Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select & Private Reserve Pumpkin

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone!

We've had our fill of family for the day and are settled down to finish off the day in style by writing our post. This week we're in the giving mood and have two reviews, and one just so happens to have a guest!

Our first cider this week is something we probably should have purchased weeks ago and done over Halloween: Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin. Coming in at 6.9% alcohol by volume, this one is good for when you want to get the party started.
Private Reserve Pumpkin's label said this:
Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin is limited to only two and a half hours on our production line. Fresh and crisp with pumpkin at the finish, it's crafted to be served at 45 degrees and pairs perfectly with roasted duck, turkey, squash ravioli as well as crème brȗlée and fresh cheesecake. Be part of the select few who get to savor this small batch.

First up, Liz:
I was really craving something seasonal and was so excited when I saw this at the local grocery store. Unfortunately we already had a fridge stocked with cider and passed it up for about two weeks. This week I finally decided to read the label to try to convince myself I needed to buy this. Boy, am I glad I did that! It really truly is a limited flavor with only two and a half hours production time.
Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin has a smooth and velvety flavor that you would expect from something such as a pumpkin pie. I am so used to the spice part of a pumpkin pie, that's almost what I was hoping for. There's no spice in this, just plain pumpkin. I myself have never had straight-up pumpkin anything, always pumpkin spice, so I can't quite say that I know for sure that this is a true pumpkin flavor. That being said, I am happily surprised with the flavor. It isn't something I think I would want often, but I can tell you, I will be sad when we finish off this sixer and there is no more left in the house. I would also definitely agree that this would go great with cheesecake. Sadly, I don't have any cheesecake. I guess I'll have to settle for the (potentially freezerburned) vanilla ice cream I have in my freezer. All in all, I give it three apples.

As for Rob:
I know their description on the bottle says it tastes like pumpkin at the finish, but I am here to disagree with that… Right away when you sip it feels like you are being punched in the mouth with a pumpkin. There also seems to be a texture to the beverage and a lack of fizz which makes me have a puzzled look on my face every time. As time passes after your sip, the overwhelming pumpkin taste fades and it takes a familiar sweet and traditional cider taste. The overall drink is fine, just not great. I give it two apples.

Didn't we say we had a guest? Yes, just not on the Private Reserve Pumpkin. That guest is Randy, a friend from college who is a fellow cider lover and dedicated reader of this... blog-thing. Randy had actually suggested that we try Private Reserve Barrel Select. We figured it was only right that he help us with this one!

Private Reserve Barrel Select also sits at 6.9% alcohol by volume. Before we get into what Randy had to say, what about Woodchuck's take on it?
Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select is our ultra-limited cider crafted in small batches for a rare taste of sweet, crisp apple cider combined with smoky, dry bourbon flavors. Aged in genuine barrels, this copper-hued gem pairs excellently with cheese, pork roast and chocolate cake. Served best at 50 degrees, Barrel Select is truly an exclusive joy to relish.

Guests can go first, so up to bat is Randy:
If Ron Burgundy drank cider it would be Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select.  This limited seasonal run of cider is aged in bourbon barrels. This sounds like fluff that companies say just to get you to buy their products, but the cider really does have a strong bourbon flavor to it.  The bourbon flavor is smooth without the burn of whiskey and pairs nicely with the apple flavor. The apple flavor isn't too sweet, but nor is it dry enough to lose the fruity taste Woodchuck us known for.
The bottle says it's best served at fifty degrees, which is pretty spot on. Keeping the cider cold sharpens the bourbon taste in an unpleasant way and keeping our room temperature is just a little too tempid. This cider isn't for everyone and your mileage will vary by how much you like bourbon. Three and a half apples out of five.

Does Private Reserve Barrel Select fare better for Rob? Let's find out.
This taste is not what I was expecting at all. I has a hint of cider at the very beginning and very end of your sip, but the bourbon is the most noticeable part by far. You can also taste the oak from the barrel this cider was selected from. See what I did there? Cider lovers may not enjoy this one as much unless you have a very open pallet with a taste for whisky. I will admit, I felt fancy as fudge drinking this one (only I didn't say fudge). I give it three apples.

Lastly is little ol' Liz!
Warm and heavy on the back of the tongue, Barrel Select is what I would consider an oddity in the cider world. This tastes nothing like what I would expect from a cider with the bourbon flavors. I feel like I should put this three fingers high in a tumbler and sip it while staring at a beautiful fire place, all while petting a majestic fluffy cat. That's it. I'm buying a mansion. This one gets three apples from me.

If you haven't had either of these, I suggest heading out to your local grocer or liquor store to pick them up. Hopefully they have a 6 pack left for you to pick up!

Happy Holidays and as always...

Happy Tasting!
- Rob & Liz

WM. Magners Pear

Only one week until Christmas! Have you been naughty or nice? Sorry... that was cheesy. Either way, if you're still looking for a Christmas present or stocking stuffer, cider might not be the greatest choice. But if you're going to a family get together, some Cider would be perfect! It's more festive than regular old beer and a little less formal than wine. So if you're trying to bring something to the party no one else will think of, check out some of our past reviews for what might suit your needs.

Anyway, it is in fact Wednesday so we do have a brand new review for you! This week is a familiar brew with a different flavor. WM. Magners is the name, Original Pear Cider is the game. Our review on Magners Original Irish Cider was a good one so we thought, let's try a variation of that. Magners didn't have much to say about this brew other than Magners Original Irish Pear Cider. Once again Magners comes to us from Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland and measures in at 4.5% alcohol by volume.

Let's see what Liz thinks of this weeks selection:

WM. Magners definitely has its cider making down to a science. Their pear cider is just as smooth as the original. It's a little warm, not too heavy, and it tastes like you just bit into a perfectly ripe pear. It's only slightly dry, so it's not overpowering. I can tell you I am so incredibly excited that a cider fully embodies the sweet taste of the perfect pear. This is a cider I could see bringing to the beach or a summer party. Magners Original Irish Pear Cider gets a hearty four apples. 

Now it's my turn:
When we reviewed Magners Original Irish Cider, I talked about how the mellowness of the drink made it an enjoyable experience. I can now say that the trait carries over into the Pear Cider. The iron taste and sweetness are minimal but the tart kick at the end is what sets the Pear apart from the Original Cider. This cider doesn't leave a lingering texture on the tongue which makes it a great drink to have while socializing. I'll give this one 3 and a half apples, the taste is nice and it goes down smooth, but I'm just not a fan of pear. I would rather go for the Original Irish cider instead.

Thanks for stopping by every week and let your friends and family know where you got the inside scoop on the cider you brought to the party. As always leave your suggestions or comments below and tune in next week for another Cider Adventure. And remember, your family may be difficult to put up with during the holidays, but they're the only one you've got... And they can't be as bad as mine, so stop complaining! Just kidding, Happy Holidays!

Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob

Henney's Dry Cider

Aloha, everyone! No, we aren't in Hawaii. We are sort of wishing we were, though. According to the news it is -3°F outside. A bit chilly, but we are in Wisconsin.

This past weekend we got our first big snowfall, so that was neat. Unless you were one of the unfortunate people who had to travel. We hope your travels were safe!

Onto our own chilly excitement: nice cold cider! This week we were wandering the grocery store's liquor department looking for a housewarming gift for a friend. In the process we spotted our newest trial: Henney's Dry Cider.

Henney's comes to us from the UK and is their Dry Cider. There is another cider at the store, but we didn't have the extra cash to pick it up at that time. Some day we will go back for it! As for Henney's Dry Cider, they had a nice long description. It read: At Henney's we believe that the best way to make cider is to start with high quality ingredients and to keep the process as simple as possible. This has helped us to win many prestigious awards in recent years. Each autumn, carefully selected, locally grown, varieties of genuine cider apples are milled, pressed and fermented. The resulting cider is then blended and stored through the winter allowing it to mature and develop a rich and mellow flavor. Our finished cider retains the distinctive fruity aromatic character of ripe bittersweet apples whilst being crisp light and refreshing. Sip or quaff, we don't mind, as long as you enjoy it. Cheers!

Rob can go first, right? Right.
As it says in their description, keeping it simple seems to bring out the best of the brew. The thing that drew me to select this cider was its looks. The bottle is clear so you can gaze upon the beautifully golden liquid it contains. Also, by keeping it simple, it's almost as if everything about it is subtle. It is very dry, but starts out with a little sweetness that doesn't end up overwhelming you. It's also not very tart and as you let the cider warm up, you can taste a little bit of iron. I like Henney's and I will have it again in the future, I just wish it had something that made it stand out. Still, three and a half apples from me!

As for Liz?
Henney's starts out soft and sweet as I had expected it to. It turns to its dry side pretty quickly. It's dry before you even swallow. I am not a fan of very dry ciders, and this one is definitely true to it's name. I am also surprised at how bitter this one tastes. I am having a hard time drinking this one. If you like dry ciders and wines, this one will probably be right up your alley. Unfortunately, I don't live on that alley. I'm giving this one and a half apples.

It's been a while since we were that far apart in our ratings. Either way, stop by again next week for another cider adventure and make sure to tell your friends!

Happy Tasting!
-Rob & Liz

Ciderboys Peach Country

It's December? Already?! Wow, this year has gone by fast. Hopefully you've had a good one. What interesting Ciders have you stumbled upon? This week we have another brew from a brand we did early on in the blog, Ciderboys. And even though it's not made in Georgia, it's called Peach Country. I wonder what it tastes like...

I know we already covered this the last time we reviewed Ciderboys, but Peach Country comes to us from Steven's Point, WI and weighs in at 5% alcohol by volume. Here's what the Ciderboys had to say about this particular brew:

Apple Peach hard cider

Huh, I guess it's that simple... Hopefully our reviews are a bit more informative.

What does Liz think about Peach Country? Let's find out:

This is definitely different than any other cider I've tried so far. The peach flavor is so incredibly strong, I can't taste any apple (if it was even there to begin with). I'm pretty happy with this one though because it's not overly sweet or tart. The sweet is just like biting into a real peach. I don't know if I could handle more than a couple of these in one sitting, though. The peach is good, but it's not something I could see myself craving. I give it 2.5 apples. 

Now let's see if I fit in as one of the Ciderboys:

Holy Peach Batman! This cider doesn't taste much like apples. The peach really overpowers the apple so it doesn't taste so sweet. The iron taste is mostly subdued until you've gone a minute without a sip. At that point you can kind of taste it on your tongue. Much like last week with the appricot, I am not expert on peaches, but the taste is very distinct and not very sweet. If you want a cider that doesn't taste like cider, this one is for you! For me, it's more like a one and done. Seeing as how this is only about half apple, it gets half of our rating system, two and a half apples.

Well that concludes another week with the DeCiders. As always, feel free to leave your comments below and maybe drop off a recommendation for next week's tasting! Thanks for reading and enjoy a nice cider for us this weekend.

Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob

Fox Barrel Cider Apricot Pear

Cider Lovers, we have a question for you. What does the fox say? Below we can tell you what Fox Barrel says about their cider, but does anyone really know? 

Yeah, don't hate us for that one. It was a given. Speaking of not hating us, thank you to everyone who reads this!! We are thankful for you guys reading our page. Thank you for letting us bother you every week with our silly cider antics. 

Back to the fox! Fox Barrel says the following about their Apricot Pear Cider: 

Apricot infused fermented pear cider from pure pear juice. Naturally fermented using 100% pear juice, not from pear juice concentrate or pear-flavored hard apple cider. Filtered cold for extra purity and infused with natural apricot juice. With no added malt, spirit, grape or apple alcohols colorants, sugar, sorbate or benzoate preservatives. Naturally elegant and refreshingly adult with a delicate sweetness and a faint tartness. A velvety mouth-feel, ans light musky complexity, complimented by a fresh-fruit sunny bouquet. 

Since I'm so thankful for him being in my life, let's have Rob go first this week!

Now, I'm no expert on apples, but I know even less about pears. So far I've been making this (apple) cider thing work out, so let's give this pear cider a shot. It tastes a lot like other apple ciders with just a little more iron in it. It's also a little more tart than it is sweet, but it still goes down smooth. I would say it lacks the fizz of most ciders but all around, I enjoyed this weeks offering. 3 pears out of 5! Due to the tough economy, we can't afford to change our rating system, so apples it is...

As for myself, I shouldn't judge, but I did. Before I even tried this one I had decided I wouldn't like it because of the other Fox Barrel cider we tried a while back. BOY, was I wrong! This Apricot Pear cider blows the other one out of the water. It's balanced with sweet and tart and warm. It does have a bite of iron, but it isn't extremely overpowering. I would absolutely buy Apricot Pear again. This would definitely go great with the apple pie I know my mom is probably making for tomorrow. 3.5 out of 5 for Fox Barrel on this one.

Thanks again for reading. Don't forget to be the fun one at your family's Thanksgiving this year by bringing cider (to share)! And remember to drink responsibly. 

Happy Tasting!

-Rob & Liz 

Woodchuck 802

Good evening Cider lovers! Liz and Rob here for another review you've been waiting all week for. I don't know about you, but this weather is really putting me in the mood to grab a six pack of cider and relax in front of the fireplace all night. Now all I need is free time and a fireplace... Oh well, this week we are reviewing another brew from the popular brand Woodchuck; 802.

Woodchuck is brewed in Middlebury, VT and comes in at 5% alcohol by volume. Here's what Woodchuck had to say about their own brew before we get into our thoughts:
Crisp like a fresh apple and finishes clean, 802 gets its tawny brown color from the caramelized sugar added to each small batch in centuries old cider making tradition. 802 captures its name from the Vermont area code and hits the spot with a nice meal or just perfectly on its own. Independent to the core.

I know she's been dying to review this one, so Liz is up first:
I might be biased going into this one. I seriously have always enjoyed Woodchuck ciders, especially since they were such a staple on the weekends at the bars in college. 802 is probably my favorite of theirs, with Crisp being an incredibly close second. 802 is a tricky little devil because its flavor is so warm and heavy, it is more of what you would expect from a heavier type of alcohol, like a beer - not some sally light beer, either. 802 is sweet, and has a very smooth apple flavor. The heavy warm notes are very reminiscent of a piece of caramel. It makes you feel as if it's one of those hand-crafted, home made things your Grandma would serve at a family gathering. For how much I love this as a Woodchuck cider, it's still only rolling in at 3.5 apples on the grand scale.

Now it's my turn:

802 has an orange label as you can see from the picture above. However, I think this one should have had a red label, it tastes a lot like a red delicious apple with a hint of caramel. Missed opportunity, but I guess caramel is orange… Either way, 802 is not too sweet and the tartness isn't strong enough to make a funny face after you first few sips. This is another cider I could see being enjoyed over ice. The iron taste is there like it is in Woodchuck Crisp, but you don't really notice it until after you swallow so I don't think it takes away from the experience at all. So far, this is my favorite Woodchuck. Up half an apple from our previous Woodchuck, 802 is awarded three and a half apples.

For those of you who are wondering, no, we are not agreeing on purpose. It's been 7 weeks (not including the bye) that we have given the same score and it's all coincidence. We taste from the same bottle and write our reviews separately, without sharing thoughts. In fact, if I say anything during this process Liz usually yells at me... Tune in next week to see if we can make 8 in a row, or if we find a more polarizing cider.

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Island Orchard Apple Cherry Cider

Welcome back everybody, it's time for another cider adventure! This episode of the DeCiders is all local. First of all, a big congratulations to our friends from college; Steve and Ellen were married this past weekend in Kenosha and hosted a wonderful celebration. We had a blast and caught up with some people we hadn't seen in awhile (turns out some of them read this thing). Keeping it local and in the spirit of unions, our review this week is contains both.

Island Orchard Apple Cherry Cider comes to us from Door County, Wisconsin. If you've ever been there, you know it's a beautiful place and is full of all things Cherry and Wine. This week's cider is a union of Apple and Cherry which had us fairly hopeful. Island Orchard packs a punch at 6.5% alcohol by volume and is brewed in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin.

Island Orchard Cider has quite a lot to say about their own brew, so we'll let them go first:
Fermented apple cider made with traditional apple cultivars & montmorency cherries. A balanced Rosé. Crisp and dry with a strong cherry finish. Island Orchard Apple Cherry Cider starts with an apple base to give it body. The tannins from the cherry give it a pucker and clean vividness. We produce a Normandy Style Cider but with some new world traditions as well. Washington Island provides our Orchard with the perfect rocky limestone soil and climate for growing our French, British & American cultivars.

I found this cider, so Liz will have to wait while I go first:
As I was shopping for new ciders at the grocery store, I saw this bottle and I had to have it. When it comes to artificial flavors in candy and what not, the only flavor I like more than apple is cherry. Coming into this review I was prepared to give out a perfect score for an apple cherry cider. Turns out, it's not meant to be. Island Orchard Apple Cherry Cider has a pink tint to it (for the ladies) and comes in a large resealable bottle in case you can't finish it all at once. As for the taste, it's hard to tell where the apple ends, and the cherry begins. The two flavors seem to cancel each other out. The tartness seems to outweigh the sweetness in this one and the overall flavor seems reminiscent of wine. It's fairly dry but has a sparkling quality to it after a big gulp. This cider is an experience all its own, but not enough to make a lasting impression. For me, this cider falls right in the middle.

And now time for Liz's review:

This Apple Cherry Cider tastes more like a juice than a cider to me. It's pretty sweet and goes down easy, except for that dry and tart kick at the end that made me almost do the I-just-licked-a-lemon face. I really had high hopes for this one, but it is falling short. I do like it and I could see myself drinking this instead of buying a bottle of wine, I just don't think I'd buy this to bring to Thanksgiving to share with the family.

Turns out we agree once again! It's like we were made for each other... Don't give Liz any ideas please. Tune in next week for another chapter in the DeCiders adventure. Until then, please drink responsibly and as always, pinky out!

Happy Tasting!

- Liz & Rob

WM. Magners

We're back! And better than ever, hopefully... But it's hard to improve on perfection, am I right? Sorry for the bye week last week, but we hope you had a fun Halloween weekend! What did you have to drink on your night out? I do believe our post this week will make up for missing out last week.

Almost two weeks ago on October 26, Rob and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. No, we're not married, but it's still been three great years, and hopefully many more to come! To celebrate we decided to go to our favorite restaurant: Brocach Irish Pub.

Rob and I first heard about Brocach from a friend. We were hooked! It's right on N. Water Street in Milwaukee, so it's basically in our back yard, and reminds us so much of being over in the UK with the actual pub feel, hardy food, and great drinks.

We decided that we wanted to review another cider from across the pond while we enjoyed our anniversary meal. Magners Irish Cider is definitely a standard cider if you ask Rob or I. We've been enjoying Magners since right around the same time we started with Strongbow. We will revisit Strongbow a little bit later in the post with a twist on one of our favorite ciders.

Now, I don't want to lie. We were so excited about being out, we didn't take the time to jot down our thoughts. That's why we weren't ready to post last week, since we hadn't gone to the store to pick up some Magners to enjoy at home on the couch to write down what we think. Then I had to go and hurt myself to the point I needed the assistance of some prescription meds. Alas, no alcohol with those puppies. Enough sidetracking - back to the story!

When we first got to the restaurant we both quickly ordered a Magners. They serve it ice cold in the bottle with a cute little glass to pour it into. Magners comes from Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland, and clocks in at 4.5% alcohol by volume. It comes in the standard dark bottle, but with a hint of gold foil!

 While enjoying our Magners, we ordered a delicious appetizer of beer cheese dip and pretzel bread with carrots and celery. This stuff is seriously amazing, and went so well with our cider of choice for the evening.

And then came the main course. Rob ordered the Brocach burger that came with their house fries, and I got bangers and mash. For those of us in the US, that translates to sausage and mashed potatoes.

Rob and I both reluctantly took pictures to show you that we're real people. REAL PEOPLE! And we were too shy to ask the group of 20 people who were apparently there for a party to take our pictures for us. Lame, I know. 

Now, before we get to dessert, we should probably do that thing we made this blog for... Review the cider!

Rob gets to go first! He says:
The last time I gave out a score of four and a half apples, it was for a cider that blew my mind. Now I'm not prefacing my review saying that because Magners doesn't blow my mind, it's just an all together different experience. It is a very mellow drink and isn't too sweet or tart while leaving you feeling warm after each sip. The iron taste is minimal and this goes down very smooth. I recommend this cider to everyone and have enjoyed this beverage on many occasions. Much like Strongbow from a couple of weeks ago, Magners is becoming increasingly more popular and is available at an increasing amount of bars and restaurants.

As for me, Magners will always have a very special place in my heart. It's warm and a little heavy, with a slight dry kick right at the end. It's that happy balance of sweet and warm apple flavors you would hope to find in a cider. It's not too strong or overpowering, and isn't tart like a lot of the other ciders we've been trying. I am happy to just sit back at the bar and drink this with some good friends. Cheers to Magners rolling in at 4.5 apples!

Alright, back to our latest cider adventure. We were just about to get to dessert! Now, most people would order some sort of cake or maybe a coffee drink. Us? We went for another cider, but with a little bit of a twist. Here's the back story: Years ago when Rob and I both worked at the UW-Platteville radio station, 91FM WSUP, it was a week or so before Homecoming and the radio station was going to participate as a group in the Skit Night activity. Rob and a bunch of the guys met up at a bar in town and were ordering drinks. One of the guys ordered a Strongbow with a shot of Goldschläger. You read that right. Take delicious Strongbow and add a cinnamony, gold flake alcohol. It is fantastic. We're not sure if it has an official name, but because the guys were thinking so diligently about Homecoming, they dubbed it a "Thinktank."  So, that was our dessert! Next time you're out, try it. You won't be disappointed. Also, if you look closely, you'll see those shiny gold flakes.

With that, our evening had come to a close. It was a great night out to celebrate how happy we both are in our mutual weirdness. Hopefully you find your cider-mate soon if you haven't already. If you have, don't forget to take the time to make each other feel special!  Thanks for sharing in our mushy-gushy post this week. Until next time, remember to drink responsibly, and as always... 

Happy Tasting!

-Rob & Liz 

Happy Halloween!

Trick or treat! I know it's not Wednesday and we missed our post last night, but we have excuses... I mean reasons. On Tuesday Liz injured her shoulder and needed to seek medical attention. On Wednesday, she was prescribed some medication that doesn't allow her to drink any alcohol. Lame! I know, right?

Seeing as how we are our own bosses in this adventure, we decided to treat ourselves with a vacation on the week of our favorite holiday, Halloween! So go out this weekend and have a cider for us. Let us know what you had and what you thought. We will be back next week, unless I find a way to injure myself (which is very possible). We have a special post for next week so check in at the normal time.

Happy Halloween and Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob

H.P. Bulmer's Strongbow

OMG!!! Hashtag Excited! Wait, that's how you do that, right? Whatever, it's time for another cider adventure. This one in particular has been years in the making. Tonight Liz and I will be reviewing our first cider; Strongbow. If you're a cider fan, you've probably had this one, or at least seen it offered where ever you choose to unwind.  

A few years ago a friend and I were discussing great tasting beers, turns out that is a pretty short list. Beer to me has always been an acquired taste. When I turned 21, because I never touched a drop of alcohol before that, beer was an awful experience. Then you experiment with what kind of drinks there are out there, and you watch your drinking budget dwindle. Turns out beer may not taste great, but it's the cheapest way to enjoy yourself when you're out with friends. I am not saying everybody didn't like their first taste of beer, but I believe there are others like me out there. Back to my story about my friend and I: eventually, someone with us mentioned what hard ciders were like. Needless to say, I was intrigued, so I called over the bartender and asked what kind of ciders they had. What he returned with changed my perception of adult beverages.

Last year Liz and had a vacation across the pond in England and had a chance to have Strongbow from its native land. We were both excited to have a taste of it from where they brew it. What we have to say below is being based off of the Strongbow we are drinking here in the States. Believe it or not, it really does taste different over in England. Different as in better. 

As I mentioned, Strongbow comes to us from across the Atlantic. Brewed in Hereford, UK by H.P. Bulmer Ltd., Strongbow comes in at 5% alcohol by volume. It's England's number one selling cider, and there's probably a reason why! (See the comment above about it being better over the pond.) Srongbow keeps the description simple: "Crisp, refreshing taste."

Since I feel like being nice, for once, Liz can go first. Liz says:
I'm going to try to be objective about this. I have always loved Strongbow. It isn't my number one favorite cider if you factor in the hard-to-find stuff, but if I'm out and about, it's  my go-to cider. Strongbow is the right amount of sweet, tart, warm, and dry. It gives you a slight bite at the back of your jaw when you first swallow, but it warms up a bit and is slightly dry, but only for a moment. It makes you want to keep drinking. I could definitely drink more than a couple in a night. Okay, who am I kidding, I definitely have had more than a couple in one night. Strongbow that we can get here in the US gets 4 apples. If you care to know, UK Strongbow would get at least a 4.5.

Now on to my own thoughts. I really hope the Packers can keep their lead in the division with all of their injuries. Oops, wrong thoughts...

As it says on the bottle, Strongbow is crisp and refreshing. I actually find myself wanting to let out a commercial-like "Ahh…" after each sip. This cider is rich in taste but remains light as the sweetness tickles your tongue. You should probably drink this cider fast or enjoy it on ice because it does taste much better chilled. I hate to sound pretentious, but Strongbow did taste better on tap in the UK so we'll have to just base this review on what's available in the US. However, seeing as most bars now offer Strongbow, I recommend it to anyone who isn't quite sure what they want to drink. 4 apples isn't the best I've given out so far, but there is no denying its deliciousness!

Looks like we agree once again. So, when you're out this weekend for Halloween celebrations that are more than likely going to happen, try a Strongbow and let us know what you think! And if you're in the UK, enjoy one for us, will you?

Don't forget to enjoy your ciders responsibly, friends.  And as always, until next time:
Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Angry Orchard Cinnful Apple

This week's post is full of other people! Our first other person is the reason why we're trying the Seasonal Cinnful Apple by Angry Orchard. He has been a long time friend of both Rob and I from college, and he is a dedicated DeCider's reader. Randy S. is our first special someone. In his suggestion he said that Cinnful Apple is "pretty good." Thank you, Randy, for the suggestion! 

Angry Orchard Cider Co. is based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, and puts out quite a few special ciders every year for the season. This past summer we just missed their seasonal cider and figured we'd keep our eye out for the fall one. Surprise! It's here! Angry Orchard says: Our Cinnful Apple cider is crisp and refreshing with a spicy twist. The sweet, slightly tart apple flavor is balanced with cinnamon spice, adding a slight heat for a flavor that is truly cinnful. 

It comes in at an almost expected 5% alcohol by volume, and has a very Angry Orchard-esque bottle and label. Take a peek!

Our second other person this week is a guest review! This one comes from our friend Meghan. Meghan drinks her fair share of ciders, as she lives the gluten-free lifestyle. She's become one of my best friends, and Rob kind of gets along with her, too. Okay, yeah, they get along great. We would have had three "other" people today, but Meghan's hubby, Bill, isn't a cider fan and wouldn't have a drink with us. Oh well. Every party needs a pooper...
On to Meghan's comments!
Have you ever tried to swallow a tablespoon full of cinnamon? Well, you can't. Cinnful Apple is about as close as you'll get to swallowing that tablespoon full. With this much cinnamon, you might as well just chew on a cinnamon stick. Although it has a nice fall flavor, drinking more than one is difficult. With that, Cinnful Apple gets a 2.5 apple rating.

Next up we've got Rob.
Off the bat, I was expecting this cider to have quite the kick with the cinnamon. Turns out, it stays relatively smooth. The cinnamon doesn't burn you like when chewing a piece of Big Red. The cider also doesn't seem as sweet thanks to the cinnamon, but it does remain rather tart. Not being the biggest cinnamon fan, I don't think I would be able to drink more than one of these at a time, but the flavor reminds me of apple pie. And who doesn't like pie? Oh yeah, I don't... Cinnful Apple gets 2.5 apples out of five. Although I have had better, I've also had worse.

And last, but not least, little ol' me. Cinnful is dry and quite warm on the tongue. After the first sip, there is so much cinnamon I can feel it on my tongue, and the more I drink, the rougher my tongue feels. Not to be weird, but it makes me think of how a cat's tongue might feel in their own mouth. Thankfully it wasn't a hot sensation that you can get from eating too much cinnamon.  I definitely couldn't drink more than one of these in a night. Or maybe more than one in a week. I was torn on what to give this one because I like how warm and full it makes me feel, but I really am not the biggest fan of how cinnamon-y it is. With that, I give it 2.5 apples. 

It looks as if Cinnful Apple has hit the middle mark this week! Thank you again to both our guests, Randy and Meghan. 

Has anyone else tried Cinnful Apple? What were your thoughts? Too much cinnamon? Not enough? Let us know down below! Hey, that rhymed! 

Until next time, enjoy the brisk fall weather! 

Happy Tasting!

-Rob & Liz 

Ciderboys First Press

Before we get started, sorry this is so late. I, Liz, have had a bit of a difficult week and needed a girls night with a close friend. Poor Rob was left to fend for himself tonight, and I waited until the last possible minute to finish my thoughts on Ciderboys First Press. I've made you wait long enough by slacking, so let's get down to it!

Ciderboys First Press is our second cider by Ciderboys. Our first was an adventure with their Magic Apple, which was a strawberry cider, that got middle-of-the-road scores from both Rob and I. How does First Press match up? Well, this one is claimed to be a "Traditional Hard Cider," per the bottle's label, and hits at 5% alcohol by volume The bottle is much like the one for Magic Apple.

Since I made Rob wait all night for this, let's see what he has to say first! Rob said:
When I first opened the bottle, this cider had a very strong presence. Unlike the Magic Apple which we previously tasted, this has just one flavor, apple. And it's very true to it's name, First Press. The flavor is very strong and bold. It tastes very much like a freshly squeezed red apple and it's rather thick as well. However, the drink does seem to be loaded with sugar which would leave you feeling ill the next day if you had a few the night before. Also, the aftertaste lingers around a bit longer than I would want from something so sweet. This one also falls at 3 apples, like it's sister-cider.

As for little ol' me? Well, First press is about what I had expected it would be. It is quite tart at the beginning, and warms up and gets a bit heavy tasting before the slight sweetness at the end. My first sip reminded me of something along the lines of Jolly-Rancher-Meets-Hot-Cider. Non-alcoholic hot cider, that is. I really didn't fall head over heels for this one, but I would definitely get it for a girls night, or if I wanted something sweet. I don't think I could drink this all the time, though. I struggled on the scoring for this one, because it's not my favorite, but it's definitely not bad. I settled on 3 apples for this first press.

It looks like Ciderboys have given themselves a steady feel, with 3 apples a piece, both times! A steady 3 apple rating is much better than being up and down the board, don't you think?

Have you tried anything by Ciderboys? What did you think of it? We'd love to hear from you! Comments, emails, carrier pigeon, owl, it doesn't matter. Let us know what you think!

Always remember to drink responsibly, and until next time...

Happy Tasting!
-Rob & Liz

Crispin Honey Crisp Artisanal Reserve

Welcome back! It's time for another Cider Adventure. This time it's with a familiar face; our Friend Sam is going to be joining us as we taste a wildly popular brand, Crispin. As I am sure you are aware, just a few weeks ago we did a review for Crispin's Saint Artisanal Reserve, and needless to say we were blown away. Unfortunately our cider stockpile is dwindling, so looks like we are going to need to go get some more! Let's get down to business...

Crispin Honey Crisp hails from Colfax, CA and comes in at 6.5% alcohol by volume, all while being contained in a 22 ounce bottle. Before we get to our own thoughts on Honey Crisp, here is what Crispin themselves had to say about it:
Smooth Operator. Naturally fermented using a premium blend of unpasteurized fresh-pressed apple juice, not from concentrate, with no added malt, spirit or grape alcohols. Experience an earthy, fruity bouquet with an authentic cidery aroma and hints of honey. A yeasty, full-bodied flavor, creamy mouth-feel with a crisp finish and unusual complexity. Honey Crisp Artisanal Reserve, Unflitered Cloudy Hard Cider, uses racked apple-wine smoothed with pure organic honey, with no added sugar, colorants, sorbate or benzoate preservatives. Best served cold for smooth, delicious refreshment.

So I guess I should be polite and let our guest go first. Sam, what did you think? 

I've never been much of a cider person, but it seems like Crispin might have given me a little change of heart. Most ciders that I've tried in the past have been way too sweet and I've never been able to drink more than one of them without getting gut rot. This one though, didn't overdo it and kept me wanting more. The cider flavor was refreshing, but I think my favorite part was the subtle honey aftertaste. I'm a sucker for honey, so this got me pretty easily. All in all, if I were to stumble upon this cider at a bar or in the store, I would buy it for sure. It's definitely worth the try if you haven't had it before. Enjoy!

With that glowing review, Sam gave Crispin Honey Crisp 4.5 apples. 

Looks like Sam is pretty good at this review thing, or he's trying to make us look bad. Liz, it's up to you to let them know we've still got it!

I know we said it's a one-and-done thing, but I've started to take a sniff of my ciders before drinking. The smell of this cider got me so excited. This one is true to their two word opener for the explanation: Smooth Operator. It goes down so smooth and ends with that sweet honey-flavor. Quite a bit of sediment will hit you towards the end of the bottle if you don't give a quick tip upside down before opening it. No, don't shake the cider! Just gently tip it over. If I were Winnie the Pooh, I would have just found my favorite honey pot. 

Liz comes in giving this her highest ever score of 4.5 apples. 

Well now, looks like those two agree on Honey Crisp, can I make it three of a kind?

Our first encounter with Crispin was one to remember. Turns out, they might know what they are doing! As the name implies, Honey Crisp contains honey, but by no means is it the first thing you taste. In fact, you can smell the honey more than you can taste it. Honey fans, fear not, the honey is there, it compliments the cider perfectly in my opinion. It seems to tame the tartness of it and leaves a nice taste in your mouth after you swallow. This cider isn't to sweet which makes it easier to drink and like the Saint, the higher alcohol percentage and larger bottle make this cider extra special.

The highest score I have given out to date went to Honey Crisp's brother, the Saint. And it looks like it is going to stay that way... It comes close, but it's just not as good to me. Honey Crisp gets a respectable 4 out of 5 apples.

So close! All things considered, that's three great scores! Needless to say, if you're out and about and you're craving a cider, look for a Crispin. I know there are more varieties of Crispin out there for us to review, but if you come across one first, let us know what you think of it! Comment below or send us an email at decidersblog@gmail.com

Thanks for joining us Sam, and Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob

Mike's Hard Smashed Apple Cider Crisp Apple

It's finally fall weather here in Wisconsin, which makes it so much more enjoyable to have a cider at night. The air is cooler and the leaves are about to start changing. This is the weather where it should be almost illegal to not enjoy a nice hard cider.

Before you close your browser, just know that we didn't go searching for a Mike's Hard version of apple cider. It just kind of threw itself in front of us at the store. If you didn't know, Mike's Hard Beverage Company makes hard lemonades. They are based out of Memphis, Tennessee. The bottle has a very short description: Naturally fermented with Washington apples. Mike's Hard hits the scales at 5% alcohol by volume.

Since I go first all the time, let's have Rob get to the front of the line. In his own words, here is the man of the hour:
Well, I hate to be be a know it all, but when I found out Mike's made a cider, I knew what it was going to taste like. Maybe I'm not that intuitive; if you've ever hard a Mike's Hard Lemonade, you can probably imagine what it tastes like, too. In the case that you have no imagination, Mike's Hard Smashed Apple Cider is VERY sugary. My first sip was reminiscent of apple sauce, but then the trademark Mike's bite kicks in. In the end I could see this as a gateway drug to other ciders, but hopefully the gut rot the next day wouldn't discourage you from ciders, but rather encourage you to try something better.  Mike's rolls in at 1.5 apples for Rob.

Mike's is just as I expected it to be. Watered down, and incredibly sweet. It tastes like one of those kid's apple juice boxes got the sour powder from sour straws added to it. And maybe a cup or three of sugar. I'm not sure what makes it "crisp" apple cider other than the pang at the back of your tongue. Like other Mike's products, the concept sounds good: hard lemonade is usually delicious, but I can't handle half of one by Mike's. With this one, smashed apple cider sounds like it would be very homey and comfortable. It's just the opposite. And the more I drink, the more my tongue feels like I've eaten six Warheads candies in a row. I can't see myself drinking more than one, and I'm not sure I will finish this one with how sweet it is. I struggled with my apples on this one, and have settled on 1.5.

Has anyone else had any not-so-great cider experiences? Any surprisingly good experiences? Let us know! We would love to hear from you wonderful readers.

Thanks, and until next time, Happy Tasting!
-Rob & Liz