Locust Sweet Aged Apple

June 2, 2017July 22, 2017 cidersays Locust, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Locust, Sweet Aged Apple, tasting notes, washington, Woodinville

Review of Locust’s Sweet Aged Apple cider. I thought this was my first time trying it, but turns out I tried it here, although I haven’t done a full review. I’ve also sampled their Original Dry, Green Tea Infused, Sweet Dark Cherry, Washington Dessert Apple, Bittersweet Reserve, Pumpkin, Thai Ginger, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Winesap, Alder Smoked Apple, Mango, Elder & Oak, Wabi Sabi, Apricot, Berry Session, Smoked Blueberry, Vanilla Bean, Winter Banana, Chili Pineapple, Seckel Perry, and Hibiscus.

Cider: Sweet Aged Apple
Cidery: Locust
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: multi packs of 12oz cans, and draft
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, aged for 6 months

Availability: Year round in CA, ID, OR, TX, and WA

Cider Description: We leave a blend of pressed washington dessert apples on their own and let the wild yeasts do their work. then we age it for 6 months. the result is a semi-sweet, full bodied, deep, very appley, smooth and round cider. there is beauty in imperfection. great with meat and cheese, stands up!

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 these from destruction because their juice is still great! Our unique process then transforms them into great cider- methodical yeast selection, meticulous temperature control, slow aging, and creative and deliberate blending. -Jason Spears, founder of locust cider

Their Woodinville cidery has a tap room.

Price: $6.50 / pint draft
Where Bought & Drank: Tipsy Cow Burger Bar in Woodinville WA
How Found: This was one of two draft cider options (the other was D’s Wicked Baked Apple)

First Impression: Medium amber hue. Smells like apple juice. Low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of apple juice, honey, brown sugar, and maybe a hint of oak? Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I liked this. However, it was a bit sweet for a full pint. The flavor is really nice though. Definitely a simple cider, but tasty. Perfect for a canned multipack.

Most Similar to: Locust Aged Washington Dessert Apple

Closing Notes: Tipsy Cow is one of our favorite local restaurants, and it is awesome they have cider (and 2 local craft ciders at that). However, I wish they had a drier option, as both are sweet. Oddly enough I actually liked when they offered Spire Dark & Dry, as although not dry, it is drier than this, and it goes really well with greasy food.

Have you tried Locust Sweet Aged Apple? What did you think?

Locust Cider Vanilla Bean & Smoked Blueberry

May 17, 2017May 6, 2017 cidersays Locust, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Locust Cider, Smoked Blueberry, tasting notes, Vanilla Bean, washington, Woodinville

Review of Locust Cider’s Hootenanny series Vanilla Bean and Smoked Blueberry ciders. This is a two for one review as I enjoy these ciders mixed together. Its not my first time trying these, but I hadn’t yet bought bottles / done a full review. I’ve also tried a lot of other ciders from Locust: Original Dry, Green Tea Infused, Sweet Dark Cherry, Washington Dessert Apple, Bittersweet Reserve, Pumpkin, Thai Ginger, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Winesap, Alder Smoked Apple, Mango, Elder & Oak, Wabi Sabi, Apricot, Sweet Aged Apple, Berry Session, Winter Banana, Chili Pineapple, Seckel Perry, and Hibiscus.

Cider: Vanilla Bean & Smoked Blueberry
Cidery: Locust Cider
Cidery Location: Woodinville WA
ABV: 5.0% & 5.0%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: American craft cider infused with Madagascar vanilla (Vanilla Bean) or alder smoked apples and blueberries (Smoked Blueberry)

Availability: Year round in CA, ID, OR, TX, and WA

Vanilla Bean Description: Washington apples meet real Madagascar vanilla, creating what is best described as an adult’s all natural cream soda. you don’t like sweet ciders??? Ok sure, try this.

Smoked Blueberry Description: Some people do not like smoked foods and drinks. Ok fine, stop reading. for those who do, this is comfort in a drink, blending apples, smoked over alder wood, with real blueberries, this is unexpected but amazing.

We are now made up a great small team: Chelsea, head cidermaker, Ryan, cellar manager, Shenna, tap room manager, Spring, events manager, and Chris, sales manager. We are a “family” passionate about cider, and we thank you for visiting our tasting room, and being part of our family! -Jason Spears, founder of locust cider

Their Woodinville cidery has a tap room.

Price: $7 each
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I tried these individually at Locust’s tap room awhile back, then at a tasting event I decided to try them mixed.

First Impression: Both nearly still (very low carbonation). The Vanilla Bean is a light straw yellow hue and the Smoked Blueberry is a bright purple-blue hue. The Vanilla Bean smells rather mild, just slightly sweet and of vanilla. The Smoked Blueberry is a bit more fragrant, smelling of blueberry with a hint of smoke.

Vanilla Bean Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of vanilla, cream, and hints of citrus (reminiscent of cream soda). Quick to moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

Smoked Blueberry Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium to full bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of blueberry and grape with hints of smoke and alder wood. Quick finish. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

Mixed Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Both fruity and creamy.

My Opinion: On their own, although plenty good, I don’t find either of these too remarkable. The Vanilla Bean has a great flavor, but I find it a bit sweet to drink much of (although this batch is slightly less sweet than I’ve had before, but also slightly less flavorful). The Smoked Blueberry is nice, but pretty typical. However, mixed together, the result is a uniquely tasty.

Most Similar to: Not much else. I’ve had other smoked ciders, but they weren’t fruit-infused. For example, Locust Alder Smoked Apple, and the more intense Tilted Shed Smoked and Alpenfire Smoke. The closest I’ve had to the Vanilla Bean is probably Long Drop Vanilla Honey (but that has more honey than vanilla, with some awesome honeycomb notes).

Closing Notes: Combining ciders is a fun way to mix things up. I haven’t really got into cider cocktails, as to me, mixing cider with other beverages is something I would think of doing if I don’t like a cider (and have done actually).

Have you tried Locust Cider? What did you think?

Three Kees Cider Dessert Apple

April 7, 2017April 8, 2017 cidersays Three Kees cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dessert Apple, hard cider, Snohomish, tasting notes, Three Kees, washington

Review of Three Kees Cider’s Dessert Apple. It is my first time trying any cider from this cidery.

Cider: Dessert Apple
Cidery: Three Kees
Cidery Location: Snohomish WA
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft farmhouse-style cider made from dessert apples, partially oak rum barrel aged

Availability: only in the greater Seattle WA area close to Snohomish; see this list

Cider Description from bottle: Our artisan-crafted Dessert Apple Hard Cider is made from a blend of Washington-grown apples using slow, cool fermentation. After aging in oak rum barrels and cider tanks, mature cider is blended to showcase apple flavors and balanced with sweetness, acidity and oak tannin structure.

Cider Description from website: Semi-Dry Hard Cider, Tank-aged cider blended with rum barrel-aged cider, 6.7% ABV, Carbonated. Distinct “cidery” apple aroma and flavors with rustic, earthy-oak and spirituous background notes. Soft acidity and tannin structure with a slight sweetness, finishing semi-dry.

Cidery Description: Our artisan-crafted beverages are made from a blend of Washington-grown fruit using slow, cool fermentation. Fermented cider and perry is aged in cider tanks and oak rum barrels from 1 month to a year depending on the desired product. Mature cider is blended to showcase the fruit and then balanced with sweetness, acidity and oak tannin for a complex structure and finish. Talk with Roger about our products. Our high quality cider and perry are achieved with quality, locally sourced ingredients and patience.

They are a new cidery, a family business (their last name is ‘Kees’, and the ‘Three’ in the name refers to their three kids). Their official Grand Opening was just last week. They have a tasting room at their cidery in rural Snohomish WA near Lake Roesiger, on 9 acres they purchased in 2013. They planted a small apple and pear orchard (although it won’t be ready to harvest for 6-7 years). Check out this news article.

Price: $12.77
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It was the first time I had seen cider from this cidery.

First Impression: Very hazy lemonade type hue. High carbonation, tiny bubbles. Smells of citrus with hints of sulfur, sourness, and funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied with a frothy carbonated texture. Very high tartness and acidity. Low tannins, bitterness, funk, and sourness. Notes of astringent lemon, grapefruit, lime, mineral, and floral. Long warming finish. Moderate apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. Low sessionability. No noticeable oak or rum influence.

My Opinion: I found this to be a mouth-puckering Farmhouse-style cider, reminiscent of Spanish Sidra. Unfortunately this is not a style I enjoy, as I find the sourness overwhelms my palate, especially when combined with low residual sugar, very high tartness & acidity, and high carbonation. My husband however liked it; he enjoys dry acidic ciders with high carbonation, and doesn’t mind some sourness (although he isn’t as tolerant to funk as I am).

Most Similar to: Farmhouse-style ciders and Spanish Sidra, although this was higher carbonation than most – Millstone Cellars Farmgate Dry, Angry Orchard Walden Hollow, WildCraft Flagship Dry Cider, Sietsema Traditional Dry Hard Cider, and Bereziartua Edición Gourmet.

Closing Notes: I wish the bottle’s label had described the cider as Farmhouse-style or rustic, in which case I probably wouldn’t have bought it. Their website however at least mentions rustic in this cider’s description. This likely won’t be the most crowd-pleasing style of cider, but will appeal to folks who enjoy Farmhouse-style cider, Spanish Sidra, sour beers, and the like. Sour ciders have been increasing in popularity and availability, at least in the Seattle area.

Update: The cidermaker messaged me with more information. This cidery doesn’t only make rustic-style ciders; the other two current selections (Dessert Pear and Cherry Flirt) won’t have the sourness and funk.

Have you tried Three Kees cider? What did you think?

Jester & Judge Pineapple Express

February 3, 2017January 29, 2017 cidersays Jester & Judge, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pineapple, pineapple cider, Pineapple Express, Stevenson, washington

Review of Jester & Judge’s Pineapple Express cider. I previously tried it on tap at the Schilling Cider House (see here). I’ve also previously tried their Sharp Cherry, American Apple, and Columbia Belle.

Cider: Pineapple Express
Cidery: Jester & Judge
Cidery Location: Stevenson WA
ABV: 5.2%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and draft)
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples, with pineapple juice concentrate

Availability: Likely only Oregon and Washington

Cider Description: The spirit of the Gorge is independent and fun-loving. This cider embraces our spirit and our love of little latitudes. Pineapple Express takes us where the sun is always out, the rain is always warm, and the mood is always festive. Handmade with all natural ingredients and an endless supply of Irie!

Cidery Description: We’ll bring the Jester and you be the Judge. At Jester & Judge we believe that balance is important in life and in cider. It’s the foundation of our seriously whimsical attitude. Serious about the quality of the ciders we make. No concentrates, sorbates, artificial flavorings, colorings, or other shortcuts. Whimsical because we have fun making the best ciders we can featuring local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest, which sometimes means snubbing our nose a little at traditional cider.

Price: ~$2.50 / single bottle
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I first tried it on tap at the Schilling Cider House

First Impression: Hazy pineapple juice hue. Low carbonation. Smells strongly of fresh pineapple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of pineapple juice, pineapple, and a hint of lime. Quick finish. Low apple flavor. High flavor intensity. Very high sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: Yum! I really like this one. It tastes like alcoholic pineapple juice with a hint of fizz. It is definitely on the juice-like and simple side though.

Most Similar to: Ace Pineapple, Schilling Pineapple Passion, and Wyder’s Prickly Pineapple. I’ve also had Portland Cider Co. Pineapple, but that one didn’t have nearly as much flavor as the others.

Closing Notes: I’m a big fan of this easy to drink flavorful cider.

Have you tried Jester & Judge Pineapple Express? What did you think?

D’s Wicked Baked Apple

December 21, 2016December 18, 2016 cidersays D's Wicked, review baked apple, cider, cider review, cider tasting, D's Wicked, hard cider, Kennewick, tasting notes, washington

Review of D’s Wicked flagship Baked Apple cider. I’ve tried this before, but only on draft. I’ve also tried their Chanilla and Cranny Granny.

Cider: Baked Apple
Cidery: D’s Wicked
Cidery Location: Kennewick WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and bottles & draft)
Style: American craft unfiltered spiced cider

Availability: Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Reno Nevada, New Jersey, and New York (per this page).

Cider Description: d’s Wicked Baked Apple™ is a premium, artisanal, hand crafted cider made with natural flavors and the freshest Washington State grown apples. Off-dry with a hint of spice, Baked Apple™ hosts the flavors of Red Delicious and Honey Crisp apples, finishing with a perfect touch of allspice and cinnamon. Just like the apple pie Grandma made, only WICKED!

Cidery Description: We started brewing cider because we love great ciders! Try the wicked delicious flavors that inspired us…wicked good ciders…wicked good times! Using the very best apples from Washington State, we let the unique character of each apple variety guide our crafting, resulting in our sinfully delicious varietals. d’s ciders are crisp with the freshness of just picked apples, not too sweet, not too tart, just playful layers of flavor that are just plain WICKED GOOD. d’s ciders are naturally gluten free, rough filtered to maintain the richest apple flavor, contain no colorants, and use natural ingredients.

Note – cider is fermented like wine – not brewed like beer (no heat involved).

Price: ~$2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Hazy dark straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of baked apples and cinnamon.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Medium to full bodied. Mild tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Hints of tannins. Notes of baked apple, apple skin/pomace, cinnamon, and a hint of citrus. Quick finish. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. Low spice level.

My Opinion: I thought this was pretty average. Its a dessert cider for me as I found it quite sweet (12oz was more than enough). I can see why it is appealing, but its not a favorite type of mine.

Most Similar to: Downeast Original Blend and One Tree Crisp Apple, as they have the unfiltered slightly spiced flavor, although both are drier.

Closing Notes: This definitely isn’t off-dry as described, but it is a very popular cider, probably because it is sweet. People often say their want a drier cider, but sweet sells.

Have you tried D’s Wicked cider? What did you think?

Whitewood South Sounder

November 23, 2016November 22, 2016 cidersays Whitewood cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Olympia, South Sounder, tasting notes, washington, Whitewood

Review of Whitewood’s South Sounder. Its my first time trying it, but I’ve previously had their Summer Switchel, Kingston Black Whisky Barrel Aged, Red Cap, Gravenstein Old Fangled Series 2012 Harvest, Gravenstein Old Fangled Series Barrel Aged, Northland, Winesap, Gibb’s Farm, and Newtown Pippin.

Cider: South Sounder
Cidery: Whitewood
Cidery Location: Olympia WA
ABV: 6.7%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from community sourced apples, with quince added (an astringent & sour fruit that looks similar to a pear)

Availability: Per this list, only in Washington, including Olympia, Seattle, Federal Way, Tacoma, and Eastern Washington.

Cider Description: Semi-dry cider. Community sourced apples & quince. Limited release. Made exclusively from 2015 harvest apples and quince provided by friends and farms of South Puget Sound.

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

Too often the word traditional is haphazardly thrown around when it comes to making cider. At Whitewood Cider Company we make hard cider seasonally, as traditional as it gets, just as cider has always been made.

We pick and press apples in the Autumn as they are ripe and properly sweated out to produce the thickest richest juices possible.
Our ciders ferment slow all throughout the Winter at the cold ambient temperatures of South Puget Sound
We rack and blend our ciders in the late Winter and early Spring.
Curing the late Spring after the ciders have had ample time torest and mature, we rack our cider once more and begin bottling and kegging.

When it comes to apple selection and cidermaking we have a “no compromise” approach. We believe cidermaking is an art and that the best fruit and the best practices yield the best cider possible.

Whitewood Cider is owned and operated by Dave White (of Old Time Cider) and Heather Ringwood. Visits to their Olympia Washington cidery are by appointment only.

Price: $16.25
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. Its one of the few (only?) ciders I hadn’t tried from Whitewood, so I was game to give it a go.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still. Smells of pineapple, mango, and green apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. No sourness or funk. Notes of green apple skin, lemon, pineapple, mango, quince, grapefruit, and hints of floral & herbal. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. This would especially be a nice summer cider. Its very tart and fruity and finishes with a bite.

Most Similar to: Ciders with high tartness & acidity and tropical notes. Eaglemount Quince, which I think I prefer, as it isn’t as tart. Besides that the only other cider with quince that I’ve tried is Honey Moon CiderHead Quince, which had less complexity than both the Whitewood and Eaglemount ciders.

Closing Notes: My favorite Whitewood cider remains the Kingston Black Whisky Barrel Aged, as I prefer richer flavor. I also really liked Northland and Gibb’s Farm. I’ll have to see if I can find any more to try from Whitewood!

Have you tried Whitewood South Sounder? What did you think?

Alpenfire Spark!

October 17, 2016October 15, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire Alpenfire, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, Spark, tasting notes, washington

Review of Alpenfire Spark!, their semi-sweet cider. I’ve tried it a couple times before, but only bottle pours. I’ve tried most of Alpenfire’s ciders–Dungeness, Spark, Smoke, ApoCalypso, Ember, Simple Cider, Calypso, Pirate’s Plank, Glow, Cinders, and Shrub.

Cider: Spark!
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 8.9%
How Supplied: 750ml bottles
Style: Organic American craft cider from heirloom & cider apple varieties, sugar added

Availability: Year round in Washington and their online store

Cider Description: Spark! is blended from Melrose, Kings, Gravenstein, Winter banana, burgundys and other heritage apples as well as traditional cider apples. This bottle conditioned, unfiltered cider has the wonderfully crisp flavor of a just picked fall apple. This semi sweet cider is delicious with a appetizers, especially cheese and fruit.

Cidery Description: Alpenfire Organic Cider is made from our estate and locally grown organic apples. We planted our WSDA certified organic orchard in 2004 with over 800 trees and 10 varieties of English, French & Early American cider specific apples. These apples have been used for hundreds of years for the unique qualities they bring to cider production. Namely the tannins and bitters not found in dessert style apples. While the juice, much less the fruit, of many of these apples would be hard to enjoy by the glass they become amazing with a little fermentation. One of our favorites, the “Muscadet de Dieppe”, has a viscous, winey, yes, even musky juice. It takes months of slow, cool fermentation for that to develop the subtle aroma and flavor you will find in our bone-dry cider. We augment our juice and mellow the flavors with organic apples from other local orchards.

Price: $15.99
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve been wanting to pick up an Alpenfire bottle, and this is one of my favorites from them (in addition to Smoke, ApoCalypso, and Glow).

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Low carbonation and foam. Smells tannic, of honey and apple pomace.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness. Moderate to high acid. Low to moderate tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Apple-forward and rich. Notes of apple pomace, honey, orange, and leather. Moderate finish length. Moderate to high apple flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Moderate complexity,

My Opinion: Awesome! I forgot how much I like this cider. Its easily in my top 10 favorites, and has all my favorite cider qualities. It would be a great introduction to “real” cider (made with cider apples), as it is sweeter and doesn’t have any overwhelming qualities.

Most Similar to: English cider such as from Aspall (except a bit sweeter and less yeast-forward), Bertolinos, and E.Z. Orchards Semi-Dry.

Closing Notes: I think this cider is a great choice and a good value too. Their Smoke is my favorite, but I need to be in a certain mood for that one…Spark is way more easy drinking.

Have you tried Alpenfire Spark? What did you think?

Ole Swede Blend of 9 Cider

October 13, 2016October 9, 2016 cidersays Ole Swede, review Blend of 9, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ole Swede, tasting notes, washington

Review of Ole Swede’s Blend of 9 Cider. I’ve previously tried their Blueberry cider.

Cider: Blend of 9 Cider
Cidery: Old Swede
Cidery Location: Tonasket WA
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert & cider apple varieties, oak aged

Availability: Only in WA

Cider Description: A unique blend of Kingston Black, Storks Red, Harry Masters Jersey, Dabinett, Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious and Pink Lady apples. Lightly oaked.

Cidery Description: Our ciders are hand crafted from farm to bottle. Out family farm was homesteaded in 1899 as new territories were opened in the west, near Havillah, Washington. Old Swede is born from our roots in North Central Washington’s Okanagan Highlands, a place of natural beauty perched above a valley known around the world for apple production. We moved back to the family homestead in 2014 and began to take our cider into the world in 2015.

They don’t have a tasting room, but do offer mobile juicing and event catering.

Price: $9
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells mild, of oak and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of honey and citrus. Moderate length finish with some warming. Low apple flavor, oak influence, flavor intensity, and complexity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I really liked the flavor, but wanted more of it. It tasted a bit watery.

Closing Notes: This is the third cider from Ole Swede I’ve seen in the Seattle area (in addition to Blueberry and Cherry Perry).

Have you tried Ole Swede cider? What did you think?

One Tree Crisp Apple

October 11, 2016October 8, 2016 cidersays One Tree, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crisp Apple, hard cider, One Tree, Spokane, tasting notes, washington

Review of One Tree’s Crisp Apple cider. I’ve tried it before, but only a draft sample, not canned. I’ve also tried their Lemon Basil, Caramel Cinnamon, Huckleberry, Dark Cherry, and Raspberry ciders.

Cider: Crisp Apple
Cidery: One Tree
Cidery Location: Spokane WA
ABV: 6.8%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Year-round in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana; see here.

Cider Description: An army of apple have made their way to your door, housed in a tough metal can. This cider is crisp and delicious with just enough tart apple flavor to keep you coming back for more. Keep that ice chest stocked with One Tree Hard Cider cans. Your taste buds will thank you.

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 flavors range from Lemon Basil, Crisp Apple, and Caramel Cinnamon to Huckleberry, Cranberry and other seasonal or limited release options. Whether you like your cider sweet or tart, you’ll find a One Tree Hard Cider just for you!

They have a tasting room in Spokane WA.

Price: ~$ 3 / single can (runs ~$10.99 / four pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I tried Crisp Apple at One Tree’s release party at the Schilling Cider House in Seattle awhile back (see here), and wanted to give it another go, but only a single can.

First Impression: Hazy orange lemonade hue. Low carbonation. Smells of baked apple.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Notes of baked apple, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon. Quick finish length. High apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Yum! Its simple, but tasty. I like that its less filtered and flavorful, and less sweet than their other ciders (my preference is semi-dry to semi-sweet).

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Out Cider, except it is slightly sweeter and more flavorful.

Closing Notes: This is probably my favorite One Tree cider so far; it is the most drinkable of their ciders for me, something I could actually have an entire pint of. Sweet sells though, and One Tree’s ciders are very popular in the Seattle area. They won the Fruit Cider Challenge at Cider Summit Seattle 2016 with their Raspberry cider with peanut butter whipped cream (see here).

Side note: “Crisp Apple” is a popular name for ciders…Angry Orchard, Flatbed, Zeffer, Hornsby’s, Foster’s, and Newton’s all also use it.

Have you tried One Tree Crisp Apple? What did you think?

Cider Summit Seattle 2016 Post 1/2 – The Event

September 13, 2016September 14, 2016 cidersays Cider Summit, event, local cider, cider event, cider summit, cider tasting, hard cider, seattle, tasting notes, washington

What an epic cider event! This was my second year attending (see here for previous posts), but was the seventh annual Cider Summit in Seattle Washington. It took place on Friday & Saturday September 9th & 10th. This is post 1/2, covering the event. Post 2/2 will cover tasting notes on the dozens of ciders I tried. [Update – Post 2/2 is now up here].

Info

We had some beautiful weather for the weekend. It was still warmer than I prefer, but not as bad as last year. Same as last year, I attended both days, and even stayed locally overnight. Even though I don’t live far, its very convenient, and makes a fun weekend getaway with the hubby. See here for the full event info and here for the full list of cideries (60) and ciders (196 ish).

There were some substitutions, but about the same number of ciders as expected were poured. The most interesting booths were those for Coquerel Calvados (French apple brandy), Schonauer apple liquor, and J. Seeds apple cider whiskey. They were even pouring a few meads, from Moonlight Meadery and Nectar Creek. Although most ciders were from the PNW, there were a good number of national and international ones as well. Also, the selections were primarily on the craft (vs. commercial) end.

There were 16 entries for the Fruit Cider Challenge. I learned that the cideries were provided fruit puree from Oregon Fruit Products which they made cider with. Votes were taken by text (1 per phone). Although I didn’t try them all, my vote was for Reverend Nat’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Golden Russet w/ Black Currant.

Entry included a tasting glass, tickets (8 for regular and 12 for VIP, each one good for a 4oz pour of most ciders), and wristband. A cool feature of this event is that in addition to in & out privileges, one entry fee gets you in both days (and you can even skip the line on the second day). This event is very well organized. Everything from pre event information online to signage at the event to thinking of the little things like having rinse water available.

Another thing about this event that I really like is that the folks pouring the cider are associated with the cidery (cidery employees, sometimes even the cidermakers, or the distributor). When its not too busy, you can ask about the cidery and cider. The crowd was really varied, from the cider enthusiasts like myself to people who just wanted to drink. We even spotted a couple in wedding garb (apparently they attended Friday straight from their wedding), and an adorable older lady with her walker.

Layout

Besides the main attraction of cider booths, they had music (from a local radio station, KEXP), food for sale from Whole Foods and SUSU rolled ice cream, cider cocktails from Capitol Cider, samples of unfermented juice from Ryan’s and Krave beef jerky (both for sale), some misc booths such as for Northwest Cider and fancy growlers, a shop with bottle sales and Cider Summit t-shirts and such, a dog lounge, stand up tables, covered seating, cold filtered water (from Easy Tap), and port-a-potties (which were actually quite clean, and one set of them had outdoor sinks). There was less covered seating this year, but it seemed to be sufficient.

My Tips

I’m glad I brought a hat, sunblock, good walking/standing shoes (for uneven grass), 1 water bottle to fill up, snacks (including something starchy, good both to absorb alcohol and as a palate cleanser – I chose animal crackers this year), notebook, pencil, and tote bag with an outside pocket for my tasting glass. You might also want a bag to put free swag in, but a couple cidery booths actually gave out bags too. Some cash isn’t a bad idea either, although I think at least the bottle shop took cards. ID is required.

My best advice for avoiding the crowds it to attend early on Friday, although even later on Friday is less busy than anytime on Saturday. I ended up only staying a few hours on Friday and a couple hours on Saturday, leaving once I’d had enough. There are also a number of restaurants (and Whole Foods) within walking distance, so another option is leaving if you need a break, then come back after a bit. I did that last year, especially as it was so hot (we took advantage of the a/c as Whole Foods).

A great way to get free admission is to volunteer; they had several shift options each day, and I heard that if you work closing on Saturday you may even get leftover cider. For the best ticket price, buy them in advance. Although VIP tickets are online sales only, if you are getting regular tickets, buy them in person at one of the places around town which sell them, as there isn’t a service charge. It didn’t sell out as far as I know, but the price was higher at the door. Designated driver tickets ($5) were only at the door.

Photos

Alpenfire Calypso – Blackberry Rum Barrel Aged Cider

August 25, 2016August 21, 2016 cidersays Alpenfire, review Alpenfire, barrel aged, Blackberry, Calypso, cider, cider review, hard cider, port townsend, rum, washington

Review of Alpenfire’s Calypso, a cider with blackberries aged in rum barrels. I’ve tried this before, as well as the draft-only version of this which has double the blackberries and is barrel aged 4 instead of 2 months, Apocalypso (see here), but this is the first bottle I’ve bought. I’ve also sampled most of their line-up; see here.

Cider: Calypso
Cidery: Alpenfire
Cidery Location: Port Townsend WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml bottles
Style: American craft cider from heirloom apples, with local blackberries, aged for 2 months in toasted oak rum barrels

Availability: Primarily Western Washington, including these retailers. They also have an online store through Vino Shipper which ships to states which allow it.

Cider Description: Calypso, named for the legendary sea goddess and the research vessel of Captain Jacques Cousteau. This delightful sparkling taste of the Northwest is aged in Bull Run Distilling Rum barrels to bring a hint of the South Seas to the mix. Heirloom apple is the dominant flavor, the beautiful scent and hint of fresh Greysmarsh Farm blackberries comes second. Bottle conditioning adds a delightful sparkle and full bodied flavor! You don’t want to miss this limited production cider.

They have an outdoor tasting room onsite at their Orchard in Port Townsend, open seasonally.

Price: $11.99
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. It sounded good that day, but I actually didn’t open it up for a few weeks.

First Impression: Deep cranberry hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells mildly of blackberries with a hint of oak.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Light to medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of blackberries, plus some raspberry & blueberry & red grape, and hints of oak. Moderate length finish with slight warming. Low apple flavor. Moderate blackberry flavor. Low rum and oak influence. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Yum! Quite tasty. This is my favorite berry cider, which typically isn’t a category I find impressive.

Most Similar to: Other berry ciders, although I find this to be more sophisticated and complex, even a bit wine-like. I prefer their Apocalypso with its stronger oak and rum notes, but it is quite seasonable / hard to find, and only on draft.

Closing Notes: Another winner from Alpenfire! I like nearly every cider they make, and look forward to seeing what they come up with next. I think for what you get they are a great value, as they are a step above most other craft ciders, actually an Artisan product, as they grow most of the apples for their ciders themselves, as use primarily heirloom and cider apple varieties (instead of dessert apples). Check out my post here from when I visited the cidery.

Have you tried Alpenfire Calypso? What did you think?

Number Six Dry 99

August 18, 2016August 12, 2016 cidersays Number Six, review cider, cider review, cider tasting, Dry 99, hard cider, Number 6, Number Six, seattle, tasting notes, washington

Review of Number Six Hard Cider Dry 99. Its my first time trying this cider, although I’ve tried a couple others from them (see here).

Cider: Dry 99
Cidery: Number Six Hard Cider
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 4.2%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American craft dry sessionable cider from dessert apples

Availability: Western Washington

Cider Description: None given. It is marketed as a dry low calorie cider (99 calories per 12oz serving). Note however that any dry low ABV cider will have a similar calorie count.

Cidery Description: Whats Number Six? It’s a tunnel in the mountains. But this is no ordinary tunnel. This mile of rail at 7000 Sierra Nevada feet connected east to west like no other. In 1867, Transcontinental Tunnel Number 6 finally broke through solid granite after 2 years of hand picks, dynamite, willpower and a startling disregard for safety. Number Six was the most deadly and ambitious railway tunnel ever built. What used to take 25 days to cross, now could be done in a matter of hours. People, materials, and cider now flowed freely.

Number 6 Hard Cider is a tribute to hard fought progress and the connections it creates. Come taste our flagship True Cider and crafted seasonal releases at our rail-side cidery and taproom. 100% Washington apples and a relentless toil for perfect taste is what we’re made of. Raise a cold, crisp pint to progress. Onward!

They have a tasting room in Seattle Washington.

Price: ~ $2.50 / single can
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I hadn’t tried it, and was picking up some Reverend Nat’s Tepache (fermented pineapple juice with spices), and this sounded like it would mix well.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Completely still (no carbonation). Smells mild, of sharp apples.

Tasting Notes: Dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Low astringency. Low bitterness. No sourness or funk. Sharp bite. Notes of lemon, honey, mineral, and floral. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I found this to be an average dry sessionable cider. As expected, it wasn’t overly flavorful. It did however mix well with Reverend Nat’s Tepache (although it didn’t add much to Tepache’s 3.2% ABV).

Most Similar to: Original Sin Extra Dry (which I prefer as I found it to be more complex) and Ace Joker (which is carbonated). It is becoming easier to find drier ciders, even on the more commercial end of the industry.

Closing Notes: If you are in Washington and a fan of dry sessionable ciders, this may be something you’d enjoy. Although this is on the conservative end of Number Six’s lineup, they also have some ciders which push the envelope, like their Cold Brew Coffee cider (which I haven’t tried yet, although I have tried Schilling’s take on it, Grumpy Bear, which is now available in Nitro cans).

Have you tried Number 6 Dry 99? What did you think?

Cider Summit Seattle 2016 Preview

August 16, 2016September 10, 2016 cidersays Cider Summit, event cider, cider event, cider summit, cider tasting, hard cider, seattle, South Lake Union, washington

The epic 7th annual Cider Summit is coming to Seattle Washington on Friday September 9th (3-8pm) and Saturday September 10 (noon-5pm) at South Lake Union Discovery Center Lawn. Check out my posts from last year: info, cider list preview, event, and tasting notes.

See here for the full event info and here for the full list of cideries (60) and ciders (196 ish). I found at least 40 ciders I haven’t tried and am interested in tasting, so I’ll see if I can get through that many in the two days.

Regular tickets are sold in advance online ($30 + service charge) or at Seattle-area Whole Foods ($30, also said to include access to a Whole Foods VIP tasting area, new this year), or at the door ($40), and includes a tasting glass + 8 drink tickets. VIP tickets are sold in advance online ($45 + service charge) and get you in an hour early on Friday (2pm not 3pm), and includes a tasting glass + 12 drink tickets. Additional drink tickets are available at the event for $2 each. Designated driver tickets are also available at the door for $5.

This outdoor event is 21+ but dog friendly. Last year they had covered seating, stand up tables, cold water on tap, and port-a-potties. The event also includes a merchandise shop, bottle shop, food sales, cider cocktails (using the same drink tickets as ciders), and a dog lounge. Another special feature is the Fruit Cider Challenge; many cideries are bringing a special fruity cider, and attendees can vote for their favorite. Last year many booths had employees (or even cidermakers) from the cideries pouring ciders, a mix of keg and bottle pours. They may also still be accepting volunteers (includes admission, t-shirt, and cider benefits).

Last year my husband and I got a hotel down the road as I wanted to attend both days, and it makes it way easier (especially not having to find parking two days in a row), even though we live fairly close. We’re doing the same again this year. The event has in & out privileges (if you keep your wristband and glass), and we left on Friday to grab food down the road at the Whole Foods (and cool off in their a/c, as it was HOT last year) – although they did sell food. I had a VIP ticket last year and it was great, as I could get photos and try ciders before it got busy. On Friday it didn’t get too busy until closer to 5pm. On Saturday I didn’t stay too long, getting there when they opened at noon and leaving after a couple hours, but was much busier.

Cider Summit Seattle is part of Washington Cider Week (Sept 8-18). Stay tuned for more posts on Cider Summit and Washington Cider Week events.

Summer Cider Day 2016 in Port Townsend WA – Tasting Notes

August 9, 2016September 10, 2017 cidersays Bull Run, event, Nashi Orchards, New West, Rambling Route, review, Snowdrift, Spire Mountain, summer cider day, Wandering Aengus, Whitewood cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, summer cider day, tasting notes, washington

This is Part 2/2 on Summer Cider Day 2016 in Port Townsend Washington, which includes tasting notes on the ciders I tried. See HERE for Part 1/2, covering the event itself.

Bull Run Pear Ice Wine, 12% – This is a 9% residual sugar ice perry, made from Hood River Oregon Bosc and Anjou pears, similar to how ice cider or ice (grape) wine is made (using the natural cold to concentrate the sweetness & flavor of the fruit). Semi-sweet to sweet (less sweet than a typical ice cider oddly enough, despite perries usually being sweeter than ciders as pears have non-fermentable sugars). Moderate to full bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. I found this unique, like a complex pear syrup, with a well-hidden ABV. In addition to all the pear flavor, there were some honey, citrus, and melon notes. Moderate length finish. Moderate pear flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Moderate flavor intensity.

Nashi Orchards Barrel Fermented Cider, 6.9% – This is a cider made from primarily Winesap apples with some French & English bittersweets (from the WSU Mt. Vernon Cider Research Center), aged in neutral French oak barrels. Dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Definite Winesap apple flavor with hints of richness from the bittersweet apples. Notes of oak (low) and honey. Moderate to long slightly boozy finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Low flavor intensity. Overall this is quite subtle, similar to their other products I’ve tried. I would love to see them do something made from only bittersweet apples and barrel aged, as those are my favorites, but alas, good cider apples are hard to come by / expensive, so its not done much here in the U.S. (which is why I am also a big fan of English & French imports).

Nashi Orchards Island Harvest Perry, 6.7% – This perry is from 90% Asian pears (Shinsseiki and perry pears) and 10% seedling pears foraged on Vashon island. Semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness. Moderate to high acidity. Hints of bitterness. Notes of pear, lemon, lime, and mineral. Moderate sessionability. Low pear flavor. Low flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. I found it to be very light; I think this would be great to pair with food. It was also very subtle.

New West Cidery – I thought I’d add a little about this cidery, as I hadn’t even heard of them before this event (their cider isn’t distributed to Seattle). They are part of Sasquatch Brewing in Portland Oregon, which was founded in 2011. They started making cider a few years ago under the New West name. They are opening a separate cidery in Northwest Portland in a couple months which will have 90 barrel fermenters (which is very large capacity considering a standard keg holds half a barrel). At the brewery’s tap room in Portland they currently offer 12 cider taps (including guest taps).

New West Black & Blue, 6.8% – Lovely deep berry hue. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Low tartness and acidity. Very mild pure berry flavor, 50-50 blackberry and blueberry. Quick finish. No apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity. I like a more flavorful cider, so I didn’t really care for this.

New West Señor Cider, 6.8% – Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Notes of several different hot peppers and a hint of citrus & honey. Moderate heat, mostly at the end of the sip, which lingers with a long finish. Low apple flavor, sessionability, flavor intensity, and complexity. I don’t like spicy ciders, so I didn’t like this at all. I think a spicy cider works better when the spice level is low, it has higher residual sugar, and there is some flavor balance (like significant honey notes). Enough people must like these though, as cideries keep making them (for example – the Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA actually has a tap line dedicated to a rotating selection of spicy Schilling ciders).

Rambling Route Pear, 6.9% – This is the second cider in Tieton’s Rambling Route line, their Apple variety with Bartlett pear juice added. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Nearly still. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. Moderate apple flavor. Very light pear flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity and complexity. I think I prefer their Apple variety, although I’m not really a fan of either. I think Tieton’s regular line of ciders is superior (although that is likely to be expected from the price point), especially the recent draft-only Bourbon Peach (my tasting notes here).

Snowdrift Cornice, 7.3% – I’ve tried this before (see here), but it was awhile back, and I was curious how this year’s version turned out. This is their barrel aged cider made from cider apple varieties. Smells mildly oaky. Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. Notes of oak, smoke, and honey. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate complexity. Low flavor intensity. I found this vintage to be more approachable than their previous one, but I really enjoyed both.

Spire Mountain Dark & Dry, Jack Daniels Barrel Aged, 5.0% – This is a special version of their typical Dark & Dry cider which was aged in Jack Daniel whiskey barrels for 8 months. Smells strongly of whiskey, plus some oak and brown sugar. Semi-dry to dry. Medium bodied. Moderate to high bitterness. Low tartness and acidity. Notes of brown sugar, molasses, whiskey, vanilla, and coffee. Long bitter finish. High spirit influence. Low barrel influence. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Low sessionability. Moderate complexity. Its crazy how the barrel aging changed this cider from a fairly simple sweet cider to a bitter complex dry cider! I think they are on to something with barrel aging this cider, but it was aged too long for my liking (something I thought I’d never say…I always say I wish a cider was aged longer!), as it was too intensely bitter.

Spire Mountain Dry Hop Apple, 5.0% – This is their Red Apple cider with Citra hops, their new Summer Seasonal. Semi-sweet. Medium bodied, slightly syrupy. Low tartness, acidity, and bitterness. Subtle hops flavor, more herbaceous than citrusy, which is unusual for a Citra hopped cider. Moderate to high apple flavor. High sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Low complexity. I thought this was pretty decent for a commercial cider; I liked how the hops flavor wasn’t overwhelming, although I think I like a more citrus-forward hopped cider.

Wandering Aengus Wanderlust, 6.9% – This was their first cider variety they made 12 years ago. Its an off-dry (0.5% residual sugar) English-style cider made from primarily heirloom sharp plus some bittersweet apples. Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low bitterness. Low tannins. Notes of bittersweet apples, oak, and mineral. Sharp flavor with hints of richness. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability, complexity, and flavor intensity. This time around I enjoyed it better than when I tried it awhile back; either this batch had less bitterness than previously and/or I’m not as sensitive to it anymore.

Whitewood Gibb’s Farm, 6.7% – They nicknamed this limited release cider a “Farmer’s Reserve”. It was made from a large number of varieties of apples only from Grant Gibbs’ farm outside of Leavenworth WA. Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Low carbonation. Medium bodied with a nice texture, slightly syrupy. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Notes of sharp apples, honey, and lemon. Moderate to long slightly boozy finish. Moderate to strong apple flavor. Moderate sessionability and flavor intensity. Low to moderate complexity. I enjoyed it.

Whitewood Newtown Pippin, 6.9% – This is a Newtown Pippin apple single varietal, part of their Old Fangled Series, made from 2016 harvest apples from Hood River Oregon. Semi-dry. Medium bodied, with a nice frothy texture. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity. Moderate sessionability. I found this to be very mild, which is characteristic of Newtown Pippins, but not something I prefer.

I didn’t taste ciders from every cidery there (as I had tried the remainder of the lineup), but here are photos of the other booths.

Summer Cider Day 2016 in Port Townsend WA – The Event

August 8, 2016August 9, 2016 cidersays event, review, summer cider day cider, cider event, cider tasting, hard cider, port townsend, summer cider day, washington

Last weekend I attended the 6th annual Summer Cider Day in Port Townsend Washington. It was my first time at this event and my second time in Port Townsend (Northwest of Seattle; see my previous 4 posts here on the Olympic Peninsula Cider Route with Alpenfire, Eaglemount, and Finnriver). I’ll have two posts; this first one covers the event and a second will cover tasting notes on the ciders I tried (post 2/2 now up – see HERE). Check out my previous post here, which was a preview of the Summer Cider Day event.

I took the Edmonds-Kingston ferry fairly early (note there is a Port Townsend ferry, but the route is from Coupville) to ensure I got there before 11am, when the VIP tasting started (an hour earlier than the noon-5pm event). VIP is definitely the way to go by the way (for an extra $10 per ticket) as I got a chance to try a number of ciders, chat up the cidermakers pouring them, and take photos of the venue and lovely table setups before it got too busy. I actually did nearly all my cider tasting in that hour. By arriving early I also had a chance to get a great parking spot, walk around town, grab some coffee, etc.

The Northwest Maritime Center was a great venue for this small ish cider festival. It was primarily indoors (which is rare for a summer tasting event, but I appreciated it as sun + cider isn’t the best combo), except for food and seating on the deck (with an amazing waterfront view).

It was also a unique event in that it was family-friendly (although there wasn’t really anything for kids to do, just a corner set up with some coloring books).

Admission included a tasting glass and 8 drink tickets.

The venue on the second floor of the building was beautiful, with high ceilings. Each cidery had a booth to pour their ciders (a mix of draft and bottle pours). Many had the actual cidermakers pouring the cider, but if not, it was someone very familiar with it (vs. some events which have volunteers pour cider).

They had catering on the deck from Siren’s Pub, a restaurant down the street. The menu was cider-themed and had suggested cider pairings. I had a shrimp skewer with rice and mango salsa that was pretty good, although I imagine it would have better if it didn’t get cold right away since it was a bit cool & windy outside. The outdoor seating was nice though (especially as there was no indoor seating, only stand up tables).

They also had a bottle shop, where many of the ciders were available for purchase.

The attending cideries were announced in advance, but not the ciders they were pouring. Here is the final lineup:

2 Towns Ciderhouse (Corvallis OR) Outcider, Bade Apple, Made Marion
Alpenfire Cider (Port Townsend WA) Pirate’s Plank, Spark!, ApoCalypso
Bull Run Cider (Forest Grove OR) Dry Hop, Pear Wine, Bramble Berry
Eaglemount Wine & Cider (Port Townsend WA) Ginger, Rhubarb, Cyser
Finnriver Farm & Cidery (Chimmacum WA) Chimacum Kriek, Sidra, Oak & Apple
Liberty Ciderworks (Spokane WA) Heirloom Series Gravenstein, ~~Turncoat Dry Hopped~~ New World, Stonewall Barrel-Aged
Locust Cider (Woodinville WA) Thai Ginger, Apricot, Wabi Sabi
Nashi Orchards (Vashon WA) Chojuro Perry, Island Harvest Perry, Barrel Fermented Cider
New West Cider (Portland OR) Black & Blue, Señor Cider
Schilling Cider (Auburn WA) Ascender Ginger, Grapefruit & Chill, Bailout Lemongrass Cider
added: Seattle Cider (Seattle WA) Berry, Semi Sweet, Dry
Snowdrift Cider Co. (East Wenatchee WA)
Spire Mountain Ciders (Olympia WA) Crisp & Dry, Dark & Dry, Dry Hopped Apple
Pear UP , formerly NV Cider (Wenatchee WA) Watermelon Pear, Pear Essentials, and Ginger Pear
Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider (Portland OR) The Passion, ¡Tepache!, Revival
Tieton Cider Works (Yakima WA) Rambling Route Pear, Apricot, Tieton
Wandering Aengus Ciderworks (Salem OR) Anthem Cherry, Golden Russet, Wanderlust
Whitewood Cider (Olympia WA) Gibb’s Darm, Newtown Pippin, Old Fangled Heirloom
~~Woodbox Cider (Portland OR)~~

Next up in the Seattle area is Washington Cider Week (Sept 8-18), including the epic Cider Summit (Sept 9 & 10).

Chatter Creek Cider Pilot Project Batch “1” Golden Cider

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 cidersays Chatter Creek, review Batch 1, Chatter Creek, cider, Golden Cider, hard cider, Pilot Project, seattle, washington

Review of Chatter Creek Cider’s Pilot Project Batch “1” Golden Cider. This is the first time I’ve tried (or even seen) anything from this cidery. It appears to be from a winery which is new to making cider; I couldn’t find any information online except an under construction website, but was able to get in touch with Gordy Rawson at Chatter Creek. It appears the winery is in Woodinville WA but this cider was made in Seattle WA, the original location.

Cider: Pilot Project Batch “1” Golden Cider
Cidery: Chatter Creek Cider
Cidery Location: Seattle WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 500ml flip top bottle
Style: American craft cider made from dessert apples

Availability: self distributed in Seattle WA

Description: This Cider is a winemakers take on how to balance a beverage. Good apple flavor. The acid and sweetness are in balance to present a natural flavor, Some light tannin, medium carbonation.

Ingredients: Just apples, sulfites, and sweetened with concentrate

Apple Varieties: Red and Golden delicious, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Granny, and Pinata

Price: $8.75
Where Bought: Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing

First Impression: Light straw yellow. Nearly still. Smells mild, of acidity and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of honey, stone fruit, and pineapple. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I found this to be a typical apple-forward sessionable cider. I think it would be better suited in a multipack of bottles or cans, instead of a $9 pint.

Most Similar to: 2 Towns OutCider (although not unfiltered), Apple Outlaw Original (although less apple-forward), and Atlas Session Cider (although not as fruity)

Closing Notes: I’m interested to find more information about this cidery and cider, and I’m curious if they will release more ciders.

Have you tried Chatter Creek Pilot Project Golden Cider? What did you think?

Washington Gold Cider Golden Delicious

July 27, 2016July 23, 2016 cidersays review, Washington Gold cider, cider review, cider tasting, Golden Delicious, hard cider, washington, Washington Gold

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

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.

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?

Ole Swede Blueberry Hard Cider

July 18, 2016July 15, 2016 cidersays Old Swede, Ole Swede blueberry, blueberry cider, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Ole Swede, red wine, Tonasket, washington

Review of Old Swede’s Blueberry Hard Cider. They are a relatively new cidery from North Central middle of nowhere WA, and its the first time I’ve tried their cider. Their second introductory release is a Sour Cherry Perry.

Cider: Blueberry Hard Cider
Cidery: Old Swede
Cidery Location: Tonasket WA
ABV: 6.2%
How Supplied: 22oz bottles
Style: American craft cider made from dessert & crab apple varieties, with blueberries

Availability: Only in WA

Cider Description: Our Cider is crafted from Jonathan, Jonagold, Gala, and Manchurian Crab apples handpicked near the Okanogan River on the Maldonado Family Orchard and Big Check Orchard near Loomis. These apples were naturally fermented with blueberries from Hunter’s Moon Farm creating a delicious libation. Nicely balanced, dry to medium dry cider with a hint of blueberries. Bright, Balanced, Refreshing.

They don’t have a tasting room, but do offer mobile juicing and event catering.

Price: $9
Where Bought: Schilling Cider House in Seattle WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. A friend recommended this cider, and I hadn’t tried anything from them, so I thought I’d pick it up.

First Impression: Light red wine hue. Low carbonation. Smells of red wine, grape, blueberries, and tannins.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Low bitterness and tannins. Hints of sourness and funk. Notes of red wine, tannic blueberry skin, cherry, pomegranate, and lemon. Long finish with lingering tartness. Moderate complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: I found this a bit too tart and in general wasn’t wowed by the flavor, but berry cider isn’t typically my favorite. However, my husband (a red wine drinker) fell in love with this cider, and said its probably his favorite ever! He kept stealing sips of it.

Most Similar to: Red wine; I got a lot of grape notes from this, and the blueberry skins and crab apples added some significant tannins. I’ve previously tried two blueberry ciders, WildCraft Cider Works Blue River Blueberry and Superstition Meadery Blueberry Spaceship Box. This actually really reminds me of the Blueberry Spaceship Box, with the tartness and blueberry skin tannins. Although the Blue River Blueberry also had the tartness and blueberry skin tannins, it was much drier and slightly sour. It also reminds me of Finnriver’s Black Currant cider, which is also grape-like and tart. I’m curious how different a blueberry cider would turn out if they used blueberry juice vs. throwing in crushed blueberries (which I assume is what they do as all 3 blueberry ciders had that tannic blueberry skin flavor, and would be much less expensive and much easier than adding blueberry juice).

Closing Notes: This is a great selection in their cider lineup, and will likely be especially appealing to red wine drinkers. I’m interested to see what else they will release.

Have you tried Ole Swede cider? What did you think?

Incline Explorer Hopped Cider

July 7, 2016July 7, 2016 cidersays Incline, review Auburn, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Explorer, hard cider, hopped cider, Incline, washington

Review of Incline Cider Company’s The Explorer – Hopped Cider. Its the first time I’ve tried their cider, and this was the first cider this company released (January 2016).

Cider: The Explorer – Hopped Cider
Cidery: Incline Cider Company
Cidery Location: Auburn WA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six packs of 12oz cans
Style: American craft hopped cider made from dessert apples

Availability: Year round in Washington and Oregon

Cider Description: On the drier end of the scale while remaining very smooth and well balanced. The Explorer Hopped Cider is produced from our blend of Yakima apples. A hearty dose of hops is added in to create a extremely balanced, complex, and refreshing cider. NO added sugar, no concentrates, nothing funky.
Cheers!

Cidery Description: On a mission to share craft cider with the nation. Incline Cider Company was established by dreamers turned cider adventurers. Founded through a long time passion with the industry and for quality craft cider, Incline was born. Our mission is to produce craft cider of the highest quality and share it with the world.

We stay true to “craft”. This means no apple concentrates and no artificial additives. To put it simply – we let the apples, yeast, and our expertise do the talking. GMO and Gluten Free. Family owned and operated..

Price: ~$2 for a single can
Where Bought: Whole Foods
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I had read about this cider online and seen full six packs in other stores

First Impression: Pale straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of hops, citrus, floral, and honey.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Hop-forward (moderate). Moderate tartness and acidity. Low bitterness. No tannins, sourness, or funk. Notes of hops, citrus, floral, and honey. Moderate finish length. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: I found this easy to drink, but its not something I’d buy again, as I prefer a higher flavor intensity and less overt hoppiness (ie. citrus & floral notes vs. actual hop flavor). I liked that the bitterness didn’t linger, which I’ve found some some hoppier ciders.

Most Similar to: Other moderately hopped ciders, such as Portland Cider Hop’Rageous and Tod Creek Mala-Hop.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this. I can no longer say that I don’t enjoy hopped ciders, although they aren’t my first choice. I think Incline did well staying middle of the road as far as hoppiness to appeal to both cider and beer drinkers. I’m curious what they will come out with next. Their website lists The Scout Hopped Marionberry Cider, but I haven’t seen it yet.

Have you tried Incline Explorer? What did you think?

d’s Wicked Chanilla (Cherry Vanilla)

June 29, 2016June 26, 2016 cidersays D's Wicked, review Chanilla, cherry vanilla creme, cider, cider review, cider tasting, d's, D's Wicked, hard cider, Kennewick, washington

Review of Chanilla (Cherry Vanilla) cider from d’s Wicked, their newest release. I’ve previously only tried their Baked Apple cider (see here).

Cider: Chanilla
Cidery: d’s Wicked Cider Co.
Cidery Location: Kennewick WA
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz bottle
Style: American craft cider from dessert apples with cherries & Madagascar vanilla beans

Availability: WA, OR, and HI; see here

Cider Description: d’s Wicked Cider Chanilla is a hand crafted hard apple cider made with the freshest Pacific Northwest grown apples. We’ve infused fresh cherry and Madagascar vanilla bean to create this cidergasmic new flavor. This cider has expressive notes of pie cherries and cream soda with a lush marshmallow finish.

Cidery Description: We started brewing cider because we love great ciders! Try the wicked delicious flavors that inspired us…you deserve it! Wicked good ciders…wicked good times!!

Using the very best apples from Washington State, we let the unique character of each apple variety guide our crafting, resulting in our sinfully delicious varietals. d’s ciders are crisp with the freshness of just picked apples, not too sweet, not too tart, just playful layers of flavor that are just plain WICKED GOOD. d’s ciders are naturally gluten free, rough filtered to maintain the richest apple flavor, contain no colorants, and use natural ingredients.

They have a tasting room in Kennewick WA.

Price: $8
Where Bought: Special Brews in Lynnwood WA
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing, although I had heard about it online

First Impression: Cranberry red with slight brown & orange hue. Moderate to high turbity. Moderate carbonation upon pouring, medium size bubbles. Smells of granny smith apples, cherries, and a slight sourness.

Tasting Notes: Sweet. Moderate to full bodied. Creamy texture. Moderate carbonation. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, funk, or tannins. Hints of sourness. Notes of cherry, vanilla, marshmallow cream, cranberry, pomegranate, and green apple. Low apple flavor. Moderate to full flavor intensity. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: Quite sweet and rich…a bit much for me. Definitely more suited to sip on with dessert than with dinner.

Most Similar to: Cherry vanilla creme soda. The alcohol remains well hidden under all the sugar in this beverage, the flavor is quite a good match, and even the carbonation is almost as high as soda. Chanilla seems more like hard soda than cider. It reminds me a bit of Elemental’s NW Atomic Root Beer (see here), which is a cider-based hard root beer (although that one is less sweet than its soda counterpart).

Closing Notes: Although this was too sweet and rich for me, I liked the creamy flavor; I’m curious how they pulled that off. I imagine this will be a great seller, as sweet cider is popular and hard soda is a current trend.

Have you tried d’s Wicked Chanilla? What did you think?

Cider Says

A cider enthusiast blog focusing on cider reviews, based in Seattle WA.

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