Another whirlwind of holiday and birthday fun has come and gone. This past week has been full of movies, food, friends, family, dice rolling, and yes, cider. When a mysterious cider package arrives when your house is filled with family, of course you have to open up it up and show everything off. Portland Cider Co. was kind enough to surprise me with a cider arrival just before Thanksgiving!
What I know about Portland Cider Co. is that this company is wild for flavor combinations and experimentation. The company uses Northwest apples but a whole slew of additional flavor elements. Over the years, I’ve tasted their take on peach, pineapple, pumpkin, and more.
I’ve reviewed a slew of Portland Cider Co.’s offering in the past decade. Here’s the rundown.
Bloody Hell: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/07/cider-review-portland-cider-cos-bloody.html
Lemon-Lime Ciderade: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/06/cider-review-portland-cider-companys.html
Crangerine: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/12/cider-review-portland-cider-companys.html
Razzberry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/06/cider-review-once-upon-tree-wild-flight.html
Peach Berry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/04/cider-review-portland-cider-companys.html
Kinda Dry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/05/cider-review-portland-cider-company.html
Pineapple: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/02/cider-review-portland-cider-company.html
Cranberry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/03/cider-review-seed-stone-cidery-heritage.html
Pumpkin Spice: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/10/cider-review-portland-cider-co-pumpkin.html
Pineapple Rose: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/07/cider-reviews-portland-cider-cos.html
Get the full scoop online from Portland Cider Co. directly. Here’s a link to the cidery website: https://www.portlandcider.com/home
My review today is for Portland Cider Co.’s Imperial Abbey Apple. Here’s how the cidery describes this release.
Juicy & bright Belgian-inspired Northwest Apple Cider
Expertly crafted by our cider makers in a unique Belgian-style cider, Abbey Apple showcases Northwest apples fermented with Belgian ale yeast. The result is a smooth, full-bodied cider with a bright, juicy finish. 8.4% ABV
Tasting Notes
Juicy, bright, subtle banana and clove, tropical aromas, unique finish.
Food Pairings
Shepherd’s pie, dark chocolate cake, spicy thai basil chicken, roasted vegetables
Ingredients
NW apples
Belgian ale yeast
Always Gluten Free
Appearance: shining, mild warm straw, no visible bubbles
This is a lovely cider with a gentle warm straw hue. I don’t see any haze or bubbles. It’s brilliant and almost still in appearance. I do expect that I’ll find bubbles once I taste the cider.
Aromas: yeast, cheddar, bread, candied sugar, apple
The Imperial Abbey Apple Cider smells yeasty a little cheddar funk. This is undoubtedly the Belgian Beer style coming through. The aroma initially reminds me of bread but also of dark candied sugar. It’s fascinating! I do get some apple notes, but the are secondary to the yeast character.
Sweetness/Dryness: Semi-sweet
This cider is semi-sweet, but it’s also got some bitterness that add complexity.
Flavors and drinking experience: Bittersweet, belgian-beer influenced, full bodied, high acid
This is a cider for beer lovers, specifically for Belgian beer lovers! The Imperial Abbey Ale’s taste is notably bittersweet with a fun balance of these two elements. The Belgian ale yeast profile is prominent. The cider comes across petilliant and full bodied with that heavy imperial ABV.
There’s plenty of malic acid and apple present, but neither are as powerful as the yeast flavors. I find it pleasingly complex. This would be a perfect pairing for a hot plate of fish and chips.
As we head into the darker days and longer nights approaching the northern hemisphere’s Winter Solstice, don’t forget to give yourself quiet cozy time to hibernate!
