Stoked Blue Palm

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 cidersays review, Stoked Blue Palm, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, hopped cider, Stoked, tasting notes

Review of Stoked Blue Palm, a blueberry-pineapple hopped cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Blue Palm
Cidery: Stoked Cider
Cidery Location: Westlake Village CA (although I’m guessing that is their office, as the can said Stevenson WA, so they probably use a co-packer in apple country)
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples w/ Mosaic hops, blueberry, & pineapple

Availability: limited, likely only in CA, plus online sales

Cider Description: HOP ON THIS CIDER WHALE AND CRUISE YOUR WAY TO FLAVOR ISLAND. THIS IS A JUICY HOP MONSTER, REFRESHINGLY DRY WITH A BURST OF TROPICAL FRUIT AND FRAGRANT WEST COAST HOPS.WE CRAFTED THIS CIDER FOR BIKINI BABES, BIG WAVE SURFERS, AND HOP HEADS WHO ENJOY A HEALTHIER BUZZ. DRY HOPPED WITH MOSAIC HOPS, THEN BLENDED WITH FRESH BLUEBERRIES AND PINEAPPLES. DIVE RIGHT IN AND GET YOUR HAIR WET, THEN STICK YOUR FEET IN THE SAND AND SIP ’TIL YOU SWAY LIKE A LAZY PALM BENDING WITH THE SEA BREEZE

Cidery Description: WELCOME TO THE MOST CRUSHABLE CRAFT CIDER ON THE PLANET. WE ARE ALL ABOUT OUR BLENDS, ALWAYS MADE USING FRESH PRESSED JUICE AND NEVER TOO SWEET. WE MAKE CIDER FOR THE WEST COASTER, BRINGING YOU A HEALTHIER BUZZ. 6.9% ABV. 3 GRAMS OF SUGAR. UNFILTERED. TOTALLY.

Price: $3.99 / single can
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA on a cruise port stop in fall 2018
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light pink-orange hue. Low carbonation. Smells hopped and fruity.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of hops, watermelon, pineapple, and lemon. Long bitter hoppy finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty ok. I had no problem finishing it, but its not really my sort of thing (a bit too dry and bitter). It had a bit of complexity and had a good deal of flavor & fruitiness, which was nice to see.

Most Similar to: other drier fruity hopped ciders like ^5 Strawbasaurus (strawberry hopped), Incline Cider Scout (hopped marionberry), or Swift Pineapple Hop (although in this category my favorite is probably 2 Towns Hop & Stalk, although oddly enough I wouldn’t say I like either hops or rhubarb)

Closing Notes: Surprisingly I got more watermelon than blueberry flavor from it, maybe due to the combination of flavors going on.

Have you tried Stoked Blue Palm? What did you think?

Woodchuck Tank Series Belgian White

February 19, 2019February 16, 2019 cidersays review, Woodchuck belgian white, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Tank Series, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Tank Series Belgian White. They made this years ago, it went on hiatus, then they re-released it recently for a limited run. I previously tried this pre-blog, plus I’ve had most of Woodchuck’s line-up (see here).

>>This is a review of a sample can 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: Tank Series, Belgian White
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with Belgian beer yeast

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Crafted with a classic Belgian beer yeast, cloudy with a rich, golden huge, it presents a delicate aroma and taste, with coriander and orange notes.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders fora variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (retails for $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Smells of orange with a hint of apple. Hazy light orange brown hue. Still (no carbonation).

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of apple juice, orange, and yeast. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed it. It actually tastes different than their other ciders, which all seem kinda similar to me.

Most Similar to: It almost reminded me of a still French cider with orange.

Closing Notes: This is one of my favorite Woodchuck special releases.

Have you tried Woodchuck Belgian White? What did you think?

Original Sin Elderberry

February 15, 2019February 11, 2019 cidersays Original Sin, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, elderberry, elderberry cider, hard cider, Locust, Original Sin, tasting notes, Vanilla Bean

Review of Original Sin Elderberry cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Cherry Tree, Pear, Northern Spy, and Extra Dry

Cider: Elderberry
Cidery: Original Sin
Cidery Location: New York NY
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: multipack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with elderberries

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: A balanced cider combining the natural acid and sugar of apples with the tart qualities of elderberries. Elderberries have been adding flare to hard cider for centuries. In fact, the 1822 book The American Orchardist suggests adding Elderberries to give cider “a fine colour as well as flavour.” Original Sin brings back this brilliant tradition with our new Elderberry Cider.

Cidery Description: Established in 1996, Original Sin is one of the original modern-day U.S. cider companies. With a mere $5,000 in funding, founder Gidon Coll began making cider in Upstate New York and spent two years going bar to bar in New York City to develop his early market base. Today, Original Sin is still 100% independent and now distributed in 32 U.S. States, The United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan.

Original Sin started a New York State test orchard five years ago, which now features over 100 rare, cider and contemporary apple varieties. Each year, the company adds interesting and historically significant varieties to the Original Sin orchard’s genetic pool.

Price: ~ $3 / can
Where Bought: The Cave in Kirkland WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium purple-red hue. Smells of tart berry. Very low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of berry with hints of cranberry & pomegranate. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was average. Plenty drinkable, but it didn’t really stand out.

Most Similar to: any other semi-dry berry cider

Closing Notes: I also bought a can of Locust Vanilla Bean and mixed them together. That one was a bit of an off can, less flavorful and sweet than usual, but its a nice mix.

Have you tried Original Sin Elderberry? What did you think?

Vizo Elderflower

February 13, 2019February 9, 2019 cidersays review, Vizo cider, cider review, cider tasting, danish cider, Denmark, Elderflower, hard cider, organic cider, tasting notes, Vizo

Review of Vizo’s Organic Elderflower cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Green Apple variety.

Cider: Elderflower
Cidery: Vizo Organic Apple Cider
Cidery Location: Denmark
ABV: 4.8%
How Supplied: 11.2oz bottles
Style: organic craft cider from Denmark, from unknown apple varieties, with elderflower extract

Availability: limited, plus online sales

Cider Description: The aroma of our cider is intense, fresh and with a slightly floral background. Vizo Organic Hard Cider perfectly combines sweet and tart apples in order to enrich the flavor, leaving a pleasant, fruity and refreshing aftertaste. Made from Danish organic apples with just the right touch of elder-flower, forest fruits or green apple flavor. It is a seamless amalgam of flavors, with no sugar or additives, resulting in a 100% natural drink a craft cider like no other.

Cidery Description: The aroma of our cider is intense, fresh and with a slightly floral background. Vizo Organic Hard Cider perfectly combines sweet and tart apples in order to enrich the flavor, leaving a pleasant, fruity and refreshing aftertaste. Made from Danish organic apples with just the right touch of elder-flower, forest fruits or green apple flavor. It is a seamless amalgam of flavors, with no sugar or additives, resulting in a 100% natural drink a craft cider like no other.

Price: ~ $4.50 / 1 bottle
Where Bought: a natural grocery store in Northern California
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light caramel hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of sweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of rich sweet caramelized apple juice and a hint of honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it, although it was a bit too sweet for my liking. Same as the first one I tried from them, the color confuses me. This was quite similar in flavor to the first one too, just a tad less tart, and with a hint of honey (I didn’t pick up any floral notes)

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Barrel Select but without the barrel & bourbon flavor, Locust New England Amber but sweeter and less complex, Locust Sweet Aged Apple with more caramel than honey & brown sugar, or Spire Dark & Dry but more caramel then molasses and no malt

Closing Notes: I also picked up Vizo’s ‘Forest Fruits’ variety.

Have you tried Vizo cider? What did you think?

BX Press The Bandit cider with cherry

February 11, 2019February 9, 2019 cidersays BX Press, review Bandit, British Columbia, BX Press, Canadian cider, cherry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of The BX Press’ The Bandit, cider with cherry. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: The Bandit, cider with cherry
Cidery: The BX Press
Cidery Location: Vernon B.C. Canada
ABV: 7.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider from a variety of apples, with cherry

Availability: probably only in B.C. Canada (see here), plus direct sales in Canada

Cider Description: This unique cider with cherry is fermented from over 12 varieties of apples and has natural BC cherry added to it just before bottling. Due to the added cherry, this cider is slightly sweeter than our others, but balanced with the crisp acidity of the apples, and underlying complexity from the cherry. See here for more info.

Cidery Description: We are 3rd-Generation Apple Growers trying something new. Or depending how you look at it – something old. Real Cider – made from apples, has been around for centuries – yet in North America the word cider has been so obscured that most no longer know what to expect. We invite you to try real cider, made from apples. Not watered down, not artificially flavoured. Not sugary sweet or cloying. Our ciders are natural, refreshing, and a true expression of the apples they are made from. They are unpretentious, yet have enough character to be served alongside the finest meal. Did we mention we grow all the apples we use in our ciders – nearly 30 varieties – right on the same orchard the cidery is located? We hope you will come visit our tasting room and experience real cider.

Price: ~ $10 CAN ?
Where Bought: Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: on a cruise port stop (side note – I picked up about 2 cases of cider on that trip in Sept, and I only have 1 or 2 left now)

First Impression: Deep purple hue, reminiscent of red grape wine. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, dry, of cherry.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of cherry with hints of tart green apple and lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. A tad dry for my tastes, and drier than most other cherry ciders I’ve had, but very fruity, and not too tart.

Most Similar to: although I’ve tried over 30 cherry ciders (see here), this one was unique, as it was drier than average, yet had more cherry flavor than average, a rarely seen combination

Closing Notes: This was one of my favorite B.C. ciders so far, as so many I’ve tried were super dry, tart, and bland. My absolute favorite however is probably Central City Limited Edition Imperial though.

Have you tried BX Press Bandit? What did you think?

Windfall Jackpot

February 7, 2019February 7, 2019 cidersays review, Windfall British Columbia, Canadian cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Jackpot, tasting notes, Windfall

Review of Windfall Cider’s Jackpot. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Jackpot
Cidery: Windfall Cider
Cidery Location: British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 7.0%
How Supplied: 473ml cans
Style: Canadian craft cider from dessert apples, dry

Availability: probably only in B.C. Canada, primarily in Vancouver (see here)

Cidery Description: Windfall is an urban cidery based in Vancouver. We believe in making your own luck, and we’re here to turn the world of cider on its head. We find the best BC apples, the purest juice, and experiment with old-world techniques to create a one-of-a-kind cider like you’ve probably never tasted before. Like a little sip of good fortune in every can.

Cider Description: You’ve hit the big one with this dry cider, balanced and crisp with a bit of sweetness, Jackpot is made from a premium blend of BC dessert apples with a hint of tropical fruit on the palate. Like a a little sip of good fortune in every can.

Price: ~ $4 CAN / 1 can ?
Where Bought: Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, while on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Very light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells very mild, of dry tart apple.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple and lemon with a hint of pineapple. Moderate tart finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought this was average. Nothing wrong with average though, as everybody doesn’t like every cider. Plenty drinkable, but a bit bland, as expected for a dry cider made from dessert apples.

Most Similar to: Seattle Cider Dry, or a drier version of Far West Orchard Blend 1

Closing Notes: This is their flagship cider, and possibly the only one currently available, per their website.

Have you tried Windfall Jackpot? What did you think?

Vizo Green Apple

February 4, 2019February 3, 2019 cidersays review, Vizo cider, cider review, cider tasting, Denmark, green apple, hard cider, organic cider, tasting notes, Vizo

Review of Vizo’s Organic Apple Cider Green Apple. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Green Apple
Cidery: Vizo Organic Apple Cider
Cidery Location: Denmark
ABV: 4.8%
How Supplied: 11.2oz bottles
Style: organic craft cider from Denmark, from unknown apple varieties, with green apple extract

Availability: limited, plus online sales

Cider Description: Take the classic cider and now imagine a zest of aroma and flavor of green apple with a clean finish, Vizo’s Green Apple is that cider. Beneficial to both health and well-being, the taste and freshness of the traditional and the well-known fruit is outstanding.

Price: ~ $4.50 / 1 bottle
Where Bought: a natural grocery store in Northern California
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Light caramel hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of sweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of rich sweet apple juice and caramel. Quick finish. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate to high flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it, although it was a bit too sweet for my liking. The color confused me, as from that I had assumed it was made from cider apples, but the flavor didn’t support that theory, as it tasted like typical cider from dessert/supermarket apples, although richer. I’m also surprised they called this ‘Green Apple’, as it didn’t have that flavor, only a bit of tartness with the rich profile. It doesn’t list color as being added though, so maybe they just use a different process which retains more color than a typical clarified American apple juice or hard cider.

Closing Notes: I also picked up Vizo’s ‘Forest Fruits’ and ‘Elderflower’ varieties.

Have you tried Vizo cider? What did you think?

Austin Eastciders Pineapple Cider

January 31, 2019January 28, 2019 cidersays Austin Eastciders, review Austin, Austin Eastcider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pineapple, pineapple cider, tasting notes

Review of Austin Eastciders Pineapple Cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Texas Honey.

Cider: Pineapple Cider
Cidery: Austin Eastciders
Cidery Location: Austin TX
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 12oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert & cider apples with pineapple concentrate

Availability: Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of the Northeast (see their cider locator here)

Cider Description: For an exotic twist, we have blended heirloom bittersweet and culinary apples with a taste of the tropics. Golden, ripe, and delicious pineapples have been married into our dry cider to give you a refreshing pineapple experience!

Cidery Description: Could we move to an apple producing region, grow our own apples and make cider? Sure, but it wouldn’t be the delicious and complex cider we make today in good ol’ Texas. The most important thing to us is sourcing the best cider apples and using only high-quality natural ingredients.

See here for more info. They have a taproom in Austin Texas.

Price: ~$2 / 1 can ? (runs $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: my husband picked this up for me while in Texas for business

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

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

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this. Nice pineapple flavor, easy to drink, and mid-level sweetness.

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Pineapple (which is drier) and Jester & Judge Pineapple Express and Reverend Nat’s Viva La Pineapple (which are sweeter and have some lime)

Closing Notes: I’m curious what percentage of cider to dessert apples they use, as cider apple influence is not apparent in the flavor, and I’d expect this cider to be priced higher if any significant percentage of cider apples was used. In fact, their ciders are already priced much lower than I’m used to in Western Washington.

Have you tried Austin Eastciders Pineapple Cider? What did you think?

Fraser Valley Honey

January 29, 2019February 16, 2019 cidersays Fraser Valley, review British Columbia, Canada, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Fraser Valley, hard cider, honey, tasting notes

Review of Fraser Valley Cider Co’s Honey. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Honey
Cidery: Fraser Valley Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Langley, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 7.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider with honey

Availability: probably only in British Columbia (see here)

Cider Description: Our honey cider balances fruity apple aromas with the slightly spicy notes of wildflower honey from our farm hives. Our bees have done the hard work so you don’t have to – relax and enjoy.

Cidery Description: After a 20 year career in engineering I was looking for a new challenge. While mulling over a few ideas I took a course on cider making to improve my home cider skills and thought ….hey wait a minute! And so a project was born. We found our 12 acre farm in January 2014, picked out the site of our future cidery and made an offer. In 2015 we built the cidery and with the help of friends we planted an orchard of 1800 trees. With over 25 different varieties of english and french cider apples our aim is to grow the types of apples that make the highest quality cider. Now we’re in our third season of operation and what a journey! We’ve poured a lot of cider, had some fabulous parties in the tent and made lots of new friends along the way. Each year we increase production (and still can’t keep up!) and this year we pressed the first fruit from our own orchard for a special estate blend cider. The days are long but we’re living our dream and we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!

Price: ~ $16 CAN
Where Bought: Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: during a cruise port stop

First Impression: Hazy yellow hue. Smells mild, of honey. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of honey, sweet lemonade, and green apple. Moderate finish length with a hint of sourness. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed this. Nice flavor and mid-level sweetness. So many of the other B.C. ciders I’ve tried have been rather dry, tart, and bland.

Most Similar to: Sea Cider Birds & Bees, except lower ABV

Closing Notes: I hope to find more ciders from this cidery next time I’m in B.C.

Have you tried Fraser Valley Honey? What did you think?

Far West Orchard Blend No. 1

January 24, 2019January 21, 2019 cidersays Far West, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, hard cider, Orchard Blend, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s Orchard Blend No. 1. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their San Joaquin Sparkler.

Cider: Orchard Blend No. 1
Cidery: Far West Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples

Availability: mostly only in Northern California (see here), plus online sales

Cider Description: This cider uses a combination of GoldRush, Cripps Pink and Granny Smith apples grown on Chinchiolo Family Farms. It is fermented with Champagne yeast at very low temperatures and aged to develop more complexity than your typical cider. Fruit-forward, sparkling, and just barely semi-sweet with great acid balance, this cider pairs nicely with warm patios, fancy brunches, funky tunes and pork.

Cidery Description: Californian ciders from a 4th generation family farm in San Joaquin County.

They have a taproom in Richmond CA.

Price: $11.99 (although its $11 at their online store)
Where Bought: Village Market in the ferry building in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, tart.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, citrus, and pineapple. Long tart finish. Low to moderate apple flavor, complexity, and overall flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. Tasty and easy to drink. Overall this would probably have wide appeal.

Most Similar to: Seattle Cider Semi-Sweet and Scandinavian Green Apple Craft Cider

Closing Notes: I thought it was a bit spendy for being a typical craft cider from dessert apples, like you’d often find in a 4 or 6 pack for this price.

Have you tried Far West Cider Orchard Blend No. 1? What did you think?

Kite & String Honeoye

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 cidersays Kite & String, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finger Lakes, hard cider, Honeoye, Kite & String, New York, tasting notes

Review of Kite & String’s Honeoye. It is my first time trying this cider, although I’ve had their Baldwin.

Cider: Honeoye
Cidery: Kite & String
Cidery Location: Interlaken, New York
ABV: 6.3%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider, semi-sweet to sweet (5.1% RS), sparkling, from Newtown Pippin, Baldwin, McIntosh, & Liberty apples

Availability: probably only in the Northeast, plus online sales

Cider Description: A tribute to the sweetness of a fall apple harvest. Sharp and heirloom apples fermented to dryness, balanced with a sweet reserve of high Brix fresh juice, cold concentrated on the farm to 29 Brix through cryo-extraction. Semi-sweet. Sparkling. Aromatics of fresh baked apple and summer honey. Boldly fruit forward yet balanced with bright acidity and a rich juicy finish.

Cidery Description: ‘Kite’ means light, playful, balanced, fun. ‘String’ means grounded to a place, our small farm. Kite & String Ciders are produced at Finger Lakes Cider House on our organic and diversified farm in Interlaken, New York. Please come and visit us in the tasting room any time of the year.

Price: $16
Where Bought: their website
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard they were doing free shipping for the holidays, and I’ve always read good things about their ciders, so it was an easy choice to place an order. Plus, they have a nice wide selection for all tastes. I also picked up their Baldwin and Royal Cider.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Smells mild and sweet. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honey, sweet apple, and tropical fruit. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate to high overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it – very honey-forward for not having honey added (which would be a cyser). However, it was right on the edge of being too sweet for my liking. For many it might be better as a dessert cider and/or something to share, but I drank it all myself. Its a fairly simple cider as far as heritage ciders go, and with its qualities and sweetness, it would make a great introductory cider for folks new to heritage cider.

Most Similar to: cyser, although most of those are much higher ABV, so I’d say Bertilinos and Austin Eastciders Texas Honey

Closing Notes: I like seeing sweeter heritage cider options, as I prefer semi-dry to semi-sweet, and the majority seem to be dry.

Have you tried Kite & String Honeoye? What did you think?

Whitewood Jonathan

January 17, 2019January 13, 2019 cidersays review, Whitewood cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Jonathan, Olympia, single varietal, tasting notes, Whitewood, Whitewood Cider

Review of Whitewood Cider’s Jonathan. I previously tried this on draft (see here). Plus I’ve had their Summer Switchel, Kingston Black Whisky Barrel Aged, Red Cap, Gravenstein Old Fangled Series 2012 Harvest, Gravenstein Old Fangled Series Barrel Aged, Northland, Winesap, Gibb’s Farm, Newtown Pippin, and South Sounder.

Cider: Old Fangled Series, Jonathan (2015 harvest)
Cidery: Whitewood Cider
Cidery Location: Olympia WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft heritage cider from Jonathan apples, sugar added, medium dry

Availability: only in Washington – see here

Cider Description: Jonathan is an early American variety and dates back to the early 1800’s. Whitewood’s Single Varietal Jonathan Cider starts out full up front good acid backbone followed by scant traces of a caramel/butterscotch flavors, and finishes clean with notes of, sour orange, meyer lemon, and citrus flavors.

Cidery Description: Whitewood Cider is the South Puget Sound’s first craft cidery. Officially we are a nano cider and can be hard to locate. Fear not as you’ll be able to find us at the finest bottles shops as well pubs and and restaurants that are the most dedicated to locally made craft cider.

They have a tasting room in Olympia; see here.

Price: ~ $15 ?
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells apple-forward.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of juicy apple and lemon with hints of honey and tropical fruit. Quick finish. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it, and so did my husband. Super easy to drink and apple-forward, yet it had a bit of complexity – you can tell it is heritage craft cider.

Most Similar to: a more complex and sessionable version of Portland Cider Perfect 10

Closing Notes: This would make a great introductory craft cider, plus I’d like to see it in a multipack.

Have you tried Whitewood Jonathan? What did you think?

Dragon’s Head Summer Cider

January 15, 2019January 12, 2019 cidersays Dragon's Head, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dragon's Head, hard cider, Summer Cider, tasting notes, Vashon Island

Review of Dragon’s Head Summer Cider. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Traditional Cider, Wild Fermented, Kingston Black, Columbia Crab, Methode Champenoise Perry, Perry, and Manchurian.

Cider: Summer Cider
Cidery: Dragon’s Head
Cidery Location: Vashon WA
ABV: 7.3%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft heritage cider from cider apples

Availability: probably only in Western Washington

Cider Description: not given

Cidery Description: At Dragon’s Head Cider, we believe in producing high quality hard ciders with a traditional approach, which means you will never find us using apple juice concentrate, over sweetening our ciders, or adding other flavors to our ciders. We love the story that apples and pears can tell all by themselves. And so we keep it simple. Press high quality apples and pears, ferment the juice, put it in a bottle. We believe one of the keys to creating great cider is to have control over the entire process. For this reason, we do the pressing, fermentation, blending and bottling all right here on the farm.

Wes and Laura Cherry moved to Vashon Island in 2010 with the dream of planting an orchard and starting a cidery. Dragon’s Head Farm, named for the dragon who guards the apples of immortality in the Garden of Hesperides, is now home to over 2,200 cider fruit trees as well as our production facility.

They have a tasting room on Vashon Island open Saturdays and Sundays.

Price: ~ $18 ?
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells dry, acidic, and fruity.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low to moderate tannins. Hints of sourness and bitterness. No funk. Notes of sharp apple, honey, pineapple, and floral. Long tannic finish. Low to moderate flavor intensity and apple flavor. Moderate complexity and sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. It had a non-descript fruitiness that was nice, and it wasn’t too acidic. However, its not a favorite of mine.

Most Similar to: nothing specifically, although in general it is pretty typical of a complex heritage cider

Closing Notes: My favorite from Dragon’s Head is their Traditional, plus their Perry and Kingston Black.

Have you tried Dragon’s Head cider? What did you think?

Nomad Cider The Original

January 11, 2019January 5, 2019 cidersays Nomad, review British Columbia, Canadian cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Nomad, Nomad cider, tasting notes, The Original

Review of Nomad Cider’s The Original. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: The Original
Cidery: Nomad Cider
Cidery Location: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: 473ml cans
Style: Canadian craft cider from dessert & heritage apples

Availability: probably only in B.C. Canada (see here)

Cider Description: Crafted with care using local, fresh-pressed heritage cider and dessert apples. An honest Okanagan-Similkameen expression with it’s crisp and refreshing fruit forward apple aroma and palate. Primarily fermented with natural wild yeast.

Cidery Description: We are nomads, endlessly exploring food, drink and culture. Our thirst for knowledge and new experiences continually inspire us to create great tasting regional centric ciders. We are a farm-to-glass Summerland, BC craft cidery passionate about making cider the way it was traditionally crafted; by hand with only fresh pressed apples and pears. We are devoted to producing exceptional cider made only from local apples and pears grown by us and our dedicated farming partners in the Okanagan-Similkameen region of BC. Our focus is to be nomadic in global cider culture by stylistically representing cider regions from around the world.

Price: ~ $3-4 canadian / 1 can?
Where Bought: some bottle shop in downtown Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. We were on a cruise port stop and visited a number of bottle shops while walking around downtown.

First Impression: Low carbonation. Light straw yellow. Smells of sharp dry apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate to high tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apple, lemon, and a hint of pineapple, with a bit of a chemical-like taste mid-sip. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: meh. This was plenty drinkable, but I didn’t really enjoy it. The non-specific chemical-like taste was off-putting. Maybe its from the wild fermentation? It didn’t have that funky and sour sort of flavor I’d expect though. In contrast it was very undrinkable for my husband.

Most Similar to: Dominion Magic Hour

Closing Notes: There is also an unrelated Nomad Cidery in Michigan in the U.S.

Have you tried British Columbia Canadian cider? What did you think?

Kite & String Baldwin Cider

January 9, 2019January 1, 2019 cidersays Kite & String, review baldwin, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Finger Lakes, hard cider, Heritage Cider, Kite & String, New York, tasting notes

Review of Finger Lakes Cider House’s Kite & String (formerly Good Life Cider) Baldwin. This is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Baldwin
Cidery: Kite & String
Cidery Location: Interlaken, New York
ABV: 11.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American craft heritage cider from Baldwin & Wickson crabapples, semi-dry, traditional method (methode champenoise)

Availability: likely only in the Northeast, plus online sales

Cider Description: Made from Baldwin apples, with a modest addition of Wickson Crab, this blend highlights the bright tropical notes and intense acidity of these varieties. The high alcohol and robust flavor come from the cryoextraction process (similar to Ice Cider) used to concentrate this juice to 20 brix prior to fermentation. It is then fermented slowly to retain maximum esters and polyphenols, and aged for only a short time to best showcase its fresh and bright, fruit-forward nature.

Semi Dry, Traditional Method. Pineapple, lime, and Riesling on the nose. Bursting with bright, tropical fruitiness and slight perceptive sweetness on the front palate, moving to thirst quenching mid palate and bracing acidity with a dry, weighty finish.

Price: $18
Where Bought: online
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard they were doing free shipping for the holidays, and I’ve always read good things about their ciders, so it was an easy choice to place an order. Plus, they have a nice wide selection for all tastes (although it looks like they sold out of this variety since I purchased it). I also picked up their Honeoye and Royal Cider.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Moderate to high carbonation. Smells of sharp apples and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. High tartness and acidity. Low tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of sharp apple, lemon, grapefruit, mineral, and hints of floral. Long tart warming finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I wasn’t super into this cider. I thought the acidity, carbonation, and ABV overpowered the fruitiness, and it was mouth-puckering tart for my tastes. Actually it tasted more like champagne than cider. However, my husband loved it. If you are into drier, super tart, highly carbonated champagne-alternative ciders, I’d recommend it. I tried this at multiple temperatures and seemed to like it closer to room temperature to tone down the tartness some.

Most Similar to: Finnriver Artisan Sparkling Brut cider

Closing Notes: Despite being too tart for my liking, this was a great New Year’s Eve selection, as it is bubbly, and with a higher ABV, one bottle lasted all night. I bet any leftovers would make good mimosas too, although we didn’t have any left…

Have you tried Kite & String cider? What did you think?

Red Branch Hard Black Cherry

January 7, 2019January 1, 2019 cidersays Red Branch, review cherry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Red Branch, tasting notes

Review of Red Branch Hard Black Cherry cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Peach cider.

Cider: Hard Black Cherry
Cidery: Red Branch
Cidery Location: Sunnyvale CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with honey, sugar, and cherry

Availability: likely only in Northern California, plus online sales

Cider Description: Our most popular cider, our Black Cherry is the perfect balance between sweet and tart and delicious. When we made the first batch we didn’t know what to think – now we can’t make enough of the stuff. Be a hero, bring this to the next party you attend. Trust us!

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: ~ $7-8 / bottle
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: at my in-laws
How Found: I got this as a Christmas gift

First Impression: Smells of fake cherry flavor. Medium cherry red hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation).

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of fake cherry flavor with a hint of cranberry. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability.

My Opinion: I didn’t like this, and neither did any of the other folks I shared it with. The cherry flavor was too artificial / cough-syrup-like. It was borderline undrinkable for me.

Most Similar to: Wards and Strongbow cherry ciders, both of which also had a similar medicinal cherry flavor

Closing Notes: I’m surprised this is their most popular, as no one I tasted it with enjoyed it. I think cherry ciders are one of the more difficult flavors to pull off. However, I didn’t really like Red Branch’s peach cider either, so maybe their cidermaking style just isn’t for me. That is ok though, as everyone won’t like every cider.

Have you tried Red Branch cider? What did you think?

Eric Bordelet Nouvelle Vague Sidre 5L Keg

January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 cidersays Eric Bordelet, review Bordelet, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, Nouvelle Vague Sidre, sidre, tasting notes

Review of Eric Bordelet’s Nouvelle Vague Sidre, in a unique format, a 5 liter keg. I previously tried this cider on tap (see here), plus I’ve had his Poire Authentique, Sidre Tendre, and Sidre Brut Tendre.

Cider: Nouvelle Vague Sidre
Cidery: Eric Bordelet
Cidery Location: Normandy, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 5L mini (party) keg
Style: French sparkling cider from cider apples

Availability: likely limited

Cider Description: Eric Bordelet’s newest creation is going to be a big hit. This fresh, off-dry (but closer to dry) apple cider from his younger trees is fermented in a fresher style than his bottled ciders. Less skin maceration, makes for a more refreshing cider that will be even more versatile. Presented in 5L, re-closeable aluminum “kegs,” just put this in your fridge and the cider will stay fresh and vibrant for up to two weeks after opening. We bet it doesn’t last that long!

Cidery Description: The Bordelet family’s biodynamic orchards are in southern Normandy. The orchards as well as the cider making is undertaken by former Paris sommelier Eric Bordelet. All tolled, the orchard is 37 acres, seven and a half of which bear apple and pear trees 50 years old. The estate holds 20 varieties of apples and 15 varieties of pear. This is cider you are going to want to make a special effort to seek out.

See here and here for more information.

Price: ~$90
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: at my in-laws house over xmas break
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells super funky.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and tannins. Very high funk. Hints of sourness. Notes of bittersweet cider apple juice and pomace, orange, and leather. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Although I enjoyed the cider and had no problem finishing it, I was disappointed. It wasn’t nearly as sparkling as I expected (vs. all other French ciders I’ve had, plus photos and videos of this specific kegged cider), and it was super funky. Very different from when I tried it previously. For the price, based on what I saw online, and my previous trial, I had high expectations. I had planned to share it with others for Christmas dinner, but no one liked it as it was so funky. Thankfully I had a week to finish it myself. However, I understand that due to the style of cider (wild yeast fermentation), there will be variations batch to batch. Also, maybe there was some user error with the keg as far as getting it to be sparkling (although we followed the instructions).

Most Similar to: With it being nearly flat and super funky, this actually reminded me more of English than French cider.

Closing Notes: I think I’ll stick to bottled Bordelet ciders in the future, as those have all been superb.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Lonetree Apple Peach

January 2, 2019January 2, 2019 cidersays Lonetree, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lonetree, peach, peach cider, tasting notes

Review of Lonetree’s Apple Peach cider. It is my first time trying anything from this Canadian cidery.

Cider: Apple Peach
Cidery: Lonetree
Cidery Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: cans
Style: Canadian cider from heirloom apples, with peaches

Availability: likely only in British Columbia, Canada

Cider Description: Our Peach apple cider recipe is bursting with the taste of fresh & juicy BC peaches. We know you’ll taste the difference.

Cidery Description: We are a small, BC-owned company, making cider the old-fashioned way. We start with real BC apples from old growth orchards, deep in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Our authentic dry ciders are natural and real – from apples that are crushed and fermented, then filtered fresh clear and pure – much like a premium quality wine. We believe in local, natural, and sustainable farming. Our business concept started when we were introduced to 3rd generation family orchardists in Kelowna. To this day, we work with that same family, but have also expanded to work with BC Tree Fruits Co-Op which is made up of over 500 grower families in BC for our apple supply. We selected the name “Lonetree” because we think we stand alone in our belief in a 100% BC quality product. And we use the phrase “old growth orchard” because many of the apple trees are nearly 80 years old. We believe the old ways are still the best. We know you will taste the difference.

Price: ~ $3-4 CAN / 1 can
Where Bought: Victoria B.C.
Where Drank: home
How Found: When in port during a cruise. I was able to buy a number of single cans downtown, mostly 16oz, which is awesome as cans pack the easiest (can fit in a gallon Ziploc baggie).

First Impression: Pale peach yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of sweet peach puree.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of sharp heirloom apples and pomace, peach, and hints of citrus & apricot. Moderate length tannic finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Awesome! Great peach flavor with a tannic finish, very unique. Not overly tart either, which I appreciate. Most cideries don’t use cider apples when making flavored ciders. This is a bit of a mix between a heritage and modern cider, and I liked it.

Most Similar to: I’ve tried over a dozen peach ciders (see here and search for ‘peach’), and Tieton Bourbon Peach is the closest to this, except the finish on that was bourbon instead of tannic apple.

Closing Notes: I’m bummed this isn’t available locally, as I’d stock up. Hopefully I can find it when I’m in Vancouver in May.

Random Note: Lonetree’s ciders were apparently available in the U.S. for a short while under the name Soultree (due to a naming conflict). However, the distributor went under, so their ciders are no longer available in the U.S. I actually tried Soultree Dry previously, but I much prefer this peach one.

Have you tried Lonetree Apple Peach? What did you think?

My Favorite Ciders of 2018

December 27, 2018February 3, 2019 cidersays 2 Towns, Alpenfire, Central City, Eric Bordelet, favorite ciders, Ferme de Beau Soleil, Finnriver, Fresh Cut Cider, Herout, Kystin, La Chouette, Liberty, Manoir du Parc, Merridale, misc, Newton Court, Oliver's, One Tree, Phillippi, Pierre Huet, Portland Cider, review, Schilling, Somersby, Tieton, Woodbox, Woodchuck 2018, cider, cider list, cider review, cider tasting, favorite ciders, favorite ciders list, hard cider, tasting notes

Happy New Year! Now that it is nearly 2019, it is time for a list of some of my favorite ciders of 2018. This is a tradition here at Cider Says; see here for my list from 2017, here for my list from 2016, and here for my list from 2015. To make it a bit different and easier, I put them into categories instead of trying to do a top ten list or similar.

Note that I wouldn’t try to make a list of the best ciders, just those I enjoy, as it would be an impossible task to try every cider out there and be impartial. The cider world is very regional, so likely only readers in the NW would have a similar selection. My only criteria for this list is that I drank the cider in 2018. Some of the categories overlap. However, I cheated a bit, as I made the list first, then determined categories to put them in!

barrel aged: Tieton Bourbon Peach – This has more juicy peach flavor than bourbon, but the two go well together, and there is some nice complexity for being made from dessert apples.

botanical-infused: Finnriver Lavender Black Currant – This mouth-puckering tart cider is primarily black currant flavored, but also has hints of lavender.

brewery-made: Central City Limited Edition Imperial Cider – Most ciders I’ve tried that were made by breweries were disappointing, but this one was awesome, complex, imperial-style, and bourbon barrel aged.

canned commercial: Woodchuck 802 Collection ‘Lil Dry – Many commercial ciders are overly sweet and uninspired, but this was semi-dry, flavorful, and craft tasting.

cyser: Merridale Cyser – This cyser was imperial style and had some nice flavor and complexity, beyond just tasting like apple and honey.

draft commercial: Somersby Apple Cider – As much as I enjoy craft cider, sometimes a commercial cider really hits the spot, plus often that is all you can find. This cider is from Denmark but I tried it in Canada on vacation. Apple forward and not too sweet.

everyday English cider: Newton Court Gasping Goose – I’m a huge fan of English cider, and this was a go-to of mine, although unfortunately it is no longer available. Tannic, rich, flavorful, clean, and sessionable.

fancy English cider: Oliver’s Gold Rush batch #2 – This cider is crazy rich and complex, and a lovely deep hue too. A steal at $15/bottle. Wish I could find more. I picked some up on vacation, and got lucky when I returned the next year and they still had 1 bottle left, but haven’t seen it locally.

French cidre: Eric Bordelet Sidre Brut Tender and Ferme de Beau Soleil Cidre Fermier Bio Brut – I’m also a big French cider fan, and tried a number of great selections this year, but these stood out.

French perry: Pierre Huet Poire Demi-Sec – This French perry is unique, with its fluffy texture, tartness, great real pear flavor, and a bit less sweet. I haven’t found any American perries like the French ones I’ve had.

French Pommeau: Hérout à Auvers Pommeau de Normandie AOC – I tried this awesome Pommeau (cider + apple brandy) at Cider Summit. I’m looking forward to opening the bottle of it that I bought.

fruity: Portland Sangria – Very fruity, with unexpected complexity, a fruit salad sort of cider.

ginger-infused: Kystin Kalysie – I’m not a ginger fan, but I actually enjoyed the hint of ginger in this French perry.

ice cider: Woodbox Double Barrel – This is a less sweet ice cider, with rich concentrated flavor, and a twist, having been whiskey barrel aged.

large craft cider made with cider apples: Schilling Excelsior – This was made using bittersweet cider apples in addition to regular varieties, but remains beginner-friendly, staying a bit sweeter and clean and such. I’m seeing more mainstream ciders being made using cider apples, although often it seems like it must have been a small amount. The cider apple influence was definitely noticeable in Excelsior though.

New England style: Alpenfire Tempest – The style is characterized by the use of brown sugar and raisins, and this is a great example. It even reminded me of English cider.

pineapple cider: 2 Towns Pacific Pineapple – This cider is bursting with real fresh pineapple flavor, yet its less sweet.

Pommeau: Phillippi Fruit Snow Dance – This U.S.-made Pommeau is super flavorful and complex, and reminiscent of cyser.

rosé: Manoir du Parc Authentic Rosé and La Chouette Cidre Rosé – Both of these sweet French rosés are made from red-fleshed apples plus pears, and have a lovely fluffy texture. I’m not sure if I could even tell them apart in a taste comparison, they are so similar.

single varietal: Liberty Kingston Black – Made from only Kingston Black cider apples. Tart, rich, and complex, with a hint of sweetness, which I appreciated, as often these sorts of ciders go completely dry.

tannic cider: Finnriver Fire Barrel version 1 – Super tannic, flavorful, and complex, reminiscent of English cider. I wasn’t as much of a fan of their more recent version 2 of it though.

tropical: One Tree Staycation – I loved the complexity of this, which was unexpected for a cider from dessert apples. I drank way too much of this over the summer!

unexpected: Fresh Cut Watermelon Cider – Based on the can design and flavor, I was expecting this Canadian cider to be fake and syrupy, but this was superbly done, real tasting and semi-dry.

unique: Kystin Cuvée XVII – 16 varieties of apples plus chestnuts are used in this unique, complex, tannic, and nutty French cider.

Well, there you have it, a list of 26 of my favorite ciders from 2018. They have a lot in common – most are mid-level sweetness, rich, complex, and full-flavored. What are some of your favorite ciders?

Locust New England Amber

December 25, 2018December 16, 2018 cidersays Locust, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Locust, New England Amber, new england style, tasting notes

Review of Locust’s New England Amber. It is my first time trying this, but I previously tried their Original Dry, Green Tea Infused, Sweet Dark Cherry, Washington Dessert Apple, Bittersweet Reserve, Pumpkin, Thai Ginger, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Winesap, Alder Smoked Apple, Mango, Elder & Oak, Wabi Sabi, Apricot 1, Sweet Aged Apple, Berry Session, Smoked Blueberry, Vanilla Bean, Winter Banana, Chili Pineapple, Seckel Perry, Hibiscus, Honey Pear (drier), Apricot 2, Watermelon, Pineapple, and Honey Pear (sweeter).

Cider: New England Amber
Cidery: Locust
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 7.1%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft New England style cider from dessert apples, with brown sugar and dates

Availability: seasonal (winter), with semi wide distribution in the U.S.

Cider Description: Inspired by New England style ciders, Washington apples are blended with brown sugar and dates for a complex but smooth and balanced flavor.

Cidery Description: Family owned and operated out of Woodinville, WA since 2015, we believe in making real cider accessible for real people. We specialize in modern ciders made with all locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients, adding an innovative spin on classic cidermaking methods to bring out the best in the everyday apple.

They have a cidery & taproom in Woodinville WA, taprooms in Seattle and Tacoma WA, and a cidery & taproom in Ft Worth TX.

Price: ~$3 / single can (runs $8.99 / four pack of cans)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing – Total Wine is awesome as you can get a single can/bottle from most any multipack

First Impression: Moderate pumpkin amber hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells sweet and rich.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of rich apple, caramelized sugar, molasses, honey, and orange. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. Nice flavor and even some complexity, but not too sweet. Dates were substituted for raisins here, which would be more traditional, but I think it was a nice choice. I didn’t specifically pick up date flavor, but I imagine it added to the overall profile. The ABV was lower than is typical for the style.

Most Similar to: Cockrell Colonial Winter

Closing Notes: This is a great selection at an awesome price.

Have you tried Locust New England Amber? What did you think?

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