Woodchuck Spring Hard Cider: Review

Woodchuck Cidery

Middlebury, Vermont, USA

5% abv

Woodchuck.com

Appearance: straw

Aroma: very interesting, I know this smell from somewhere; lightly sweet … like light brown sugar and something else; I remember – Cracker Barrel Restaurant – I have smelled this aroma in a Cracker Barrel Restaurant; okay time to go to the bottle or the website.   “…displays notes of maple syrup and brown sugar…”  and of course a whiff of apples.  I would have never guessed it but, it sure makes since once I saw their description. 

Flavors: and yes the maple syrup and brown sugar comes through in the taste of this hard apple cider.  Hum, think of it … apples, maple syrup, and brown sugar … this could be a very good breakfast drink! 

Mouthfeel: lightly carbonated, crisp and sweet on the delivery, dry on the finish and the flavors linger for a while on the palate. 

To the Point: very interesting cider, on the sweet side for me but, fun to drink one. I did not guess the maple syrup taste until I read that it was maple syrup and all I could say was 'that is maple syrup for sure.'    

Crispin the saint Artisanal Reserve: Review

Crispin Cider Company

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Unfiltered

Natural Hard Apple Cider

Belgian Trappist Yeasts and organic maple syrup

6.9% abv

22oz bottle

$5.99 from Lager Mill in Frankenmuth

Crispinoverice.com

I have to admit that the maple syrup has me worried.  The last cider that had maple syrup in it was too sweet for me.  Let’s see how it goes.

Oh, one more point.  I have a real problem with this brand.  When you read the label it says, “…apple juice blend, not from concentrate…”  and then you go and read the ingredients and what does it say, (forth ingredient in) “apple juice concentrate…”  The owner of this company must be a congressman or women or someone that is running for President.

Make sure to swirl the bottle to stir up the yeast.

Appearance: hazy white grape fruit juice – or we could call it – hazy straw. If it pours clear you did not get the yeast stirred up off the bottom of the bottle.

Aroma: apple juice for sure, pear, maybe a little yeast, very light bouquet

Flavors and Mouthfeel: sweet and a little tart is what my wife has to say; I’ll call it a sweet on the deliver and acidic on the mid and finish; watery pineapple juice like; pear and apple; I cannot pick out the maple syrup; the cider does have a very sweet note and is balanced some by the acidic structure. 

I think the herbal – floral note shows up a little bit when the cider warms up

To the Point: both my wife and I like this cider.  It is sweet but, not overly sweet were I have to water the grass with it.  

Crispin Natural Hard Apple Cider: Review

Crispin Cider Company

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

crispinoverice.com 

5% abv

Appearance: light golden

Aroma: reminds me of Mott’s apple juice, the nose is very light

Flavors and Mouthfeel: lightly sweet, lightly dry on the mid and dry on the finish, funky apple note,

To the Point: okay at best to me, I’ll skip this one

Fox Barrel Pacific Pear Cider: Review

Fox Barrel Cider Company

Colfax, California, USA

Foxbarrel.com

4.5% abv

12 oz bottle

$1.89 a bottle – Lager Mill in Frankenmuth

No Sorbate but, contains Sulfites

No added color

Appearance: light yellow

Aroma: a very nice fresh pear note

Flavors and Mouthfeel: light carbonation, tasty pear or course, crisp and refreshing, no added sugars it seems like, so it is not overly sweet like some ciders, mild body,

To the Point: this is tasty, I would buy this again, serve some up to your friends on that next summer party.

My little Carly thinks she looks like a fox

Damn these ciders are fairly simple and to the point.  They make for an easy review.  I have found some that I have liked and some that I would not try again.  But, as far as Hard Ciders go I can only drink one maybe two.

Twist off cap

Rodenbach Ale Anno 1821: Review

Sour Ale

Flemish Red Brown

Brewery Rodenbach

Roeselare, Belgium

75% ‘young” Ale, 25% Ale matured for two years

1 pt 9.4 oz bottle

$9.99 a bottle

5.2% abv

It is hard cider month on BeerPostings but, it is time to change things up with a sour ale.  Hope it is good.  I have never had this one before.

Appearance: cordovan body with a tan head

Aroma: light bouquet with a touch of apple mash

Flavors: over-ripened apples, cola, muted tart tone,

Mouthfeel:  moderate carbonation, muted notes, low sour, light-moderate tart,

To the Point: I liked the Grand Cru, I would skip this one, this one is just okay

Read the Rodenbach Grand Cru Review

I used my iceless wine cooler to keep the Ale at  the right temperature

Weizen Bam: Review

Farmhouse Wheat Beer

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales LLC

Dexter, Michigan, USA

$9.49 Lager Mill

750ml Bottle

Jollypumpkin.com

One thing about those 750ml bottles…..

Appearance: be careful pouring this baby.  I had a 4 finger head before I knew it.  Dusty golden body with shaving cream white head.

Aroma: dusty wheat, citrus meat, yeast

Flavors: big citrus sour style that reminds me of lemon … that damn lemon … I am so tired of lemon in beer; the bottle says, “…banana, spicy clove and nutmeg…”  I buy the spicy clove but, no banana for me.  I wish there was more of a banana note than the citrus.  To me this lemon wedge bite is too much. 

Mouthfeel: lemon sour pucker power and the citrus meat linger on the palate. 

To the Point: if you like lemon style beers this is for you.  

Woodchuck Hard Cider; Amber and 802: Review

Woodchuck Hard Cider; Amber and 802: Review

First Up:

Woodchuck Amber

5% abv

Contains Sulfites and Sorbate

Appearance: pours a light-medium gold with a few bubbles floating around the top

Aroma: crisp cider

Flavors and Mouthfeel: smooth, crisp, refreshing hard cider, pleasing apple taste, nice fizzy carbonation

To the Point: if you are looking for a refreshing hard cider this is it, not that big in taste but truly refreshing.

Next:

Woodchuck 802

5% abv

Contains Sulfites and Sorbate

Appearance: copper body with a few bubbles

Aroma: not much on the aroma, faint apple is the best I can do

Flavors & Mouthfeel: dry, a little apple note with a slight twang, not as sweet as the Amber, moderate carbonation

To the Point: kind of disappointing, it is okay at best and as I have always said, ‘okay is a step above poor and a step behind good.’  I would skip this one.  It just lacks flavor to me. 

Aspall Medium English Draft Cider: Review

Aspall

Suffolk, England

Aspall.co.uk

Contains sulfites

6.8% abv

500ml bottle

7.99 on sale $5.99

Appearance: light golden color; clear; fizzy head similar to a soda; plenty of carbonation floating to the top

Aroma: reminds me of apple pie; apples, apple mash, light pie dough

Flavors and Mouthfeel: ripe apples meat on the front with a tart apple mash on the mid and a tart and dry finish. 

To the Point: a nice semi-dry cider; pleasing to drink; and it is making me hungry for apple pie for some reason.  The bottle has a great look to it and can make a good impression.  

As you can see in the background I am taking a break
from cleaning my 40' travel trailer at my summer place
in Grindstone City Michigan

Woodchuck Hard Cider Granny Smith: Review

Woodchuck Cidery

Middlebury, Vermont, USA

5% abv

This has to be the brand that most of us (me for sure) have tried before or was our first experience trying a hard cider.  I know that I liked it back then.  It was always good for when you wanted something different than a beer.

Appearance: straw

Aroma: dusty cider

Flavors and Mouthfeel: crisp, fairly clean, slightly tart on the mid palate, 

To the Point: seems overly processed, too clean and bright, I guess this would be the adjunct of the hard cider world, I did not think I was going to be able to tell the difference between the ‘hand’ made ciders vs the ‘factory’ ciders and yes I can.  While this cider is refreshing I have to say that I will always look for a ‘better’ cider out there. 

JKs Scrumpy Hard Cider: Review

Truly hand-crafted

Orchard Gate Gold

Farmhouse Organic

Unfiltered

Almar Orchards

Flushing, Michigan, USA

Organicscrumpy.com

Visit their web site to learn about hard ciders

6% abv

$7.99; 22oz bottle

Swirl the bottle to awaken the yeast sediment.

Appearance: golden cream that is a little fuzzy on the first glass; swirled the bottle well and the cider poured a hazy golden orange then. 

Aroma: fresh squeezed cider

Flavors: my first thought was ‘this is going to be sweet’ and then all of sudden ‘this is going to be tart’.  The sweet apples hit the front of the palate with full force and then the tart shows up.  I don’t know if the Sweet-Tart candy has an apple flavor but this would be it.  There is a funky little note swirling around on the first few sips.  The funkiness settles into an earthy yeast note and a mineral like quality.  So, let’s say that the yeast has a mineral-earthy tone. 

To the Point: the first few sips I was thinking this is not going to last very long till it waters the grass.  But, I stayed with it and the funky note went away and the cider settled into a very tasty treat.  Make sure to get that yeast mixed in by swirling the bottle … it sure helped the taste. 

I would buy this again.  I am going to plan to make this a regular beverage of mine, this year, in the fall time.  

Click here to read the review on the JK's Solstics

HOP SUN: Review

Summer Wheat Beer – Seasonal

Southern Tier Brewing Company

Lakewood, New York, USA

Southerntierbrewing.com

Brewed with one variety of hops and three types of malts

$9.99 a six pack

5.1%abv

Appearance: rich golden body with a one finger white head that disappears before your eyes; fine lacing left behind

Aroma: very mild wheat and very faint grassy hop note

Flavors: wheat and sweet grains mixed with a grassy and floral hop style

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, crisp on the palate and fairly dry finish making you want another sip

To the Point: seems simple; crisp; refreshing; decent balancing act between the hops and malts; a pretty good summer seasonal with its mild-moderate body weight; I would try this again … and that is a good thing since I bought a six pack.  Last week when I tried this I thought it had a touch of lemon on the nose and palate.  I didn’t pick that up today.   

Aspall Perronelle’s Blush Cider: Review

English Draft Cider

Blended with a dash of blackberry juice

Aspall

Suffolk, England

5.7% abv

500ml bottle

$5.99 on sale

Appearance: reddish copper body

Aroma: sweet apple; the berry reminds me more of pomegranate than blackberry on the nose.    

Flavors: sweet red apple, I can buy the blackberry note here,

Mouthfeel: a little acidity from the blackberry, silky smooth feel, lingering dark berry note on the palate that is pleasing, low carbonation

My Strength Rating: 2.5

To the Point: If you like hard ciders this is a must try.  I’ll be going back to the store to buy up the rest of these.  

JK's Solstice Hard Cider: Review

Farmhouse Organic Limited

Spiced and Unfiltered

Almar Orchards

Flushing, Michigan, USA

Organicscrumpy.com

6.9% abv

$7.99 pint bottle

On the bottle: “Lightly spiced with ethically traded cinnamon, vanilla and a wee drop of syrup from old Maple trees on our farm.”

Appearance: shiny golden body with burnt orange highlights

Aroma: apples with a hint of spice

Flavors and Mouthfeel: super sweet apple cider hits the tongue first and then a big dose of spice, the bottle says ‘lightly spiced’ but I have to call it moderate to moderate-full spiced; I recognize the cinnamon.  The maple syrup and the vanilla mingle together – I can’t pick them out.  The maple syrup is probably adding to the overall sweet taste.  The carbonation had some life to it at first and then it just disappeared.  It has a light fizzy feel. 

To the Point: since this is a winter hard cider and this is summer I’ll just say that I might try it again in the winter time.  The spice style just didn’t seem refreshing here in the heat of summer.