Cider Review: Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse's Platinum Heirloom Series

Lately I’ve been hearing a new portmanteau: Augtober. Now that it’s August, folks are using this created word to give autumn-loving folks permission to start the celebrations early. I’m not at all sure how I feel about this. I mean, of course, make your sweater-weather self happy, so long as you aren’t hurting anyone with your pumpkin spice. It’s even cute. I love Fall too. I’m just not ready yet. 

Instead Autumn feels like a vast thunderhead approaching overhead. It’s huge, but it’s fast. Before we know it, we’ll be experiencing its deluge. Perhaps my new job that goes more by the collegiate academic calendar more than many previous roles, has me feeling a bit dramatic about “Back-to-School Season.” Time moves so fast! 

Speaking of time, I can scarcely believe it’s been five years since I reviewed anything by Sea Cider. That’s purely a fact that reflects how hard that cider is to obtain around here. Sea Ciders come to us from Vancouver Island specifically from a legendary orchard on the Saanich Peninsula near Victoria. 

Here are the two earlier appearances of Sea Ciders on Along Came a Cider. 

Ruby Rose:  https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/04/cider-review-sea-ciders-ruby-rose-and.html

Pippins: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/12/cider-review-sea-cider-farm-and.html

I recommend visiting the Sea Cider website where you can read more about currently available ciders and tasting room happenings: http://seacider.ca.

For a little context, I enjoyed this cider with the Tall One and his oldest sister on a warm summer evening while trying to make a bizarre inflatable couch work. Do not ask about the couch. We were back into town on our way home at the end of our vacation.  What a wonderful way to spend the last bright hours of vacation! 

Here’s the official description from Sea Cider for the Platinum Anniversary Blend. 

Platinum Heirloom Series

Pop the bottle – It’s time to celebrate! Whether to toast a triumph, mark a milestone, or simply savour a moment, Platinum cider is the perfect accompaniment. Our heirloom apples shine in Platinum, which delights the palate with gentle effervescence and notes of fresh apple and cut grass. First released in 2024, this scintillating, semi-dry cider marks Sea Cider’s 20 year “platinum” anniversary since setting sail from our Mt. St. Michael Orchard on Vancouver Island. We raise a glass to this milestone and the voyage ahead!

6.9% alc./vol.

Appearance: brilliant, rich goldenrod, few visible bubbles

This cider is lovely to see. I love the intense Goldenrod hue. I don’t see a lot of bubble action, and with a cider this bright and brilliant, they cannot hide easily. We’ll see what the sparkle level is like. 

Aromas: White pepper, malic acid, ripe apples, clean yogurt, stone

There’s lots of scent in the Platinum, white pepper and malic acid tickle, fermented, yogurt, ripe apples, and stone. It’s mouthwatering.

Sweetness/dryness: Semi-dry

This semi-dry cider has enough fruity sweetness to be wildly appealing to the majority of cider drinkers, whether they usually veer more towards dry or sweet. The sugars that are present taste natural and integrated into the larger taste experience. 

Flavors and drinking experience: fine bubbles, mild tannins, high acid, fruit forward

Though I didn’t see them, the Platinum keeps the texture fun and exciting with lots of small bubbles. That’s the first impression and the second is that this cider manages to be acid focused, juicy, and fruit forward without being too simple. There’s just a hint of sherry-like oxidation and some mild tannins to add to the cider’s maturity and complexity. What i’m loving most though is how the high acid sounds across multiple pleasant registers—bright and round.  It’s finish is long and lovely like the light on a Summer evening.

Cider Review: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Sidekick Non-Alcoholic Cosmic Crisp

When sitting down to write today, I noticed that in this blog’s history that I’ve posted 600 times. That feels shocking to me. It’s so many. And though I promised experimentation in addition to a new posting schedule back in February, I’ve mostly stayed to the tried-and-true descriptive review format. My desire to try new things hasn’t changed, so I’ll redouble my efforts. 

Today, I’m happy to share one more non-alcoholic cider review in Two Town’s Ciderhouse Sidekick Non-Alcoholic Cosmic Crisp. This cider and it’s companion the Pacific Pineapple have been sweeping all sorts of awards for cider innovations, non alcoholic drinks, you name it. 

Here’s the complete roundup of all of my 2 Towns Ciderhouse reviews from the past 10 years. More background on the cidery appears in several of the earlier posts.

Sidekick Pacific Pineapple: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2024/05/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse.html

Apricot Cosmic Crisp: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2024/02/cider-review-2-towns-apricot-cosmic.html

The Baddie: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/03/cider-review-two-towns-ciderhouses.html

Crimson Bliss: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/10/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses.html

Hollow Jack’d: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/09/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses-hollow.html

Two Berry Dream: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/08/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses-two.html

10th Anniversary Cider Pacific Northwest Heirloom Blend: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/01/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse-10th.html

Good Limes Roll: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/07/cider-reviews-two-towns-cider-house.html

Cosmic Currant: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/12/cider-review-two-towns-cosmic-currant.html

Hollow Jack’d: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/10/cider-review-two-towns-ciderhouse.html

Afton Field: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/06/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse-afton.html

La Mûre: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/02/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks.html

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/12/cider-review-eden-ciders-siren-song-and.html

Cidre Bouche: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/11/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses-cidre.html

Pearadise: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/05/very-perry-may-2-towns-ciderhouses.html

Pineapple: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/02/cider-review-portland-cider-company.html

Bright Cider: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/07/cider-review-roundup-common-cider-co.html

Hop and Stalk: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2014/12/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse-hop-and.html

Here's where to find 2 Towns on the web: https://2townsciderhouse.com/

And this is what 2 Towns has to say about the Sidekick Cosmic Crisp. 

Crafted with Washington grown Cosmic Crisp® apples, this galactic shredder will have you hucking craters and airing it out big in zero-G. Using exclusively sourced Northwest apples, each batch is fresh-pressed with a custom blend of ingredients. After fermentation, the alcohol is gently removed low and slow until it reaches less than 0.5% AB. The newly dealcoholized cider is finished and blended to create a crisp, clean cider that always has your back!

Appearance: hazy, the color of a hawk’s yellow cream feathers,

Aromas: green apple, yogurt, yeast

Something sharp and crystalline that implies both green apple fruit and sweetness. A richer yogurty note supporting that. It’s a bit of yeasty fermented aroma that helps differentiate this from a soda or fresh juice. 

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

This is sweet. I think it’s very much like the alcoholic version of the Cosmic Crisp, so the sweetness is balanced with high acidity.

Flavors and drinking experience: high acid, bubbly, fruity with apple, elderflower, pineapple, peach and pear notes

This nonalcoholic cider manages to stay absolutely true to the fruity and approachable acid driven style that has made 2 Towns so successful. There are fermented notes; it’s not just sparkling apple juice. It’s full bodied, super tropical and juicy, and pleasantly bubbly. I quite like it, especially on evenings like tonight when I want to have a treat, but need to be 100% sharp. 

Cider Review: Five Maidens Craft Cider's Betty

We’re under the heat dome, and I’m afraid there’s no real escaping it for the next several days. My primary recommendation for those of you who are stuck in it with me, please drink water often, enjoy the shade, take it as easy as you can, and take everything with a grain of salt this week. Cider on the porch still sounds good to me, but I’ll have a glass of water ready to hand as well.

This week, I’m sharing my thoughts on Five Maidens Craft Cider’s Betty. This is my first review of anything from this cidery. The ciders come to us from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Andrew David, Brian Williams, and Mandy David own and run the cidery, which grew out of Brian and Andrew’s passion for home brewing. 
You can visit Five Maidens Cider online here: https://5mcider.com/

If you want more background about this cidery, I do recommend this member spotlight for the cidery on Lehigh Valley’s Brewer’s Guild websiteLehigh Valley’s Brewer’s Guild website.

I picked this sample up when I was a cider judge at the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg, otherwise I would not have access to this cider, so big thanks to the competition folks for sharing!

Official description:

Betty, our single varietal cider from the Rosalee apple, reminds us of our favorite Betty White character, Rose Nylund. This single varietal cider provides a sweet, fragrant fresh apple picked aroma. The flavor is semi sweet initial lush apple with background acidity that finishes drier. Betty is a unique single varietal cider that should appeal to both dry and sweet fans.

Appearance: brilliant, pale straw, subtle color

The Betty looks like an inviting new world style cider with a pale straw hue and beautiful brilliance.

Aromas: vanilla frosting, green apple, fresh apple

At first scent, the Betty smells fresh and sweet like vanilla apple frosting. The fruit notes are specifically fresh green apples. It’s an easy smell to enjoy.

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

This is a sweet cider. It’s not cloying or overpowering, but it’s unambiguously sweet in a fresh fruity way.

Flavors and drinking experience: high acid, full body, mild bubble, tropical fruit

The Betty is vivacious with mild bubble, high acidity, and a full body. This is a super approachable cider for folks who might not have tried many single varietals before.
The mid-palate really pleases with tropical fruit flavors alongside notes of peach and ripe apple.

I find this cider to be pleasant and easy drinking. It went well with a simple supper of sautéed zucchini and a lemon ricotta ravioli with pesto. Cheers!

Cider Review: Albemarle Ciderworks Jupiter's Legacy

Today, I’m reviewing Albemarle Ciderworks’ Jupiter’s Legacy. This cider was shared with me by the fine folks at Albemarle Ciderworks. We’re cruising into Summer quickly, and this cider was my reward after a huge day of garden work and exercise. I wanted nothing more than peaceful relaxation on my porch and this is what I enjoyed with it. 

I’ve reviewed a few Albemarle Ciderworks beverages before. You can find more information about this Virginia based cidery in the earlier reviews. Here’s the full list. 

Brut D'Albemarle Hewes Crab: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/09/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks-brut.html

Wickson: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/07/dryciderjuly-cider-review-albemarle.html

Brut D’Albemarle Harrison: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/03/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks-brut.html

Goldrush: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/02/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks.html

Ragged Mountain: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/10/cider-review-albemarle-ragged-mountain.html

Royal Pippin: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/08/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks-royal.html

Pomme Mary (a Top Ten cider from 2013): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/09/cider-review-albemarle-iderworks-pomme.html

This is where you can find the most up to date info on Albemarle releases and tasting room events: http://www.albemarleciderworks.com.

Here’s what Albemarle’s website has to say about Jupiter’s Legacy.

Jupiter's Legacy

Jupiter’s Legacy has a bright acidity with notes of citrus. Made from a blend of classic cider apples that changes yearly with the variation of the apple harvest, this cider has a nicely astringent tannin and a tart apple finish. Elegant with chicken and cream finished dishes.  8.2% ABV

Tasting Notes

As our most complex blend, Jupiter's Legacy displays a nuanced depth of body and flavor that reveals itself slowly, over the course of a glass.  Some warm tannins give this cider a rounder mouthfeel and longer finish, while the balancing acidity keeps it lively.  Jupiter's Legacy really shines when paired with complementary foods: chicken and cream-finished dishes, game meats, steak au poivre, and of course pork.  Sweet, apple-based desserts can also offset Jupiter's tartness nicely, such as an apple tatin with caramel sauce, or simply a cider donut.

Why we like it

This is our flagship cider incorporating our best traditional cider apples.  We believe that this blend which will vary from year to year as we are able to grow more traditional American cider apples.  We believe it represents the best of what American cider was and will be.

The cider’s label makes clear that Albemarle Ciderworks named this cider to honor an enslaved man and cider maker: Jupiter. His last name is thought to be Evans, but sources aren’t entirely confident. I’ll link to two sources of information about the cider’s namesake.

From the Monticello research center: https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/jupiter-evans/

Civil Eats Article: https://civileats.com/2019/05/10/american-cider-in-black-and-white/

Appearance: brilliant, bubbly, intense saffron color

This cider’s color reminds me of saffron yellow, which is warm and leans toward apricot. It’s brilliant and bubbly as well.

Aromas: overripe apple, baking spices, grilled peach

Initially, Jupiter's Legacy’s aromas bring to mind applesauce and baking spices. A gentle ghost of cinnamon is decidedly present. Repeated sniffs unlock overripe apple and grilled peach notes too. Very inviting. 

Sweetness/dryness: off dry

This one is a bit debatable. When I first had a glass, it tasted off dry. A second glass the next day, and after a meal, tasted drier. I’d be curious to learn the cider’s residual sugar. 

Flavors and drinking experience: high acid, high tannins, soft leather, sweet orange

Albemarle Ciderworks has crafted something special in Jupiter’s Legacy. This cider has high acidity and medium tannins, but those words do not capture what’s special about it.  I love that it reminds me of old supple leather softened by time and handling, overripe apples and sweet orange. It’s stony with a fine active bubble.

Drinking it, I found the cider both balanced and beautiful. It’s one I was so happy to enjoy two nights in a row as I watched the evenings stretch out long and golden. 

Cider Review: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Sidekick Pacific Pineapple

My posting has been off schedule lately. I’m not going to say that life keeps getting in the way, because life is the way and the blog must fit into it to continue. And that’s how everything goes, certainly including cider. Which leads me to this week’s review. I’m reviewing a non-alcoholic cider for the first time. The timing is perfect for me to share my thoughts on 2 Towns Ciderhouse Sidekick Pacific Pineapple.

Things have been hectic and difficult lately in such a way that I sometimes want the flavor and experience of having a cider without the buzz or effects of alcohol. And I’m seeing a ton of new non-alcoholic beverages out in the world. I was thrilled to accept some samples for review by 2 Towns Ciderhouse. As always, my reviews are my own opinions and completely unpaid.

I’ve reviewed many 2 Towns Ciders over the years. Here’s a full list.

Apricot Cosmic Crisp: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2024/02/cider-review-2-towns-apricot-cosmic.html

The Baddie: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/03/cider-review-two-towns-ciderhouses.html

Crimson Bliss: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/10/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses.html

Hollow Jack’d: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/09/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses-hollow.html

Two Berry Dream: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/08/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses-two.html

10th Anniversary Cider Pacific Northwest Heirloom Blend: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/01/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse-10th.html

Good Limes Roll: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/07/cider-reviews-two-towns-cider-house.html

Cosmic Currant: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/12/cider-review-two-towns-cosmic-currant.html

Hollow Jack’d: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/10/cider-review-two-towns-ciderhouse.html

Afton Field: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/06/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse-afton.html

La Mûre: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/02/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks.html

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/12/cider-review-eden-ciders-siren-song-and.html

Cidre Bouche: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/11/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouses-cidre.html

Pearadise: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/05/very-perry-may-2-towns-ciderhouses.html

Pineapple: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/02/cider-review-portland-cider-company.html

Bright Cider: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/07/cider-review-roundup-common-cider-co.html

Hop and Stalk: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2014/12/cider-review-2-towns-ciderhouse-hop-and.html

Find out what 2 Towns has been up to lately on the website: https://2townsciderhouse.com/

And here’s how the ciderhouse describes this new release. 

SIDEKICK - PACIFIC PINEAPPLE

NON ALCOHOLIC PACIFIC PINEAPPLE

Juicy and tropical, Pacific Pineapple rolls ripe Costa Rica golden pineapples into fresh-pressed Northwest apples. Refreshingly juicy and easy drinking, no matter your locale! Using exclusively sourced Northwest apples, each batch is fresh-pressed with a custom blend of ingredients. After fermentation, the alcohol is gently removed low and slow until it reaches less than 0.5% AB. The newly dealcoholized cider is finished and blended to create a crisp, clean cider that always has your back!

Here’s what I thought of 2 Towns’ Sidekick Pacific Pineapple.

Appearance: Hazy, buttery yellow, bubbly

This cider has a consistent haze that makes me think of lemon curd. The color is a pale buttery yellow, and the Pacific Pineapple doesn’t lack for bubbles. Apologies for the lack of a picture. I was drinking this in the yard with my cat. Here's a picture of the cat instead. This is Braeburn.

Aromas: fermentation, apple, pineapple, bread yeast

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect for this cider’s aroma, considering that it’s non-alcoholic. It certainly smells fermented, with an inviting blend of clean bread yeast, fresh apple, and pineapple. I would have no notion that’s anything other than 2 Towns Pacific Pineapple (the with booze version) by aroma.

Sweetness/Dryness: Sweet 

This cider is sweet, but it’s not maximally sweet. What’s there is balanced by body, bubble, and acid. It’s a good level, and I’m so glad it’s not sweeter.

Flavors and drinking experience: Super fresh, vivid, light fermentation flavor, medium high acid, bubbly, full body

The Sidekick Pacific Pineapple smelled like cider and pineapple, and that comes through in its flavors as well. The cider is sweet and lightly fermented tasting  but largely the experience is super fresh and vivid. I appreciate that it’s just a bit yeasty! That gives the experience a hint of warmth and a reminder that I’m not drinking soda. I love that there’s a tiny hint of bitterness in the mid palate.

The cider starts of reminding me of citrus, blooms into pineapple, and ends with an apple finish. I appreciate that it’s complex, offering up loads of flavor, a full body and strong bubble.

I enjoyed this tremendously, and I don’t really want to share my 6 pack with anyone, but I suppose I’ll have to. I know everyone will want to try it! Way to go, 2 Towns Ciderhouse.

One more cat picture, because I cannot help myself.

Cider Review: Deep Roots Hard Cider's Double Barrel Reserve

 

I wanted to make comfort food at home this weekend. We’ve had a lot of hard stuff going on lately, and the weekend finally gave me enough breathing room to cook about it. So I made vegetarian lasagna. Every lasagna I’ve ever made is vegetarian, but I looked for ways to pack more vegetables in without losing the dish’s richness and indulgence. It’s supposed to be a super savory pile of cheese and noodles smothered in rich tomato sauce! And as soon as the craving hit, I knew it would be a great chance to pick a big cider with intense flavors as an accompaniment. That’s why this week’s cider review is of Deep Roots Hard Cider's Double Barrel Reserve.

I came across the Double Barrel Reserve when I had the pleasure of judging cider for the PA Farm Show this past December. Deep Roots Hard Cider comes to us from Sugar Run, Pennsylvania. The cidery was founded by Tim Wells in 2015, and this is the first time I’ve managed to snag a bottle for myself. Getting Pennsylvania outside of state is still no easy feat, folks! That’s why this is my first Deep Roots review.

I recommend visiting the cidery online: https://www.deeprootshardcider.com/

Here’s Deep Roots’ official description for the Double Barrel Reserve.  

Double up on what makes our Barrel Reserve great! This bourbon-barrel-aged hard cider starts with our original Northern Spy hard cider aged for a full year in a double-oaked-bourbon barrel. It has notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak with a silky smooth finish.

This small-batch cider sells out fast!

9.9% ABV 

Appearance: Sunny yellow, few visible bubbles, brilliant

What a lovely cider. It doesn’t have the haze that lots of barrel-aged ciders display. Instead I can see a few bubbles in the cider quite clearly. The Double Barrel Reserve is a sunny pastel yellow. Maybe it’s just my wishful thinking, but the color reminds me of spring sunshine.

Aromas: vanilla, caramel, smoke, wood, barrel

The Double Barrel Reserve smells amazingly of vanilla and barrel. The aromas are just so vivid and intense. I also get plentiful aromas of caramel, salt, and smoke. The cider hints at woody and balsam notes.

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

This is a sweet cider. It’s an unapologetic dessert with plenty of complexity to the sweetness. 

Flavors and drinking experience: Petillant, full body, buttery, barrel, woody

Deep Roots bring us a cider that’s both petillant and sweet. I don’t necessarily associate these two qualities together, but the emphatic barrel focus melds the two. What I get is a rich buttery cider that has dessert levels of sweetness on the mid-palate and a twinge of a bitter hint on the finish. The cider has tons of barrel character and a full body. 

The Double Barrel Reserve cider carries its hefty alcohol-by-volume level well and the strong flavors can stand up to a dish like lasagna.  In a perfect world, I’d love to see all of that fun barrel character countered balanced with more fruit and acid, but it’s hard to get everything in one cider. My co-taster commented that the Double Barrel Reserve tasted intriguingly like a tree or a pine cone with just one sharp hint of apple.

It was a treat to make, pair, and enjoy my lasagna with this rich super-barrely cider. Cheers!

Cider Review: Seminary Hill Cider's SHOC Estate Reserve and some experimentation

I’m writing a bit early this week, because I’ll be traveling soon. I’m so excited to be headed for New Orleans for the first time since the 1990s! I like to take a Winter trip when I can, and I’ve longed to go back to New Orleans for a very long time. It should be a walking-heavy blend of food, spooky stuff, great food, and lots of relaxing in *fingers crossed* better weather than the end of February in upstate New York. 

This is my third entry about Seminary Hill Cider out of Callicoon, New York. This small independent cidery has been making beautiful ciders and doing tastings and events at a gorgeous environmentally focused cidery in the Catskills. Check out my earlier review and roundup to learn more about this boutique destination cidery.

Round up, in which I share short thoughts on the 2021 Beechwoods, Nicksen,  2020 Semi-Sweet Cackling Hen, Tom’s Beard, and Spy Who Came in From the Cold: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/10/cider-review-seminary-hill-cider-roundup.html

Delaware Dry (my #8 favorite cider of 2023): https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/12/cider-review-seminary-hill-ciders.html

I recommend going to the Seminar Hill Cidery website to learn more about this Catskills Cidery and all of the ciders and events there: https://www.seminaryhill.co/

Appearance: brilliant, bubbly, intense nectarine

What a lovely cider. I appreciate the bubbles dancing from the bottom of my glass and ringing the liquid. The SHOC Estate Reserve delivers an intense color that reminds me of nectarine flesh. 

Aromas: peaches, ripe apples, pineapple, golden flower petals

This cider smells deliciously like peaches, pineapples, and ripe apples. Secondarily, I get a whiff of clean spring green and something connotes golden petals.

Sweetness/Dryness: Off Dry

This is a beautifully balanced off dry cider. It has enough sweetness to keep fruit to the forefront of the experience, but it’s remarkably restrained.

Flavors and drinking experience: Off dry, zingy, peachy, structured, creamy, perfumed finish

The SHOC Estate Reserve maintains its off-dry balance with off-the-charts acid, substantial tannins, and plentiful fruit notes. It comes across first as zingy and peachy. The cider develops in its midpalate into a full creamy body that remains structured by the tannins. As a potentially strange metaphor, I would say this cider lifts weights! 

I also note lots of vinous flavors and a bit of inviting earthiness. What I think I love most is how concentrated flavor remains from start to finish.  The small active bubbles and perfumed finish complete an utterly delightful beverage. This is one I’d be proud to place at the important meals of my life, but I’m also thrilled that I got to enjoy it with a simple supper the day before my trip. Good cider is for special occasions, but it’s also for everyday life. 

One last little preview of what’s to come. I’ve been doing this blog for more than ten years now, and I’ve developed a regular posting schedule and a bit of a template for posts. In the next few months, I will experiment with how Along Came a Cider shares. I’ll be posting twice a month rather than weekly. That’s so I can possibly share some original recipes using cider, write more posts about cider out in the world, my experiences at cider events, and try out some other things. I want to keep myself on my toes; suggestions are welcome.

Cider Review: Portland Cider Co.'s Cinnamon Roll

Being quite busy caught up to me last week, and I was down with a cold for much of the time. That’s no one’s favorite, and I was worried I wouldn’t recover in time to take decent notes on a cider this week. Lucky for me, rest works wonders. My sensitivity to taste and scent were back in action enough by Sunday evening to taste a cider that’s been waiting too long in my fridge. Here’s what I thought about Portland Cider Co.’s Cinnamon Roll! 

Please check out my previous reviews of Portland Cider Co. beverages to learn more about this west coast cidery. It’s a wildly adventurous company in terms of what flavor adjunct to try, and their fondness for high acid fruit blends that maintain a strong cider base tend to be very tasty! Here’s the full list of earlier reviews.

Cranberry Mule: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/12/cider-review-portland-cider-cos.html

Imperial Abbey Apple: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/11/cider-review-portland-cider-cos.html

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

I recommend visiting Portland Cider Co.’s website to find out the latest from this cidery: https://www.portlandcider.com/home

Here’s the official description for the Cinnamon Roll seasonal cider:

Cozy with comforting baked apple spice and a hint of vanilla.

Irresistibly comforting, our Cinnamon Roll hard cider takes Northwest apples infused with cinnamon and vanilla to craft a cider that tastes like a trip to your favorite bakery. A perfect balance of sweet and spicy, each sip is an indulgent treat and blissful experience. 6.2% ABV.

Appearance: Brilliant, warm straw, no visible bubbles

The color on this cider would be best described as a warm straw. The Cinnamon Roll does not display an intense version of the hue; it’s more gentle. The cider is brilliant, and I do not see any visible bubbles in the glass.

Aromas: baked apple, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg

Wow! The aromas are so vivid and distinct. The Cinnamon Smells like a baked cinnamon apple. I’ve made these so many times, and that’s exactly how the cider smells. It’s redolent with notes of baked apple, cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar and nutmeg

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

This is a sweet cider. It is not a dry cider. Do not ask it to be a dry or even semi-dry cider. The sweetness is much like a cinnamon roll but with a wonderful core of apple.

Flavors and drinking experience: balanced, high acid, no tannins, dessert, baked apple, sweet potato pie

Be prepared for something sumptuously sweet and pleasant when taking a sip of Portland Cider Co.’s Cinnamon Roll. This cider reminds me of sweet potato pie, baked apples, and cinnamon rolls! I really appreciate that apple flavor remains present in both aroma and flavor! 

Though we do have apples, I think cinnamon is dominant in the flavor profile. The Cinnamon Roll cider offers up very fine bubbles, high acidity, and no tannins. The mouthfeel is full and creamy.

I paired this cider with spicy popcorn and a fun rom com at home. This is exactly how I would recommend enjoying Portland Cider Co.’s Cinnamon Roll!

Cider Review: Blackbird Cider Works Extra Dry Classic Wood Aged Cider

 

Last week, we had a tiny preview of Spring. It was unbelievable, and it reminded me to trust that in a couple of months Spring will arrive in earnest. The Tall One and I took a long impromptu walk, inspired by sunlight after 4pm and mild temperatures. It was a kind of magic that Winter doesn’t know. We ended up catching a lovely meal at a restaurant we’d not visited for months and months. There, I tried a Blackbird Cider Works Extra Dry Classic Wood Aged Cider.

Blackbird Cider Works is now based out of Buffalo, New York. Though it is a regional cidery, I’ve not tasted or reviewed the ciders very often. I looked and only found one previous review! I’ll put the link below.

Orchardist’s Reserve: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2014/10/cider-review-blackbird-ciders.html

What I will note is that Resurgence Brewing acquired Blackbird Ciderworks from Donovan Orchards as of 2023.  Here’s a link to a news story with more details about that change.

https://www.brewbound.com/news/resurgence-brewing-co-acquires-blackbird-cider-works-from-donovan-orchards-llc/

https://blackbirdciders.com/ This is currently under construction, so it might make more sense to connect with Blackbird Cider Works on social media instead.

https://www.facebook.com/blackbirdciders

https://www.instagram.com/blackbirdciderworks/

Here’s the description I could find for this cider online. 

Extra Dry Classic Wood-Aged Cider is a classic ultra-dry cider. Golden in color with apple aromatics, dry apple flavor, and just a slight hint of oak. Perfect balance between acidity and tannin, and a smooth, dry finish. 6.6% ABV. 

Appearance: slight haze, cool pale straw, few visible bubbles

This has the look of a wood-aged cider. Often that element of fermentation process lends a mild haze to the final cider. The color reminds me of an evening moon; it’s pale and cool. I don’t see a lot in the way of visible bubbles.

Aromas: minerals, pears, overripe apples, grapefruit, a bit of funk

The cider starts off with a waft of minerals followed by a parade of fruit: pear, grapefruit, and overripe apples. Somehow there’s a hint of salt. The wood aging is apparent but not super distinct. Hints of funk are present.

Dryness/sweetness: Dry

This is a dry cider. There are elements of fruit and more sweet aromas, but I don’t think the cider has a lot of residual sugar going on.

Flavors and drinking experience: sap, barrel, medium acid, low tannins, twiggy, medium bubbly

I thought I got a good idea of the wood aging from the Extra Dry’s aromas, but I was so wrong. There’s so much more to it! This cider is beautifully balanced with it’s dryness and wood aging. That’s not an easy combination to get right; too many elements can fight to be the primary driver of flavor.

Blackbird has chosen to put the wood aging forward in the Extra Dry. I think that’s a fantastic choice. What I get as I sip this are a medley of exciting flavors including: salt, tree sap, butterscotch, banana and apple. There’s plenty of barrel on the finish. The cider tastes dry throughout with medium acid and sparkle.

What little sweetness comes through has barrel and maple warmth; I’m reminded of salted butterscotch, which pairs nicely with the wintry, twiggy dryness. The cider has a medium mouthful. Tannins are low but make themselves known.

 

I paired this cider with a meal of blackened salmon served with julienned roasted root vegetables and rich creamy grits. It was a perfect seasonal combination. Highly recommended!

Cider Review: Angry Orchard's The Extension

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.

Cider Review: Snow Capped Cider's Wickson Crab

Giant publisher Conde Nast laid off most of the Pitchfork staff recently, dealing a horrific blow to the world of music writing. Last week, most Sports Illustrated workers were recently cut without ceremony. In the fall of last year, the majority of Bandcamp’s journalists were also let go. None of these sites were gutted because people were failing to produce quality work. I could track down countless similar stories. I’m sharing because I care about culture journalism just like I care about all journalism. 

I’m invested in that I started this cider review blog totally independently eleven years ago, and I’ve been reviewing ciders from around the world consistently since then. No one is paying me: not for advertisements, coverage, special access to tasting notes, or favorable notice. That’s how I like it. But it also means that I have to fit my cider work into the margins after getting my bills paid. That’s why I wasn’t at CiderCon in all the wild weather this year and for the past several. I have to budget what time and resources I can allocate to this passion. And maybe someday, it won’t make sense for me to write in this way.

The connection is simple. We live in an economic system that doesn’t value long-term investment for the sake of curiosity, care, or criticism. It wants efficiency, newness, growth, sustained by less and less and less. And this same system also makes it hard for cider makers, food workers, artists, farmers, scholars, game designers, and just about anybody who doesn’t have an alternate path to financial solvency. And that makes me angry and sad. 

I don’t want our world to become really, really boring as fewer people can use their time in interesting and creative ways. But what are our options?  This is the question in my mind when I sip my cider on these cold January nights. This week, I’m sharing my thoughts on Snow Capped Cider’s Wickson in addition to a cultural plight. I wanted a treat and Wickson Crab ciders are often among my favorites, and Snow Capped Cider has a great record of success as well. 

Here are all of my previous reviews of Snow Capped Ciders’ beverages. I include more background on the cidery and farm behind them in some of the earlier reviews. These ciders were shared with me for review, but my opinions remain entirely my own.

Winter Pear: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/05/perry-review-snow-capped-ciders-winter.html

Dabinett: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/02/cider-review-snow-capped-ciders-dabinett.html

Jala-pear-no Cider: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/11/ciderperry-review-snow-capped-ciders.html

Ashmead’s Kernel: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/09/cider-review-snow-capped-cider-ashmeads.html

Blanc Mollet: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/06/cider-review-snow-capped-ciders-single.html

Gold Rush: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/04/cider-review-snow-capped-ciders-gold.html

Harrison Reserve (My #5 favorite cider of 2021): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/12/cider-review-snow-capped-cider-harrison.html

You can visit Snow Capped Cider’s website to find out about latest releases and news from the Colorado cidery: https://snowcappedcider.com/

Here’s what I could find on the website about the 2020 Wickson Crab cider.

For many years we have planted crabapple trees for pollination in our orchards. Now we harvest this scrappy little apple for its wild character in cider making. Wickson brings extraordinary high sugar content with razor-sharp acid levels. The result is elegant and fanciful. Wickson fills the palate with luscious, balanced, sweet notes of kiwi and honeydew building dimensional acid warmth with a lingering finish.

Alcohol 8.40%

This cider did merit a platinum medal at the Great American Cider Competition in 2021.

Appearance: intense honeycomb amber, brilliant, few bubbles

The color of the Wickson Crab reminds me of autumn and rich full honeycomb. It’s a warm and deep shade of amber that brings some real intensity. It’s a beautiful cider.

Aromas: overripe apple, minerals, mild oxidation, baking spice

The aromas remind me of familiar homemade applesauce. It’s an overripe apple nose with hints of baking spices. I do get just the barest hint of oxidation, but not to a troubling degree.

Sweetness/dryness: Off Dry

This tastes off dry. There’s enough acid and tannin in the mix that I bet the measurable sugar looks higher than it tastes.

Flavors and drinking experience: lush velvet tannins, high acid, mellow apricot, minerals, and citrus

The applesauce and overripe apple notes from the aroma return on the palate for the Wickson Crab. They are joined by apricot and citrus notes as well. The cider is redolent with fruity acidity and lush velvet tannins. There’s also a twiggy vibrance going on. What an amazing combination. Wickson Crabs really can produce just the most luscious and lively ciders.

 

The off the charts acid and beautiful tannins do not create an austere or minimal experience. Instead, Snow Capped Cider’s Wickson comes across as rich with the mood of peak autumnal splendor. The bubbles are much more apparent in the mouthfeel than they were visibly, which is a real treat. The opulence of this cider is bold and welcoming and wonderful. I love it.