Crispin Cidre Blanc

Posting about alcohol before noon? That's right! It's going to be a real classy post this week. Our Cider even came in a box... I'm kidding, boxed cider or wine isn't that trashy, and we're not getting drunk before noon. Well, Liz isn't at least; her review was done last night. As for me, I work a third shift job so drinking in the morning is acceptable. So I wish you would reserve your harsh judgement for someone else.

It is true that out cider did come out of a box this week. We saw this new offering from Crispin and laughed, but then wondered how good is it? Crispin has a very good track record with the DeCiders, so it was only a matter of time before we picked it up for ourselves and gave it a shot.

Crispin Cidre Blanc comes to us from Colfax, CA and is contained in a simply decorated three liter box. It doesn't pack a punch like boxed wine with only 6% alcohol by volume, but as you're about to read, it's basically the same thing. Here are a few words from Crispin about Cidre Blanc.
Fresh-pressed apple juice fermented with classic white wine yeast.
Classically refined, crisp & clean. Deliciously refreshing. Naturally fermented with classic white wine yeast using unpasteurized fresh-pressed apple juice, not from apple-juice concentrate. Smoothed with pure apple juice with no added sugar, malt, grape wine or spirit alcohols. No colorants, sorbate or benzoate preservatives. Fresh & zesty, lively & fruity with crisp apple aromas and a clean, dry long natural finish. Pairs perfectly with food, especially spicy dishes, white meats, seafood and salads.Store in the fridge for easy access to deliciously chilled cider. Will stay fresh for about four weeks after opening. Crisp, fresh, delicious refreshment. Anywhere, anytime.

I guess 'a few words' was an understatement. Here are a few more words from Liz about Cidre Blanc:
Crispin has made it easier for me to look drunk… It now comes in boxed form! Buuuuuuuut, I'm not sure I'd want to. Cidre Blanc is… well, bland. It's flat, and dry, and feels like it's missing something. It's just very 'blah.' There's not much body or taste, and it's sadly not special. It's like the boxed wine of the cider world... convenient, but not very tasty. Maybe that's why they put it in a box already, to give you a clue. I give Cidre Blanc 2 apples.

Looks like she wasn't impressed. What did I think about it? Thank you so much for asking! Well:
The aroma makes you believe you are in for a chalky white wine, but the sip pulls you back to reality. You're drinking cider, from a box… technically bag, but who is really keeping track. The sip starts out really light and airy, but then quickly fades away into a dry and tart resolve. After that, it's pretty much over. It's a very uneventful cider which makes me sad because I love most of what Crispin does. I was hoping for a diamond in the rough, but what I got was a Cidre Bland, not Blanc. 2.5 apples from me, because nothing about it was upsetting, nor inspiring. Just right in the middle. Best thing about it, it's smooth and easy to drink.

Well there you have it. I apologize for the spelling and grammar errors that are most likely in this post, but my partner is at work right now and is unable to proof read the post. I is prety dum on my own. Let us know what we should try next at DeCidersBlog@gmail.com or by commenting below. See you next week.

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Aspall English Demi-Sec Draft Cider

Happy belated Earth Day! We want to take a moment to say thanks to the farmers and wonderful people who are growing these delicious cider apples, and who treat the trees with their loving care. Without you guys, where would we be? Writing a blog about something lame, like watching paint dry or watching grass grow.

Once again our cider comes to us from across the pond. The good folks at Aspall in Suffolk, England have been brewing this one since 1728! That's a really long time to be doing anything. This particular cider is called English Semi-Sec Draft Cider. It weighs in at 6.5% alcohol by volume and it's owners had this to say about it:
For eight generations the Chevallier family has been committed to making the highest quality cider. Demi-Sec is a full bodied, well balanced cider with a floral fresh apple aroma.

Liz looks tired, so let's get her stuff out of the way first:
I'm at a loss for words tonight. My creative side is asleep. I don't have a whole lot to say about this one. It's smooth, it's crisp, it's got quite the floral apple bouquet, but it is dry. I'm not a fan of dry. It would probably go well with a good dinner of chicken and mashed potatoes, though. Mmmmmm mashed potatoes... Anyway - because I don't like dry, I'm giving it 2 apples. If you like dry, you'd probably like this a whole bushel better.

Kind of a low score there, let's see if it made more of an impression on myself:
This cider is older than America?! That's pretty impressive. With all that time to perfect their recipe, it's no wonder this cider is pretty tasty. It starts out sweet but is then cut short by a slightly tart bite. It's also fairly dry and reminds me of a crisp champagne. There also seems to be a lot to this cider and it's almost hard to find the apple in it all. Either way this is a distinguishable cider that I think i will pick up again. 3.5 outta 5 from me.

That's quite a difference in scores... Looks like you're going to have to pick up an Aspall for yourself and decide on your own. Let us know who agrees with either of us by commenting below or emailing us at DeCidersBlog@gmail.com. Untill next week, enjoy responsibly.

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Strongbow Honey & Apple

I want to apologize to everyone reading this. For the past few weeks we've been talking about how spring is here and it's almost summer. I think we jinxed it... There was just snow on the ground and it's still pretty cold out there. I think we are going to stop predicting the weather and stick to the cider.

This week we've got a familiar brand up for review and last time, they got some of our best scores yet. I'm talking about Strongbow! Yup, this delicious cider is now available with honey. Strongbow Honey & Apple is still imported from overseas. This time it comes from Aubel, Belgium and lands at 5% alcohol by volume. Short and simple makes up the description; Natural honey flavored cider with other natural flavors. Surprisingly, the golden color of the cider also matches our kitchen table. Take a peek for yourself.

Since Liz is busy making enough deviled eggs to feed an army, I'm going to go first.
Strongbow has been a go-to drink of mine since I started drinking ciders. This new variation is almost as good as the original. Almost. The crisp apple flavor is still just as smooth, but the honey is nearly overwhelming. Personally I feel like it could be scaled back just a bit. The cider itself is still very crisp and the fiz is uplifting. It is fairly tart but the honey does cut down on that and the iron aftertaste is virtually nonexistent. In the end, the honey is definitely what sets this one apart. Not being a big fan of honey, this one still gets a respectable 3.5 apples from me. No doubt about it, Strongbow simply makes tasty ciders.

Liz took enough time out of her eggsperiment (ha, see what I did there?) to taste test and write her piece.
Before trying this, my hopes were high. I mean, it's Strongbow! One of my favorite ciders with a new twist. At first, when taking a nice long swig, all I could taste was plain ol' Strongbow. I was a bit disappointed for a second, but then the honey came in and BAM! I was happy. It's smooth and warm and sweet. It is a bit dry at the end, but that's to be expected with a Strongbow. I cannot get over how much I like this one, and I'm stoked it came in a six-pack. More for me to enjoy! Strongbow Honey & Apple is tied with it's sister-cider at 4 apples from me.

Hopefully the honey doesn't attract any bees if you take this one outside when it does in fact get warm, whenever that is... Please feel free to leave any comments below or send your suggestions to DeCidersBlog@gmail.com. Stay warm and we'll see you next week.

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Woodchuck Summer

WOOHOO! SUMMER IS HERE!
Wait, what? It's only mid-April? Fooey! We're putting the cart before the horse this week, and we're prepping anyway with Woodchuck Summer. This warmer weather here in Wisconsin had us fooled for a moment... we were out enjoying the sunshine on our longboards, had a picnic at the park, and this weekend we will get to see our first Brewers game of the season!

Summer, at 5% alcohol by volume, is one of the many, many flavors the brilliant minds over at Woodchuck have come up with. We will let those brilliant minds' words tell you a bit about Summer before we do.
Summer Cider is the perfect refreshment on a warm, summer's day. Exhibiting a slight tartness, this cider begins with a full, robust flavor followed by a rich taste reminiscent of New England blueberries. All crafted in Woodchuck tradition… independent to the core.

Since Rob is as sweet as a perfectly ripe blueberry, I'm going to let him go first.
First things first, I have had the Summer brew by Woodchuck before. This time it was much more enjoyable than the first time and I think I know why. This time I enjoyed it as soon as it came out of the fridge. What I am saying is this one is best enjoyed chilled to the max! It is very rich in flavor and the blueberries introduce a unique bite that is quickly absolved by the overall sweetness of the apples involved in the cider. This one isn't very tart and doesn't have any hint of iron to it. So if you've grown tired of ciders that all taste alike, this one is a must. For that, I give it three and a half apples!

Before I let you know what I thought, I just keep thinking of Violet from the original Willy Wonka film - you know, the one with Gene Wilder? Violet, you're turning Violet! I wonder if they ever did juice her, in all of her giant blueberry-ness? Enough of the tangent; here's what I think!
If you could pick a fruit to signify summer, what would it be? I suppose blueberry is a decent one. This cider just doesn't scream, "SUMMER!" at me, though. Regardless of if it embodies summer for me, it's pretty good! I've had it a few times before, mostly while sitting out on the porch reading a book. The blueberry flavor is significant, but it's not overpoweringly heavy. Different enough to stick out, this one would be great if you're in the mood for something cidery, but not just plain ol' cider. With how sweet it is, it would probably do well accompanying brunch or dessert. Whatever you pair it with, though, make sure it's cold enough! The flavor isn't as enjoyable when warm. Overall, I give Woodchuck's Summer three and a half apples.

While preparing for summer, just like we are, please just try to avoid the fake tanning booths and bronzers that make you look orange like an Ooma Loompa... Instead, enjoy a Woodchuck Summer while relaxing in the sun (while wearing an appropriate amount of sunscreen).

Happy Almost-Summer, and as always, happy tasting!
-Rob & Liz

Smith & Forge Hard Cider

Spring is here! I can't believe it! Mostly because it's going to freeze again tonight and there is a winter weather advisory in the area, but it's still spring. How can I say that then? Well, baseball is back, and that's good enough for me. Winter was too long this year so independent of what the weather is actually like, I'm moving on.

Liz and I are big Brewers fans and try to go to as many games as we can. Of course we try to go with friends and introduce them to some of our ciders while tailgating before hand. But this week, we had a gift from Liz's friend and co-worker, Jessica. She so elegantly wrapped it (and if you missed the wrap-job, scroll down to last week's post), and then talked it up... A LOT. But before we get to the goods (or bads?), the required:

Smith & Forge comes to us from Memphis, TN and weighs in at 6% alcohol by volume. It's a simple a looking can with a simple description from the brewers over at Uncharted Cider Co. Here's what they had to say about it:
Built from apples. Built to refresh. Made strong in the fine tradition of making things strong.

Well let's see if this simple cider can leave a lasting impression on the Deciders. Liz will sip first:
It's hearty. It's got an earthy, warm apple flavor. This reminds me of something I would enjoy while sitting by a cool summer's night bonfire. Smith & Forge is balanced, refreshing, and it has the right amount of kick to make it taste like a real cider - it's not girly or flowery or citrus-y. All of this from a CANNED CIDER?! I am a happy girl! I give Smith & Forge four shiny, delicious apples.

Sounds like she is a fan, time for me to step up to the plate:
This one I really like. It's more tart than it is sweet which is uncommon for most ciders. However, it still tastes a lot like regular apple juice. It also makes you fell nice and warm as it goes down. Also, a big plus is that after your sip, it doesn't leave the fat sugary after taste on your tongue. Smith & Forge is very rich and relatively simple. No surprises, just straight up cider deliciousness. It pays to keep things simple. Four apples from me.

It looks like all of Jessica's rave reviews hit the mark for Liz and I! Do you have a cider you can't get enough of? Let us know! We would love for the chance to sip on some new ciders.

Enjoy the (sporadic) warmer weather!

Happy Tasting,
- Liz & Rob

What a Sick Joke

Poor Rob is sick this week. I am going to say I didn't give it to him, but who knows. Sadly, since he's got a wicked cold he can't taste anything. Which is weird, since last night he said my homemade chicken stroganoff was "delicious." Hmm...

To get you psyched up for next week, though, the cider is highly recommended by my friend and co-worker, Jessica. She brought us one to try, and she even wrapped it, all classy-like!  What is it? Guess you'll have to come back next week and find out!

Happy Tasting!
- Rob & Liz

Original Sin Newtown Pippin

Happy late St. Patrick's Day, everyone! We hope you all had a great weekend (and celebrated responsibly). Did you have a Guinness or Magners? Hopefully your green beer was intentionally made that way, and it wasn't just bad beer...

This week we have a new brand to debut! Lately we've been reviewing different brews that brands we've already tried have to offer. That's not a bad thing, it's just nice to see what approach to brewing each brand takes. Sometimes it's a success, other times not so much. Either way, we're drinking cider so there is nothing to complain about.

The new brand we have for you is Original Sin, which is based out of New York, NY. The cider we brought home tonight was called Newtown Pippin. The alcohol by volume is listed as 6.7% and is contained in a elegantly simple bottle as seen below. The bottle also contains their description of the cider which went a little something like this:
"The Prince of Apples"
First discovered as a seedling in Queens, New York in 1730, the Newtown Pippin earned a reputation as one of the finest apples of its day and was cherished by both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who cultivated it in their personal estates. Commonly used in hard cider production, this storied apple was sold to the United Kingdom in large quantities, helping to establish the United States fruit export industry.

Quite the history this one has. Now let's see if the founding fathers were on to something, or if this cider should be left out of the history books. Liz can go first:
It's cider day, but the cider this week reminds me more of a wine than cider. It starts out smooth and sweet on your tongue - a good kind of sweet, not too much kick - and then morphs into a dry and almost flat flavor. Now, if you recall, I don't like very dry ciders or dry wine. Thankfully, this isn't that dry, but it's just dry enough to make you want to take another sip. The flavors here are pretty simple, and aren't masked by some sort of fruit add-on. I am pleasantly surprised with Original Sin's Newtown Pippin. I give it three and a half apples.

Now I'm going to see how this cider from the big apple stacks up to the rest of them:
The most noticable thing about this week's cider is how dry it is. It starts out sweet but is then cut short with a flavor similar to a red wine. As it warms, Newtown Pippin seems to mellow out and not bite as much. The familiar taste of iron does linger on your tongue long after your sip, but is not present initially. This one was hard to review. It literally has two sides; sweet then dry. I would suggest this one to people who enjoy dry champagnes or red wines. Other than that, it may not jive with most cider lovers. The unique experience was worth it though. Three apples from me.

Another week in the books and another cider down the hatch. As always we welcome your comments, suggestions, or corporate sponsorship by emailing us at DeCidersBlog@gmail.com or commenting below. Thanks for stopping by and tell your friends. Until next week...

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Crispin Georgia

Rob and I are sitting here thinking about how it could be getting warmer sooner, and along comes Crispin's Georgia cider! GEORGIA! It has to be warmer there than it is in Wisconsin, right? HAS to be.

With the weather, coupled with myself being super sick last week, and Rob having a cold this week, we were hoping to get a pick-me-up with this Georgia cider. 6.2% alcohol by volume for this little peach. The description on the back of the bottle is long. Are you ready? Okay, here it goes:
Cider with a little devil in it, but the dog doesn't bite. The sound of the rain and the distant midnight train brings Georgia to mind. An elegant, spicy blend of Colfax Classic apple-wine superbly aged in Bourbon American whisky barrels. The final blend is finished with Georgia peach-juice, a hint of mint and a kiss of Tupelo honey aged in Bourbon barrels. Full whisky notes right up front, layered, very smooth, toasted oak tannins and vanilla. Velvety peach and a hint of mint julep. Blended straight from whisky barrels. Give a solid bottoms-up tilt and swirl to disperse sediment evenly to best enjoy whisky aromas and unique bouquet. Best enjoyed at cellar temperature, 50/55F. With or without 1 or 2 ice cubes. Age-worthy.

Poor Rob isn't feeling well this week, so we will let him go first.

Whoa. Holy Whiskey Batman! This isn't really much of a cider... The bourbon in the brew overwhelmingly masks the apple wine that is advertised on the bottle. There is a large amount of honey in it that cuts down on the power of the bourbon. Also the hint of mint seems to linger on your lips after your sip. This is a very distinct cider and we've only had one like it. But even the Woodchuck Private Barrel Select was closer to a traditional cider than this. I really feel like I am drinking a powerful whisky and coke with this one, but smoother. It was different, but not necessarily in a good way (in my opinion). 2 apples. If you like bourbon, give it a shot.

I can't think of anything witty, so I'll come out and say it - I like  don't like bourbon. I can't taste any of the Georgia peaches, and I can barely taste any of the honey. I feel like I should be taking this as a shot, not sipping it like a beer. I have taken all of three sips, and I can't take any more. Bourbon is not for this girl. I was so excited for the peach that was called out, and I am sadly not getting any. This also really doesn't taste anything like a cider. Everything we've tried thus far for Crispin has been pretty dang good. Sadly, Georgia does not follow the same path. I am giving Georgia one lonely, bruised peach - I mean, apple. 

Thanks for hangin' in there with us while I was sick. If you've got any cider suggestions, we are happy to hear (taste) them! Let us know. And as always...

Happy Tasting!

-Rob & Liz

Down with the sickness...

I'm sorry everyone, but once again we will not have a cider review for this week. Liz has some sort of virus that is giving her a terrible sore-throat. She went to the doctor and they gave her some medication so she shouldn't be drinking. As long as I don't catch it, we will be back next week. Catch up on the blogs you missed in the mean time. I guess this means zero apples...?

Happy Tasting!
- Liz & Rob

J.K.'s Northern Neighbour Farmhouse Cider Saskatoon Cuvée

Hello there! Long time no see. First of all, we want to apologize for the lack of a post lack week. Liz has a class Wednesday nights and my third shift job has been changing my sleep schedule around and last week just got away from us. I promise, we are back and it won't happen again!

This week we have another cider from J.K.'s Farmhouse. This one is called Saskatoon Cuvée and has an alcohol by volume of 5.5%. Here's what J.K. had to say about it's own brew:
We invite you to celebrate a collaboration of a few passionate American and Canadian farmers. The fruits of their labour are presented in this bottle, a family reunion of sorts. This delightful cider is made from Michigan apples and a unique Canadian prairie apple, the Saskatoon. Gathered by J.K. from family orchards in Michigan and Saskatchewan, this natural cider has been carefully fermented here at Almar Orchards using our traditional methods. We hope you enjoy sharing this cider that knows no borders with friends, family, and neighbours.

Chivalry dictates: ladies first:

This cider is so deliciously sweet, it reminds me of the perfect summer day spent reading on the porch. Yes, I love to read books. Real books with pages. Sorry! Back to the cider. I can taste the two different apples; it starts out warm and smooth, and ends fairly sweet. The closer the cider comes to room temperature, it becomes less sweet. I am enjoying this cider, and I could see myself picking this up to enjoy on my own. Sorry, Rob! I just think it would be great for some me-time. I'm giving Saskatoon Cuvée three apples.

What do I think? Why thank you for asking! Here goes:

Just like that coworker you hate to see on Monday mornings, this cider is sweet and very upbeat. There is a lot to this cider and not much about it is negative. The sweetness is matched with a full flavor and a warm fuzzy feeling. The tartness is very dull and allows you to take very large sips. I feel like there is some kind of grape infused with this as well because of the way it pours. The blend of apples in this one make it hard to distinguish which apple is which, but they blend nicely. All in all, this cider was definitely a treat.

There you have it! After a week off, we're back in business. Hopefully we can pick up right were we left off. Hope you have some cider of your own to enjoy this week. Tell us what you thought about yours and be sure to share your cider, it's too good to keep to yourself.

Happy Tasting!
- Liz & Rob

Oliver Beanblossom Raspberry Hard Cider

Happy early Valentines Day! Hopefully everyone has got someone to spend the day with. If not, trust me, you're probably better off saving your money and time... Just kidding, honey! (or am I?) Let's move on before I ruin any more relationships. What cider do we have for you this week? Well let's get to it!

This week we have Oliver Beanblossom Raspberry Hard Cider brought to us by Oliver Cider Works in Lawrenceburg, IN. Packing a punch at 8% alcohol by volume, Oliver has this to say about their own brew:
We create hard cider with our blend of apples and natural flavors, cooly fermented, delicious, bright like the noon day sun, magical as Beanblossom Hard Cider should be.

Since Liz picked this one out at the store, she can go first:

I don't know what has happened to me, but the fruity drinks aren't much my style anymore. The raspberry in this is tasty, don't get me wrong. I think it might be a little bit too much, though? It's smooth, sweet, a little tart, and it's a bit dry at the end. I can taste the apple wine at the very end after the heavy raspberry has subsided. I didn't expect to really like this all that much. Surprisingly, I think it's decent. For me it falls right in the middle at 2.5 apples.

Now it's my turn:
It's good, I'll say that, but it's too sweet for me. The raspberry overpowers the cider qualities but it still goes down smooth. The tartness of the apple eventually cuts off the taste of the raspberry. To me, this kind of tastes like Mike's Hard Raspberry. The biggest difference being Oliver seems to have a little less sugar. Not being a big raspberry fan, Oliver gets the benefit of the doubt from me. Also the high alcohol by volume helps make this one receive three out of five raspberry- I mean apples.

There you have it; another week, another cider. Thanks for stopping by and tell your friends! Also, if you have had a cider recently that has blown your mind, let us know. We usually just end up going to the local grocery store for our ciders, but eventually we will run out. So if there is something out there that is a little harder to find but totally worth it, we don't want to miss out on that. Comment below or email us at DeCidersBlog@gmail.com. See you next week for another cider adventure!

Happy Tasting!
- Liz & Rob

Gaymer Cider Co's Blackthorne

Hello cider lovers! Welcome to February. January just flew by for us. Hopefully you are all making the best of the winter season.

To paraphrase one of my favorite movies, this week's cider is, Bigger, Yellow, Different. Yes, I did just go there. And if you don't know what that's from, I might cry inside.

Onward to the cider. Blackthorne comes to us out of England from Gaymer Cider Co. Ltd. As you can see, it's made from English cider apples. At 6% alcohol by volume, it's not too hard, not too sally. This one is a bit different, though, since it's in a can. We've never done a canned cider before here at DeCider's, and we were kind of excited to see if Blackthorne would get us on the canned cider bandwagon. First, though, we should probably tell you what they have to say about themselves:
A distinctive crisp, dry taste.
Yeah, a short and to the point description. Nice!

Rob's up to bat first. He said:
I don't know what happened here… I tend to be a fan of dry ciders, but Blackthorn is its own kind of dry cider. For starters, it doesn't pop and fizz when you open the can. Secondly, the smell makes me reconsider what I'm about to do. And last but not least, the taste is bland. Like I said earlier it is dry, so it goes down smooth and not sharp like most sweet ciders; almost as if it's flat. There is an iron after-taste as well. All this leaves me wanting something else. Unfortunately, from the same country that gave us Strongbow, Blackthorn falls short of my expectations lands with one and a half apples.

Thanks, Rob. How can I save this one?
Blackthorn sounded like it would be good. The name was edgy, the description sounded interesting, the alcohol content was decent. And then I tried it. It tastes like the can it came in. A liquid version of apple sauce, with that dry sandpaper-tongue afterward. There's a bit of a sweet note right in the middle, but it leaves as quickly as it showed up. I kept trying to drink this to give it more of a chance, but every time I take a swig, I am instantly reminded why I shouldn't. Maybe we got a bad set of cans? Maybe it's just like this always. I'm honestly so sad about this one. I had such high hopes. I'm giving Blackthorn one thorny, lonely apple.

Sorry for the bad apple this week, guys and gals. Do you have any good ones we should be looking for? Let us know!

Happy Tasting,
- Rob & Liz

B. Nektar's Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser

You may think I spelled that wrong but it really is Cyser. And yes, it does say Zombie Killer. Although I may be getting ahead of myself. WE'RE BAAAAAACK! I was sick last week. As in hugging the porcelain throne for two days. Sorry for the visual. I'm all better, though. Hopefully you are all handling this cold and flu season better than I am. Thankfully Rob hasn't gotten sick (yet - knock on wood).

On to the cider! Zombie Killer comes to us from B. Nektar out of Ferndale, Michigan. Zombie Killer stumbles in at 6% alcohol by volume. What is Zombie Killer? Glad you asked. B. Nektar says:
An apple-honey wine with cherry juice added. Dedicated to the freaks and the geeks! What started as a top-secret experiment with Michigan honey, cherries and apple cider became a viral epidemic. It won't be easy to survive, so gram your weapons and don't forgt this bottle for backup! Serve cold... zombies hate the cold... B. WARE GRrrHaarrhUrrgh...

Since Rob has been so great while I was ill, he can go first. I know it's not a big deal, buuuut, let's just pretend it is.
Woo-hoo! Zombies! They're in these days, right? Anyways, this 'Cyser' was quite the treat. Out of the apple, cherry, and honey included in this cider, the cherry was subtle. I couldn't really taste it, but I can only assume it played a role in making this as delicious as it is. The apple flavor is nice and sweet with the honey that really neutralizes the tartness before it becomes overwhelming. I believe this one is best enjoyed as cold as possible, so drink it fast or over ice. As it warmed up, the iron became more prevalent. Still, I was very happy with this one and can't wait to pick it up again! 4 outta 5 reanimated apples from me.

As for me? I might have some different thoughts than Rob...
I think the cherry notes in this are great. They're prominent, but not overpowering. Unfortunately, with how sweet the  cherry, honey and the cider is, it's teetering on the edge of juice rather than a cider. I want to like this so much more, but the sweetness is just holding me back. I am going to give the Zombie Killer three solid apples.

If anyone has suggestions for something we haven't tried yet, let us know! We're always looking for some new ciders (duh, Liz).

Stay warm and Happy Tasting!
- Rob & Liz

Calling in sick...

Sorry guys and gals, we are going to have to take another bye week... Liz has been home from work the past couple of days with some kind of stomach bug. Adding alcohol would not yield a positive result. We'll be back next week unless it's contagious, in which case I will be sick. Let's hope not!

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

Thistly Cross Scottish Cider

Top of the morning to ya! Wait a minute, that's Irish, and we have Scottish cider this week. I screwed it up already! Sorry guys, it's not even morning... Either way, let's continue with the business at hand.

How's winter treating everyone? Anyone travel to some exotic places to escape the cold? Not me, I love the winter! However, the last vacation Liz and I traveled for was a great one. We've mentioned it before, but in 2012 we traveled over to the United Kingdom for a week. We spent half of our stay in England, and the other half in Scotland. The whole experience was amazing, but our time in Edinburgh, Scotland is something we yearn to return to as soon as we can! So when I was shopping around for this weeks cider, I was more than happy to bring a little bit of Scotland home with me.

This Scottish Cider from the Thistly Cross Cidershed comes to us from Dunbar, Scotland. It's imported for our drinking pleasure by USA Importer Orchard Gate in Raleigh, NC (thanks guys!). On the bottle, they keep it strictly business letting us know that this one packs a fair punch at 6.2% alcohol by volume. As you can see in the picture below, they do give you a little pamphlet about themselves and the brew you are about to enjoy. Here's a little bit of what they had to say about their Scottish Cider.
Thistly Cross is at the forefront of the craft cider movement in Britain, and the first and only Scottish cidermaker recognized by the Association of Cidermakers.
Thistly Cross Cider promises full and real fruit flavor. Brewed in small batches, we slow ferment our ciders for a strong taste profile, and mature for smoothness and a beautiful depth of color that varies from fruit to fruit, season to season.

I have a feeling that liz should go first because she talks about Scotland all the time. I'm sure she's more than excited to give this one a go:

Thistly Cross is definitely not thistly. It is so incredibly smooth, a bit heavy, a bit sweet, and has that almost caramel-like flavor of an almost perfectly fermented apple. Even with all of those fantastic things, I feel like it's missing something. I don't think it's quite sweet enough, maybe. It could use just a little bit of tartness. Pour me a tall one, because I think this is one of my favorite ciders I have ever tasted. I am giving Thistly Cross Scottish Cider 4.5 apples.  

Now it's my turn:

First thing I noticed is that Thistly Cross smells like a regular beer. It pours with the texture of a regular beer as well, but it is noticably sweeter. Another nice thing is that nothing about this one is overwhelming. Towards the end of the sip there is just a hint of iron and the tartness is mellow throughout the sip. I also get the impression that this cider could be enjoyed bottle after bottle and wouldn't be a problem at all. Being so smooth but heavy, Thistly Cross gets 4 outta 5 from me.

I guess everything from Scotland is having a lasting impression on us, find out if it does the same for you! There ya have it, another cider adventure in the books. Tune in next week and as always, drink responsibly. I'm going to go find some haggis to enjoy now...

Happy Tasting!

-Liz & Rob

Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear

Thank you! We can't say it enough. It doesn't matter if you're here every week, or here by accident. Family, friend, complete stranger, thank you. This past week we passed one thousand page views! At first I didn't really know if this was really going to work or if anyone was actually going to read these (you might just be here for the pictures), but thanks for stopping by. On to the business at hand.

If you live in the United States (shout-out to our readers in England, Russia, Germany, and a number of other countries) you're probably loving this polar vortex. Hopefully you've managed to thaw out long enough to enjoy some cider. This week we've got another offering from Fox Barrel. Tonight we find ourselves drinking their Blackberry Pear cider. The cider comes to us from Colfax, CA and it weighs in at 4.5% alcohol by volume. Fox Barrel has this to say about their brew:
Blackberry 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 blackberry juice. With no added colorants, sugar, sorbate, or benzoate preservatives. No added malt, spirit, grape or apple alcohols. Naturally elegant, refreshingly adult with an authentic blackberry dark-fruit taste and a sweet-sharp fresh tang. Mouthwatering juicy complexity. Luscious pear-berry bouquet.

Let's move on to our own thoughts. Liz goes first, because it may be crazy cold outside, but no one is as cool as she is, or crazy...
It's tart, it's sweet, it's kind of dry… it is not what I expected, but it is totally refreshing. Going into this one I was not sure what to think. The other two Fox Barrels we did were such opposites. The tartness and sweetness really gets you right as you swallow, but the dry and fruity flavor sticks around. I think this would be great with dessert. Really, I'm just saying that because I want dessert. I give it 3 apples.

What did I have to say about Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear? Oh, how thoughtful, thanks for asking!
I honestly don't know what I was expecting going into this cider, but boy was I surprised. It's very, very sweet but I think it's delicious! The blackberry and pear are perfectly fused and become reminiscent of wine part of the way through your sip. It finishes smooth and leaves a small taste of blackberry on your tongue after you've gone a minute without a sip. I'm not saying I could spend a whole night chugging bottle after bottle of Fox Barrel, but one here or there would be nice. It's also worth mentioning that the bottle is very good looking and leaves me thinking, what does the fox drink? 3.5 apples outta 5 for me!

I hate to be all gushy but it really does mean a lot to both Liz and myself that you are visiting our blog, and we would love to hear from you as well. As always you can comment below, or email us at DeCidersblog@gmail.com. Once again, thanks a bunch and stop by every Wednesday night for more Cider Adventures!

Happy Tasting!
-Liz & Rob

McKenzie's Black Cherry

Happy New Year, fellow cider lovers! We hope your New Year's Eve was spent with great people and that you are entering the new year with health and high spirits.

We're ringing in the new year by bringing you a new cider - and a new guest! Well, the cider is new to us. Maybe you've had it. McKenzie's Black Cherry hand-pressed hard cider comes to us from West Seneca, New York from Mayer Brothers Apple Products, and reports at 5.0% alcohol by volume.

McKenzie's has quite the interesting description, too. If I had read this before trying it, I might have been a bit hesitant to drink it. What does it say, you ask? Well, here, read for yourself.  "The blacker the berry… the sweeter the juice. Reserved for the darkest of hearts, McKenzie's Black Cherry is an inspiration to hard cider - rich amber, full body with a refreshingly sweet cherry finish."
Darkest of hearts? Man, that's scary. Nevertheless, we had tried it before reading. And, to be honest, we would have tried it anyway.

Rob can go last this week, because we're letting the ladies go first. Yes, ladies as in plural. This week's guest is one of my best friends, and a New cider lover, Nicole. She not too long ago swore off anything that came in a bottle, unless it was wine, and was a slave to the hard liquor. Now she's come into the light and is always willing to try a new cider with us. She's finally here, folks! Her thoughts go something like this:
I really liked the black cherry cider. I've never had any cherry ciders before, though, so I have nothing to actually compare it to. Cherry wise, I'm glad they chose a black cherry rather than a sweeter cherry like a bing cherry, which would have probably been too-sweet of a taste. It's definitely got some fizz to it though, because I had a few good burps after drinking it (ha!). I will definitely buy this one when I come across it. I was on the fence about the ratings, too.  I really truly enjoyed it, but I think it's going to roll in at four apples.

We also asked her hubby to try it. And by "we" I really mean me. And by "asked" I mean bugged. Billy is definitely not a cider guy, and he doesn't really go for anything fruity or girly. After some playful teasing he finally took a swig. Immediately after he gave us one of those smiles you give your Aunt when you've just opened the most hideous of sweaters for a Christmas present. Through this smile he said, "It's great." We all laughed and then he goes, "Really, it just tastes like a Luden's cough drop."
Well. We know not to offer him any ciders anymore!

Is it my turn? Yay! I have to say, I was surprised with this one. The black cherry flavor is extremely strong, but not overwhelming. Truthfully, it tastes more like a black cherry soda than any sort of cider. It's very sweet and has a heavy, sugary feel on your tongue like if you accidentally put too much sugar in your kool-aid. Although it was very sugary, I thought the flavor was great.  It's a nice and warm feel, with the right amount of sweet-cherry-apple-kick at the end. I am glad this came as a six pack because I know what I'll be finishing off this weekend! I am going to bring it in at a three and a half apples. Because of how sugary tasting it is, I can't quite give it a four.

As for Mr. Rob, he's actually currently in bed. His third shift schedule had him working last night when the new year rolled in, and has him working again tonight. Fear not! He wrote down his thoughts before drifting off to dream-land.
When we reviewed Island Orchard Apple Cherry Cider awhile back, I was excited for the fusion of apple and cherry. Unfortunately I was somewhat disappointed by the result. This week, however, we gave it another shot with McKenzie's Black Cherry Hard Cider. And I'm happy to announce that this one is good! If you're a fan of black cherry (gourmet) sodas, this will be perfect for you. It starts out with a very distinct, but not too tart, cherry flavor. Eventually the cherry mellows out and you get a hint of a crisp sweet apple at the end of your sip. Reluctantly I gave this one three and a half apples because I still wish the cherry and apple were evenly mixed. McKenzie's is great, but still not what I had in mind for when apple meets cherry. I'll keep looking for you... and me.

Thanks for checking out this week's post. If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please leave them below.

 Happy New Year to you and yours, and as always...

Happy Tasting!
-Rob & Liz