Grand Illusion Mystic Citra Pineapple

July 23, 2018July 23, 2018 cidersays Grand Illusion, review Carlisle, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Grand Illusion, hard cider, hopped cider, Mystic Citra Pineapple, Pennsylvania, tasting notes

Review of Grand Illusion Hard Cider’s Mystic Citra Pineapple, a hopped pineapple cider. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider:  Mystic Citra Pineapple
Cidery:  Grand Illusion Hard Cider
Cidery Location:  Carlisle PA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with Citra & Cascade hops and pineapple

>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Grand Illustion. 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.<<

Availability: in Pennsylvania, primarily at their taproom, but soon, at some other locations

Cider Description: Has a pineapple ever played tricks on you? This cider will. Floral and fruity with passion fruit, grapefruit, pineapple and lemongrass overtones. Dry hopped with a combination of Cascade and Citra hops.

Cidery Description: We are Grand Illusion, a hard cider production company located in Carlisle, PA. We use fresh pressed apples from Adams and York County to create magical ciders for all to enjoy. Our taproom in downtown Carlisle has become a destination, with 15 ciders, 5 beers, and 8 wines – all on draft and all from Pennsylvania.

Here is an article from a local newspaper on the cidery. They serve both their own ciders and ciders from other cideries at their taproom; see their tap list here.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $44 / case, likely ~ $11 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidery owners contacted me

First Impression: Light yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of hops, pineapple, and stone fruit.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of sourness. No funk or tannins. Notes of hops, pineapple, apricot/peach, and grapefruit. Long slightly bitter hoppy finish. Moderate hops intensity and overall flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high sessionability.

My Opinion: I would have liked it better with less bitter of a finish, but overall the flavor combination and level of sweetness were nice. My husband was a bigger fan. It was neat how many extra flavors there were. Also, more fruity than citrus or floral, which I’d expect from Citra hops (they did say Cascade were also used though). I think this would appeal well to beer drinkers. It tasted less sweet than the labeled 17 grams of sugar; possibly as the acidity and bitterness helped cut that, or else this was less sweet of a batch.

Most Similar to: Swift Pineapple Hop

Closing Notes: Next up I have their blueberry-lavender and hopped grapefruit varieties.

Have you tried hopped cider? What did you think?

Kystin Kalysie

July 16, 2018September 10, 2018 cidersays French Cider Inc., Kystin, review France, French perry, ginger perry, Kalysie, Kystin, pear cider, perry, perry review, tasting notes

Review of Kystin’s Kalysie, a French perry (from 100% pears) with ginger. I’ve previously tried their Opalyne and Cuvée XVII.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by French Cider Inc. / Beauchamp Imports. 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: Kalysie
Cidery: Kystin
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 2.0%
How Supplied: 330ml bottles
Style: Breton French Demi-Sec (sweet) perry (100% pear) with ginger

Availability: limited, imported by French Cider Inc.

Cider Description (translated): A hint of temptation. A crystalline dress, a nose with tonic accents of Ginger. A fruity attack, delicate to finish on a spicy lemon note. Ginger bursts to the pear for a striking union. Ideal as an aperitif, it will accompany fish and shellfish, pasta cheese parsley, and of course chocolate.

Cidery Description: Created in 2012, Kystin offers a range of original and very unique gourmet ciders, made of unusual ingredients such as chestnuts, pears and ginger. With a history dating back to the 14th century, Kystin ciders combine fruit, tradition and authenticity to create an unforgetabble taste. The brand recently released “Kalysie” – a pear ginger cider named as a tribute to the Khaleesi character from popular TV series Game of Thrones.

Price: n/a (retails for $7.49 / bottle)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through French Cider Inc.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of candied ginger with a hint of pear.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of pear & pear juice, pineapple, and ginger. Moderate length finish. Moderate pear flavor. Low ginger flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Great! I don’t usually like ginger, but it was quite mild, and the bit of ginger bite added to the overall flavor profile, to help balance the sweetness of the perry. The ginger was stronger in the scent than the taste. Nice pear flavor and not too sweet. However, there wasn’t anything about this perry that seemed French-like; I would have guessed this was a U.S. perry. Nothing wrong with that though. This would be a nice selection for brunch or lunch, at only 2% ABV.

Most Similar to: A more refined/craft version of Woodchuck Tank Series Pear Ginger

Closing Notes: This is the third of three Kystin varieties currently available in the U.S. (also see my reviews of their Opalyne and Cuvée XVII). Its interesting to see European cideries release flavored ciders/perries, similar to the U.S., when they have all the ideal apple and pear varieties for cider and perry making and such a long history of doing so. However, I can see new products increasing sales and expanding their target market. Some other flavored European ciders I’ve tried are Ramborn Cascade Hopped Cider and Lefevre Winter Cidre.

Have you tried French perry? What did you think?

Kystin Cuvée XVII

July 13, 2018September 10, 2018 cidersays French Cider Inc., Kystin, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Cuvée XVII, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Kystin, tasting notes

Review of Kystin’s Cuvée XVII, a French cidre. The “XVII” refers to the 16 apple varieties plus a 17th ingredient, chestnuts. I’ve previously tried their Opalyne.

Cider: Cuvée XVII
Cidery: Kystin
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Breton French Demi-Sec (sweet) cidre from 16 varieties of cider apples, with chestnuts

Availability: limited, imported by French Cider Inc.

Cider Description (translated): After seven long years of experimentation, a maceration of chestnut, raw, crushed, for many months in the juice will finally be retained to tie apple and chestnut: La Cuvée XVII is born! Today, it offers us a particularity and unique flavor, amazing Chefs and Sommeliers of very beautiful establishments, honoring the Gastronomy and knowing how to put forward the difference. Its sublime amber color, its tuberous nose, its attack very fresh honeyed apples gradually gives place to the flavors of Chestnut and its notes of undergrowth. There is also the creamy chestnut, cocoa and floral notes very intense.

Price: n/a (retails for $26.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through French Cider Inc.

First Impression: Light orange hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of sweet apple with earth and nut.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of bittersweet cider apple & pomace, yeast, nuts, orange, leather, and earth. Long tannic nutty finish. High apple flavor, sessionability, and complexity. Moderate to high flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Excellent! I love the uniqueness of this cider. Quite complex and flavorful. Probably the most tannic French cidre I’ve ever had, which I enjoyed, and the nuttiness paired perfectly. Also less sweet than I was expecting for a Demi-Sec, which makes it quite versatile. I drank this at cellar temperature (in between fridge & room temps), which the cidery recommended, and I agree with.

Most Similar to: I’ve actually tried two Chestnut themed ciders, an English cider aged in a Chestnut wood cask (Sandford Orchards Chestnut Cask), and a cider with Chestnut crabapples and aged with toasted oak spirals (Number 12 Chestnut), but neither were with actual chestnuts. The most nutty cider I’ve had was an English Perry from Hogan’s, but again, no nuts.

Closing Notes: Next up is Kystin’s Kalysie, a perry (100% pears) with ginger. So far I’m quite impressed, especially considering this is a relatively new cidery (2012), especially in comparison to the age of many other French cideries which have been around for generations.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Tart Cidery Granny’s Grudge

July 11, 2018July 11, 2018 cidersays review, Tart cider, cider review, cider tasting, Granny's Grudge, hard cider, Tart, Tart Cider, Tart Cidery, tasting notes

Review of Tart Cidery’s Granny’s Grudge. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery

Cider: Granny’s Grudge
Cidery: Tart Cidery
Cidery Location: Olympia WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 500ml cans
Style: American craft cider from ~~dessert~~ bittersharp apples

Availability: only in WA, retail and online sales

Cider Description: Our take on a classic, American Cider. Tangy, Tart and full of flavor, you’ll swear you’re biting into a fresh Granny Smith Apple straight from the tree.

Cidery Description: Tart Cider, LLC was formed in late 2016 as a collaboration between Zoe Van Schyndel and Nicholas E. Timm, after the two discovered a mutual love for cider and apples. The company is committed to sourcing products locally, maintaining a U.S. base for raw materials, doing things naturally and creating a delicious, natural product for any person older than 21. The company HQ is located in Olympia, Washington and currently distributes around the entire state of Washington.

Price: $3.99 / single can (runs $11.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Hazy lemonade hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of citrus.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple, lemon, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Low flavor intensity and complexity. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate apple flavor.

My Opinion: I wasn’t personally a fan of this, as it was too dry and bland for my liking. I think often ciders from dessert (not heirloom or cider) apples which are fermented dry and not flavored (with fruit, hops, spices, etc) can tend towards blah. However, I could see folks liking this who find most other ciders too sweet, even those advertised as being dry (which especially if in a multipack often aren’t). Also, they appear to be doing quite well on untappd and such. Based on the description saying they added maple syrup (which I didn’t taste) and it being a canned multipack cider, I had guessed it would be sweeter.

Most Similar to: Cascadia Ciderworks Green Apple

Closing Notes: They also offer a few other varieties (that I haven’t seen yet) – a mojito one, a spiced version, and a tannic rosé one.

Have you tried Tart Cidery’s Granny’s Grudge? What did you think?

Kystin Opalyne

July 9, 2018September 10, 2018 cidersays French Cider Inc., Kystin, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, french cider, French Cider Inc., French cidre, hard cider, Kystin, Opalyne, tasting notes

Review of Kystin’s Opalyne, a Brut French cidre. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Opalyne
Cidery: Kystin
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 330ml bottles
Style: Breton French cidre from cider apples, Brut (dry)

Availability: limited, imported by French Cider Inc.

Cider Description (translated): This is our last born, after intense demand from our customers. The Opalyne cuvée finally offers us a cider of haute couture with creamy foam. Its composition of sweet fruit, sweet bitter make it a delight on the palate. Let yourself be seduced and travel again in our history that is written day after day thanks to you.

Price: n/a (retails $6.99 / bottle)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: through French Cider Inc.

First Impression: Light amber hue. Low to moderate carbonation. Smells apple and yeast forward.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied, with some fluffiness. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of bittersweet apple juice and pomace, yeast, and orange. Moderate length finish. High apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Great! More complex than the average American cider, apple (but not apple juice) forward, full on flavor, and not too sweet. Not quite as much of that fluffy texture that is common with French ciders, but a bit. I’d love to see this available in a multipack, as this is a great every day selection.

Most Similar to: a more refined version of Celt

Closing Notes: This is French Cider Inc‘s first Brittany (vs. Normandy region) cidery. I have two more ciders from them for review.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Schilling Excelsior

July 6, 2018July 3, 2018 cidersays review, Schilling cider, cider review, cider tasting, Excelsior, hard cider, imperial cider, Schilling, Schilling Cider, tasting notes

Review of Schilling Excelsior. I first tried this on draft (see here), but I wanted to do a full review of a bottle. I’ve also tried Schilling’s Oak Aged, Gold, Grapefruit, Chaider, Ginger, Hopped, Sriracha Lime, Barrel #1, Barrel #2, Mischief Maker Pom-Cran, Grumpy Bear Coffee Nitro, Pineapple Passion, LumberJack (Rhubarb), Blackberry Pear, Dry, King’s Shilling, Vanilla Clove, Raspberry Smoothie, Peach Grapefruit Habanero, Bailout, Trouble in Paradise, Blueberry Cobbler, French Bittersweet, Pippin, Afterglow, Road Trip (Peach Citra), Grapefruit & Chill, Boysenberry Pommeau, Campfire, and Watermelon Mint,

Cider: Excelsior
Cidery: Schilling Cider
Cidery Location: Auburn (Seattle) WA
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (plus draft, and soon, six packs of 12oz cans)
Style: American craft imperial-style cider from dessert & bittersweet cider apples

Availability: Schilling Cider is sold at least in AK, AZ, CA, CT, ID, MN, NC, NV, OR, SC, VA, and WA, but this July 2018 release may have more limited distribution. Also, it is unclear whether this is a limited release, seasonal release, or new year-round offering.

Cider Description: Dear Earthlings, Schilling Cider has been on a lifelong quest to create a revolutionary cider. We have dreamt of a world that offers an imperial canned cider that stays true to its roots, without any added nonsense. Today, we introduce you to Excelsior, an Imperial Apple Cider that combined old world cider techniques with new world innovation. We start with fresh-pressed Washington-grown apples, add heirloom cider fruit, then ferment with a hand-selected yeast strain. This unique process highlights the apples’ aroma and tannin structure. The addition of traditional cider apples builds complexity, adds depth, and creates a sessionable imperial cider. Grab a bottle and get ready to blast off!

Cidery Description: In 1881, Colin Schilling’s great-great-grandfather, August, founded the Schilling Spice Company in San Francisco. He brought pure, natural, spices to everyone, at a fair price. Today, at Schilling Cider, we carry August’s core values forward and pair them with innovative cider-making techniques to produce quality, complex, hard ciders. Based in Seattle, Washington, Schilling Cider captures the essence of the Pacific Northwest by creating ciders that are deliberately innovative, bold and flavor forward. Never back-sweetened, we use only 100% fresh pressed apples, locally sourced non-GMO ingredients and individually hand select yeast strains to create a cider experience that is truly unique.

Price: $6.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I tried it on draft that day

First Impression: Medium golden hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, apple-forward, with a hint of richness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple pomace (skin), caramel, orange, leather, lemon, and brown sugar. Long tart tannic finish. Moderate apple flavor, complexity, flavor intensity, and sessionability.

My Opinion: Awesome! This has some great flavor. The level of sweetness is perfect, as it helps cut the acidity and bitterness, and hides the higher ABV.

Most Similar to: a cross between English, American heritage, and American modern ciders

Closing Notes: Its really neat to see a very large craft cidery do a large release of a cider made even partially from cider apples. Although others have done this, it wasn’t on as large of a scale. Also, even though the cider apples were used in a blend, unlike most others I’ve tried, the bittersweet characteristics were still quite evident. A big benefit of this being a large release and the cider apples being only part of the blend is the lower price, which at under $7 is in-line with most other ciders in 500ml bottles.

Have you tried any ciders made from bittersweet cider apples? What did you think?

Tieton Bourbon Peach

July 2, 2018June 23, 2018 cidersays review, Tieton barrel aged, Bourbon Peach, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, peach cider, tasting notes, Tieton, Yakima

Review of Tieton Bourbon Peach. I tried this on draft 2 years ago (see here), and heard last year that it came out in bottles but never saw it. Now that I found it this year, I wanted to do a full review. I’ve also had their Cidermaker’s Reserve, Apricot, Smoked Pumpkin, Wind (Pommeau), Wild Washington, Cherry, Blossom Nectar, Sparkling Perry, Cranberry, Frost (ice cider), Spice Route, Russian Red, and Lavender Honey.

Cider: Bourbon Peach
Cidery: Tieton Cider Works
Cidery Location: Yakima WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with peach, bourbon barrel aged

Availability: summer seasonal, since 2016, sold in Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada

Cider Description: Juice from hand-picked Washington State peaches is married with the richness of Kentucky bourbon barrels. This creates the perfect balance of sweet, ripe peaches and tartness of green apples. The charred oak of bourbon barrels gives this cider a deep vanilla and plum character. A touch of oak tannin finishes this cider off perfectly. Our love of what Northwest farmers have to offer has led us to create this “Limited Release” program. Featuring the bounty of our local agriculture, Tieton Cider Works’ Limited Releases will focus on some of the very best products the Northwest has to offer. Bourbon Peach is the perfect summertime libation with a refreshing blend of juicy peaches with and aged bourbon barrel flavors.

Cidery Description: From branch to bottle, Tieton Cider Works controls every aspect of the growing and cidermaking process. Tieton Cider Works boasts the largest orchard of cider varieties in Washington state and the largest Perry pear orchard in the United States. We blend our gnarly, inedible cider fruit with our organically grown dessert fruit. We’ve been growing apples, apricots, cherries and pears on Harmony Orchards – our family farm – since the 1930’s and are thrilled to be involved in Re:interpreting the tradition of cider making.

Price: $7.99
Where Bought: a weird bottle shop / bar inside a mini mart in Lynnwood WA called Stogies N Hops (we won’t be going back as it stank horribly of cigarette/cigar smoke and had a weird vibe)
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first tried it on draft 2 years ago

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of peach.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of peach with some other fruit (pineapple, mango, pear) and oak. Moderate length finish with mild bourbon. Moderate sessionability. Low apple flavor, barrel influence, and bourbon influence. Moderate complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Awesome! I love the flavor profile, and it has a nice complexity for being made from dessert apples. This is exactly the type of cider that I go for when drinking non-cider-apple ciders – full flavored and semi-sweet to semi-dry. If anything though I would have liked more bourbon. I’m really glad they went a bit sweeter on this, as I think many barrel aged ciders often go too dry, which combined with the barrel & spirit influence can come across as harsh.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of peach ciders, such as Black Fin Pacific Peach, Red Branch Peach, Schilling Road Trip (Peach Citra), Sancho Libre Peach Sangria, Fox Tail Fuzzy Haven, and Mission Trail Peach Coast (100% peach, so fruit wine not cider). This reminds me most of the Schilling Road Trip, except it has bourbon instead of hops. Most of the others were drier and more tart.

Closing Notes: The price point on this is great too, for what you are getting (I checked Total Wine’s website and found out they just got it in stock, and sell it $1 cheaper, for $6.99). I think this would do well in cans, but I think Tieton only does that for their ‘Rambling Route’ line (which I’m not a huge fan of, although its plenty drinkable).

Have you tried Tieton Bourbon Peach? What did you think?

Cider Riot San Patricios

June 29, 2018June 24, 2018 cidersays Cider Riot, review barrel aged, cider, cider review, Cider Riot, cider tasting, hard cider, San Patricios, tasting notes

Review of Cider Riot Black Bloc series San Patricios Tequila Barrel Aged Irish Cider. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Never Give An Inch Oregon Blackberry, 1763, Champeg X-17, Burn Cider, and Everyday Semi-Dry.

Cider: San Patricios
Cidery: Cider Riot
Cidery Location: Portland OR
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, Irish-style, tequila barrel aged

Availability: Limited release of 100 cases, at least 1 year ago. In general their ciders are sold in Oregon, Washington, and California in the U.S., British Columbia in Canada, plus Norway and Japan (see here).

Cider Description: After 6 months in a fresh Mexican tequila barrel our Irish-Style cider is revved up and ready for action. Dedicated to those who fight for freedom and against injustice, this cider allies spicy, fresh tequila notes with stalwart French and American oak tannins from the barrel. Born a rebel, the San Patricios will die just the same. With less than 100 cases produced be sure to get yours before the battle is over.

I sent them an e-mail asking about apple varieties, and they said dessert (supermarket) apples, then fermented warm with Australian white wine yeast, with the tannins coming from the American and French oak mezcal tequila barrels.

Cidery Description: Cider Riot! is dedicated to producing high quality ciders from Cascadian grown apples. With tradition as our guide and our roots firmly planted in the rich soils of our bioregion, our urban cidery produces refreshing, flavorful ciders.

They have a “pub” in the Portland area.

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

First Impression: Light amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells mild, of cider apples.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of rich tannic apples & pomace, oak, caramel, and earth. Long warm finish with a hint of tequila. Moderate barrel influence, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low tequila influence, apple flavor, and sessionability.

My Opinion: I was a bit ambivalent about this one. I liked the flavor, and was very surprised to hear it was only dessert apples, as it was rich & tannic (plus darker in color). However, I think it was a bit too dry for my personal liking, which also made the bitterness prevalent, plus the tequila flavor was very mild. I think this would have been awesome if they went a bit sweeter and added some tequila and lime to up the flavor profile.

Most Similar to: The only tequila barrel aged cider I’ve had is Wyder’s Pear Reposado, which in contrast to this one is sweeter and more tequila-forward, plus was from pears not apples. I also read that Austin Eastciders, Blake’s, Downeast, and Xylem make tequila barrel aged ciders.

Closing Notes: I think this is the richest / most tannic cider from only dessert apples that I’ve tried. Its crazy that just the barrel aging did that.

Have you tried any tequila barrel aged cider? What did you think?

Woodchuck Cucumber Mint

June 27, 2018June 29, 2018 cidersays Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, Cucumber Mint, hard cider, tasting notes, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Tank Series release #2, Cucumber Mint. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Spring, Summer Time, Fall Harvest, Winter Chill, Amber, Granny Smith, 802, Raspberry, Pear, Crisp, Gumption, Pink, Hopsation, Ciderbration, Local Nectar (VT), Sour Cherry, Chocolate, Farmhouse ’91, Barrel Select, Pumpkin, Belgian White, Mint, Splitter Splinter, Oopsy Daisy, Lazy Hazy Lemon Crazy, Hot Cha Cha Cha, Campfire Pancakes, Barrel Aged Cherry, Day Chaser, June and Juice, Semi-Dry, Ginger Lovin’, Summer Time Pear Ginger, Gumption Citrus Freak, and Tank Series Pear Ginger.

>>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: Cucumber Mint
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with cucumber and mint

Availability: wide release, July-September 2018, until the next Tank Series release (#3/3, due out later this year)

Cider Description: Cucumber Mint cider is bursting with bright cucumber and mint for a light, refreshing taste experience.

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 for a 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 $8.99-9.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

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

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor was primarily citrus (I didn’t detect any specific cucumber flavor), with a long mint finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I thought it was ok. I personally wasn’t super into the mint flavor, but it was mild, not at all overpowering, and the cider was quite drinkable overall.

Most Similar to: Schilling Watermelon Mint, which was similar to this in that the flavor overall was rather mild, and the mint was only on the finish.

Closing Notes: This is the second mint flavored cider I have known Woodchuck to make – the first was cellar series “Mint”.

Have you tried Woodchuck Cucumber Mint? What did you think?

2 Towns Pearadise

June 25, 2018June 22, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, imperial cider, pear cider, Pearadise, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns Pearadise, Imperial Getaway, their new spring seasonal imperial-style cider from apples and pears then finished with white grape wine. See the article here. It is my first time trying this, although I have had their Bright Cider, Bad Apple, Serious Scrump, Out Cider, Cherried Away, Made Marion, Cidre Moscato, Throne of Thorns, Cider Master Reserve Batch No. 01 – Barrel Select Blend, Prickle Me Pink, Nice & Naughty Nice & Naughty Bourbon Barrel Aged, Dark Currant, Riverwood Brut 2014, Rhubarbarian, Pommeau (2013 Harvest, 2015 Release), Ginja Ninja, Sun’s Out Saison, Return of the Mack, Hop and Stalk, La Mûre, Cot in the Act, Hollow Jack, Traditions Cider Bouche 2015, Traditions Riverwood 2015, Flight of the Kiwi, Prickle Me Pink ^2, Afton Field, Traditions Cidre Bouche 2016, Man Gogh, Pacific Pineapple, Passion Statement, Easy Peasy.

Cider: Pearadise
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 8.6%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American imperial-style craft cider from apples, D’Anjou pears, and Muscat grapes

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

Cider Description: Fruity and complex, Pearadise is found in this distinctly Northwest libation. Fresh-pressed pears are fermented together with local apples, then finished by blending in a touch of white wine, resulting in a sophisticated imperial style with plenty of panache.

Cidery Description: At 2 Towns Ciderhouse we believe that the long history of cidermaking demands respect and deserves to be done right. Starting with the highest quality whole ingredients from local farms, we take no shortcuts in crafting our ciders. We never add any sugar, concentrates or artificial flavors, and instead use slow, cold fermentation methods to allow the fruit to speak for itself. As a family-owned company, we are committed to the growth of our team and enrichment of our communities. We take pride in producing true Northwest craft cider.

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

Price: n/a (retails for $5.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light gold hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of sweet pear and white grape.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of pear, white grape, wood, and pineapple. Long warming white wine-like finish. Moderate pear flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low apple flavor and sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. I had this in my cider fridge, so I first tried it at cellar temperature. However, I quickly found this, like most imperial-style ciders, is a variety best drank very cold. Once it properly chilled, it was much easier to drink. Lots of flavor, starting with pear with a hint of apple, then finishing like a white wine, with grape and some alcohol-forward warmth. I would have guessed it was barrel aged as I got a distinct wood/oak note, but they didn’t describe it as that, plus the price point is quite low on this, so I’d be surprised if it was.

Most Similar to: The grape aspect of this reminded me of 2 Towns’ own Cidre Moscato. However, I can’t remember ever having an imperial-style pear cider, nor could I find any but this in an online search.

Closing Notes: It is surprising with how many dozens of cider varieties 2 Towns has made, how few have been made with pears. They had a previous version of Pearadise in 2012 (as mentioned in this article), and more recently, Passion Statement (with pear and passionfruit), and now this, but that is about it.

Have you tried 2 Towns Pearadise? What did you think?

Worley’s Red Hen

June 21, 2018June 16, 2018 cidersays review, Worley's cider, cider review, cider tasting, English Cider, hard cider, Red Hen, tasting notes, worley's

Review of Worley’s Red Hen. It is my first time trying this English cider, but I have had their Special Reserve, Premium Vintage, and Mendip Hills.

Cider: Red Hen
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: Red Hen is a rich, satisfying cider made from a blend of early-season bittersweet cider apples with sharp apples from the same part of the season. It is naturally the colour of golden straw and its two main characteristics are distinctive fruity apple and a lingering spicy tannin. The name is inspired by our lovely flock of chickens.

Cidery Description: Worley’s ciders are made on a 17th Century farm in England using fresh-pressed apple juice to create modern ciders with bold tannins and deep flavours.

Price: $8
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing; this is the first time I’ve seen this variety

First Impression: Medium orange amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells rich, tannic, and funky.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, bitterness, and funk. Moderate tannins. No sourness. Notes of caramel, orange, and leather. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, sessionability, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, its not one of my favorites, mostly due to the bitterness.

Most Similar to: Worley’s Premium Vintage, although that seemed more complex and cost $11, and this was only $8.

Closing Notes: My favorite Worley’s is Mendip Hills.

Have you tried English cider? What did you think?

Eden Heritage Cider

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 cidersays Eden, review canned cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, Heritage Cider, tasting notes, Vermont

Review of Eden Heritage Cider, their first canned product. It is my first time trying this, although I’ve tried Eden’s Sparkling Dry, Cinderella’s Slipper, Heirloom Ice Cider, Sparkling Semi-Dry, Northern Spy Ice Cider, Honeycrisp Ice Cider, Imperial 11 Rosé, Heirloom Brandy Barrel Aged Ice Cider, Guinevere’s Pearls, Windfall Orchard Ice Cider, Two Ellies (collaboration with Tilted Shed), and The Falstaff.

Cider: Heritage Cider
Cidery: Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Newport VT
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans
Style: American craft canned heritage cider

Availability: VT, MA, ME, NJ, NY, CO, NC, SC, and soon in NH, VA, MD, D.C., and IL, released June 2018

Cider Description: More flavor. Less sweet. Harvest Pressed. Cold fermented. Nothing but apples. Made like wine. Canned for convenience.

Made from Vermont-grown heirloom & cider apples, fermented dry, aged 5 months, then blended with a touch of ice cider to 1.2% residual sugar. It won silver in the Heritage Dry category at GLINTCAP 2018.

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 Vermont. Their current product line includes ice ciders, Aperitif ciders, sparkling ciders, and Cellar Series releases.

Price: n/a (runs $16 / four pack, which sounds like a lot, but is an awesome deal at just over $8 / 750ml instead of ~ $15)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the cidermaker Eleanor Leger contacted me

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of acidic citrus-forward heirloom apple cider.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness. High acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of heirloom apple, lemon, mineral, white grape, green apple, and floral. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. Lots of flavor without being sweet. Complex. More of the flavor profile was from the heirloom apples (acidic, citrus, floral, fruity) than the cider apples (rich, caramel); I’ve found this to be the case when both types are listed in a blend.

Most Similar to: A mix between Eden’s Dry and Semi-Dry ciders, although slightly less complex and more sessionable.

Closing Notes: This is a great option which would work just as well when spending time outside on a hot day as it would with a fancy dinner.

Have you tried any canned heritage ciders? What did you think?

Locust Watermelon

June 14, 2018June 10, 2018 cidersays Locust, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Locust, tasting notes, washington, watermelon, Woodinville

Review of Locust’s Watermelon cider. I previously tried this on draft (see here), but this time I am doing a full review of a can. I’ve also previously tried Locust’s Sweet Dark Cherry, Original Dry, Green Tea Infused, 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, Pineapple, Honey Pear (sweeter)

Cider: Watermelon
Cidery: Locust
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with watermelon juice

Availability: likely at least in Washington, Oregon, Chicago, Florida, California, and Texas

Cider Description: Washington apples, watermelon juice, & that’s all

Cidery Description: My brother Patrick and I founded Locust Cider in March 2015 with the mission of making outstanding hard cider using the fruit that is most available in Washington- the eating apple. Washington growers produce 60% of the apples in the United States, and cider-specific varieties are in a major shortage, so we set out to put innovative spins on classic cider-making methods to bring out the best in the everyday apple. Our delicious ciders begin with great fruit- we primarily use “cull” apples- those that are not pretty enough or are too small or large to make it to grocery stores- diverting them from destruction because their juice is still great. Our unique process then transforms the apples into great cider through methodical yeast selection, meticulous temperature control, slow aging, and creative and deliberate blending.

They have tap rooms in Woodinville WA, Seattle WA (Ballard), Tacoma WA, and Ft. Worth TX.

Price: $9.99 / four pack
Where Bought: PCC in Fremont Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, after visiting the Schilling Cider House

First Impression: Hazy light pink-orange hue. Very low carbonation. Smells very mildly of watermelon.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of watermelon and a hint of white grape. Quick finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I like it, especially as I’m a huge watermelon fan. Its a nice light option for spring & summer, less sweet, but still fairly flavorful, although fairly simple.

Most Similar to: The only other watermelon beverages I’ve tried are a watermelon perry (from pears) from NV Cider and a watermelon session mead (from honey) from Bee Haven.

Closing Notes: Locust has a great lineup of flavorful ciders, from dry to sweet, although my favorites from them are on the sweeter end (this one, Bittersweet Reserve, Sweet Aged Apple, and Vanilla Bean + Smoked Blueberry)

Have you tried Locust Watermelon? What did you think?

2 Towns Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

June 11, 2018June 10, 2018 cidersays 2 Towns, review 2 Towns, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Easy Peasy, hard cider, Lemon Squeezy, raspberry lemonade, tasting notes

Review of 2 Towns Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, a new seasonal lemon raspberry cider. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had their Bright Cider, Bad Apple, Serious Scrump, Out Cider, Cherried Away, Made Marion, Cidre Moscato, Throne of Thorns, Cider Master Reserve Batch No. 01 – Barrel Select Blend, Prickle Me Pink, Nice & Naughty Nice & Naughty Bourbon Barrel Aged, Dark Currant, Riverwood Brut 2014, Rhubarbarian, Pommeau (2013 Harvest, 2015 Release), Ginja Ninja, Sun’s Out Saison, Return of the Mack, Hop and Stalk, La Mûre, Cot in the Act, Hollow Jack, Traditions Cider Bouche 2015, Traditions Riverwood 2015, Flight of the Kiwi, Prickle Me Pink ^2, Afton Field, Traditions Cidre Bouche 2016, Man Gogh, Pacific Pineapple, and Passion Statement.

Cider: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
Cidery: 2 Towns
Cidery Location: Corvallis OR
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with lemons and raspberries, soured with lacto

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

Cider Description: Citrusy and refreshing, Easy Peasy will have you leisurely drifting your way through summer. Crafted with fresh-pressed Northwest apples, Meyer lemon, raspberries and soured with lactobacillus, it’s summertime and the livin’s squeezy!

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

Price: retails for $6.99
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Hazy pink lemonade hue. Still. Smells of lemon and raspberry.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. High tartness and acidity. Hints of sourness and bitterness. No tannins or funk. Notes of lemon, raspberry, granny smith apples, and grapefruit. Quick finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity and flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I really liked the flavor, and the sweetness was spot-on, but it was a bit too mouth-puckering tart for me. I didn’t read that this was soured with lacto until after trying it, and I wouldn’t really have guessed, as it was mostly front of the palette tart, not back of the palette sour. Good for me, as I don’t like true sour ciders (like Spanish sidra and rustic/farmhouse-style).

Most Similar to: an alcoholic version of a less sweet than normal raspberry lemonade (my favorite lemonade is Crabbie’s Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade, which like this is less sweet than typical, but I can’t seem to find it anymore)

Closing Notes: I’m surprised they are only releasing this in bottles (at least for now), as I imagine this would be a great cider to have in cans for summer.

Have you tried 2 Towns Easy Peasy? What did you think?

Apple Outlaw Pineapple Getaway

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

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

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

Availability: probably only in Oregon and Washington

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried pineapple cider? What did you think?

Le Brun Brut

June 6, 2018June 2, 2018 cidersays Le Brun, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, France, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, Le Brun, tasting notes

Review of Le Brun’s Brut. This is my first time trying this Brittany French cidre, although I have had their Organic Cidre and Poire (perry). These three varieties are the only ones offered in the U.S., although in France (and Europe probably) there are probably more.

Cider: Brut
Cidery: Le Brun
Cidery Location: Brittany France
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 375ml (and 750ml) bottles
Style: French cidre

Availability: semi wide release, imported by Winesellers, Ltd.

Cider Description: Aromas of sweet, ripe apples dominate the nose. The sweetness is nicely balanced by moderate acidity and light tannins drying it out on the finish with a beautiful woody note. A crisp, well balanced and an interesting cider. A cider with real depth and character.

Cidery Description: Le Brun Cidres have been produced in Brittany, France since 1955. Cidres are made using the traditional method of natural fermentation of pure pressed juices from handpicked apples.

See here for more info.

Price: $5
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was the first time I had seen these half bottles, which at 1/2 the price are a great deal.

First Impression: Medium hazy orange hue. High carbonation with foam. Smells of bittersweet apples and funk.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low funk, bitterness, and tannins. Notes of bittersweet apples, juice, & pomace and orange with some earthiness. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I didn’t personally like this at all due to the sourness, which is my number one disliked quality in a cider (for some reason it just hits my taste buds all wrong and that is all I can taste). I was surprised by the sourness and funk, as although this is noted as being wild fermented, Brittany cidres usually remain clean (unlike most Normandy cidres), and the other two selections I’ve tried from the cidery were clean.

Most Similar to: Herout AOC Cotentin Extra-Brut

Closing Notes: I much prefer their Organic Cidre, which is sweeter and fairly clean (only a bit of funk, which I actually like).

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

Schilling Cider House Visit 32 Tasting Notes

June 4, 2018June 22, 2018 cidersays Channel Marker, Redstone, review, Schilling, Woodbox cider, cider bar, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Schilling Cider House, seattle, tasting notes

Tasting notes from my 32nd visit to the Schilling Cider House in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle WA. Its actually been a few times more than that as sometimes I just pop in to buy bottles. Check out my past posts with tasting notes here.

I was there on a Friday around lunchtime as I got off work early. It has been so long since my last visit as its not on my way home from work anymore, as I now both live and work up North, so its a bit of a long drive. I got a flight, as usual. Its pretty sweet that even with all the ciders I’ve tried, there were 5 new-to-me varieties.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Excelsior (8.5% ABV): This is their new Imperial-style cider made from bittersweet and dessert apples, also available in bottles (I picked one up – $7 / 500ml – an amazing value), and soon, cans. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Nice rich bittersweet apple flavor with some caramel and orange. Hints of tannins and bitterness. Noticeable ABV. The tartness picked up as it warmed. I liked that they left this a bit sweeter, which makes it even more flavorful, and likely helps cut down on the bitterness. This is quite different from English cider, but was not advertised as English-style, which I appreciate (it seems like every U.S. cider I’ve had that was labeled as English-style didn’t come even close, which is understandable as even if the same techniques and apples were used, which often isn’t the case, the terrior and cidermaker experience is different here). Excellent, and a great use of the bittersweet apples. Lately I’ve been seeing them used in blends with heirloom apples, which I think tends to hide their flavor. Its great to see a cidery use them exclusively, make a product that is likely to be fairly widely appealing (vs. going dry & bitter with it), and still come in at an awesome price point!

Schilling (Auburn WA) Campfire (6.5% ABV): This is their new draft-only “Smokey Vanilla Bourbon” cider, bourbon barrel aged. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Smells of vanilla extract. The vanilla flavor is less intense than it smells, and it finishes with smoke, bourbon, and oak. Moderately flavored. I really enjoyed it, and wouldn’t consider it a novelty at all. It would be neat to see this bottled.

Woodbox (Portland OR) Heritage (8.1% ABV): This is the first cider I’ve tried from them besides their barrel aged ice cider (see here). This is their flagship cider, made from heirloom, English, and French apple varieties, partially wild fermented, and also available in bottles. Smells sour. Semi-dry to dry. The flavor is tart heirloom apples with some citrus. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Hints of sourness. I didn’t personally care for this due to the sourness and bitterness and as the flavor was a bit nuanced. These sorts of farmstyle ciders seem to be getting more common though, so there must be a demand.

Channel Marker (Seattle WA) Lavender Bergamot (6.9% ABV): This is the first time I’ve tried anything from this cidery, which was established in 2016 but I didn’t start to hear about until quite recently. This variety is made with lavender and bergamot (a type of oranage – I had to look that up), and said to be their cidermaker’s favorite. Hazy hue. Semi-dry to dry. Very tart and bitter. The lavender was only present in the scent and the finish for me. In between was a tart bitter apple-citrus flavor. I didn’t like this one at all.

Redstone (Boulder CO) Cyser (8.0% ABV): The meads (honey wines) from this meadery are fairly widely distributed, in blue glass bottles. This is the first cyser (from apples and honey) I’ve seen from them, although I’ve tried at least one of their meads previously. Sweet. Full bodied. Simple honey-apple flavor (with more honey than apple) with hints of caramel. Well-hidden ABV. I liked it. However, although they are a nice budget-friendly mead & cyser option, but don’t really stand up against some of the higher quality more complex (and admittedly mostly more expensive) meads I’ve tried, such as from Superstition (Prescott AZ), Æsir (Everett WA), Sky River (Woodinville WA) and Moonlight (Londonderry NH).

I also had a taste of a new cider they just tapped.

Schilling (Auburn WA) Watermelon Mint (6.6% ABV): This is a brand new tap-only release. Smells of watermelon toothpaste. On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Very light bodied. The mild flavor was all watermelon, with a hint of mint on the finish. Refreshing. I liked it, although its not something I’d really choose to drink a pint of.

My favorites were Schilling’s Excelsior and Campfire and the Redstone Cyser. I also picked up some bottles, as usual, as they have an excellent selection (and prices) – I got a bottle of the Excelsior (for $7, why not?), Alpenfire’s new Foxwhelp single varietal, a new to this area Worley’s English cider (Red Hen), restocked my supply of go-to English ciders (Newton Court’s Gasping Goose and Dunkertons Black Fox), and got a fancy barrel aged Moonlight cyser. Plus at PCC down the street I picked up a four-pack of Locust Watermelon (it was the first time I had seen it in cans – I tried it on draft awhile back).

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

Shacksbury Citrus Cider Spritz

June 1, 2018June 1, 2018 cidersays review, Shacksbury cider, cider review, cider tasting, Citrus Spritz, hard cider, Shacksbury, tasting notes

Review of Shacksbury’s Citrus Cider Spritz. It is my first time trying anything from this Vermont cidery. I picked this up in San Francisco last fall.

Cider: Citrus Spritz
Cidery: Shacksbury
Cidery Location: Vergennes VT
ABV: 3.8%
How Supplied: 12oz cans
Style: American craft session cider with a tincture of citrus and rose petal

Availability: limited (they do have some online sales, but at the time of review I didn’t spot this one)

Cider Description: Dry, light and refreshing with a vibrant citrus nose. Apples grown at Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall, Vermont. Tincture (citrus and rose) produced by Alice & the Magician in Burlington, Vermont. 2016 harvest. Slow cool fermentation. Pairs with tapas, oysters, brunch, lawn game.

Cidery Description: Far from ordinary, apples are the most diverse food plant on earth. Unfortunately, only a handful of varieties are cultivated at scale in America, and all of those are designed for eating, not cider making.

At Shacksbury, we believe cider can, and should, be daring and complex. From gnarled trees on New England farmsteads to Old World orchards in England and Spain, our cider will change the way you think about this amazing fruit.

Price: $3.29 / single can
Where Bought: K&L Wines in San Fransisco
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Pale pink-brown hue. Low carbonation. Smells of roses.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of rose, lemon, orange, and pomegranate. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I wasn’t a fan of this due to the rose flavor; to me, it was overpowering and bitter. I tasted much more rose than citrus. I would have also preferred slightly more sweetness (it is listed as only 3 grams sugar / 12oz). I liked the general idea of the cider though.

Most Similar to: I’ve had some other ciders with rose (usually rose petals in secondary fermentation, not a tincture), but in all the others, it was very subtle, unlike this one.

Side Note: They also have a Ginger Spritz variety.

Closing Notes: I’d be interested in trying one of Shacksbury’s more traditional ciders, although in general it appears their cider style (dry, often wild yeast fermented) isn’t the best fit with my personal tastes. Thankfully we have so many cider options – something for everyone.

Have you tried Shacksbury Spritz? What did you think?

Aspall Perronelle’s Blush

May 29, 2018May 27, 2018 cidersays Aspall, review aspall, cider, cider review, cider tasting, England, English Cider, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Aspall Perronelle’s Blush, an English cider with blackberry juice. I tried this previously at Cider Summit Seattle 2016, but this is a full review of a bottle. I’ve tried a few Aspall varieties, every one that I have seen locally – Dry, John Barrington, Imperial (black label), Demi Sec, Imperial (blue label), and Grand Cru.

Cider: Perronelle’s Blush
Cidery: Aspall
Cidery Location: Suffolk, England
ABV: 5.7%
How Supplied: 500ml tall bottle
Style: commercial English cider with blackberry juice

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Perronelle’s Blush Suffolk Cyder is inspired by our Grandmother Perronelle, who loved foraging for blackberries in the hedgerows around the orchards at Aspall. Taste Descriptor: Attractive apple and blackberry define a sweetish palate, with good acid balance and a long soft fruit finish. Serving Suggestion: Wonderful with duck & hoisin sauce, and sharp fruit-based puddings such as tarte au citron and gooseberry fool. Apple Variety: Bittersweet, Culinary & Dessert.

Their website lists this at 4% ABV, while the bottle says 5.7%, so they may have both local and for export only versions, or they changed the recipe at some point.

Cidery Description: Our family cyder-making business was established in 1728 by Clement Chevallier. He planted the orchards at Aspall Hall in Suffolk. The Chevallier family still live and work among Clement’s orchards and today Aspall is run by the eighth generation of the family.

Price: $4.99 (on sale from $6.99 – I’m guessing they are clearing out inventory to discontinue selling it)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I originally tried this at Cider Summit Seattle; this time I was just browsing

First Impression: Purple-red hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of berries.

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

My Opinion: I enjoyed it – nice balanced berry flavor and a perfect level of sweetness for my tastes. However, there was no noticeable English cider characteristics; I would have guessed this was a U.S. cider from dessert apples. However, at the price point and for the style (flavored), I didn’t mind.

Most Similar to: A U.S. made craft cider from dessert apples with berries or berry juice added.

Closing Notes: My favorite Aspall by far is the black label Imperial, but they appear to have replaced that with the blue label Imperial. I think they are all pretty tasty though, an entry level English cider (not as tannic or funky as many, so well suited to those not yet familiar with the style).

Have you tried Aspall cider? What did you think?

Moonlight Meadery Thirteen 5

May 14, 2018May 10, 2018 cidersays Moonlight Meadery, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cyser, hard cider, Moonlight, Moonlight Meadery, tasting notes, Thirteen 5

Review of Moonlight Meadery’s Thirteen 5. This appears to be their ‘How Do You Like Them Apples’ with a new name, plus apparently it is now aged in new oak instead of whiskey barrels. I assume Thirteen 5 refers to this being 13.5% ABV. The name change is likely to differentiate it from their ‘How Do You Like Them Little Apples’, which is a lower ABV cider (instead of a higher ABV cyser like this).

I have previously tried How Do You Like Them Apples (canned), How Do You Like Them Little Apples (canned), and How Do You Like Them Little Apples (draft). I’ve also tried a few other beverages from Moonlight Meadery: Boys N Berries, Last Apple, and Crimes of Passion

Cider: Thirteen 5
Cidery: Moonlight Meadery
Cidery Location: Londonderry NH
ABV: 13.5%
How Supplied: 12oz cans
Style: American craft cyser (made from apple juice & honey), with brown sugar, barrel aged

Availability: Semi wide release, in the U.S., since January 2018. In general Moonlight products are available in at least AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WA, WA D.C., and WI, and Australia, China, and Japan. They also have an online store.

Cider Description: A New England Hard Cider, made from freshly pressed apple cider with a bit of natural sugar used to help reach the impressive strength, then we let it age in hand made American Foeders.

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

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

Price: ~$6 / single can
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing; I was curious if this was a new or renamed product, and if they had fixed a previous issue I’ve noticed with their canned ciders turning sour/vinegary over time

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells rich and apple & honey forward.

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

My Opinion: At first I liked it. However, same as I had experienced with previous canned batches of their ciders, with the finish, there were hints of sourness and vinegar. So, it appears the issue hasn’t been fixed. The longer these sit around, the worse they get (this batch said Dec 2017). Unfortunately this makes it quite unlikely I’ll want to try any cans from them again, as now this is three different batches in a row spread out over time with apparently the same defect.

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

Have you tried Moonlight Meadery Thirteen 5? What did you think?

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