Cider Review: 2 Towns' Westward Whiskey Bad Apple Imperial Bad Apple Cider

The weather is showing signs of turning. We have cool mornings and nights. The late summer flowers show wear and weathering. Most importantly, it’s time for fresh apples! I’m taking advantage of this preparation for the the coming Fall to enjoy a barrel-aged cider with roasted root vegetables and a tuna steak this weekend. Here’s what I thought of 2 Towns’ Westward Whiskey Bad Apple Imperial Bad Apple Cider.

First, I review 2 Towns ciders enough to just refer readers back to earlier coverage for more background on this inventive Oregon cidery. Here’s a list of the many 2 Towns Ciderhouse reviews I have shared.

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

Sidekick Cosmic Crisp: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/search/label/2%20Towns%20Ciderhouse

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

This link will lead to 2 Towns website with more info on all of the cider releases, special events, and more: https://2townsciderhouse.com/

Here’s the official description of 2 Towns’ Westward Bad Apple Imperial cider.

Westward Whiskey® Bad Apple

Imperial Bad Apple

Time to sit in front of the fire and warm up both inside and out with a glass of this rich, delicious barrel aged teamwork in a glass. We took The Bad Apple and aged it in a selection of barrels we borrowed from our friends at Westward Whiskey™. The result is an even bolder version of one of our most flavorful flagships. After we are done with the barrels, we send them back to be used in an apple finished creation of their own. If you love this one, you’re sure to love Westward’s variation!

ABV 12%

I am feeling mildly intimidated by the 12% ABV, so we’ll see how it goes!

Appearance:  lots of bubbles, medium intensity corn yellow, brilliant

What a lovely and active cider! I’m impressed with all of these wild and wiggly bubbles. The color looks like a medium intensity corn yellow, and the clarity is fully brilliant. 

Aromas: Buttery, vanilla frosting, baked apple, spices

The Westward Whiskey Bad Apple smells a lot more delightful and enticing than anything called bad, even ironically, has any right to! These aromas are so inviting and warm and appealing. The first note is buttery oakiness, followed by vanilla frosting and baked apple. It really smells like a freshly baked autumnal apple dessert with only the barest hint of petrol to pull it into a booze direction rather than a sweets direction. 

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

This is a sweet cider. Yes, there are other wonderful flavor elements in the mix, so the sweetness is not a solo but part of the overall experience. Fans of sem-sweet and sweet ciders will flock to this treat!

Flavors and drinking experience: full body, barrel, caramel, whiskey finish

I love the prevalence of barrel influence on this sweet cider. I think it’s a combo that works well. The Westward Whiskey Bad Apple strikes me even a little pommeau like, with it’s full body, rich sweetness, and major influences not of barrel and baked apple.

The cider’s full body reminds me of a boozy apple crisp as well, but it’s bubbly and driven by high acidity. The sweetness comes across as caramel notes followed by a perfumed whiskey finish. It’s a lovely and complex experience. 

Cider Roundup: The Cider House Vancouver

 

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!  

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: 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: Rootwood Cider Co.'s Harrison

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I found out about Rootwood Cider Company through the Northwest Cider Club. This is a wonderful way to get access to a mouthwatering array of ciders from that region. I would not find out about a fraction of the Northwest ciders I’ve enjoyed without them. 

Here’s a link to the club for the curious: https://nwciderclub.com/

This introduction to Rootwood Cider Co. came through a delivery in 2021, so it has waited a while in my cellar. Here’s what I can say about the cider producer. This Washington State cidery was founded in 2014 in the Koenig family’s 5th generation of orcharding. The cidery is now owned by Emily, Kate, and Anna Koenig. A short quote from the about page on the cidery website gives a sense of the cidery’s breadth of style.

“Rootwood will continue to produce a combination of traditional and modern ciders - both heirloom apple blends and single-varietal products, and small-batch experimental ciders such as the syrah-infused Rosé, honey infused Pollinator, and ghost chili pepper infused Golden Ghost.”

This will be my first ever review of anything by Rootwood. I was excited to try the Harrison on a recent spring evening, because of the mystique surrounding the varietal. Here’s how Rootwood Cider Co. introduces it.

Tasting notes

HARRISON - SINGLE VARIETAL - juicy apple brightness with a warm sherrylike finish

Once thought to be extinct, a single Harrison apple tree was rediscovered in 1976 in New Jersey, allowing for the reintroduction of this variety through grafting and budding. This cider was produced with apples from our estate cider orchard, where more than 500 Harrison trees grow today. 6.9% ABV.

Appearance: Orange,  bubbly

I was shocked initially by the Harrison’s intense shade of orange. I admit, it left me curious about what to expect from this cider. The cider is brilliant, bubbly, and bewitching with its unusual hue. I’ve seen a few UK or French ciders with shades of orange for color, but it’s not usual for an american cider or a cider with this level of clarity. 

Aromas: Ripe apples, pear, and peach

As surprising as I found this cider’s appearance, the Harrison smells familiar and wonderful. The enticing notes center on ripe apple, pear, and peach.

Sweetness/dryness: sweet

What a treat! Often single varietal ciders are fermented to total dryness. I like that. It’s a good way to make a considered cider, but it’s not the only way. Rootwood has crafted something lovely approachable and delicious in the sweet but not simple Harrison.

Flavors and drinking experience: Tannic, juicy, golden raisins, apricot finish and bubbly

The sweet and tannic cider does not strike me as typical of any sort of American cider. It’s not always easy to get apples that will make a tannic cider, but Harrison is one. The cider sings with high acidity and notes of golden raisins.

The Harrison’s mid-palate is peachy, juicy, and bubbly. It finishes with a pleasant apricot and seasoned wood drift of flavor.

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: 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: 2 Towns Apricot Cosmic Crisp

This weekend, I finally saw the sun in February. What an amazing restorative. Each chance for a walk in bright light  feels like a stolen treasure. Relish them. When we don’t have the golden orb blessing us, there are bit of brightness that can come from other directions. I’m happy to enjoy those too. I was so happy to get 2 Towns’ Apricot Cosmic Crisp review samples recently. 

2 Towns is named for Corvallis and Portland, Oregon where the cidery is based. I’ve been fond of this adventurous cidery since I first tasted them in 2014! I can’t believe it has been 10 years! You can find lots more background about the cidery in these previous blog posts.

Here’s a rundown of my earlier reviews for 2 Towns! 

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

I recommend visiting 2 Towns’ Ciderhouse has a website  to find out about the cidery’s releases and events: https://2townsciderhouse.com/

Here’s how 2 Towns describes the Apricot Cosmic Crisp on the website. 

Score your first intergalactic ace when you approach with this apricot adaptation of Cosmic Crisp. Crafted with Northwest apples & apricots, this sweet & zingy cosmic-apricot combo is guaranteed to break some chains. Careful now, too much hyzer and you’ll end up out of this world. 9% ABV.

I’m super curious to taste how the 9% ABV comes across.

Appearance: pale warm straw, brilliant, bubbly

All of 2 Towns’s ciders are lovely. That’s not a surprise, but I really wasn’t sure what to expect from an apricot cider. I associate apricots with a mellow opaque orange color, so this elegant pale straw was a fun surprise.

Aromas: Peach, lemon, minerals,

The Apricot Cosmic Crisp smells intensely peachy! It’s enticing and reminds me of fruity candies with citric acid, but also of stones and lemons.

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

Flavors and drinking experience: High acid, apricot, peach bubbly, boozy

I have to start by acknowledging that this cider is doing a lot with sweetness and high acidity. It tastes very much like dried apricots; it’s more vivid and bold than fresh ones would be. I do wish I could taste the specificity of the Crimson Crisp apple, since it’s named here.

The higher ABV is apparent in some warming to the throat and stomach, but it’s remarkably smooth and full bodied. And since that 9% is coming in a full sized can, it’s a great size to share.

I found the Apricot Crimson Crisp Also very exciting as a sweet mixer- I used it with a barrel aged tequila and plain seltzer. For well balanced food pairings, the accompaniments should be similarly bold but not overly complex. I have had the pleasure of this cider twice. The first time was when I tasted it and experimented with using it as a mixer at a fabulous horror movie party. What a set of combinations! 

The films we watched were Dolls (1987) and Eraserhead (1977). I can certainly recommend the whole experience thought it will be hard to reproduce without the fantastic company.

And the second time I tried this cider, I took notes and then finished my glass with vegetarian burritos with The Tall One and my absolute favorite new album of 2024. If anything manages to top this, I will be shocked.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1ycq58KRtWt3wFtbuIkvLn?si=QUfXDq4CRPaQMiAFTUhafA

Maximize your deliciousness however you like. A big cider like this deserves it.

Cider Review: Blake’s Hard Cider Co.'s Peach Party

Welcome to 2024! I write this from the liminal week between Christmas and the new year. Some folks get restless during this time, or mind that they forget what day of the week it is. Others return to work and life as usual. Yet others, and I count myself in this last lucky camp, relish the quiet long chance to say goodbye to the year not in a moment or a night but for a solid week. I’m looking back at the good moments, good books, good films, and holding those close. The challenges certainly come, but they don’t need any extra airtime. And I’m happy to be traveling to see my family right now. 

My dad was kind enough to save me two cans of Blake’s Hard Cider’s Peach Party. I shared some with him and also one with my mom, and I so enjoyed getting their reactions as well as my own. Consider this review a Collins family special. 

Here is a list of all previous reviews of Blake’s Hard Ciders on the blog.

Apple Lantern: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/10/cider-reviews-blakes-hard-ciders-apple.html

El Chavo (habanero and mango): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/11/cider-review-blakes-hard-cider-companys.html

Black Philip(cranberry and blood orange): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/04/cider-review-blakes-hard-cider-black.html

The Tonic (cucumber & ginger): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/03/cider-review-blakes-hard-cider-companys.html

Grizzly Pear(pear, prickly pear cactus, & elderflower):

http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/05/very-perry-may-pt-5-e-z-orchards.html

Snapdragon (rum raisins): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/11/cider-review-blakes-hard-ciders.html

Wakefire (cider with sour cherries and orange peel): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/09/cider-review-blakes-hard-cider-companys.html

It’s easy to learn more about Blake’s Hard Cider Company on the website: http://www.blakeshardcider.com/

I’ll include the official description for the Peach Party, so we can see what exactly Blake’s is offering here!

Peach Party Peach and Blackberry Get ready to groove with the goodness of sweet peach, bold blackberry, and mellow apple. It’s all peach and love at this party.

6.5% ABV

Appearance: gentle blush pink, brilliant, few bubbles

I see a lot of gentle blackberry and apple influence  in this color. It’s a delicate blush pink with total brilliance. There are only a few little bubbles in the mix. What a lovely lovely cider. It makes me think of Spring already.

Aromas: Creamy and peachy with a background of apple and blackberry

The Peach Party lives up to it’s name with a fun and enticing aroma. It smells creamy and peachy almost like a Peach Melba. As I bring the glass to my nose there are also elements of citrus and sweetness in its nose.

Sweetness/dryness: Sweet

This cider is unambiguously sweet like peach candy but with a fun citric acid zing!

Flavors and drinking experience: peach, apple, vibrant fruit, high acid

Like with the aroma, I find Blake named this cider aptly. It is indeed a Peach Party! That’s the dominant flavor on the palate. I don’t detect a ton of blackberry flavor, but I’m happy to report that the whole experience is supported on a firm backbone of apple.

The Peach Party brings lots of acid and medium intensity of bubble to the drinking experience. The cider has a clean fermentation with loads of fresh very vibrant fruit flavor. It’s got a big mouthfeel as well. On two different evenings, I shared this one with my folks and both quite liked it. Our collective experience is that it’s a super approachable and friendly cider. Fans of sweetness will find it sessionable to boot. 

One evening of this was paired with a tense film about the end of the world and the other night it was shared with college basketball. Both worked well, but I think its best pairing might be popcorn and comedy or perhaps a bonfire!

Here’s to a wonderful 2024. Cheers!