Woodchuck's Barrel Select Private Reserve

Woodchuck's Barrel Select Private Reserve (hence forth WCBSPR) wins the worst name award, luckily what's inside the bottle is better than its name. I do like the label and matching packaging, but it doesn't speak to the complexity of what is inside waiting for you.

Photo from Woodchuck website

Setting the mood:
This review is brought to you by the power outage last night at mine and Tidnab's house.  Originally, I had pulled this one out to enjoy while we played WoW (Sunday nights is raid night for those in the know).  Sometimes being a healer in a group of 25 people is not the most relaxing endeavor, so I thought WCBSPR might help.  Before we had time to start playing, the power suddenly went out.  About half our street was dark, and the power company took two hours to get us back up and running.  By then, we were on our way to bed and I had long finished my WCBSPR.

Photo from Woodchuck webiste

The company:
Woodchuck is a Vermont brewery focused on local sourcing and the environment.  The more I read, the more I liked them.  So, check out their webpage to find out more - but I'll give you the basics.  Water and power conservation are priorities for them.  They are working to use less water (1 gallons/1gallon of cider) and working with the local power company to reduce usage during peak times.  They also buy locally grown apples, print their labels on recycled paper, and use (25% of their total usage) power generated by cow um...patties.  Pretty cool in my book.  They also have a wide variety of products, many of them seasonal, for our enjoyment (well, mostly).  Woodchuck was one of the first ciders I tried years ago.  Their website walks you through how cider is made and links to their store where the metal sign pictured at right can be found along with glasses, t-shirts and how to make custom labels.

WCBSPR is a seasonal release for Woodchuck.  Bottled for release in December if you find any hanging out at your local store - buy it now.  They refer to it as their "ultra-limited" cider, and I can see why.  Its aged in white oak Kentucky bourbon barrels, which gives it a unique taste.  I've included their seasonal calendar at the bottom for those that are interested.

Where purchased:
Total Wine - I bought some singles but after trying it grabbed their last six-pack.


Reflections:
WCBSPR has a special place in my cider bytes' heart next to Crispin's Stagger Lee (see my review of it here).  Though I'm not a big fan of Jack Daniels or other Kentucky bourbons my love of Irish whiskey does give me an appreciation for their taste.  The first sip of WCBSPR is like a mellow sip of Kentucky whiskey.  The notes of smell are there - but not in the way where your nose feels like the alcohol will burn it.  It's light and rich and full-flavored.  I adore this cider it's fabulous straight from the bottle and still has a rich taste after it warms up.  I wouldn't call it refreshing or crisp, but I would call it mellow and jazzy.  Since it is made in Kentucky bourbon barrels, maybe I should say bluegrassy, but it can transport you and make your cider sipping feel like a luxury experience.  I have to say sipping it in the dark made the power outage tolerable.

Tidnab's sip:
He didn't get one this time, but last time I had to pry the bottle from his hand.

Scoring:
Sweetness: 8
Tartness: 6
Smoothness: 10
Fruit flavor: 7
Dryness:6
Carbonation: 8
Gluten free: Yes!
Alcohol content: 6.9%

Calories 250
Container & Size:12 oz. bottle
Price: six-pack about $12

Overall:10 - Wonderful - if you don't like bourbon/whiskey you might not be as impressed.

From Woodchuck's website

Blackthorn - I should've known

I'm back in black - well, I should say I'm back drinking Blackthorn cider. This particular cider bytes experience made me realize a few things. First, I don't like dry ciders. Looking at my review template, I realize this shouldn't be shocking as I have no ratings for 'dry.' I'm going to fix that and add one, but I'm a sweet girl - and I like my ciders that way, so read my thoughts and adjust according to your taste! Secondly, I'm not fond of cider being delivered in a can and I will start to note the cider delivery mechanism (aka packaging) as well. Now, on with the review.

Where purchased:
Total wine - my favorite cider purchasing store. 

Setting the mood:
I got home after a long day filled with a workshop that really needed help to a great dinner followed by some WoW time with my husband and friends.  I grabbed a Yuengling for Tidnab and the Blackthron cider for myself.  Now, when I play WoW and enjoy a cider, I usually keep it in the bottle/can because I'll be sipping (unless things are going REALLY bad) and I don't want to have it over ice and have it melting before I'm done.  So, I'm drinking out of a can... blah!

The company:
Blackthron is made in the UK using mostly local products.  Here's what their website says about their apple sourcing - it made me a happy girl!

"We have long term relationships with 68 local growers from Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Herefordshire where all the finest cider apples come from.  We are also the biggest employer in Shepton Mallet and over 90% of our fruit comes from within 50 miles from here."


I really like the local sourcing utilizing so many growers.  They are obviously having an impact on their community and that can play a big factor when I'm choosing a cider.  I like my money to go to companies that care. They also support local sport clubs - another thumbs up for them! 


One thing I can't figure out is who is the company behind Blackthorn.  A brief look at the Wikipedia page about them says they are owned by Constellation Brands, who owns more than 200 spirit brands but Blackthorn is not listed on their website.  A look at the bottom of the Blackthron homepage points to Magners (the name for Irish Bulmers in any country but Ireland), so I wonder if they have been bought.  I'll just have to wait and see.


They have two ciders Blackthorn and Dry Blackthorn.  They describe the apples they use on their website as:
"We use a good number of ‘Bittersweet’ cider apples in our blend. Bittersweet cider apples have low acid levels and high tannins."


This helped explain to me why I'm not a fan of dry ciders anymore than I am of dry white wines - the tannins.  They add carbonated water to their mix along with sulfites.  If you are sensitive to them - skip this cider.  Now, on with my reflection and rating!

Reflections:
I was disappointed whey I popped the top on the cider - there was no sound to indicate any carbonation.  I'm not sure why I expected one, but I did, and I worried from the start my expectations wouldn't be met.  Also, I have discovered that I'm not a big fan of English ciders - my guess is because of the bittersweet apples.  If I want dry, I'll drink wine - which is actually what dry ciders remind me in the mouth feel and after taste.  The apple flavor was there but not over powering and the carbonation was very light.  I will say that as the evening progressed and the cider warmed up, I liked it better.  I might try it again in a bottle or over ice.

Tidnab's sip:
He had a beer and was playing in the other room - no sip for him!

Scoring:
Sweetness: 6
Tartness: 7
Smoothness: 7
Fruit flavor: 6
Dryness: 9

Carbonation: 6
Gluten free: Yes
Alcohol content: 6%
Container type & Size: 16.9 fl oz can
Price: I believe about $2.50

Overall: 6

Crispin - On TAP!

Yesterday, I had a most wonderful time at Jana Oliver's book signing for the third book in her Demon Trappers series, Forgiven.  After her talk and signing at Barnes and Noble, a group of us adjourned to the pub, Firkin and Gryphon for a celebratory dinner and drinks.  You can imagine my surprise when I saw Crispin Cider  - ON TAP! 

Jana's newly released book - the third in the Demon Trappers series!

I excitedly ordered my pint of Crispins and was asked if I wanted it over ice - woohoo!  A pub outside of Ireland that actually knew how to server cider.   I have to be honest, in Ireland they only give you ice with the bottled and can cider - if it is on tap, they just pour it straight.  Soon, my beautiful cider arrived and I marveled and drooled a little at the glass:

Notice the beautiful - Crispin - on the glass

The Compnay:

I've reviewed the Crispin/Fox Barrel company before, so I'll refer you back to my previous post for more about them but just know they use real apples and strive for excellent ingredients with no colorants, sorbate or benzoate preservatives. They are my current favorite of craft cider brewers.

Reflections:

It was lovely - it tasted exactly how I expected - crisp with a good, strong apple taste. The taste remained good through out my evening of chatting and dinner. It was smooth without the bite of other draught ciders. I would have one of these again in a heartbeat - matter-of-fact I would go back to the Firkin and Gryphon to do so!

Scoring:

Sweetness: 7

Tartness: 5

Smoothness: 9

Fruit Flavor: 8

Carbonation: 9

Gluten free: Yes!

Overall: 9

Amazing - and so happy to have another choice on draught!

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.

Spire Mountain Pear Cider

For Christmas this year, my family - much to my delight and surprise - gave me a variety of ciders because of the my Cider Bytes blog!  Today, I'm going to review the first of several new finds - Spire Mountain Pear Draft Cider.

Where Purchased:
I have seen Spire Mountain Cider for sale at Total Wine, but I'm nut sure where my sister managed to find the bottle that I was given.

Setting the mood:
We dined at Thai Basil Sushi Zen, a delicious Thai/Sushi restaurant not too far from our house in Acworth.  The sushi and classic Thai curries and noodle dishes are great and they are very willing to accommodate our friend's gluten free requests!  Afterward, we went back to our sunroom to chat and sip some cider.

The Company:
Spire Mountain Cider is part of a larger brewing company - but still what I would classify as a artisan or craft brewery.  The Fish Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington is the parent company/brewer.  They produce three ciders (Pear, Apple, and Dark & Dry Apple Cider) along with several different beers.  The 'Fish Brewing' name doesn't whet my appetite at all, so I'm glad they went with Spire Mountain name for the cider.

Here's their description of the cider:
"Festive and light, Spire Mountain Pear Cider is alive with delicate flavor. A blend of Bartlett, Bosc and Anjou pears gives this hard cider a gentle zest. Complemented by a soft sprightly sparkle, the scent of sunny orchard beckons from every glass. Enjoy this genial refreshment at your ease"

I'm not sure I agree with all of the description, but I'm pleased to see a variety of pears included in the cider.  The ingredient list adds sugar and natural flavors to the list.  Also, the cider is listed as Hard Cider and not pear only - so there may be some apple cider included but not listed.  If so, it wasn't noticeable on my palette.

The label includes a date for when the pears were harvested.  You have to look very carefully to find the notch - but it is there.  Mine were harvested in March, delivering a young cider.

Reflections:

You know the beer or soda you reach for when you just want a good standby drink?  An old friend that won't surprise you nor overly delight you, but is there for you with a good, solid taste that you know you will like.  That's Spire Mountain Pear Cider to me.  It wasn't outstanding on any category, but was good on all.  Neither too sweet nor too dry, it was a nice cider to sip with friends while discussing the approaching new year.  I would definitely drink it again, and I believe it would pair well with almost any cuisine you need a middle-of-the-road beverage for.  

This cider's flavors did develop as the bottle cooled.  With many ciders, I think pouring them over ice is the way to enjoy them - especially if they are of the overly-fizzy variety.  This one is probably best left in the bottle or at most in a chilled glass as the delicate and subtle pear flavors would be easily lost.  Our conversation drifted here and there - I played with the puppy - picked up a bit - and came back to my bottle of cider several times - and it still tasted good.  I can be a slow drinker, so the fact that the bottom of the bottle was just as good or even better than the top is a major plus.  Unfortunately, the flavors were so delicate in terms of tasting the pear that it wasn't a cider that you would know from the start was pear.

Tidnab's sip:

Tidnab liked it and gave it a thumbs up as an everyday cider.

Scoring:

Sweetness: 6

Tartness: 7

Smoothness: 7

Fruit Flavor: 6

Carbonation: 8

Alcohol content: 5%

Bottle Size: 12 Fl Oz.

Calories: Not listed on the bottle or website - must be on the six-pack packaging

Overall: 7 - a good everyday cider with nice carbonation, middle sweetness and good flavor that is not overly pear or apple.