Vermont Cider Co. Ingrained

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. barred aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ingrained, tasting notes, Vermont Cider Co., Vermont Cider Company

Review of Vermont Cider Co,’s Ingrained, a limited release rye whiskey barrel aged cider. It is my first time trying this one, but I have had their Addison (flagship), Wassail, and Cerise.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by the Vermont Cider Co. 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: Ingrained
Cidery: Vermont Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four packs of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped), and 5.2 gallon kegs
Style: American commercial cider from fresh-pressed local dessert apples from Cornwall VT, aged 9 months in WhistlePig rye whiskey oak barrels

Availability: limited release (October 2017), part of their rotating line of barrel aged ciders, only sold in the Northeast United States

Cider Description: Ingrained uses 100% local apples from Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall, VT. After fermentation, this cider was aged for nine months in WhistlePig Rye Whiskey barrels from Shoreham, VT for an incomparable taste experience. Ingrained has balanced botes of American oak & rye whiskey over a crisp New England apple backdrop.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Co. introduced the U.S. to the craft cider category 25 years ago. Dedicated exclusively to cider making, they are the proud producers of the original American hard cider, Woodchuck®, the circus of ciders, Gumption®, the west coast native, Wyder’s® Cider, and importers of Magners® Irish Cider and Blackthorn®. With an unparalleled focus on quality and innovation, Vermont Cider Co. leads the category in releasing the most premium liquid and pioneering new ciders made from the finest ingredients. Under the watchful eyes of two award winning cider makers, Vermont Cider Co. produces and distributes from Middlebury, VT, blending together the passion of their consumers, their creativity, and their heritage within the green mountains.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Dark straw yellow hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells very mild, with a hint of honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of honey, vanilla, green apple, and lemon. Long warming finish, which is the only time that I pick up the spirit and barrel influence. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low spirit and barrel influence.

My Opinion: I really liked it, but I had been hoping for (but not expecting) a more intense whiskey and oak flavor. However, as the intensity of the barrel aging is mild (likely as it was only partially barrel aged or aged in large barrels, as 9 months is a decent amount of time), and it is a sweeter cider, this would be a great introductory barrel aged cider. ie. a cider to have someone try that is newer to cider and interested in barrel aged ciders, but doesn’t have much experience with them.

Most Similar to: Thistly Cross Whisky Cask (actually, this is very similar). I’m shocked I don’t have a review of this Thistly Cross cider at Cider Says, but here is the cidery’s info page on it. However, I can say that Thistly Cross Whisky Cask was what got me interested in barrel aged ciders, and a few years ago it was one of my favorite ciders. Tastes evolve though.

Closing Notes: This was another nice selection from the Vermont Cider Co., and is a big step up from Woodchuck without too much of a price increase. However, their production & distribution is still rather small, so unfortunately not many folks will get to try it. Its pretty cool they used barrels from WhistlePig, which my husband tells me is a high end rye whiskey (plus its a Vermont distillery, keeping the entire cider very local as they also used local apples).

Have you tried any whiskey barrel aged ciders? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Company Cerise

April 12, 2017April 12, 2017 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. barrel aged, cherry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Cerise, a cherry barrel aged cider, the second of their series of seasonal barrel aged ciders. I’ve previously tried their Addison and Wassail.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by Vermont Cider Company. 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: Cerise
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped)
Style: commercial cider from dessert apples (Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall VT), with Michigan Montgomery cherry juice, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon barrel aged

Availability: seasonal release, only available in the Northeastern U.S., first available in March

Ingredients: hard cider, cherry juice, sulfites

Cider Description: It’s a limited-time offering that will delight the senses. “Cerise is built from our barrel-aged, 100% local and fresh pressed cider with the juice of tart Michigan Montmorency cherries,” said Ben E. Calvi, Director of Cider Making. “Aging cider in Napa Valley barrels infuses notes of Cabernet wine, vanilla and oak with fresh apple and a tart cherry fruits.”

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about it online and requested a sample

First Impression: Bright cherry hue. Nearly still / very low carbonation. Smells very mild, with a hint of cherry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of cherry juice, red wine, cherry skin, and oak. Moderate length finish. Moderate flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate to high sessionability. No apple flavor. Low oak influence. Low red wine influence.

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed this, as did my husband (he kept stealing some). Perfect levels of sweetness, tartness, and flavor. The barrel aging was definitely noticeable, but not overpowering. It was surprisingly flavorful compared to the mild scent. All in all this actually tastes like what I except from a craft cider. Nice price point too.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry, which was also a cherry cider aged in red wine barrels (except that was more commercial tasting / less refined), Virtue Cider Cherry Mitten (except that had added complexity from the apple & yeast varieties, and was Bourbon not wine barrel aged), and Apple Outlaw Oaked Sweet Dark Cherry (except that was less flavorful, and aged in new oak not wine barrels).

Closing Notes: Too bad this isn’t available locally, as I would definitely purchase some. I think its my favorite cider of the entire Vermont Cider Co. lineup.

Random Note: My cider list has 27 cherry ciders listed that I’ve tried!

Have you tried Vermont Cider Company’s Cerise? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Company Addison

December 14, 2016April 8, 2017 cidersays Vermont Cider Co. Addison, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Addison. This and Wassail are their first two releases, described as “ultra-premium”. Vermont Cider Company is part of Vermont Hard Cider (along with Woodchuck, Magner’s, Wyder’s, Hornsby’s, and Blackthorn).

Cider: Addison
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped) or four pack of 16oz cans
Style: commercial cider from American dessert apples

Availability: Year round, only available in the Northeastern U.S., released December 2016 in bottles, and March 2017 in cans

Cider Description: Named for Addison County, where it is produced, Addison is crafted from 100 percent fresh pressed juice sourced only from Vermont and Northeastern orchards. “Addison is a semi-dry cider, but it is so much more,” said Bridget Blacklock, Vermont Cider Co. Director of Marketing. “It’s where we are from. Addison is Vermont. It’s where we craft what we believe is the finest cider in the world.” “For this flagship cider, we used premium yeasts and longer, cooler fermentations to capture and promote the delicate fresh apple flavors, with no added sugar,” said Ben E. Calvi, Director of Cider Making. “Addison is the ideal cider for consumers seeking drier options with strong, authentic roots.”

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / six pack of bottles or four pack of cans)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard about it online and requested samples.

First Impression: Still. Medium straw yellow hue. Smells syrupy, of apple, fruity, and a hint of vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied, slightly candied / syruppy. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple, pineapple, white grape, and honey. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I enjoyed it. It is a seriously solid flagship cider selection. Definitely more on the commercial end, but Addison is also at the same price point as their more commercial Woodchuck ciders. I enjoyed the body and flavor of this, without too much acidity or sweetness. More often I’ve seen flavor notes like these in a drier and more acidic cider. It definitely has a flavor I have come to associate with Woodchuck cider though, more than the Wassail.

Most Similar to: Cider Brothers William Tell Dry Hard Apple Cider, which had a similar level of sweetness, body / syrupiness, and flavor notes.

Closing Notes: For the same price, I’d definitely drink this over many of the Woodchuck ciders. Its tasty and easy to drink.

Have you tried Vermont Cider Company’s Addison? What did you think?

Vermont Cider Company Wassail

December 12, 2016December 9, 2016 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, tasting notes, Vermont, Vermont Cider, Vermont Cider Company, Wassail, Woodchuck

Review of Vermont Cider Company’s Wassail. This and Addison are their first two releases, described as “ultra-premium”. Vermont Cider Company is part of Vermont Hard Cider (along with Woodchuck, Magner’s, Wyder’s, Hornsby’s, and Blackthorn).

Cider: Wassail
Cidery: Vermont Cider Company
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: four pack of 12oz bottles (thick champagne glass, but capped)
Style: commercial cider from American dessert apples with mulling spices, rum barrel aged (note that I personally classify this as commercial not craft as it is made by a large company, the first ingredient is “hard cider” not apple juice, and they added apple extract for color)

Availability: This is a limited edition cider, only available in the Northeastern U.S., released December 2016

Cider Description: Wassail is inspired by the age-old tradition of celebrating with the orchards to ensure a good crop. Wassail begins with small batch hard cider infused with traditional mulling spices, including vanilla bean, ginger and cinnamon. The cider is then aged in rum barrels to produce a unique, rich cider that is ideal for the holidays. Like Addison, Wassail is made only from 100 percent fresh pressed Vermont and Northeastern apples.

Price: n/a (retails for $10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I heard about it online and requested samples.

<No, this color isn’t only from the barrel aging – they added “apple extract” for coloring.>

First Impression: Still (no carbonation). Caramel amber hue. Smells of sugar, spices, rum, and oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of brown sugar, burnt caramel, cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, and vanilla. Moderate length finish. Moderate spice. Moderate rum flavor. Low oak flavor. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability. Mild complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. My favorite component was the rum flavor. I’m usually not too into spiced ciders, but I don’t dislike them. I could have done without the ginger here (I really dislike the stuff, although here it was very very mild) and had the mulling spices toned down a bit (although I wouldn’t say it was overpowering). One of the spice additions was Cardamon, but I picked it up as allspice and cloves, which are more recognizable. Overall it still tasted a bit commercial though, more like something Crispin would make as a special release, but its a good value for the price point (ie. I wasn’t expecting a cider on par one to I would pay $20 / 750ml for). I think the mulling spices and rum barrel aging paired well together.

Most Similar to: I’ve had a number of spiced ciders (such as Sea Cider Wassail, 2 Towns Nice & Naughty, Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple, Tieton Spice Route, Reverend Nat’s Winter Abbey Spice, AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced, and Carlton Cyderworks Sugar & Spice) and some rum barrel aged ciders (Crispin 15 Men, Sea Cider Prohibition, and Alpenfire Calypso), but not combined.

Closing Notes: Next up, a review of Vermont Cider Company’s Addison.

Have you tried Vermont Cider Company’s Wassail? What did you think?

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