Gravicask@GBBF2007. Hazy silvery yellow colour. Aroma is sweet apple, mild tart and sour notes with some herbs and mild minerals. Flavour is acidic apples, some herbs, minerals, mild yeasty tones with some apple jam too.

From the box @ Salopian Bar, Shrewsbury [050417]
Dark amber, no head, light haze...13% oh shit
Aroma of old apple, some sweet almost malt? in there, only a tinge of alcohol
Taste of rich red apples, very appley, almost no alcohol...wtf...dangerous drinkability, really nice appley, maybe an imperial cider, super apple flavour
Palate - Light body, nice sweetness. Finish is super dry, lots of apple fruit, yeah its warming in the finish, the dryness goes into a lively sweetness
Overall - I got a half pint only to have a sip....dangerous at 13%...it tasted so good I drank the lot....superb...great work...best to just have a 1/3...be careful...the alcohol is ridiculously well hidden...

Draught @ Shrewsbury Beer Festival, Sep 15. Pours hazy orange with a soft scrumpy aroma. Bright and fruity medium sweet taste with a nice tangy bite on the finish.

Many thanks to McTapps for this sample! Smooth, fresh and sourish. Nice full body, nice dry. The 15% are not in the taste! Great! Fresh-fruity, sour apples, nice and round but not too deep.

2 litre bottle from Alan Renshaw. The almost mythical super-strength Red Eye Rocket, as if Red Eye wasn’t strong enough. Pours a hazy orange with a light orchard leaves aroma. Taste is surprisingly fruity and highly drinkable for the ABV. Mild, sweet apple flesh and a touch of satsuma pith before a light, dry finish. Decent and possibly a little dangerous.

Polypin @ Red Eye Cider Festival, Salopian Bar. Pours bright reddish orange with floating sediment. Strawberry ice pop aroma, fruity artificial strawberry flavouring taste with a slight tang on the finish. Not amazing.

Pint @ The Salopian. 13%. A legendary cider this. Far too easy-drinking for its strength, with light scrumpy apples and a dry finish.

Half pint @ The Salopian. 13%. Pours clear gold. Like standard Red Eye the taste belies its strength, which is probably why it’s so infamous round these parts. This Vintage blend has more of a woody character with a sharp fruitiness and slight scrumpy tang.

Polycask @ Winter Beer Festival, Prince of Wales, Shrewsbury. The latest in Alan Renshaw’s cidery creations and it’s just as deceivingly drinkable, despite a lethal ABV. Pours a deep chestnut red with a slick still mouthfeel. First sip presents a spirit-like warmth with a subtle blackcurrant influence, thankfully not taking the overly sweet route. Like the much feared ’Red Eye’ the alcohol here hits you slowly and stealth-like.. it’s strong, but definitely does not taste 13%. Sip with caution.