Last post about my Summer vacation, I promise. And that feels entirely necessary since all of the Fall back-to-school things are happening in my neck of the woods. My entire brain is full, and I’m still forgetting things! So, if I owe you an email or a review or really much of anything, I’m sorry. Feel free to remind me!
Maybe things will be more settled into a routine a couple of weeks from now. That will be my hope! But for right now, I want to drift back to mid-July and think about trying a super fun cider oriented restaurant and cidery while on vacation. If only I could time travel.
Friends took us to The Cider House Vancouver, because they are sweet and thoughtful. And these Vancouver folks take so much joy in the neat experiences their city offers. There’s no better way to visit a place than in the company of someone who already loves it.
We approached the Cider House Vancouver knowing it was going to be hopping. The place is located near a public beach, and it was a hot summer afternoon. I’ve been to more than a handful of places that center cider on their menu, but this had a completely different atmosphere. This was a plant-based restaurant featuring hard cider, and yet the pop music and party vibes made me think more of a beachside cocktail bar. This place was color, sound, and festivity turned all the way up!
Our group was seated, ordered a range of appetizers to share and each picked out a flight with very little overlap. The menu is that large!
Learn more about the Cider House Vancouver direct from the source here, including the full cider menu: https://ciderhouserules.ca/
Here’s what I had in my flight along with a few brief thoughts on each.
Big Dry-
Of course I had to start with the Big Dry. This cider smelled like Peanut shells, salty minerals, something savory and a hint of carrots. A second sniff garnered a little booze in the mix as well. As for taste, the Big Dry offers extremely high acid, a fine bubble, and loads of fruit flavors. I think it’s off dry and very drinkable.
Rosy-
This cider opens with aromas of deep soft powder and jam. It’s an oxidized smell, but the aroma is subtle rather than intense. The Rosy tastes good. The primary flavor is strawberry with a tannic note added. Though it looks likely a welcoming delicate pink, something about that fruity yet tannic note evokes dark fruits like Pomegranate to me. The tannins are papery and pleasant. It’s less bubbly than the Big Dry.
Rhubarb-
This is another one with a fairly low level of aroma. When I taste it, my first impression is how extremely strong the sparkle is. What fun! The rhubarb flavor is gently sweetened but still fresh. The high acid belongs in this cider because rhubarb is such a tart and puckery fruit. This cider had no tannins to speak of, but it really works because of the acidity. It’s a semi-dry cider with a rock candy finish.
Pineapple Jalapeno-
I know that not everyone wants a Pineapple Jalapeno cider, but I do. I love what a note of spice can do for a sweet cider, and pineapple is practically a cheat code for my happiness. This cider wafts plentiful aromas of grilled pineapple! When I take a first sip the peppers hit immediately and dissipate. This cider is sweet with high acid and an endless amount of juicy fun. My only complaint is that the cider’s body is a touch thinner than goes ideally with something both sweet and spicy. And importantly there’s still some apple in the cider’s backbone.
These are not the sorts of ciders I would choose every glass and everyday, but they paired well with our roasted brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries, and veggie nachos. They were fruity, tart, and fun. The whole place was buzzy and fun with energy to spare!
