great Hard Cider. Rich, clean, fresh and fruity, and very flavorful. Can be served heated…add a cinnamon stick or other spices.

Cidery Description: In 1933, Honeywood Winery was founded by Ron Honeyman and John Wood. It was originally called Columbia Distilleries, and produced fruit brandies, cordials and liqueurs. Eventually, they settled on making premium wines and decided a name change was in order for the winery. Contrary to the obvious, Messrs. Honeyman and Wood did not use a contraction of their names to make Honeywood, and in fact, objected to the name on those grounds. An advertising consultant provided the rationale with a line from Oliver Goldsmith’s play, “The Good Natured Man,” wherin the products of fermentation were referred to as, “smooth as HONEY…aged in WOOD…the drink of the good natured man.” Honeywood became synonymous with the elite in wines. A winery must be close to its source of ingredients, and so it is with Honeywood. Located in Salem, in the heart of Oregon’s great and fertile Willamette Valley, the winery is minutes away from some of the world’s finest vineyards, cane berry fields and fruit orchards. Honeywood is the oldest producing winery in Oregon. The winery produces a full line of premium vinifera wines and the most extensive listing of premium fruit and specialty wines. We offer complimentary tasting and our tasting room includes a gourmet marketplace that sells Oregon food products and wine related gifts.

Price: $12
Where Bought: a wine shop in Port Townsend WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had never heard of or seen this cider, and couldn’t find any detailed information online, so I decided to pick it up. I call these finds “mystery cider”.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells like sweet acidic white wine, with a hint of cork.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of white grape, honey, pineapple, and green apple. Quick but boozy finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: Definitely not what I was expecting. I had guessed this would be dry (based on it being 11% ABV and being made by a winery), but it was the opposite. However, I enjoyed it. More of a dessert beverage than something to have with dinner.

Most Similar to: A cross between sweet white wine and sweet mead.

Closing Notes: This cider was a good value too.

Have you tried Honeywood Winery’s cider? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Branch and Bramble

October 4, 2016September 30, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders Branch and Bramble, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Denver, hard cider, Raspberry, Stem, tasting notes

Review of Branch and Bramble from Stem Ciders, their dry raspberry cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Malice, Remedy, and Blood Orange Cyser. My husband brought this and 4 of their other ciders (plus even some Pommeau!) back from Colorado for me.

Cider: Branch and Bramble
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft dry cider made from dessert apples, with raspberries

Availability: Only in Colorado, year round, at these retailers.

Cider Description: Intense raspberry aromas and ruby hues. Tartness from the raspberries and apples meld in this dry, refreshing cider. A light tannin structure from the raspberries lingers on the palate.

Price: $10 / four pack
Where Bought: Stem Ciders tasting room in Denver
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Stem Ciders online. Last time my husband was in Colorado, he picked me up a bunch of ciders, including Stem Le Chene. I keep hearing about their Banjo special release cider, but I’m 0/3 as far as finding it (apparently its only available about 1 month a year; its currently still barrel aging). This time around I thought I’d make it easier on my husband and give him a shopping list all from the same cidery, so he could just stop by the tap room (vs. trying to find ciders at multiple bottle shops). I e-mailed the cidery ahead of time and they were nice enough to send me a list of what they had in stock.

First Impression: Light pink/red hue. Low carbonation with foam. Smells of sweet tart raspberries.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. The flavor is almost purely sharp raspberry, with hints of green apple and lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Tasty and refreshing, with a surprising amount of flavor for how dry it is.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of raspberry ciders, from Wyder’s, Woodchuck, Doc’s, Schilling, One Tree, Raven’s Moon, and Eaglemount, but they were all sweeter. Raven’s Moon was the driest, a semi-dry, but was much higher in ABV, and the most tart cider I’ve ever had.

Closing Notes: I think this was my favorite of their three canned ciders. Next up I have their Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot and Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Branch and Bramble? What did you think?

Hecks Somerset Tremletts Bitter

October 3, 2016September 30, 2016 cidersays Hecks, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, English Cider, hard cider, Hecks, single varietal, Somerset, tasting notes

Review of Hecks Tremletts Bitter, from Somerset England. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, although I’ve sampled many other English ciders.

Cider: Tremlett’s Bitter
Cidery: Hecks
Cidery Location: Street, Somerset, United Kingdom
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 750ml clear glass twist-top bottle
Style: Somerset England farmhouse-style, single varietal from Tremletts Bitter apples

Availability: Unknown. Imported by B. United International Inc., Oxford CT.

Cider Description: A butterscotch aftertaste is just one of the surprises of this cider from the popular Devon variety. It is sharp and dry without too much acidity, a popular choice wherever cider is made.

Cidery Description: We have been making traditional Somerset Farmhouse cider since 1841. Today we offer a range of traditionally made farmhouse ciders, single variety ciders, farmhouse perry, single variety perry, non-alcoholic apple juices, cider vinegars and a range of other products, all produced from the harvests in our own Somerset orchards. Our products are made following family traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, using tried and tested methods. We hope you enjoy our delicious products as much as we enjoy making them.

Price: $14
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Medium amber. Still (no carbonation), with a foam/bubble ring. Smells rich, tannic, apple-forward, of must, caramel, and some funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Very light bodied. Flat dull mouthfeel. Low tartness and acidity. Low to moderate sourness, at the back of the palette. Moderate funk/barnyard. Moderate bitterness. Moderate tannins, but they were of an interesting sort, coating the teeth instead of drying the mouth, maybe due to the combination of tannins and sourness. Notes of leather, orange, and caramel. Moderate length finish with lingering sourness. Moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I wasn’t a fan. The flavor was odd and not what I expected from an English cider. I guess I hadn’t previously tried a Farmhouse-style English cider. I thought it smelled much better than it tasted.

Most Similar to: This cider seemed to combine the qualities of English cider (richness & tannins) with American Farmhouse-style cider (sourness & funk). I can’t think of anything similar.

Closing Notes: This isn’t a style I enjoy. However, if you like your cider with some sourness & funk, you may enjoy it. This is the only variety from Hecks I’ve seen locally.

Have you tried Hecks Cider? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Remedy Dry Hopped Apple Cider

September 30, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, Denver, hard cider, hopped cider, Remedy, Stem, tasting notes

Review of Remedy from Stem Ciders, their dry hopped cider. I’ve previously tried their Le Chene, Blood Orange Cyser, and Malice. My husband brought this and 4 of their other ciders (plus even some Pommeau!) back from Colorado for me.

Cider: Remedy
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans, and kegs
Style: American craft dry cider made from dessert apples, with Cascade & Citra hops

Availability: Only in Colorado, year round, at these retailers.

Cider Description: Dry hopped with Cascade & Citra hops. Floral and citrus fruit intermingle with apple on the nose giving way to a tart apple zing without any bitterness.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of hops and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Moderate bitterness. Low astringency. No sourness or funk. Notes of hops, citrus, floral, herbal, honey, mineral, and green apple. Long bitter finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, although it was a bit more bitter than I prefer. It has a light wine-like flavor which would pair well with food.

Most Similar to: Incline Explorer, Portland Cider Hop’Rageous, and Tod Creek Mala-Hop

Closing Notes: This is a nice hopped cider option for folks who like dry ciders and want something available in a multipack. Next up I have their Branch & Bramble (raspberry) cider, then special releases Whiskey Barrel-Aged Apricot and Pommeau.

Have you tried Stem Remedy? What did you think?

Rustic Roots Organic Snow Cider Dry Apple

September 29, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays review, Rustic Roots cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, organic, Rustic Roots, Snow Cider, tasting notes

Review of Rustic Roots Organic Snow Cider Dry Apple, from British Columbia. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, and this is the only cider this winery makes.

Cider: Organic Snow Cider Dry Apple
Cidery: Rustic Roots
Cidery Location: Cawston B.C. Canada
ABV: 7.6%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian Organic craft cider

Availability: unknown

Description: unknown

Price: $7
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mild, sharp, of floral and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of herbal, floral, lemon, green apple, white grape, pineapple, crab apples, and mineral. Moderate to long finish. Moderate sessionability, apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: Tasty. I was surprised how flavorful it was for its level of dryness. Juicy and sharp.

Closing Notes: This is a great value, considering it is imported (although not very far) and Organic. I haven’t seen any other varieties from them yet though (it looks like they primarily make grape wine).

Have you tried Rustic Roots Snow Cider? What did you think?

Eden Heirloom Blend 2013 Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Ice Cider

September 28, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays Eden, review barrel aged, brandy, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, ice cider, tasting notes, Vermont

Review of Eden Ice Cider’s Heirloom Blend, aged in apple brandy barrels, made in 2013 in Newport VT. I’ve tried a number of their ice ciders and sparkling ciders; see here.

Cider: Heirloom Blend, limited release, 2013, aged in Apple Brandy Barrels
Cidery: Eden Ice Cider
Cidery Location: Newport VT
ABV: 10%
Residual Sugar: 15%
How Supplied: 187ml & 375ml tall skinny glass bottles
Style: American craft ice cider, aged in apple brandy barrels

Availability: Their ciders are at least sold in AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, SC, VT, WA, and British Columbia, although this one has less distribution than their non barrel aged Heirloom Blend, which is most commonly found. Eden also offers online sales when allowed by state.

Cider Description: This limited release of our flagship Heirloom Blend Ice Cider has been aged in 10-year old barrels previously used for apple brandy. It has notes of caramel, apple sauce, and vanilla, a round, full mouthfeel, and plenty of acidity to create a lasting, refreshing finish.

Cidery Description: Eden Orchards and Eden Ice Cider began on a trip to Montreal in 2006 when we first tasted ice cider and wondered why nobody was making it on our side of the border. We had dreamed for years of working together on a farm in the Northeast Kingdom; it was a dream that had vague outlines including an apple orchard, cider, and fermentation of some sort. That night we looked at each other and knew ice cider was it. In April 2007, we bought an abandoned dairy farm in West Charleston, Vermont and got to work. Since then we have planted over 1,000 apple trees, created 5 vintages of Eden Vermont Ice Ciders, and have introduced a new line of Orleans Apertif Ciders. Out goals are to create healthy soils and trees in our own orchard, to support out Vermont apple orchard partners who do the same, to minimize our carbon footprint, to contribute to the economic and environmental health of our employees and our Northeast Kingdom community, and most of all to make world-class unique ciders that truly reflect our Vermont terroir.

They have a tasting bar on the main floor of the Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center in downtown Newport VT. Their current product line includes at least eight ice ciders, two Aperitif ciders, and dry & semi-dry sparkling ciders. They also have a cider club where members get access to special release ciders not available to the public.

Price: $17 / 187ml
Where Bought: through their website
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing their online store. I enjoyed their Heirloom Blend, and loved their Northern Spy barrel aged cider, so it wasn’t a hard sell.

First Impression: Still. Deep caramel amber hue. Smells of rich ripe baked apples, residual sugar, higher ABV, brown sugar, burnt caramel, honey, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Sweet to very sweet. Full bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Concentrated notes of baked apples, brown sugar, burnt caramel, vanilla, honey, brandy, oak, orange, and a hint of spice. Long warming finish. Low sessionability. High apple flavor. High flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity. Moderate to high brandy influence. Low oak influence.

My Opinion: Amazing! I enjoyed the barrel aged and brandy qualiies of this ice cider. Due to the sweetness this is definitely a beverage to sip only a small quantity after dinner, but that means even a small bottle lasts awhile. It also kept very well in the fridge, without any noticeable flavor change during the week I had it open. I think this is my favorite of their ice ciders so far, just slightly above Northern Spy (see here), as it had the added apple brandy flavor in addition to just the oak aging.

Most Similar to: High quality ice ciders. Compared to Eden’s Heirloom Blend, it had added oak and apple brandy notes. Compared to Eden’s Northern Spy, it had added apple brandy notes. Their different ice ciders have a lot of similarities but also differences.

Closing Notes: This was another impressive cider from Eden Ice Cider. I still have their Windfall Orchard ice cider left to try, which I ordered at the same time.

Have you tried Eden Ice Ciders? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 21 Tasting Notes

September 27, 2016January 13, 2018 cidersays One Tree, Rev Nat's, review, Schilling, Worley's cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 21st 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 Tuesday. I started with a flight. This was one of the only times I’ve visited the cider house and not had a full flight of ciders to try which were new to me, but there were still 32 choices. Sometimes its good to not have much new to try, as I can focus on ciders I know I liked previously.

Wandering Aengus (Salem OR) Bittersweet (5.2% ABV): I recently tried this draft-only wild fermented cider from bittersweet apples from the Poverty Lane (Farnum Hill) orchard in New Hampshire, but wanted to give it another try as I was considering picking up a growler of it. Although still very tasty, I didn’t find this taste as impressive…it seemed milder in flavor, and less tannic.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Barrel #2 (21% ABV): This is the last keg of their 2nd series of barrel aged distilled cider, which I tried previously. Its more apple brandy than cider, very alcohol-forward. I didn’t really enjoy it as much this time around…it seemed all alcohol and less flavor (my notes from last time mentioned honey and floral notes).

Wandering Aengus (Salem OR) Cellar Door (8.5% ABV): This is a draft-only version of their Bloom cider which is fermented drier. Semi-dry. Sharp. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and high acidity. Low to moderate bitterness. More astringent than tannic (low to moderate). Mild flavor notes of floral, herbal, honey, and citrus. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. I think I like the regular version of Bloom better, as it was more flavorful.

One Tree (Spokane WA) Raspberry (6.0% ABV): This is a draft-only raspberry cider. My sample was from the end of the keg, so it poured very smoothie-like. Semi-sweet to sweet, but it tasted like it was meant to be that sweet, not overdone. Full bodied. Very strong raspberry flavor. No apple/cider flavor. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Simple but tasty, similar to Schilling’s Raspberry Smoothie, although One Tree’s is higher ABV.

Reverend Nat’s (Portland OR) The Passion (6.9% ABV): I tried this recently, but was curious whether my taste buds we off at Cider Summit, as it is described online as very sour, but I only found it mildly sour. However, Sarah at the Cider House confirmed that this year’s batch wasn’t nearly as sour as last year’s. I enjoyed it, but at Cider Summit I found it had more passionfruit flavor and even less sourness, which I preferred.

I also had a couple bottle pours shared with me.

Wandering Aengus (Salem OR) Pommeau Apple Dessert Wine (14.0% ABV): Pommeau is apple brandy with cider. Semi-sweet to sweet. Still. Full bodied. Mild in flavor for a Pommeau, not as booze-forward as you’d expect for the ABV, but still very apple-forward. Mild tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. Notes of cider apples, oak, leather, and orange. Amazing!

Worley’s (Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK) Premium Vintage 2013 (6.4% ABV): This is another one I’ve tried previously. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. Low to moderate carbonation. Medium bodied. Its an English cider, but I found it quite similar to French cider, as it is rich, apple-forward, carbonated (although less so than when I previously tried it), and yeast-forward, but not overly tannic. Awesome.

This was an awesome tasting. The Wandering Aengus Cellar Door was the only cider I wasn’t too big a fan of. The Pommeau was probably my favorite though.

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

2 Towns Nice & Naughty Imperial Spiced Cider

September 26, 2016September 25, 2016 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, imperial, Nice & Naughty, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns’ Nice & Naughty Imperial Spiced Cider, their winter seasonal high ABV cider with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. I’ve tried this before (see here), and even tried the bourbon barrel aged version (see here), but only on draft. I’ve previously 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: Nice & Naughty
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 10.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft apple honey wine with spices

Availability: Thru the end of 2016 in AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA, and Minneapolis MN & Chicago IL.

Cider Description: Festive and warming, Nice & Naughty is crammed full of whole cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and a touch of honey to celebrate the season. Made with Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Clove.

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 (retails for ~$8)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light to medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells sweet, of baked apples and cinnamon.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of baked apples, juicy apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, hints of cloves, honey, and citrus. Long warming slightly boozy finish. Low to moderate sessionability. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity / spice intensity. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Tasty. I liked it better closer to room than fridge temperature, oddly enough (considering the high ABV). The level of spice is nice…not overwhelming. I also liked that it wasn’t overly sweet. It is however a bit on the acidic side.

Most Similar to: AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced and Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple, both which had similar levels of sweetness and flavor profiles, but not as high of an ABV. Reverend Nat’s Winter Abbey Spice has a higher ABV, but had an odd sourness.

Closing Notes: If you are looking for a unique spiced cider, one with a bit more kick but not too much sweetness, this is a nice choice.

Have you tried 2 Towns Nice & Naughty? What did you think?

Number 12 Black Currant Dry

September 23, 2016December 30, 2016 cidersays Number 12, review Black Currant, cider, cider review, cider tasting, dry, hard cider, Minnesota, Number 12, tasting notes

Review of Number 12 Ciderhouse’s Black Currant Dry. I tried their Chestnut Semi-Dry and Sparkling Dry earlier this week.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Number 12. 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 Currant Dry
Cidery: Number 12 Ciderhouse
Cidery Location: Buffalo, Minnesota
ABV: 7.4%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from Minnesota apples, with black currant

Availability: Number 12 ciders are sold in these locations in Minnesota.

Cider Description: Number 12 Black Currant Dry begins with aromatic notes of jam and rich black currant followed by a crisp, dry cider finish. Once considered the “forbidden fruit” due to a 100 year ban, the black currant is now experiencing a resurgence in America’s conscience. It pairs beautifully with locally grown apples by providing a tannic structure needed for depth and complexity. This is the cider that will change your perspective.

I didn’t know that black currant was actually banned–wow! I read up a bit more, and learned they were thought to help spread a fungus that threatened the timber industry, so black and red currants were federally banned in 1911. By 1966, disease-resistant varieties were developed, and the government left it up to the states as to whether to keep them banned. Although most states eventually lifted the ban (some quite recently), black and red currant is still banned in some states.

Cidery Description: Balance is everything . . . In life, and in great ciders. Number 12 is no different. We are continuously experimenting to achieve a perfect balance. Number 12 gets its namesake from the 12th recipe developed in 2011. It became our first award winner and the beginning of our recognition from the cider community. Since then, it has become more of a concept, our ideal if you will. Number 12 represents the idea that greatness in cider is out there somewhere . . . To strive for, to create, to perfect!

They have a tap room in Buffalo Minnesota.

Price: n/a (retails for $11)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Deep purple-red hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of sour black currant and cherry.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low to moderate astringency. Low bitterness and funk. Low to moderate sourness. Notes of black currant, cherry, red wine, blackberry, lemon, mineral, and sharp crabapples. Moderate length finish. No apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity, complexity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked the jam-like black currant flavor, but it was a bit too sour, dry, and acidic for my personal tastes. However, it is well-made and unique. It had a lot of black currant flavor for how dry it is.

Most Similar to: Virtue Cider Cherry Mitten. I found Black Currant Dry to have almost as much cherry flavor as black currant. Black currant is a popular flavor addition for cider (especially here in the PNW), and I’ve tried a number of them, although none that were of this style (they have all been sweeter and tart but not sour): 2 Towns Dark Currant, Finnriver Black Currant & Lavender Black Currant & Oak Aged Crew Selection Black Currant & Black Currant Brandywine, Carlton Black Currant Scrumpy, Moonlight Meadery Crimes of Passion, and Reverend Nat’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet with Black Currant.

Closing Notes: To be honest, I didn’t really care for any of the three ciders I tried from Number 12, although the Chestnut Semi-Dry was probably my favorite (and the most approachable). However, fans of dry farmhouse-style ciders with a bit of sourness & funk likely will enjoy them. Everyone doesn’t like every cider, and there are styles which appeal to each person. They are a great value too, at $11-$13 for a 750ml bottle. Side note – Number 12 uses malolactic fermentation in their secondary fermentation stage (see here), which converts lactic acid to carbon dioxide, reducing acid and smoothing out the flavor, but this process also adds a bit of sourness. Many people really enjoy that flavor in their cider (or beer or wine), but some like me haven’t yet acquired the taste for it.

Have you tried Number 12 Ciders? What did you think?

Stem Ciders Blood Orange Cyser

September 22, 2016September 23, 2016 cidersays review, Stem Ciders blood orange, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Colorado, cyser, Denver, hard cider, Stem Ciders, tasting notes

Review of Stem Ciders’ Blood Orange Cyser (a cross between cider and mead, made from both apples and honey). I’ve previously tried their Le Chene and Malice. My husband brought this and 4 of their other ciders (plus even some Pommeau!) back from Colorado for me.

Cider: Blood Orange Cyser
Cidery: Stem Ciders
Cidery Location: Denver Colorado
ABV: 10%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft apple-honey wine with blood orange

Availability: Their ciders are available only in Colorado, at these retailers, but this is a special release which may only be found at the cidery.

Cider Description: Apple-honey wine with blood orange. Rosy in hue with light notes of honey and citrus zest on the nose. Acidity from the blood orange plays off the sweetness of the honey, allowing an off-dry yet refreshing beverage. Light apple tannins fill out the finish.

Price: $18
Where Bought: Stem Ciders tasting room in Denver
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about Stem Ciders online. Last time my husband was in Colorado, he picked me up a bunch of ciders, including Stem Le Chene. I keep hearing about their Banjo special release cider, but I’m 0/3 as far as finding it (apparently its only available about 1 month a year; its currently still barrel aging). This time around I thought I’d make it easier on my husband and give him a shopping list all from the same cidery, so he could just stop by the tap room (vs. trying to find ciders at multiple bottle shops). I e-mailed the cidery ahead of time and they were nice enough to send me a list of what they had in stock.

First Impression: Light orange-pink hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells mild, of honey and tart blood orange.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Moderate carbonation. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of blood orange, honey, honeycomb, grapefruit, lemon, mineral, and green apple. Quick to moderate length finish, with less warming than expected for 10% ABV. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate honey and blood orange flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. Unique citrus champagne-like flavor. I imagine if I actually liked blood orange I would have loved it. I’m a fan of high ABV cider, citrus notes in cider, and cyser & mead though, which is why I wanted to try it.

Most Similar to: I’ve had various cysers (such as Finnriver Cyser Cider, Eaglemount Cyser, Moonlight Meadery Last Apple, and Sea Cider Birds and the Bees), as well as two blood orange ciders (Elemental Calcium and Ace Space), and this is a bit of a cross between the two, and much drier than any of those. It also reminds me a bit of a mimosa, with the citrus, higher ABV, and higher carbonation.

Closing Notes: This cyser is a great value, between it being small batch, blood orange & honey being expensive, and its high ABV. I look forward to trying my other selections from Stem Ciders.

Have you tried anything from Stem Ciders? What did you think?

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