For most of the day my phone was missing! My long-suffering backpack gave up one of its side pockets this morning. Thankfully, a kind person found it, the Tall One called it, and they got together while I was at work to return the phone. My cider notes from this weekend were already safely stored redundantly! Here’s a sign from the universe; save your work in multiple places. Thanks again, random kind stranger!
This week’s review is one I’ve been saving for a rainy night. I’m opening up my bottle of Angry Orchard’s The Extension. This is a small batch Walden Cider House project made using all Cornell Orchard apples wild fermented. It has an AVB of 7.4%.
Angry Orchard is a large-scale cider producer with distribution far and wide. The Walden, New York Innovation Ciderhouse is the smaller operation in the Hudson Valley of New York that tries new cider and orchard experiments on a smaller scale. This cider was shared with me on my last trip to the cider house because I was so curious about what came of the Cornell Orchard fruit! More information about Angry Orchard and the Walden location appears in my earlier reviews.
Here are some, but not all, of my previous Angry Orchard Walden cider reviews.
Margil: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/04/cider-review-angry-orchards-margil.html
Buddy King: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/11/cider-review-angry-orchards-buddy-king.html
Supernatural: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/03/cider-review-angry-orchard-super.html
Newtown Pippin: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/08/cider-review-angry-orchards-newtown.html
Baldwin: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/05/cider-review-angry-orchards-baldwin.html
Understood in Motion 2: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/02/cider-review-critz-farms-double-vision.html
Understood in Motion 3: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/08/cider-review-angry-orchard-ciders.html
Wooden Sleeper: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/12/cider-review-angry-orchards-wooden.html
The Old Fashioned: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/08/cider-review-angry-orchards-old.html
Walden Hollow: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/09/cider-review-angry-orchards-walden.html
Knotty Pear: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/06/cider-review-angry-orchards-knotty-pear.html
Strawman, The Muse, and Traditional Dry: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2014/05/roundup-of-angry-orchard-reviews.html
Here's what I read on the back of the bottle.
The Extension is a recognition of the Cornell University College of Agricultural and Life Sciences' mission to extend research to farmers.
This dry and wild apple wine is crafted from apples grown at Cornell University's research orchards, where scientists experiment with cider apple varieties, production, and fermentation.
A portion of the profits from the sale of Angry Orchard's "The Extension" will be donated to support the scientists, teachers, and students at Cornell University.
For more information about Cornell University's Hard Cider Program, visit hardcider.cals.cornell.edu
$20 per bottle; maximum donation $15,000.
Offer valid at Angry Orchard Cidery, Walden, New York.
Appearance: Brilliant, fine bubbles, shining warm straw
What a lovely cider. It has brilliant clarity with active fine bubbles. The Extension just shines
From my glass with a subtle warm straw color.
Aromas: green wood, yeast, funk
Whoa! These are not the aromas that I usually associate with an Angry Orchard cider. Instead the Extension leads with stone, green wood, and a little oxidation. The whole comes across as farmy but not in any obviously wrong way. Fans of wild yeast/natural fermentation ciders are going to absolutely love this!
Sweetness/dryness: Bone dry
Yep, I said. This cider is completely dry.
Flavors and drinking experience: buttery, austere, tannic, barnyard
The Extension is such an understated adult cider. It tastes very dry, fully fermented, buttery, and mildly tannic. I love its strong bubble, medium acidity, and lots of low woody, sappy, springy notes. The cider somehow reminds me that Spring will come again.
This cider comes across as more austere than fruity. Instead, it’s nutty. I think this would be quite appealing for fans of Chardonnay. I’d pair it with walnuts, blue cheese, dried fruits, or dark chocolate mousse. I think its strong wild character and zesty bubbles would make it great for an intense food flavor with some heft.
