Good morning cider friends! I write to you from an unseasonably warm and sunny day, but it’s the last one in the forecast. It feels like the perfect moment to savor everything bright, golden, and fleeting. Its wonderful to catch little moments of unexpected beauty and ease when we can.
For my review this week, I want to share my thoughts on Stormalong Ciders’ Happy Holidays. I had it on a much cooler and blusterier night than we’ve had this week, but many more such nights are coming.
I’m getting this sample of Happy Holidays from Stormalong Ciders for review. They’ve been very kind and sent me samples of several of their newest releases over the years. You can read more about the cidery and each of these ciders in the individual reviews. Here’s the list.
Esopus Spitzenburg: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/08/cider-review-ravens-moon-craft-ciders.html
Ashmead’s Kernel: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/07/cider-review-brannland-just-cider-and.html
Peariful: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/05/cider-review-left-foot-charleys-fortis.html
Legendary Dry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/12/cider-review-stormalongs-legendary-dry.html
Kingston Black: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/08/cider-reviews-ninepin-light-cider.html
Light of the Sun: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/08/cider-review-descendant-cider-company.html
Mass Appeal: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/12/cider-review-prospect-ciderworks.html
Boston Heirloom: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/01/cider-review-stormalong-ciders-boston.html
Here's where to find Stormalong online: http://stormalong.com/.
And now for Stormalong Cider’s official description for Happy Holidays:
Unfiltered hard cider with a blend of holiday spices (allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and organic brown sugar). 10% of ALL proceeds of this cider will go to The Greater Boston Food Bank.
Alcohol 5.20%
Appearance: Cloudy, warm tawny gold, bubbly
This is certainly an unfiltered cider! When I pass my hand behind the glass, I cannot see my fingers. The color is a warm rich tawny gold. I can see plenty of bubbles in the cider.
Aromas: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baked apples
Happy holidays indeed! This smells like so many wintry festive treats from apple pie to mulled cider and gingerbread. I smell nutmeg, cinnamon, baked apples, and brown sugar.
Sweetness/dryness: Sweet
Happy Holidays is sweet! If you don’t want a spiced and sweet cider, it won’t be for you, but it’s delightful in its balance. I’m not usually a sweet cider fan, but I happily make an exception for this!
Flavors and drinking experience: full bodied, baked apple, brown sugar, medium high acidity
The Happy Holidays tastes like brown sugar and baked apples. The cider brings medium high acidity and medium tannins. The cider is decidedly and beautifully full bodied. The spices are more varied on the nose but still present to taste. For me, this is a delicious dessert cider, but I can also imagine many drinkers reaching for it with chili and cornbread or as a reward for all the snow shoveling that is to come.
Happy Holidays is a keeper! This will certainly brighten our small or virtual celebrations this year.