Taste like chicken... I mean beer - Sir Perry

I came home from class tonight and sat down to play some World of Warcraft (my hunter still needs to get to end game - level 85) and drink one of my new cider finds - Sir Perry.  I'm happy to say that my WoW playing went well, because Sir Perry didn't enhance the experience - at all.  Matter-of-fact, I think my taste buds are still recovering.  On with the review - this should be a fun one.

Where purchased:
My favorite new cider finding place - Total Wine.  I found this cider while Tidnab and I were hunting him some Irish whiskey cask Innes and Gunn (his favorite beer).  I can't remember what I paid for it - but I'm sure it was too much!


Setting the mood:
I was in a great mood after a long day.  My hope was a refreshing cider to enhance my game playing experience.


The Company: 
Dry Blackthorn Cider distributes Sir Perry in the US and has a pretty no-frills website.  The most positive thing I can say is that it has a nice history section on the brewing of fruit ciders.  The website tells us that Sir Perry is "made in the traditional English style, using 100% fermented pear juice.  Not to be confused with American pear cider, which is made from fermented apple juice with pear flavoring added later."  I'm sure Fox Barrel cider would love to read this statement, because they do use 100% fermented pear juice and they don't use the additives that Sir Perry does (they add sulfites, so be careful if you are sensitive to them).


Reflections:
My first sip - yuck.  That pretty much sums it up.  It had a very beery taste.  Now, I'm sure there are people out there that would like this cider - but I want a cider because it doesn't taste like beer and as my friend, Gariath, says - bad beer at that.  The carbonation was over powering, the pear taste lacking and overall it was tart without the complex notes of fruit to enhance it.  If I never have it again, I will be a happy cider girl.  I actually poured over half the can down the drain... sad.


Tidnab's sip:
Cheap beer.  He'd drink it if he had to chose between it and PBR.  Nuff' said.


Scoring:
Sweetness: 4
Tartness: 9
Smoothness: 5
Fruit flavor: 3
Carbonation: 9
Gluten Free: Yes
Alcohol content: 6%
Can Size: 16.9 fl. oz.
Price: over $2, but my memory isn't working!


Overall: 3 

Getting my Irish on with Kelly's

Two reviews in two days and I have another new cider in the fridge for tonight!  Vacation is good... 


Where purchased:
Another find at Total Wine - I love this place.  So glad to have been taken there by my in-laws last year.  In Florida, they have tasting stations - not so much in Georgia.

Setting the mood:
Last night we were relaxing with our iPads and books and I decided that it was the perfect time for some relaxing with an adult beverage.  


The company:
Kelly's is made in Ireland and shipped over to the US in large containers to be bottled here in  the US.  The original target market was Irish immigrants to the US, as they drank cider in Ireland - particularly in the summer.  The founders of Kelly's include a former "Tipperary" beverage company employee - most likely Bulmers (Magners in the US).  The ingredients are what you expect to find in a Irish or UK cider but they stress that they do not use colorants in theirs (a good thing in my opinion).  There website says it is only available in four states - I'm hoping Georgia is one of them.


Reflections:
This is a pleasant cider.  It has a wonderful balance of sweet and tart with no bad after taste.  It goes down smooth with perhaps a bit too much carbonation for me.  I really enjoyed the taste and feel of it, and I would consider making this my day-to-day drinking cider.  I like the taste better than Blumers/Magners surprisingly.  It's not as sweet and I have a feeling that when they refer to not using colorants they are pointing the finger at Bulmers.  The 4.6% alcohol content means I can drink one without worrying about becoming "amazing" off one bottle.


Tidnab's sip:
To quote: a nice, sweet cider - it was good.


Scoring:
Sweetness: 7
Tartness: 7
Smoothness: 8
Fruit Flavor: 7
Carbonation: 6
Alcohol content: 4.6%
Gluten Free: yes
Bottle Size: 12 fl oz
Price: $1.99/bottle, but is sold in a six pack as well 


Overall:  I would definitely purchase this cider again as it was a good, classic cider with a nice balancing of sweetness, tartness and fruit flavor.

Back in the Cider again...Stagger Lee

My sweet husband hurt his back in January, and the pain meds meant no alcohol.  I just couldn't pick up a bottle of cider to review while he was unable to enjoy a beer.  He is feeling better and able to enjoy his Innis & Gunn again, so I'm back to enjoying an occasional cider!

Where purchased:

Yesterday, we went to Total Wine outside of Port St. Lucie, FL with Gariath and picked up some supplies for our vacation.  I found some ciders I hadn't seen and a limited edition by Crispin that I just had to try first.   It was expensive - outrageous even - $4.49 for a regular bottle, but soon you will understand why I would pay this again to drink more.

Setting the mood:

After a fabulous day of spring training baseball and ocean waves, we relaxed with family and I had this interesting and complex cider.

The Company:

Crispin creates several premium and limited release ciders and are part of the Fox Barrel company. I have to say, I love both of their offerings.

The Cider:

The Stagger Lee is made in a complex process that includes blending 3 apple-wines aged in rye whisky barrels. The final blend is made with unfiltered fresh-pressed Gravenstein apple juice. I yet again did not do as instructed with the bottle - mostly because I just read the instruction while writing this! Perfect excuse to buy another bottle! You are asked to give a "solid bottoms-up tilt and swirl to disperse sediment evenly to best enjoy whiskey aromas and unique bouquet." I'll let you know if it gets any better when I do!

Reflections:

To put it simply, it was amazing. I was amazing after having it - 6.9% alcohol. The bottle says it has a "full bodied, subtly spicy rye whisky notes and taste, butterscotch and ripe apple with mild apple skin tannins. Sexy finish." I would agree with most of this. The 'subtly spicy rye whisky notes' got more and more prominent as the cider cooled and as I approached the bottom of the bottle. The apple taste is definitely there as well, and it is different from a regular cider - more applely for lack of a better description. I think this has to do with the addition of apple juice in the last blending, but who knows.

What I do know is this cider rocks and is well worth a try if you can find a bottle. If you don't like whiskey - pass on this one. The whiskey taste is prominent and delicious but only for those of us who like that sort of thing (Jameson's and ginger ale for me when there is no cider about). If you are a Jim Bean or Canadian Whiskey fan you will appreciate the subtle flavors in this cider. Even though I'm an Irish Whiskey lover, I still adored the under notes of the flavor.

Tidnab and Gariath's sips:

I had to steal my bottle back - need I say more? Both proclaimed it worthy of the price and that they would drink it.

Scoring:

Sweetness: 6

Tartness: 7

Smoothness: 9

Fruit Flavor: 8

Carbonation: 7

Alcohol content: 6.9%

Bottle Size: 12 fl. oz.

Calories: My bottle said 130, the website says 110

Gluten free: YES!

Price: $4.49/bottle

Overall: 10 - the whiskey taste was just delicious and I want more.