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: 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.