Woodchuck Sangria

June 3, 2019June 1, 2019 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, sangria, Sangria cider, tasting notes, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Sangria cider. It is my first time trying this, although I have had most of their line-up (see here).

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

Cider: Sangria
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with natural fruit flavors and grape skin extract for color

Availability: semi wide release by July 2019

Cider Description: A semi-sweet cider with notes of red wine, citrus and berry to give a full-bodied taste inspired by Sangria.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders fora variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (runs ~ $9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Deep red hue. No carbonation. Smells of red grape.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of red grape and green apple, with hints of lemon, pineapple, and red wine. Moderate length finish. Very high sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity. Low apple flavor.

My Opinion: I liked it. Super easy to drink and fruity, although rather grapey.

Most Similar to: Portland Cider Sangria plus Portland Cider Concord Grape

Closing Notes: This would be a great cider to bring to a bbq or similar summer event.

Have you tried Woodchuck Sangria? What did you think?

Woodchuck Tank Series Belgian White

February 19, 2019February 16, 2019 cidersays review, Woodchuck belgian white, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Tank Series, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Tank Series Belgian White. They made this years ago, it went on hiatus, then they re-released it recently for a limited run. I previously tried this pre-blog, plus I’ve had most of Woodchuck’s line-up (see here).

Cider: Tank Series, Belgian White
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with Belgian beer yeast

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Crafted with a classic Belgian beer yeast, cloudy with a rich, golden huge, it presents a delicate aroma and taste, with coriander and orange notes.

Price: n/a (retails for $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Smells of orange with a hint of apple. Hazy light orange brown hue. Still (no carbonation).

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

My Opinion: Yum! I really enjoyed it. It actually tastes different than their other ciders, which all seem kinda similar to me.

Most Similar to: It almost reminded me of a still French cider with orange.

Closing Notes: This is one of my favorite Woodchuck special releases.

Have you tried Woodchuck Belgian White? What did you think?

Woodchuck 802 Collection Lil’ Dry

November 21, 2018November 16, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck 802 collection, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Lil' Dry, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck 802 Lil’ Dry. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: 802 Collection Lil’ Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.1%
How Supplied: four pack of 16oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from fresh-pressed Vermont apples

Availability: only in Vermont to start, then limited in Maine and New Hampshire

Cider Description: A traditional cider made with only fresh pressed Vermont juice from our orchard partners. Enjoy this semi-dry cider with good friends and good company.

See this article for detailed info.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

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

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Low carbonation. Smells of sweet green apple.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of green apple, honey, and tropical fruit. Moderate tart finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. Never would have guessed it was Woodchuck actually, as it lacks the characteristics that I associate with every Woodchuck cider, as to me they all have a bit of the same baseline flavor (likely the same apple blend), and a fuller body than expected for the level of sweetness. This tastes like it was made with a different blend of apples, maybe some heirloom ones thrown in with the dessert ones. The quality was characteristic of their ‘Vermont Cider Company‘ line (released in 2016 and 2017).

Most Similar to: Vermont Cider Co, Addison, although this was a touch drier, lighter bodied, and more craft tasting

Side Note: They previously had a cider called ‘802’, a caramelized brown sugar type cider, but that was discontinued a few years back. They also did this previously, re-using the name Summer Time, but having it be a different cider, ginger pear instead of blueberry. As cool as using the ‘802’ area code is, I could see it being confusing.

Closing Notes: Too bad it doesn’t sound like this will make it out to the PNW (or at least not soon).

Have you tried Woodchuck 802 Lil’ Dry? What did you think?

Woodchuck Rosé

October 11, 2018October 8, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Rosé. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: Bubbly Rosé
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.1%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with “red” (red-fleshed?) apple juice, and purple carrot for color

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: A bubbly, fruit-forward blush cider made with a blend of red apples delivering a crisp mouth feel.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (retails for $9.99-10.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Pink hue. Low carbonation. Smells mildly fruity.

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

My Opinion: I liked it. Fruity and easy to drink. However, I’m curious if I really tasted fruitiness from red-fleshed apples (looks like their unfermented juice was used to back-sweeten a drier cider), or my brain saw the pink hue and assumed it would be fruity.

Most Similar to: Angry Orchard Rosé

Closing Notes: This is yet another rosé cider release – it looks like every commercial cider brand has now jumped on the trend.

Have you tried Woodchuck Rosé? What did you think?

Woodchuck Pearsecco

October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Pearsecco, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Pearsecco. It is my first time trying this, but I have had most of their line-up (see here).

Cider: Bubbly Pearsecco
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.1%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with pear

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Inspired by sparkling wines, this dry pear cider is full of bubbles with a clean, crisp finish.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (retails for $9.99-10.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Light straw yellow hue. Moderate carbonation. Smells of yeast brought to the surface by carbonation.

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

My Opinion: I liked it. This is probably the driest cider I’ve had from Woodchuck, but it still wasn’t completely dry (not that I really expected that from a commercial cidery). Fuller bodied than I expected for the dryness, but all of Woodchuck’s ciders seem to end up that way. Nice light flavor, easy to drink, and higher carbonation.

Most Similar to: A drier and more bubbly version of Crispin Pear or Angry Orchard Pear. Its actually pretty rare to have a drier pear cider – looking at my list the only one I can think of is Neigel Vintners (now Pear UP) Half Past Prudent, which is no longer made.

Closing Notes: Next up will be a review of their Rosé, released at the same time – both are said to be inspired by wine and have higher carbonation.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pearsecco? What did you think?

Woodchuck Cucumber Mint

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

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

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

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

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

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woodchuck Tank Series Pear Ginger

March 5, 2018March 2, 2018 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Pear Ginger, Tank Series, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Pear Ginger, the first release in their new “Tank Series”, about which they said “Woodchuck has always been synonymous with innovation and our cider makers honor this pioneering spirit with the Tank Series.” I’ve tried most of their lineup; see here.

Cider: Pear Ginger
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz cans (and kegs)
Style: American commercial cider with ginger and pear flavors

Availability: wide release for 3-4 months, then replaced by the next Tank Series

Cider Description: A crisp ripe pear cider bursting with ginger for a taste that is light and refreshing.

Cidery Description: Vermont Cider Company is a leading hard cider maker in the United States, with a state of the art cidery located in Middlebury, Vermont. Vermont Cider Company crafts a variety of ciders for a variety of consumers. There’s ultra-craft Vermont Cider Co., iconic Woodchuck, fruit-forward Wyder’s as well as the classic Magners Irish Cider and Blackthorn, rounding out our import offerings. Vermont Cider Company reinvigorated American hard cider in 1991, with the launch of Woodchuck, and stays focused on the category today through our commitment to crafting innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of sweet pear juice with spicy ginger.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of syrupy pear, pineapple, spicy ginger, and a hint of citrus. Moderate finish with lingering ginger. Low apple flavor. Mild to moderate ginger flavor (more spicy than burning). Moderate pear flavor, sessionability, and flavor intensity. Mild complexity.

My Opinion: I’m not a ginger fan, so I was a bit ambivalent, but my husband really liked it. Light and refreshing, with the mild ginger made even milder with the sweet pear.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Out On a Limb Ginger Lovin’, except with more ginger and the added pear.

Closing Notes: This was originally released in summer 2017, as a new version of their Summer Time (which was previously blueberry). They also plan to have two more Tank Series releases this year.

Have you tried Woodchuck Pear Ginger? What did you think?

Gumption Cider Co. Citrus Freak

June 12, 2017June 9, 2017 cidersays review, Vermont Cider Co. cider, cider review, cider tasting, citrus, Citrus Freak, Gumption, hard cider, hopped cider, tasting notes, Woodchuck

Review of Citrus Freak from Gumption Cider Co. (part of Vermont Cider Co., which also includes Woodchuck). This is the second year-round offering from the series, along with the original Gumption (which I reviewed here). Gumption started in 2015 under the Woodchuck brand, but it branched out as its own brand in 2016.

>>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: Citrus Freak
Cidery: Gumption Cider Co. (part of the Vermont Cider Co.)
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples, with citrus and Cascade hops

Availability: Year-round, wide release

Cider Description: Part prankster, part gangster, Gumption’s right-hand man is the Citrus Freak. A perfect pairing of eating apples, grapefruit, and Cascade hops, this semi-dry cider delivers an all-day enjoyable citrus experience.

Gumption Description: The Circus of Ciders. Originally launched under the Woodchuck brand in 2015, Gumption® is a bold and audacious brand which has been wildly successful with consumers. In December 2016, Gumption spun off from Woodchuck® as its own brand with line extensions including the rotational Late Show series and Citrus Freak.

Vermont Cider Co. 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 their namesake brand, the original American hard cider, Woodchuck, the northeast premium hard cider brand, Vermont Cider Co., 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 $8.99-$10.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Very pale straw yellow. Nearly still. Smells mildly of sweet citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low to moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of grapefruit, lemon, orange, and a hint of citrus-forward hops. Moderate length finish. High sessionability. Low apple flavor. Low to moderate flavor intensity and complexity.

My Opinion: I liked the start of this cider, but after a few sips the citrus got a bit fake, almost air freshener ish, more of grapefruit extract than grapefruit juice. I was surprised the hops were almost imperceptible, but I imagine some folks will like that. I liked that they went drier on this one too.

Most Similar to: Schilling Grapefruit & Chill and Somersby Citrus Fruit (or for a more real-tasting grapefruit cider, Elemental Hydrogen)

Closing Notes: I’d love to see this go more natural tasting, then I’d be a fan, as I like the idea of it.

Have you tried Gumption Citrus Freak? What did you think?

Woodchuck Summer Time Pear Ginger

March 22, 2017March 21, 2017 cidersays Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, ginger cider, hard cider, pear cider, Summer Time, Summertime, tasting notes, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Pear Ginger, a new variety of Summer Time (which has previously only referred to their blueberry cider, which won’t be released this year at least). I’ve tried most of their lineup; see here.

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

Cider: Summer Time Pear Ginger
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles (and kegs)
Style: American commercial cider with ginger and pear flavors

Availability: wide release, seasonal, starting in March

Description: Summer is here, bringing warm, carefree days and fun, festive nights. Woodchuck Summer Time delivers a crisp pear cider bursting with fresh ginger for a taste that refreshes like a cool jump in your favorite swimming hole.

Price: n/a (retails for ~ $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: it showed up

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Smells of sweet pear juice with spicy ginger.

My Opinion: I’m not a ginger fan, but my husband really liked this cider. I could see it being a big seller.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Out On a Limb Ginger Lovin’, except with more ginger and the added pear.

Closing Notes: Interesting that they decided to also name this Summer Time…it may get confused with the blueberry version. I liked the flavor of the blueberry Summer Time, although it was rather sweet. The Woodchuck variety I really miss however is their Spring seasonal which had maple syrup; oddly enough they are currently skipping over Spring, and only doing Summer, Fall, and Winter seasonals.

Have you tried Woodchuck Summer Time Pear Ginger? 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).

>>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: 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.

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: 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?

Woodchuck Out on a Limb Ginger Lovin’

November 9, 2016November 4, 2016 cidersays Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, Ginger, ginger lovin', hard cider, Middlebury, Out on a Limb, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s latest Out on a Limb series variety, Ginger Lovin’. I’ve previously tried nearly their entire line-up; see here.

Cider: Ginger Lovin’
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider with ginger

Availability: semi wide release, for the next few months until a new Out on a Limb release comes out

Cider Description: Sugar and spice and everything…well, lots of spice. Like our favorite redheads, ginger adds a feisty bite to this cider. With zesty citrus undertones, the root and apple pair to Ginger Lovin’ perfection. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

Ingredients: Hard cider. Less than 1% of: natural flavor and sulfites.

Cidery Description: Here at the Woodchuck Cidery in Vermont, we handcraft every batch of Woodchuck Hard Cider. Our Cider Makers utilize the highest quality ingredients and meticulously oversee each small batch from start to finish. We reinvigorated American cider in 1991 and continue to lead the category through our commitment to craft innovative and refreshing hard ciders.

Price: n/a (runs about $10 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Very light straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of candied ginger and spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Notes of very mild ginger (mostly in the finish, but not spicy) with some pie spices and a hint of lemon. Moderate length finish. Low apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: I’m not at all a ginger fan, so I was surprised that I didn’t mind this. The ginger remains very mild, unlike every other ginger cider I’ve had where it was overpowering.

Most Similar to: I found the ginger in this less intense than ginger ciders from Argus, Apple Outlaw, Finnriver, Locust, Schilling, and Strongbow. It also didn’t have that after taste/bite like most ginger ciders.

Closing Notes: If you like a hint of ginger but don’t want it to be overwhelming or too lingering, this is a good cider choice.

Have you tried Woodchuck Ginger Lovin’? What did you think?

Woodchuck Semi-Dry

November 7, 2016November 4, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Middlebury, Semi-Dry, tasting notes, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s Semi-Dry, their newest flagship cider. I’ve previously tried nearly their entire line-up; see here.

Cider: Semi-Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider, including bittersweet apple juice

Availability: semi wide release

Cider Description: Ready for a cider session? You’re going to want a crushable cider. Crisp and refreshing, Semi-Dry uses bittersweet apples to deliver a cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another. Enjoy the brand that started the American cider revolution.

Ingredients: Hard cider, less than 1% 0f: natural apple flavor, sulfites

Price: n/a (runs about $10 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Light orange amber. Low carbonation. Smells of apple juice.

Tasting Notes: One the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. The flavor is purely watered down apple juice with a hint of alcohol. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. High sessionability. Low flavor intensity. Low complexity.

My Opinion: The flavor wasn’t all that impressive, intense, or complex, but this is surely more sessionable than most sugar-laden commercial ciders. I didn’t taste any rich bittersweet apple flavor.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck Day Chaser, which is also semi-dry, although that one had some honey and citrus notes and a hint of bittersweet.

Closing Notes: The color of this cider is a bit interesting. It doesn’t say it was added (which has been listed in the past), so maybe there is a higher bittersweet apple percentage than I tasted…

Have you tried Woodchuck Semi-Dry? What did you think?

Woodchuck Out on a Limb June and Juice

May 23, 2016May 14, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, June & Juice, June and Juice, Juniper, Out on a Limb, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest (8th) Out on a Limb release, June and Juice. It is pegged as a Juniper hard cider. It is infused with juniper berries (which are used in making gin), rose buds, and orange peel. Here is the press release. The ciders rotate every few months in the same six pack. I’ve reviewed a number of their ciders here.

Cider: June and Juice (Out on a Limb)
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles

Availability: Wide release, but only for the next couple months (Out on a Limb rotates varieties).

Cider Description: True apothecary, thy cider art craft. It was Out on a Limb of a juniper tree that we found this new concoction. Like a classic gin, we steeped fresh juniper berries into our small batch hard cider. With a fresh botanical aroma, enjoy a semi-sweet fresh apple taste with notes of juniper and citrus. Gin & Juice? Let’s try June & Juice.

Ingredients: Hard cider, rose bud, orange peel, juniper berries, less than 1% of: natural flavor, citric acid (contains sulfites)

Price: n/a (but it runs ~ $10.99 a six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Medium straw yellow hue. No carbonation upon pouring. Smells of honey, floral, herbs, citrus, and vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Still. Mild tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of floral (rose), orange, and honey, with hints of earthiness and maple. Quick finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate to high sessionability.

Opinion: This is a unique but approachable cider, refreshing, and great for Spring. I couldn’t detect any gin botanical like flavor from the juniper, which was fine by me as I’m not a fan of gin. The flavor was primarily floral/rose. I liked how it was flavorful but not overly sweet. I think it was a good choice to not carbonate it, as that would have taken away from the flavor (although Woodchuck never seems to use much carbonation). I wonder how well it will sell though, as the Juniper may be a turn-off to many people (I wasn’t expecting to like this one at all, and was pleasantly surprised)….I probably would have played up the rose more.

Most Similar to: Other ciders infused with botanicals or rose petals. Seattle Cider makes a Gin Botanical cider, but I don’t think I’ve tried it. I’ve actually had a number of ciders infused with rose petals though–Elemental Lavender Rose, Elemental Pomegranate Rose, WildCraft Wild Rose, and Finnriver Cranberry Rosehip.

Closing Notes: I’m impressed, especially coming from such a large commercial cidery (side note – I don’t get how they can call themselves craft and say they do small batches?). This is probably my favorite Out on a Limb so far…many of them have been too out there for me.

Have you tried any Woodchuck Out on a Limb varieties? What did you think?

Woodchuck Day Chaser Semi-Dry

February 25, 2016February 22, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, citrus, Day Chaser, hard cider, honey, Semi-Dry, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest core cider, Day Chaser Semi-Dry, from Middlebury Vermont. It will launch to the public in March, but I got a sneak preview. This cider is a digression from their primarily sweeter lineup, likely in response to consumers requesting a drier cider. Angry Orchard also responded to this call with Stone Dry last Fall (my review here). I’ve tried a number of Woodchuck’s other ciders (see past reviews here).

2016-02-21 17.49.48

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

Cider: Day Chaser Semi-Dry
Cidery: Woodchuck Cider
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles or 12oz cans (and draft)
Style: American commercial semi-dry cider

2016-02-21 17.49.52 2016-02-21 17.50.04 2016-02-21 17.50.10

Availability: Year round, nationwide, once it launches next month.

Cider Description: Day Chaser celebrates those adventure seekers that never let a minute slip by. This sessionable cider combines bitter and sweet apples to deliver a semi-dry cider that is not too sweet and leaves you thirsty for another. Get the most out of every day and reward yourself as you welcome the night.

Price: n/a (suggested retail price of $9.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I saw some other bloggers online post about it, then my sample bottle showed up in the mail.

2016-02-21 17.51.12.jpg

First Impression: Honey straw yellow hue. Very low carbonation upon pouring. Smells mild, with hints of bittersweet apples, yeast, and honey.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Almost still (very low carbonation). Mild tartness. Mild to moderate acidity. Hints of bitterness and tannins. No sourness. Citrus, honey, and slight mineral notes. Quick finish. Mild to moderate apple flavor. High sessionability.

My Opinion: Pretty good–sunshine in a glass! Definitely very approachable too as a drier commercial cider. It is also significantly lower calories than most commercial ciders (160), and is still 5.5% ABV. Its interesting though that they dumbed the description down to say they used bitter and sweet apples, which I assume means both dessert (culinary/supermarket) and bittersweet (a type of cider apple) varieties…I tasted a hint of bittersweet, but definitely more dessert apples. It also was fuller bodied than I was expecting for the level of sweetness, which folks used to sweet full bodied ciders will probably enjoy. There was only the slightest fake commercial cider taste, less so than many of their past ciders. I think a bit more carbonation would have been nice, but overall I don’t have any real complaints.

Most Similar to: The honey and citrus notes remind me of a few ciders I’ve tried recently, such as Schilling Cider King’s Shilling (which is sweeter), Honey Moon CiderHead (which is drier), and Flatbed Cider Crisp Apple (which is quite similar although thinner bodied)

Closing Notes: A solid cider, and definitely easy drinking. I like this better than some of their sweeter varieties like Amber, but my current favorites are still Gumption, Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry, and Winter Chill.

Have you tried Woodchuck Day Chaser? What did you think?

Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry

February 23, 2016February 14, 2017 cidersays review, Woodchuck barrel aged, Cherry, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, private reserve, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest Private Reserve cider, Barrel Aged Cherry, from Middlebury Vermont. It will launch to the public in March, but I got a sneak preview. This cider is infused with Michigan cherry juice and aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. It was created after a positive response to their Sour Cherry (Cellar series) and Cheeky Cherry (Out on a Limb series) cherry ciders, with a barrel aged twist. I’ve tried a number of their other ciders (see past reviews here).

(the bottle almost looks red in this photo, but its the normal brown)

Cider: Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry
Cidery: Woodchuck Cider
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cherry barrel aged cider

Availability: Seasonably, March-August (with this being the first year), nationwide. It is the first of a series of three barrel aged ciders in the Private Reserve line (which currently contains Pink, Pumpkin, and Barrel Select).

Cider Description: A touch of Michigan cherries with a hint of Napa all in one satisfying sip. Private Reserve Cherry infuses our small batch hard cider with the juice of Michigan cherries, then aged in the finest Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. This premium craft cider delivers a sweet and tart taste that finishes with notes of smooth oak from the Napa Valley barrels. Exhilarate your senses with this truly unique and rare cider.

Price: n/a (suggested retail price of $10.99-$11.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I saw some other bloggers online post about it, then my sample bottle showed up in the mail.

First Impression: Cherry hue. Light foam but almost no carbonation. Light cherry scent with a hint of complex oak.

Tasting Notes: On the drier side of semi-sweet. Low acidity. Low to moderate tartness. A hint of tannins. No sourness or bitterness. Medium bodied. The flavor is definitely cherry, although tending more towards cherry skin than cherry juice, with hints of oak. Nearly still (very low carbonation). Quick finish. High sessionability. Low barrel influence. Low apple influence.

My Opinion: Yummy! This is one of the better ciders from Woodchuck…I may even like it better than Gumption and Winter Chill. It is less sweet, more “real” tasting, and more complex. It is also the first I can remember from them that doesn’t list color or flavor in the ingredient list.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck’s other cherry ciders (Sour Cherry and Cheeky Cherry), although slightly less sweet and more complex. I liked this cider better than the Apple Outlaw Oaked Sweet Dark Cherry cider I tried at Cider Summit Seattle. I’ve also heard that Virtue is making a twist on their “Mitten” cider which is barrel aged cherry, and Cider Creek makes a Fall-n-Cherry Bourbon Barrel Aged cider.

Closing Notes: I’m impressed! I think this is now tied with Washington Gold Cherry as my favorite cherry cider. Woodchuck’s version is actually perceived as less sweet, despite it being commercial and the other being craft. I hadn’t liked the direction Woodchuck was going with their recent new Out on a Limb cider releases, but this may change my mind. I look forward to trying the second sample they send, Day Chaser.

Update: Not long after this review, I picked up a six pack of this cider, as I enjoyed it so much. It must have been from a different batch…not nearly as much oak and complexity, more straight cherry. Too bad.

Have you tried Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry? What did you think?

Woodchuck Out on a Limb Campfire Pancakes

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck Campfire Pancakes, cider, cider review, hard cider, maple, Out on a Limb, smoke, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest (7th) Out on a Limb release, Campfire Pancakes, a smoked maple cider (more info from Woodchuck here). The ciders rotate every few months in the same six pack. They were nice enough to send me a sample bottle. I’ve reviewed a number of their ciders here.

Cider: Campfire Pancakes (Out on a Limb)
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles

Availability: Wide release, but only until April or whenever they run out (as Out on a Limb rotates varieties).

Cider Description: Campfire Pancakes brings you our small batch hard cider with an infusion of smoked apple pomace. Topped off with a dash of Vermont Maple Syrup, this cider brings forward a delightfully smoky and sweet taste. LoVermont? Then you’ll love Campfire Pancakes.

Price: n/a (but it runs $9-11 a six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Light carbonation with large bubbles. Smells like smoke flavor, maple flavor, and apple candy.

Opinion: Sweet. Low tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, tannins, or funk. Medium bodied. It begins with the scent (but not flavor) of smoke, then apple juice with real maple and literally a starchy pancake-like flavor, then finishes with fake maple. The maple scent in the air is quite strong. Quick finish. Moderate apple influence. High sessionability.

Most Similar to: Not much. There are a handful of maple ciders (such as Seattle Cider Oaked Maple, Crispin The Saint, and Downeast Maple Blend) and smoked ciders (such as Alpenfire Smoke, Tieton Smoked Pumpkin, and Woodchuck Smoked Apple), but nothing like this.

Closing Notes: I was really looking forward to this cider as I love maple, and love smoked ciders (such as Alpenfire Smoke), but it was disappointing. It overall seemed very fake. Although they used real maple syrup and smoked pommace, there is the less than 1% natural flavor listed, and I think they somehow even added maple aroma. The fake maple scent lingered in the air after finishing the cider and putting away the glass. I think that without the fakeness and with some barrel aging, a maple cider can be awesome. Hopefully they will make an Out on a Limb cider more along the lines of Gumption or Winter Chill, which I enjoy.

Have you tried Woodchuck Campfire Pancakes? What did you think?

Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select

January 26, 2016January 22, 2016 cidersays review, Woodchuck barrel aged, Barrel Select, cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Middlebury, private reserve, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Barrel Select, one of their three current Private Reserve ciders (along with Pink and Pumpkin).

Cider: Private Reserve Barrel Select
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 6.9%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial bourbon barrel aged cider

Availability: Wide release, Nov-Feb. Winter Chill, one of their three current seasonal ciders, is also sold during that same time of year.

Cider Description: Private Reserve Barrel Select is aged in small batches to bring out balanced hints of bourbon over a crisp apple backdrop. The cider is aged for six months in genuine white oak Kentucky Bourbon barrels. The barrels impart a copper hue on the cider as well as gentle notes of oak, vanilla, and whiskey. A truly rare cider which proves that patience is indeed a virtue.

Price: ~$2 for a single bottle (runs $9-$11 a six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: I’ve bought this cider the last couple years when it came out, along with Winter Chill, as I love barrel aged cider.

First Impression: Deep copper caramel amber (note that although barrel aging imparts color, they also list “caramel color” on the ingredient list). A few medium sized bubbles and some foam upon pouring. Smells of caramel, molasses, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, oak, and toffee.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Low acidity and tartness. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. The scent notes continued into the flavor. Medium to strong apple flavor. Mild barrel influence. Moderate bourbon influence. Rich, bold, and full flavored. Medium bodied. Medium length warming finish.

My Opinion: Yum! However, its quite rich and caloric, so its something I’ll only drink one of. However, that is perfect for a middle of the week treat. It was especially tasty in a float with ice cream. I really wish they wouldn’t add caramel color and flavoring though.

Most Similar to: Not much…barrel aging programs at commercial cideries are pretty rare. However, this reminds me somewhat of Woodchuck Winter Chill (oak & vanilla but not spirit flavor), Woodchuck 802 (rich caramelized sugar notes but its not barrel aged), Crispin 15 Men (rum barrel aged with honey notes), and Spire Mountain Dark & Dry (rich molasses & brown sugar notes but its not barrel aged).

Closing Notes: Enjoying some Woodchuck Barrel Select is becoming an annual tradition for me. I prefer Winter Chill though, and plan to stock up on that one (although probably not as much as last year, when I got a full case of four 6 packs).

Have you tried Woodchuck Barrel Select? What did you think?

Woodchuck Out on a Limb Hot Cha Cha Cha

November 30, 2015November 26, 2015 cidersays review, Woodchuck chili, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Hot Cha Cha Cha, Vermont, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck’s newest Out on a Limb release, Hot Cha Cha Cha. The ciders rotate every couple months in the same six pack. They were nice enough to send me a sample bottle.

hot cha cha cha

Cider: Hot Cha Cha Cha (Out on a Limb)
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles

Availability: Wide release, but only for the next 60-90 days or so (as Out on a Limb rotates varieties).

Cider Description: Hard cider made with bittersweet apples and infused with Bird’s Eye Chile Peppers. The peppers compliment the bittersweet cider apples and bring out a sweet taste up front with a hot and spicy bite at the finish. Lookin’ for some extra heat? Grab a bottle, take a sip, and let’s do the HOT CHA CHA CHA!

Price: n/a (but it runs $9-11 a six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Orange-amber hue (which appears to be natural as coloring isn’t listed). Very little carbonation. Smells sweet and of bittersweet apples with a hint of spiciness.

Opinion: Sweet (but it didn’t perceive as sweet as I was expecting with the listed 25g sugar content). It starts off with a rich & flavorful bittersweet apple cider flavor (similar to their Gumption), then finished with a kick of spice, mostly at the back of the throat (instead of the tongue). Low acidity and tartness. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. No to low carbonation. Medium bodied. Longer finish with the spice presentation I described.

Most Similar to: Other spicy ciders I’ve had, such as Schilling Sriracha Lime, Finnriver Habanero, and Sonoma Crowbar (Habanero Lime), except significantly sweeter and less spicy. I also notice that the base cider has a lot of similarities to Woodchuck Gumption, both made using bittersweet apples (a flavor profile I really love).

Closing Notes: Spicy ciders just aren’t my thing, and I think of them as more of a novelty. A few sips was plenty for me, and the others I shared this with. However, due to the additional residual sugar and less perceived spice of this one, this is probably a more manageable spicy cider for the average person. Also, with the amount of calories (270) & sugar (25g), I’m not sure I’d want an entire bottle let alone more than one in a sitting. I think it will be a tough sell to get folks to buy a six pack of this unless they really like spicy ciders, buy every Woodchuck variety, find it very intriguing, or are getting it as a gag gift or to bring to a party. Thankfully a number of stores such as Total Wine sell singles of six pack ciders such as this, so you may be able to find a single bottle for around $2. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, you better hurry, as each Out on a Limb variety doesn’t stay on the shelves long.

Have you tried Woodchuck Hot Cha Cha Cha? What did you think?

Woodchuck Raspberry

October 21, 2015October 15, 2015 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Raspberry, Woodchuck, Woodchuck Raspberry

Review of Woodchuck’s Raspberry variety.

Cider: Raspberry
Cidery: Woodchuck
Cidery Location: Middlebury VT
ABV: 4.0%
How Supplied: 12oz bottles (six pack)

Availability: wide release, year round

Cider Description: Raspberry is a well-balanced cider that is light and refreshing. Delicate in body with a little extra zip that takes everything great about hard cider and kicks it up a notch with a fresh sweet raspberry finish.

Price: ~$4.50 / bottle at a bar
Where Drank: Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse in Snohomish WA. We were in the area to go to dinner at The Repp for our anniversary, and my husband requested a trip to Fred’s, due to their huge rare Scotch selection. They had a decent cider selection…Ace Pineapple and Schilling Sriracha Lime on tap (apparently they usually also have Blackthorn but were out), and Woodchuck Raspberry in bottles. I wasn’t feeling the Pineapple and wouldn’t fathom drinking a pint of Sriracha Lime (not a fan of more than a sip of spicy ciders), so Woodchuck it was. I’ve had their Raspberry a few times and its a solid selection, albeit not one of my favorites. The last time I had Woodchuck Raspberry was here as well. Sorry for the horrible photo, but we had a crowded bar seat.

First Impression: Very pale straw yellow with little carbonation and a foam ring.

Opinion: Semi-sweet (Woodchuck says sweet but I don’t find this one all that sweet oddly enough). Its definitely an easy drinking cider, especially at only 4%. Moderate carbonation in the mouthfeel. Low acidity and tartness. No bitterness. The raspberry flavor is pretty mild, but on the fake side.

Most Similar to: Woodchuck’s other fruity ciders, such as the Summer Time (blueberry), and Wyder’s Raspberry. This one has a different flavor than other “berry” ciders however; more raspberry syrup than raspberry fruit.

Closing Notes: Not a bad choice, but its pretty predictable. I kinda question how they did the raspberry flavor without adding any raspberry color though? I’d drink it again in a similar situation, but it isn’t one I’d buy a six pack of, like some of their other ciders (Winter Chill, Barrel Select, and Gumption).

Have you tried Woodchuck Raspberry? What did you think?

Woodchuck Sour Cherry

September 23, 2015September 13, 2015 cidersays review, Woodchuck cider, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Sour Cherry, Woodchuck

Review of Woodchuck Sour Cherry. This was a Cellar series release in Spring 2014. They have since discontinued the Cellar series and now have the Out on a Limb series (six pack where the variety rotates every 45-60 days). I was told that Sour Cherry is the same as Out on a Limb Cheeky Cherry, except 6.9% ABV instead of 5.5% ABV.

Cider: Sour Cherry
Cidery:  Woodchuck
Cidery Location:  Middlebury VT
ABV:  6.9%
How Supplied: 22oz brown glass bottle with a cute cherry motif

Availability: discontinued

Cider Description: Woodchuck Cellar Series Sour Cherry is crafted in the tradition of age-old Belgian sour beers. Culinary and bittersweet cider apple varieties make up the fermented cider. Cherries sourced from Belgium are then added. The cherries bring a deep red color to the cider and leave behind subtle tat and sour fruit notes. This is a very delicate cider full of complexity if you are willing to sip slowly and seek it out. We hope you enjoy our latest from the cellar! -John Matson, Cider Maker

Price: $4 or $5 ?
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I think I ended up buying 5 or 6 of these bottles at the time!

First Impression: Lovely cherry red hue. Cherry scent. This was lacking carbonation due to its age (the bottles I drank in Spring 2014 had moderate carbonation).

Opinion: Semi-sweet to sweet. Very fruit-forward. It starts sweet then moves to a moderate tart (quick) finish. This cider (like most fruity ciders in my opinion) is quite juice-like. The alcohol is well hidden. It isn’t complex (I don’t pick up any flavor notes besides cherry), but has a nice flavor. I’ve never found a fruity cider which truly impressed me like other cider varieties, but this one is probably my favorite fruit-flavored cider along with Finnriver Lavender Black Currant (which does have more complexity). Other favorite ciders of mine which have a lovely fruit-forward flavor but aren’t “flavored’ are Eaglemount Quince and Reverend Nat’s Revival.

Most Similar to: Other sweet cherry ciders. This Woodchuck variety has more cherry flavor than many other cherry ciders though (such as Elemental Cherry, Locust Sweet Dark Cherry, and Original Sin Cherry Tree).

Closing Notes: What a tasty blast from the past! Its probably good I finally decided to open this bottle, as it had lost some carbonation, and the flavor was probably next to go. I think I mostly hung on to it as it was the last Cellar Series release. I was initially quite disappointed when Woodchuck dropped their Cellar Series and moved to Out on a Limb. However, it has turned out quite well as it is even less of a commitment; I can get a single 12 oz bottle from the six pack (many stores split them up) instead of a 22 oz bottle. This was my favorite Cellar Series of Sour Cherry, Mint, and Chocolate (I never tried Smoked Apple, Dry Hop, or Ginger). They definitely came out with some weird ones!

Have you tried Woodchuck Sour Cherry or Cheeky Cherry? What did you think?

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