Centre Ring Reserve Pear

May 4, 2018April 30, 2018 cidersays Centre Ring, Pear UP, review Centre Ring, cider, pear cider, perry, perry review, perry tasting, Reserve Pear, tasting notes

Review of Centre Ring Reserve Pear, made by Pear UP (previously NV Cider, Neigel Vintners). I tried this perry at an event last year (see here). I’ve also had Pear UP’s Pear Essentials, Half Past Prudent, Cherry Perry, Watermelon Perry, Watermelon Raspberry Perry, Raspberry Perry, Pearjito Colada, Pearfect Pie, and Pineapple Pear.

Note that in the U.S., “perry” is fermented pear juice, and “pear cider” is a fermented apple juice-based cider with pear juice for flavor. However, elsewhere (such as in the UK), they don’t really do pear-flavored apple cider, and use “perry” only for the fermented juice of specialty perry pear varieties, and “pear cider” is for fermented common (dessert) pear juice.

Cider: Reserve Pear
Cidery: Centre Ring (whose perry & cider are made by Pear UP)
Cidery Location: Wenatchee WA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft perry

Availability: very limited, likely only in WA

Cider Description: After World War II, Kevin and Mark’s grandfather planted a small pear orchard in the Wenatchee Valley. Upon taking over the family orchard, they discovered that the native pear varieties provided a uniquely light and flavorful finish. Clean and honest flavors can be found throughout all their ciders, bringing simple gestures from the complex art of cider making without the weight of syrupy sugars. Join them in drinking the award-winning spoils of their harvest and the flavor of tradition.

Cidery Description: Centre Ring expands outside selling spirits, wines, and craft beverages. We also represent select artisan foods, products, and reserves in addition to our alcohol selections. We want to bring the experience of the homemade and personal touch of these products to everyone in the area. We are including local cheese makers, bakers, jam & jellies, pickles, jerky, and much more from our local communities. The key to building out your brand to reach consumers is to know what they are looking for. We study and follow industry trends and practices to help target the widest audience possible. Each individual product has its own small directions that make them unique. However, we are beginning to see the lines between them blur as consumers are looking for new and different tastes to suit their needs

Price: $12
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: a WA Cider Week 2017 preview event (see here)

First Impression: Clear hue with a hint of pink. Very low carbonation with some foam. Smells of pear with a hint of fruitiness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of sourness. No bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of canned & dried pear and pear juice, with hints of strawberry and vinegar. Quick finish. Moderate pear flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Low overall flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked this perry when I tried it previously. However, due to the hint of vinegar, this time I wasn’t a fan. I believe this was a bad batch; unfortunately this happens sometimes.

Most Similar to: a drier more complex version of Pear UP’s Pear Essentials perry

Closing Notes: Centre Ring appears to be an interesting brand, bringing together various local producers of all sorts of products. As of this post, they have this perry as well as a cider from Pear UP, plus beer, wine, spirits, and lots more made by other producers.

Have you tried perry? What did you think?

Eve’s Scatterseed

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 cidersays Eve's Cidery, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eve's, Eve's Cidery, hard cider, New York, Scatterseed, tasting notes

Review of Eve’s Cidery’s Scatterseed. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Beckhorn Hollow, Autumn’s Gold, Kingston Black, and Rustica.

Cider: Scatterseed (2014 vintage)
Cidery: Eve’s Cidery
Cidery Location: Van Etten NY
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottle
Style: American artisan methode champenoise cider from cider apples

Availability: sold out per their website

Cider Description: Aromas of damp earth, ripe waxy apple, tamari and beeswax focus (coalesce) into flavors of ripe fruit and game which are deep and layered. Textures of sandstone and chewy bittersweet apple. Finish is completely dry and savory with full, lingering tannin.

See here for more info on this cider; I like how they are very detailed in all their cider descriptions.

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

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

Price: $18
Where Bought: the cidery’s online store
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Medium gold hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells dry, tannic, and rich.

Tasting Notes: Completely dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Moderate to high tannins. Hints of bitterness and funk. No sourness. Earthy notes of caramel, leather, butterscotch, lemon, butter, and floral. Long tannic finish. Low apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. High complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. The tannins and flavor were great. However, I would have preferred more sweetness and less acidity. I’d love to see more tannic traditional ciders like this that are semi-dry instead of dry, as I think it brings out more flavor, and makes them more approachable.

Most Similar to: very few ciders, as very few cideries are using such a high percentage of bittersweet & bittersharp cider apples in a cider (although it is getting more common, but usually they are blended with heirloom apples such that the bittersweet & bittersharp apple characteristics are muted)

Closing Notes: my favorite Eve’s cider remains Rustica, but I’d love to see a slightly sweeter version of this or their Kingston Black

Have you tried Eve’s Scatterseed? What did you think?

Ferme de Beau Soleil Cidre Fermier Brut

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 cidersays Ferme de Beau Soleil, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, Cidre Fermier Brut, Ferme de Beau Soleil, France, french cider, French cidre, tasting notes

Review of Ferme de Beau Soleil’s Cidre Fermier Bio Brut, a French “Farmer’s Cider”. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery, although I am a fan of French cidre (see some of my reviews here).

Cider: Cidre Fermier Bio Brut
Cidery: Ferme de Beau Soleil
Cidery Location: Matignon, Brittany, France
ABV: 5%
How Supplied: 750ml champagne corked & caged bottles
Style: Breton French cidre

Availability: likely limited, imported by “Wines of France”

Cider Description: Google translated as To offer you this raw cider, I have selected and assembled the best varieties of apples live from my orchards. Since a slow fermentation and craftsmanship, its characteristic fruity taste will seduce you with an aperitif, until dessert.

Cidery Description: The Renouard family has been making cider since 1975, and were certified organic in 2008. The current cidermaker is Thomas Renouard (one source said its a one-man operation-wow).

Price: $12
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, the first time I had been in since their long closure for remodel

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

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity, tannins, and funk. Hints of bitterness. No sourness. Notes of bittersweet cider apples & pomace, caramel, yeast, earth, leather, and orange. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Moderate to high complexity and sessionability.

My Opinion: Excellent! This cider had some nice stages, from tart to flavorful & funky to tannic. I really liked everything about it – flavor profile, complexity, tannins, funk, etc. It was edging towards rustic, yet without any sourness (which is my least liked quality). However, it didn’t quite have as much of that fluffy texture (body) I love with French cidres (which I assume is from the keeving process), I’m guessing as it wasn’t as carbonated as many selections.

Closing Notes: I liked how this combined my favorite elements of both Brittany and Normandy ciders – sweeter, apple-forward, funky, but not sour. It also hits a nice price point, about average of what I’ve seen.

Have you tried French cidre? What did you think?

One Tree Staycation

April 25, 2018May 28, 2018 cidersays One Tree, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, One Tree, Pineapple Mango, Spokane, Staycation, tasting notes, washington

Review of One Tree’s Staycation, a new ish pineapple mango cider. It is my first time trying this, but I have also had their Lemon Basil, Caramel Cinnamon, Huckleberry, Dark Cherry, Crisp Apple, Raspberry, and Pina Colada.

Cider: Staycation (Pineapple Mango)
Cidery: One Tree
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 5.6%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with pineapple and mango

Availability: Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Illinois, since October 2017, plus limited online sales

Cider Description:
Tropical Vacations are overrated.
-Sharks eat people, period. End of story
-Vog, It’s volcanic fog… Seriously look it up
-In the rain forest, all it does is rain ALL.DAY.LONG
-Sally doesn’t really sell seashells by the sea shore
-When a jellyfish stings you, there’s only one solution…

Cidery Description: It all started with a love for the Washington apple and a father’s day gift of an at home cider kit … and the rest is history. One Tree Hard Cider is made from locally grown ingredients right here in Washington State. When we started on the journey we wanted to use a wide range of ingredients and flavors in our hard ciders to show that it all starts with apples but it doesn’t end there! Our core ciders are Lemon Basil, Caramel Cinnamon, Huckleberry, and Raspberry. We also release seasonal ciders such as Peach Tea, Ginger Apricot, Pumpkin and Cranberry, and keep your eye out for special draft-only limited release ciders! Whether you like your cider sweet or tart, you’ll find a One Tree Hard Cider just for you!

They have a cider house in Spokane Washington.

Price: $3.99 / single can ($11.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing (although I had been on the lookout for a single can, as I had seen it in four-packs)

First Impression: Hazy lemonade hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of pineapple with hints of coconut and mango.

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

My Opinion: Great! I can’t remember the last time I tried a flavored cider I liked this much; so many are too dry or too sweet, barely flavorful, one dimensional, etc. I loved the coconut flavor, although they didn’t say they added any, so maybe its just me? Update – It has become a staple in my cider fridge, and unlike many other ciders, I liked it just as much (or even more) the second time I tried it.

Most Similar to: One Tree Pina Colada, except more pineapple than coconut, and much less sweet.

Closing Notes: This appears to be a year round release – yay.

Have you tried One Tree Staycation? What did you think?

Woodbox Double Barrel Ice Cider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried ice cider? What did you think?

Far West San Joaquin Sparkler

April 20, 2018April 20, 2018 cidersays Far West, review california, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Far West, hard cider, San Joaquin Sparkler, tasting notes

Review of Far West Cider’s San Joaquin Sparkler. It is my first time trying anything from this California cidery.

Cider: San Joaquin Sparkler, 2015 harvest
Cidery: Far West Cider
Cidery Location: Richmond CA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from primarily Cripps Pink apples (aka Pink Lady), wild yeast fermented, off dry

Availability: only in California (see here), plus online sales (although at the time of review I didn’t see this cider in stock)

Cider Description: This cider uses primarily Cripps Pink apples. We encourage a slow native fermentation in the freshly pressed apple juice before inoculating with Champagne yeast to finish this cider to dryness. After aging for a minimum of two months, this off-dry cider shows some deep woody apple notes and phenolic spiciness. Paris well with leather chairs, old books, easy conversation, and difficult-to-pronounce cheeses.

Cidery Description: Every bottle of Far West Cider is a product of our fourth generation family farm in San Joaquin County, California. All of the apples used in this cider are harvested and pressed by hand on our ranch and cared to throughout fermentation, aging, and bottling to help express the best of the fruit that we grow.

They have a tasting room in Richmond CA (see here).

Price: $9.49
Where Bought: The Jug Shop in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, when we were there on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Barely noticeable smell, acidic dry apple with a hint of nuttiness.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Subtle notes of tart green apple, lemon, herbs, butter, almonds, and must. Moderate length finish with a hint of brine. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor and complexity.

My Opinion: I was indifferent about this one, I didn’t personally like or dislike it. The flavor was subtle and quite peculiar, difficult to describe. However, the description said phenolic, and based on my experience with a FlavorActiv sensory analysis kit, my taste buds don’t detect it well. It tasted nearly like a farmhouse-style cider, but didn’t have the sourness or funk I’d expect with that style (and wild fermented ciders in general). I’d recommend this for folks who like interesting wine-like ciders.

Most Similar to: nothing I’ve tasted

Closing Notes: I’d be interested in hearing from others as far as what flavors they picked up with this cider. It looks like this cider is rated well on untappd, but none of the reviews really described it.

Have you tried Far West Cider? What did you think?

Tieton Lavender Honey

April 18, 2018April 14, 2018 cidersays Tieton cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lavender Honey, tasting notes, Tieton

Review of Tieton’s Lavender Honey. It is my first time trying it, but I’ve had most of their ciders – Cidermaker’s Reserve, Sparkling Perry, Cranberry, Bourbon Peach, Frost (ice cider), Spice Route, Russian Red, Apricot, Smoked Pumpkin, Wind (Pommeau), Wild Washington, Cherry, and Blossom Nectar.

Cider: Lavender Honey
Cidery: Tieton Cider Works
Cidery Location: Yakima WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with lavender & honey

Availability: Spring seasonal, since June 2017, in Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada

Cider Description: none given

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: $6.99
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I had heard it was available on draft but hadn’t had the chance to try it.

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of honey with a hint of herbs.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of light tart apple and lavender which quickly dissipate, then the fuller bodied sweet honey with a hint of pear. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. There were two distinct stages of this cider when tasting, which was pretty unique, but they also seemed to compete a bit with each other.

Most Similar to: I’ve actually had 5 ciders with lavender (Elemental Pom-Lavender, Elemental Lavender Rose Petal, Greenwood Lavender Blackberry, Seattle Cider Lavender Lemon, and Finnriver Lavender Black Currant), but none also had honey, which is fairly commonly added to cider (it even has a name when they are co-fermented, cyser). My favorite cider with lavender is Finnriver Lavender Black Currant, especially when on Nitro tap. Some of my favorite ciders with honey are Finnriver Honey Meadow, Long Drop Vanilla Honey, and Moonlight Meadery How Do You Like Them Apples.

Closing Notes: This was released last year too, but somehow I missed it (probably as I think it was draft-only last year). My favorite Tieton cider remains Bourbon Peach, which I’ve only seen on draft, as their summer seasonal, but hopefully they do bottles this summer.

Have you tried Tieton Lavender Honey? What did you think?

Herout AOC Cotentin Brut 2015

April 16, 2018April 8, 2018 cidersays Herout, review Brut, cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, Herout, tasting notes

Review of Herout AOC Cotentin Brut 2015, an Organic French cidre. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Extra Brut.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Beauchamp Imports / French Cider Inc. 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: Cotentin Brut (2015 harvest)
Cidery: Herout AOC
Cidery Location: Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, France
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: Organic French cidre, from cider apples, brut (dry)

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website. In addition to Cotentin Brut, they also offer Herout’s Cotentin Extra-Brut.

Cider Description: We are currently offering bottles of the award-winning 2015 vintage, Cidre Cotentin Brut! Hérout à Auvers is the only French cider producer who puts a vintage date on their bottles. The date represents the year the apples where harvested. Like a fine wine, the flavor evolves with time and we think the 2015 Brut is just about perfect right now. to heighten the flavor experience, decant/carafe it before drinking. Cotentin Brut cider is made from 100% organic, naturally-fermented cider apple juice.

Cidery Description: Since the 1940s, Hérout cidre has been produced by the Hérout family on the Cotentin Peninsula on the Northwest coast of Normandy France, in Auvers, where apples thrive in its lush and oceanic climate. They are the newest cidre AOC in France, since May 2016. The cidermaker Marie-Agnes Herout was just awarded the highest civilian honor in France for her 16 years of work getting the AOC recognized – Le Croix de Chevalier, Legion d’Honneur (Knights Cross for the Legion of Honneur).

See here for more information on the cider and here for more information on the cidery.

Price: n/a (retails for $23.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer Joan Harkins contacted me (we met at Cider Summit Seattle 2017)

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of apple, must, funk, and yeast.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, acidity, tannins, and funk. Moderate bitterness. No sourness. Notes of bittersharp apple pomace, yeast, orange, and caramel. Long bitter finish. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Low sessionability and apple flavor.

My Opinion: I personally wasn’t a fan. However, it is a well made cider – just too bitter and dry for my preferences. Every cider isn’t for everyone, so its great we have so many choices. This is probably the driest French cider I’ve had (surprisingly I perceived this Brut version as drier than their Extra Brut version).

I’d recommend it for for folks who like French cider, but find most too sweet, as well as wine lovers. Note that the importer recommended to let this breathe a bit before drinking to bring out more flavor, so I poured a glass and stuck it back in my cellar-temperature cider fridge for a bit.

Most Similar to: Herout AOC Cotentin Extra Brut

However, for drier French ciders, I personally prefer Cidrerie Daufresne Brut, Domaine de la Minotiere Cidre Fermier Bio Brut, and Pierre Huet AOC Pays D’Auge Cidre, although those are all a bit sweeter than both Herout selections.

Closing Notes: If you are a fan of drier ciders, this is as dry as it gets for a French cider!

Have you tried Herout cidre? What did you think?

Understood in Motion 03 (Angry Orchard and Tom Oliver collaboration)

April 13, 2018April 7, 2018 cidersays Angry Orchard, Oliver's, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Oliver's Cider & Perry, Ryan Burk, tasting notes, Tom Oliver, Understood in Motion

Review of Understood in Motion 03, Angry Orchard’s third release in the collaboration series, this time with Tom Oliver, of Herefordshire’s Oliver’s Cider & Perry. The first collaboration was with Eden Specialty Ciders (see my review here), and the second was with EZ Orchards (see my review here).

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Angry Orchard. Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free. The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.<<

Cider: Understood in Motion 03
Cidery: Angry Orchard and Oliver’s Cider & Perry
Cidery Location: Walden New York U.S.A & Herefordshire England
ABV: 7.2%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: American & English craft cider from Dabinett, Northern Spy, & Foxwhelp apples, wild yeast fermented, oak aged, dry, still

Availability: Angry Orchard’s facility in Walden NY, released March 2018

Cider Description: Understood in Motion 03 started over two years ago, as two different natural ciders fermented with wild yeast. The Dabinett apple was the principle apple variety used in this collaboration, an 18^th century English bittersweet apple that is favored for its reliability to yield fruit annually, and is now grown in the United States. The result, a still, tannic, dry, wild and funky cider that pairs well with a hearty meal enjoyed with friends.

Angry Orchard’s Ryan Burk and Oliver’s Cider & Perry’s Tom Oliver worked together on this cider over the last two years. This article has more information.

Price: n/a (retails for $25)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about it online.

First Impression: Hazy orange amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of cider apples, sourness, and funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, sourness, funk, and bitterness. Moderate acidity and tannins. Notes of bittersweet apples, pomace, orange, leather, grapefruit, and oak. Long tannic sour finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Low sessionability. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I would have much preferred it without the sourness; I don’t mind funk, but for some reason I’m not a fan of sourness. I liked it better closer to room temperature, but even then it still had the sourness on the finish. The bittersweet apple flavor and aging was great though.

Most Similar to: English cider (rich bittersweet apples, tannic, funky), with a hint of Spanish sidra (sour, citrus)

Closing Notes: I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to try these special releases not available locally – I’m spoiled with these samples!

Have you tried any of the Angry Orchard special releases? What did you think?

La Chouette Cidre Rosé

April 11, 2018April 8, 2018 cidersays La Chouette, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, cidre, french cider, French cidre, hard cider, La Chouette, rose, tasting notes

Review of La Chouette Cidre Rosé, a French rosé cidre, made from apples (including red-fleshed) and pears. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Demi-Sec (see here).

Cider:  Rosé
Cidery:  La Chouette Cidre
Cidery Location:  Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, France
ABV: 4.5%
How Supplied: 330ml (12oz) single bottles
Style: French cidre from apples (including red-fleshed) and pears, demi-sec

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website. In addition to La Chouette’s Rosé, they also offer their Demi-Sec.

Cider Description: La Chouette Cidre Rosé is an all-natural craft cidre made from red-fleshed apples and pears – giving it a beautiful rose color and a bright, crisp demi-sec flavor. Thirst quenching and easy to drink, our 2018 prediction is that it will become one of your favorites. No gluten, no added sugar and no added flavoring.

Cidery Description: La Chouette—which means “the Owl” in French—refers to the surprising bond between this elusive night bird and French cidre. Traditionally, many farmers in the northwest of France made their own cidre with apples from their orchards. Often, the farmers made their cidre in barns, where the owls could be seen watching over the production from their perches under the roof. Thus La Chouette has always looked after French cider and continues to look over our cidre today.

See here for more on the cidery, and here for more on the cider.

Price: n/a (retails for $5.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer Joan Harkins contacted me (we met at Cider Summit Seattle 2017)

First Impression: Moderate red hue. Smells of pear, watermelon, and strawberry. Moderate carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Light bodied, with a fluffy texture. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of canned pear, watermelon, strawberry, green apple, and lemon. Long tart fruity finish. Moderate complexity. High sessionability. Moderate to high pear flavor and flavor intensity. Low apple flavor.

My Opinion: Awesome! I really enjoyed everything about it – flavor, texture, complexity, and balance. The flavor has a lot of the notes from the red-fleshed apples, plus pear. You can tell that this is naturally (not force) carbonated, as it has such a fluffy texture, which helped make it seem lighter bodied than is typical for this level of sweetness.

Most Similar to: nothing I’ve had, as this was like a combination of French poire (perry) and cider from red-fleshed apples

Closing Notes: I found this far superior to most American commercial rosé selections. It was more on par to ciders from red-fleshed apples (such as Alpenfire Glow and Snowdrift Red), although it had the added French and pear components.

Have you tried French cidre or rosé cider? What did you think?

Pierre Huet Poire Demi-Sec

April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 cidersays Pierre Huet, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, French perry, French Poire, hard cider, perry, Pierre Huet, Poire, tasting notes

Review of Pierre Huet Poire Demi-Sec, a French perry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had their Cidre Bouche Brut and AOC Pays D’Auge.

Cider:  Poire Demi-Sec
Cidery:  Pierre Huet
Cidery Location:  Pays d’Auge, Normandy, France
ABV: 2.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: French poire (perry), from dessert & perry pears

Availability: In Washington, through Beauchamp Imports, plus online at their French Cider Inc. website. In addition to Poire Demi-Sec, they also offer Pierre Huet’s Cidre Bouche Brut, Pays D’Auge Cider, Calvados AOC Pays d’Auge VS, Calvados AOC Pays d’Auge XO, and Pommeau de Normandie AOC.

Cider Description: This delicious, demi-sec poiré is the perfect combination of four varieties of sweet and bitter pears. Slowly fermented for one to three months before being bottled, it achieves the perfect balance of semi-sweetness and roundness.

Cidery Description: Pierre Huet is a 5th generation family-owned cidery who has been producing cidre, Calvados, and Pommeau since the 1800s in the Pays d’Auge region of Normandy France. They grow 25 varieties of apples on 75 acres.

See here for more information on the cider, and here for more information on the cidery.

Price: n/a (retails for $19.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: the importer Joan Harkins contacted me (we met at Cider Summit Seattle 2017)

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of canned pears.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied with a fluffy texture. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. Hints of tannins and funk. No bitterness or sourness. Notes of canned pear, dried pear, lemon, and honey. Moderate length finish. High pear flavor and sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: Great! I enjoyed the texture most of all – so fluffy and frothy that it made it seem lighter bodied. It was a bit more tart than most other poires I’ve had, which balanced well with the sweetness. The pear flavor was really nice too; I like how French perries seem to capture the fruit more than just tasting like an alcoholic pear juice. I agree with their website that this would be a great mimosa alternative for brunch.

Most Similar to: Christian Drouin Poire and Cidrerie Daufresne Poire

Closing Notes: French Cider Inc. has a great lineup of French ciders, poires, calvados, and pommeaux; I look forward to trying more.

Frecon Farms Scrumpy

April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 cidersays Frecon, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Frecon, hard cider, Pennsylvania, Scrumpy, scrumpy cider, tasting notes, wild yeast fermented

Review of Frecon Farms Scrumpy cider, part of their Estate line. This is my first time trying anything from this cidery. I picked up this Pennsylvanian cider when I was in California. Note that “Scrumpy” is a term used traditionally in English cider to describe a “rough” cider from unselected apple varieties, and to “scrump” means to steal fruit from an orchard.

Cider: Scrumpy
Cidery: Frecon Farms
Cidery Location: Boyertown PA
ABV: 7.8%
How Supplied: 750ml flip top bottle
Style: American craft cider from dessert, heirloom, cider, & crab apple varieties, wild yeast fermented, barrel aged

Availability: limited, at least partially through Shelton Brothers, plus some online sales (although they have a cider finder, I only saw Philadelphia PA location on it)

Cider Description: True to it’s west country heritage, this batch of Scrumpy features a diverse blend of unselected cider apples from England and the US. Barrel aged, this traditional english dry style has a nice coated mouth feel with a smooth but strong finish. The apples in this blend are Dolgo Crab, Gold Rush, Kingston Black, Ashmeads Kernel, Yarlington Mill, Wickson Crab, Roxbury Russet, Winesap, Northern Spy, Golden Russet, and Golden Delicious! Grown and Harvested in 2016 in the Piedmont region of Pennsylvania.

Cidery Description: We make traditional cider using classic techniques & use apples from our family orchard, which as been growing quality tree fruits since 1944. Using a blend of dessert, cider & aromatic apples, both heirloom & modern, our cider makers select the best balances to ferment into the final product. We’re proud to continue an American tradition of fine ciders that feature great aroma & flavor, recently recognized with bronze medals for the Hogshead and Crabby Granny by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association.

Price: $13.99
Where Bought: K&L Wines in San Francisco CA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, when we were in San Francisco on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of acidic heirloom apples, with citrus and a hint of sourness.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low sourness. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No funk. Notes of sharp heirloom apple, lemon, grapefruit, mineral, and pineapple. Moderate length sour finish. Moderate flavor intensity and sessionability. Moderate to high complexity. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low overt barrel influence, but I’m guessing it smoothed out the flavor.

My Opinion: I don’t like sour, so I wasn’t personally a fan of this selection. I was hoping for English style based on the description, but it was closer to farmhouse style. Every cider isn’t for everyone though, and I’m glad I got to try it. I’d recommend this to folks who like dry sour cider (farmhouse-style, rustic, wild yeast fermented, Spanish Sidra, etc).

Closing Notes: A number of times now I’ve seen cider described as English-style when it isn’t really close, primarily due to the use of different apples (dessert or heirloom instead of bittersweet cider apples). At times it appears the term is used just to describe that it is dry and/or more rustic in style, and varies from the majority of U.S. cider which is sweeter and clean (no sourness or funk). This is a great example of our need for consistent terminology, which will likely just take time.

Have you tried Frecon Farms cider? What did you think?

Boulevard Brewing Co. City Market Cider

April 2, 2018April 1, 2018 cidersays Boulevard Brewing, review Boulevard Brewing, cider, cider review, cider tasting, City Market Cider, hard cider, tasting notes

Review of Boulevard Brewing Company’s City Market Cider. This is my first time trying anything from this brewery. City Market Cider is their first cider, and was released in November 2017.

Cider: City Market Cider
Cidery: Boulevard Brewing Co.
Cidery Location: Kansas City, MO
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles
Style: cider from dessert apples, with concentrate added

Availability: semi wide release (see here)

Description: The city market represents a place where chefs and home cooks come together to show and taste the best flavors in the region. Our brewing team captured this spirit in City Market Cider, our first ever cider release. This local blend combines juice from Jonathan and Fuji apples sourced directly from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill in Sibley, Missouri. City Market Cider is fermented with our house English ale yeast strain resulting in a crisp, dry cider with just a touch of sweetness contributed by juice held back for blending.

Pouring a slightly hazy golden, City Market Cider offers bright aromas of sweet/tart apples that are answered by bold, juicy flavors with Jonathan apples taking the spotlight with Fuji supporting with a soft acidity reminiscent of apple skin tartness. Featuring a slight blend back of fresh Fuji juice (2.8% of the total blend) to lend a balancing sweetness, City Market Cider’s finish lingers, alternating between sweet and tart apple character that begs for another sip.

Price: ~$3 / bottle?
Where Bought: Special Brews
Where Drank: home
How Found: My husband put this in my Christmas stocking.

First Impression: Light orange amber hue. Low carbonation. Smells very mild, of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of dry (4g sugar / 12oz). Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. Hints of tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of watered down unsweetened apple juice, apple pomace, yeast, and orange. Moderate apple flavor and sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I thought this was rather average. I think I would have liked it a bit sweeter, because as-is it was lacking a bit on flavor. However, that is pretty typical for a cider from dessert apple varieties, and why they are very commonly flavored.

Most Similar to: A low quality drier less carbonated French cider (due to the apple and yeast forward flavor).

Closing Notes: I’m curious about how well this will sell. Compared to what is available in the Northwest, this isn’t too impressive. However, there are fewer local ciders in the Midwest, so with less competition, this may do better there.

Have you tried City Market Cider? What did you think?

Honesty Box Cidre with Pear

March 29, 2018March 26, 2018 cidersays Honesty Box, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Honesty Box, New Sealand, pear cider, tasting notes

Review of Honesty Box Cidre with Pear, from New Zealand. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery.

Cider: Cidre with Pear
Cidery: Honesty Box (which appears to be made by Boundary Road Brewery)
Cidery Location: Auckland New Zealand
ABV: 7%
How Supplied: 440ml can
Style: New Zealand commercial cider, pear-flavored apple, with added sugar

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Honesty Box Cider with Pear is a refreshing pear cider with the flavours of Bartlett pear. Honesty Box Cider with Pear from New Zealand is light with a dry, crisp finish. It is crafted with only the most succulent pears. The sort you might find in a local honesty box only we paid for ours.

Cidery Description: At Honesty Box we do things differently. We only use the juice of single varietal apples to craft an authentic taste you can recognise. The result is a cider with true depth of character. Honesty Box has a range of ciders that vary from semi-sweet to dry, complex and full flavoured. Now there’s an apple cider variety to suit everybody’s taste.

Price: $3.39 CAN / can ($2.64 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, while we were on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Dark gold yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells mild, of pear & apple juice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium to full bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple juice, green apple, canned pear, pineapple, and honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor, pear flavor, and flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. High sessionability, but moreso in that it is easy to drink, not that I’d want to drink multiple cans.

My Opinion: For what it was, I liked it, although it was obviously commercial (processed) tasting, and syrupy sweet. However, it did have a touch of complexity, which was unexpected and appreciated.

Most Similar to: Scandi Pear, Wyders Pear, and Flatbed Pear

Closing Notes: It looks like they have redesigned their cans since they manufactured this.

Have you tried Honesty Box cider? What did you think?

Blue Moon Winery Raven’s Moon Ragged Ass Road

March 26, 2018March 25, 2018 cidersays Raven's Moon, review Blue Moon, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ragged Ass Road, Raven's Moon, tasting notes

Review of Blue Moon Winery’s Raven’s Moon Ragged Ass Road, a bourbon infused cider. Its the first time time I’ve tried this cider, although I’ve had their Apple and Raspberry varieties.

Cider: Ragged Ass Road
Cidery: Raven’s Moon, by Blue Moon Winery
Cidery Location: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
ABV: 8.5%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: Canadian craft cider, bourbon infused

Availability: mostly British Columbia Canada, plus a few locations in the U.S.; see a list of retailers on their website. They also have an online store, although it wasn’t clear where they can ship to.

Cider Description: Who wouldn’t love this? Named for a famous street in Yellowknife, where proprietors George and Marla have spent a lot of time, this is a combination of delightful Raven’s Moon apple cider carefully infused with rich golden Kentucky straight Bourbon. It’s a fabulous marriage of crisp dry apple with toasted white oak, rustic smoke and vanilla hints of this special whiskey. Rich, flavourful and savoury – this is a cider for bonfires and good times!

Cidery Description: At Blue Moon Winery and Ciderworx we grow, gather and ferment the flavors of the land to offer you hand-crafted award winning spirited fruit wines and sparkling ciders. Our inspiration comes from the scrumptious organic fruits collected from Vancouver Island, the ancient history of the craft of fermentation and the lively traditions we now seek to revive. Our award winning fruit wines and ciders are crafted from 100% BC organic fruit, picked at the peak of the harvest and created in small batches.

They have a tasting room in Courtenay British Columbia.

Price: $7.74 CAN ($9.56 USD)
Where Bought: The Strath in Victoria B.C. Canada
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing, when there for the day on a cruise port stop

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of bourbon and Chardonnay?

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of lemon, green apple, honey, bourbon, and butter/cream. Long finish. Low apple flavor and sessionability. Moderate bourbon flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I would have preferred some richer flavor notes with the bourbon flavor (like vanilla and caramel), but as this appears to be bourbon infused not bourbon barrel aged, it made sense. As-is, the flavors didn’t quite seem to go together. It wasn’t as sharp as their other two ciders I’ve tried though, which I liked.

Most Similar to: Big B’s Grizzly Brand and Virtue Cider The Mitten multipack

Closing Notes: This was one of a couple dozen ciders I picked up last September on a cruise, and I still have a number of them left; hopefully I’ll finish them before this September’s cruise.

Have you tried Raven’s Moon cider? What did you think?

Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry

March 22, 2018March 18, 2018 cidersays Newton's Folly, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Newton's Folly, tasting notes, Trader Joe's

Review of Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry. This is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, made at the Woodchuck facility, and appears to replace their two previous versions in 12oz bottles (red & green labels).

Cider: Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry
Cidery: American Hard Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, partially from bittersweet apples

Availability: only at Trader Joe’s

Cider Description: Hard Cider has a history that reaches back hundreds of years in Vermont, where our Newton’s Folly is fermented and canned. Newton’s Folly Semi-Dry uses bittersweet apples to deliver a cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another! We do offer a heads up, however. Enjoy this fine cider under an apple tree at your own risk.

Price: ~$2.50 / can ?
Where Bought: Trader Joe’s
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of apple, honey, apple pomace, pineapple, and lemon. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. Easy to drink, but it had some complexity and wasn’t too sweet. I thought it was far better than their previous “Authentic” version, which just tasted like a slightly watered down version of Woodchuck Amber. However, although the can mentioned bittersweet apples, I believe only a small amount were used.

Most Similar to: Bertolinos (except Newton’s Folly is lower carbonation) and Bite Hard Semi-Sweet

Closing Notes: This was far better than I had been expecting, a nice surprise.

Have you tried Newton’s Folly? What did you think?

Alpenfire Tempest New England Style

March 19, 2018March 17, 2018 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, new england style, port townsend, tasting notes, Tempest, washington

Review of Alpenfire Tempest, a newish special release, New England Style (with raisins & brown sugar, high ABV, aged). It is my first time trying this, although I’ve had other New England Style ciders, and tried most of Alpenfire’s line-up (see here).

Cider: Tempest
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 10%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American artisan New England Style cider (4 week fermentation, tank aged 5 months, bottle conditioned)

Availability: special release in fall 2017 (55 cases), likely only available in Western WA, although they have online sales (but I didn’t see this one at the time of review)

Cider Description: Alpenfire’s Tempest, a new release from the 2016 harvest. Phenolic and spiritous, rounded and warming. A proper fall cider, estate apples refermented with raisins and brown sugar. Create your own tempest in a tea cup with this winter warmer.

Apple Varieties: Muscadet de dieppe, Kingston Black, Liberty, Republican, Democrat, plus many more

Cidery Description: Alpenfire Cider, the West’s first certified organic cidery, growing traditional cider apples since 2003. Family owned and operated.

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

First Impression: Medium pumpkin orange amber. Still. Smells of bittersweet & heirloom apples with a hint of funk.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low funk and tannins. Hints of bitterness. Notes of bittersweet apple, apple pomace, must, orange, and leather. Long finish with a hint of sourness and an herbal quality. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate to high flavor intensity and complexity. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: Awesome! This really reminded me of English cider, with the cider apple flavor, slightly higher sweetness, and funk. I loved the flavor and style. It really had all my favorites qualities all in one package, which is rare (rich, complex, flavorful, mid level sweetness, cider apples, and higher ABV). I’m also a fan of the 500ml bottles, as I’m more likely to buy them (plus it probably reduced the price of this cider from ~$20 to $15).

Most Similar to: New England style cider isn’t too common so I’ve only tried four others that I can remember, but this is my favorite by far, likely due to its similarity to English cider. Otherwise, Alpenfire Tempest was similar to Cockrell’s Colonial Winter, more flavorful & complex than Seattle Cider’s New England Style, less sour than Reverend Nat’s Providence, and more traditional than Tilted Shed’s Barred Rock.

Closing Notes: I am really excited to try more of Alpenfire’s new releases, which have been very plentiful of late, as they are are my favorite Washington cidery.

Have you tried New England Style cider? What did you think?

Manchester Road 42

March 16, 2018March 10, 2018 cidersays Manchester Road, review british style, Chelan, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Manchester Road, tasting notes, washington

Review of Manchester Road’s “42”. It is my first time trying anything from this cidery. They appear relatively new, only available in a limited area of Washington, and to only have released this one cider. Despite the name and theming, this is a locally owned and operated cidery, although the cidermaker is British.

Cider: 42
Cidery: Manchester Road Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Chelan WA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American cider from dessert apples, medium sweet

Availability: Very limited, in parts of WA, such as Chelan, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Orondo, and Cashmere (see here)

Cider Description: 42 is Manchester Road’s leading cider and our first to bring to market. This cider is light and refreshing with full apple flavor. The recipe was developed over the last decade reminiscent of a modern, British draft, style cider. 42 tastes great with all types of food and is especially delicious on a warm, summer afternoon. 42 – a smooth, medium sweet, sparkling cider.

Cidery Description: Our production facility sits in the heart of Washington’s apple country with over 170,000 acres of orchards surrounding us. We are able to make our cider locally and with the best apples in the world. What truly makes us unique is the combination of Washington apples and a British cider maker. With over 30 years of experience enjoying and making cider and growing up where cider originated, our cider maker was inspired by north central Washington apples to create a modern, refreshing cider that is popular today in British pubs.

Price: ~$5.99
Where Bought: Dan’s Food Market in Leavenworth WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, when we visited in early Dec 2017

First Impression: Light amber hue. Nearly still. Smells of sweet apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of concentrated baked apple with honey and pear, and hints of spice. Quick finish length. High sessionability. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. However, it didn’t remind me of English cider in the least. English cider would typically be made from bittersweet cider apples, and thus have their characteristic flavor (plus it is often drier and higher in tannins). The flavor was most similar to a typical American craft cider from dessert apples.

I did however notice “natural flavoring” on the ingredient list, which puzzled me, as it is typically only found in commercial cider. Maybe apple flavor? This was quite apple-forward, but ciders of this style are often significantly back sweetened with unfermented apple juice, to impart an apple-forward flavor which can be muted when using dessert apples and fermenting to dryness (which is the easiest way to make cider), add sweetness, and reach a target lower ABV.

Most Similar to: a mix of Locust Honey Pear and Locust Aged Apple

Closing Notes: I’m interested to see what they release next.

Have you tried Manchester Road Cider? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Rosé

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Rosé, their newest release. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: Rosé
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial rosé-style cider

Availability: wide release, year round, since February 2018 (they have a Cider Finder)

Cider Description: The red flesh apples in Angry Orchard Rosé are from France. Each apple is crisp, juicy and red to the core, adding an irresistible rosy blush and apple-forward taste with a refreshing, dry finish. Angry Orchard Rosé can be enjoyed outside with friends or at the dinner table.

Apple Varieties: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and red-fleshed apples sourced in France

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor; colored with red flesh apples, sweet potato, radish, and hibiscus

Price: n/a (retails for $7.99-9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I spotted it in a grocery store, then read about it online, then some showed up

First Impression: Moderate pink hue. No carbonation. Smells very mild, fruity and floral.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of watermelon, strawberry, floral, and green apple. Quick finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, its more on the easy drinking on a hot summer day end of the scale. Also, I think this would have benefited from carbonation, as it was a bit flat and full bodied for not being too sweet. I liked that they went all-natural on the color, but I wish the ingredient list as a whole was more natural as well.

Most Similar to: This is much less complex and refined than something like Alpenfire Glow or Snowdrift Red (both made from red-fleshed apples) or Sea Cider Ruby Rose (with rhubarb and rose hips). It was closest to Square Mile Rosé, except sweeter.

Side Note: I’m getting annoyed with cideries advertising the cider was “made from/using/with X apples”, when very little of that cider apple variety was used. I get why though – consumers are becoming better educated, and are pushing the market. Data shows commercial cider sales are down and craft cider sales are up.

Marketing tactics are something all consumers should be aware of. For example, if a cider says it is made from bittersweet cider apples but it is closer to clear than amber, then more dessert and/or heirloom apples were likely used than bittersweet apples. The press release for this cider focuses on the use of red-fleshed apples, but from the ingredient list and low price, it is apparent that very few were used. There is nothing wrong with that…I just think it is deceptive marketing. Unfortunately it is quite common.

Closing Notes: Rosé seems to be the latest cider trend, with all the big names releasing one – Angry Orchard, Crispin, Strongbow, and more. However, the style isn’t yet defined for cider. So far the term has been used for everything from a cider with fruit or hibiscus added, up to the good stuff made 100% from red-fleshed apples (like Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, and Snowdrift Red). In wine it refers to a white wine that receives color & flavor from red grape skins. In cider, so far it seems to just refer to the color.

Have you tried any rosé ciders? What did you think?

2 Towns Passion Statement

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

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

Photo Mar 06, 4 02 48 PM.jpg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Mar 10, 5 31 48 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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