Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Review - sweet time!

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider

While Sitting in our sunroom, my husband and I each doing our own thing on a Thursday night, I popped this cider opened and poured it over some ice (as suggested). I remembered that I was woefully behind on my Cider Bytes blog, and decided it was time to get back into the swing of blogging.  

I first enjoyed Kopparberg cider in Ireland several years ago and then again in Norway in 2010. Until recently I didn't know they made additional flavors. The pear was excellent with a jolly rancher-type flavor to it. We saw the Strawberry and Lime Kopparberg in our local Total Wine and bought one to try.

The company:
Kopparberg proudly claims themselves ün-established since 1882, sold in 40 countries and the best-selling pear cider in the world (or they claim to be, I have no data!).

Reflections:
The flavor is refreshing and sweet, very sweet.  Like the plain pear cider, this one has a jolly rancher taste to it as well.  Actually, I would liken it more to a Sierra Mists - the strawberry kiwi flavor.  I can barely tell that I'm drinking a cider, never mind the like of alcohol taste.  If I didn't know better I would say my husband grabbed a Sierra Mist and splashed some DragonBerry Rum in it.  The thing that is really striking is the color.  When you pour it over ice, it is a pink color reinforcing the strawberry flavor with its color.

Tidnab's sip:
Tidnab fell in love at first sip. He likened the taste to Fanta Strawberry and said it would be easy to drink lots of.
Scoring:
Sweetness: 10 - it's SWEET
Tartness: 2 - there really is no bite to this one
Smoothness: 8 - mostly from the sweetness
Fruit flavor: 2 on the apple taste, 5 on the lime (hint as an after note) but a 9 on the strawberry
Dryness: 3 - not dry at all really
Carbonation: 5 - not too bubble, but not flat, the carbonation isn't punchy in this one
Gluten free:
Alcohol content: 4%
Container & Size: 500ml bottle

Overall: I'd say an 8 if you are looking for a sweet cider that will taste good with most savory items or for sipping. I think it would pair well with salads during the summer also. Not for drinking with dessert unless you want to overdose on sweet. If you like your ciders dry, pass this one up - you will not be impressed.  

Thanks to YouTube, I present to you a two-year-old ad for Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime.

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

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 

Kopparberg Pear

Purchasing:
When I saw the Kopparberg Pear bottle in our local Total Wine store, I was very excited.  I had not seen it in the US and had good memories of drinking it in Ireland and Norway.  I grabbed two 500ml bottles, and tried not to think about the price.

Setting the mood:
I've had a hellish week, and yesterday (Friday) I figured I deserved something special for surviving - Kopparberg was my reward.  While my husband and I played WoW, I enjoyed this cider.

Reflections:
This Swedish cider comes in just the right size bottle for my light-weight drinking abilities.  One is enough to make me feel good and relaxed.  Pear ciders are my top choice, and Kopparberg Pear is probably my very favorites.  In Norway, where prices are extremely high for almost everything, I paid $9-12 a bottle at a bar or restaurant.  At Total Wine, I believe it was in the $3-4 range, so the price is high enough that I cringe when choosing a bottle for my six pack variety.

It's smooth and sweet - almost too sweet, which is hard since I like a very sweet cider.  The pear flavor is prominent and you know you're drinking a pear cider and not an apple cider.  If this cider fall short anywhere it is in tartness and carbonation.  If the tartness was turned up just a wee-bit, then I would call this the perfect pear and maybe perfect cider out there.  Overall, I think most people would enjoy trying Kopparberg Pear, but many would find it too sweet.  It's a great dessert or stand-alone drinking cider, but not a good one to enjoy with a meal.  The sweetness and lower carbonation just doesn't pair well with savory foods.

Tidnab's sip:
My husband, Tidnab, is a beer drinker, but he likes a good cider too.  I let him have a sip of this one - a sacrifice on my part - and I had to grab the bottle back.

Scoring:
Sweetness: 10
Tartness: 7
Smoothness: 10
Fruit flavor: 10
Carbonation: 8
Alcohol content: 4.5%
Bottle Size: 500ml
Price: High

Overall: 9 

I can't wait to have it again...