Fox Barrel Cider Pacific Pear

Have you ever had a week go by so fast that you are in shock it isn't still last week? Yeah, that's what's up today. Going to take some time to slow it down and write about another new-to-us cider. This week we decided to take it back away from just apple cider and throw in another fruit. If you can't tell by the title, this week's cider is pear! When Rob and I were young in our cider endeavors, it really didn't occur to us that there would be pear ciders. Surprisingly, there are quite a number of them out there. We aren't in the apple orchard, anymore, Toto. 

We found the Fox Barrel Cider at the same little specialty wine shop we found the Ciderboys Magic Apple. We have a couple other Fox Barrel Ciders on the ticket for you later on, so keep your eyes peeled. Ha! peeled.... because apples. 

Enough tom-foolery. Down to business! Fox Barrel Cider company is based out of Colfax, California. Their Pacific Pear has 4.5% alcohol by volume, so a few of these and you'd be good to party (but not drive). On the label, they describe their cider as follows:

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 smoothed with pear juice. With no added colorants, sugar, sorbate, or benzoate preservatives. No added malt, spirit, grape or apple alcohols. Naturally elegant and refreshingly adult with a sparking clean natural pear finish and a subtle woody complexity, complimented by an intense fresh pear bouquet. 

Rob was the first to brave the pear cider, and had the following few words to say: It was crisp, and definitely was a pear cider rather than an apple cider. Actually, it was quite bitter, and had a very sugary aftertaste. 

This, my friends, is why Rob gave it 2.5 apples. 

I wasn't too sure what to think before trying this one, and after I did, I have this to share with you: It was kind of bland, and had almost a soapy flavor as if the glass was reused and wasn't rinsed fully after washing. I also got an almost iron-like taste as if I had bitten my tongue. For a pear cider, I would have expected a heavier flavor. It's only been a few weeks since we tasted this one and wrote down our thoughts, but the biggest thing that sticks out in my mind is that it isn't really a memorable cider. Not something I would crave, but I would drink it if it were handed to me. I give it a measly two apples. 

We were both really sad that our pear-ventures weren't all that memorable or great. We're still hopeful for trying Fox Barrel's other ciders, and they do have other pear flavors to try. We are also stoked to try Woodchuck's pear cider. We're pretty partial to Woodchuck, though, so we may be getting our hopes up a bit. We'll let you know when we get around to tasting that one. 

Have you tried Fox Barrel's other ciders? Have something to share? Let us know in the comments, we don't bite!

Until next week, Happy Tasting!

-Rob & Liz