Washington Gold

Washington Gold Cider Golden Delicious

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Review of Washington Gold Cider’s Golden Delicious, a single varietal cider, and their first canned offering.  I’ve previously tried their entire lineup, and reviewed their Cherry cider.

Cider:  Golden Delicious
Cidery:  Washington Gold Cider
Cidery Location:  Chelan WA
ABV:  5.5%
How Supplied:  six pack of 12oz cans
Style:  American craft cider from Washington Golden Delicious apples

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Availability:  Washington and Southern California

Cider Description:  Bright and crisp with a touch of golden sweetness. Made with hand-picked Golden Delicious Apples from the heart of Washington State.

Cidery Description:  Crisp, refreshing, and steeped in our family’s rich apple-growing tradition, Washington Gold Cider is crafted from the best apples in the world. Farm fresh. Family-owned. Proudly made in Washington State. Washington Gold Cider…The world’s best cider, made from the best apples on Earth.

Price:  ~ $2 / single can
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  I had seen this on their Facebook page, but hadn’t yet spotted it in stores.  I’m a commitment phobe when it comes to multi packs of ciders I haven’t tried, so I typically pick up any single cans/bottles I haven’t tried.

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First Impression:  Pale straw yellow.  Low carbonation.  Smells mild, of acidic green apples.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-sweet (sweeter than expected for 12g sugar / 12oz).  Medium to full bodied, syrupy.  Low tartness.  Moderate acidity.  No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins.  Notes of green apple, lemon, floral, and honey.  Quick finish length.  Moderate apple flavor.  High sessionability.  Low flavor intensity.  Low complexity.

My Opinion:  I found it to be an above average sessionable sweeter cider.  I was surprised by how full bodied and syrupy it seemed, and the presence of green apple notes despite the lack of their use and the lack of tartness.

Most Similar to:  Flatbed Cider Crisp Apple

Closing Notes:   I think this will sell well.  It isn’t my favorite style of cider, but I thought I’d give it a try.  The sessionable cider I typically keep in the house is quite difference from this–Celt, a French cidre, which I love for its richness.

Have you tried Washington Gold Cider Golden Delicious?  What did you think?

Washington Gold Cider Cherry Hard Cider

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Review of Washington Gold Cider’s Cherry Hard Cider.

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Cider:  Cherry Hard Cider
Cidery:  Washington Gold Cider
Cidery Location:  Chelan WA
ABV:  5.5%
How Supplied:  750ml clear glass flip-top bottle
Style:  American hard apple cider with cherry juice

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Availability:  Year round in Washington and Southern California until it sells out (as they only make it once a year).  However, their Original variety is more commonly found.  See here for further information.

Cider Description:  None given, but I was told they use fresh pressed apple juice with Washington cherries.

Cidery Description:  Crisp, refreshing, and steeped in our family’s rich apple-growing tradition, Washington Gold Cider is crafted from the best apples in the world. Farm fresh. Family-owned. Proudly made in Washington State. Washington Gold Cider…The world’s best cider, made from the best apples on Earth.  Try our Heritage, Original, and Cherry Hard Cider today.

Price:  $12.99
Where Bought:  Total Wine
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  They were tasting their entire line-up of three ciders (Heritage, Original, and Cherry) at Total Wine in August.  This was by far the winner for me, and I decided to buy a bottle.

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First Impression:  Deep cherry hue.  Low carbonation with small bubbles.  Rich cherry scent, sweet with a hint of tartness.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-sweet (although at 26.5 grams of sugar in 12.7 ounces, it would probably be rated sweet).  Moderate tartness and acidity.  No sourness, bitterness, or funk.  Cherry is the only flavor I pick up in this (the apple is well-hidden), so its a rather simple cider.  Full-flavored.  Light bodied.  Quick finish.  Highly sessionable.

My Opinion:  Yum!  I love how strong the cherry flavor is, and that it tastes like real cherries.

Most Similar to:  Other cherry ciders, although this has a stronger and truer cherry flavor than everything I’ve tried so far (which includes cherry ciders from Woodchuck, Locust, Tieton, Apple Outlaw, Elemental, Jester & Judge, Julian, and Original Sin).

Closing Notes:   This is definitely my favorite cherry cider so far.  Reminds me of summer!  (which is why I saved it for this time of year, when it always seems to be dark, damp, and cold in WA)

Do you have a favorite cherry cider?