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