Before prohibition, cider was the drink of choice for the American working man. Every sensible farmer with a few trees would have his own home fermented cider, it was only natural.
In England, cider never lost its stature as a staple libation. The diversity and quality of English ciders is well-known to the traveling tippler.
A chance meeting at a local bluegrass concert in 2011 between an Englishman homesick for quality cider, and a local orchardist of German descent, led to the marriage of old world tradition with new world know-how that makes Winchester Ciderworks unique.
The Shenandoah Valley produces an excellent crop of apples, and four generations of orchardists have been caring for the soil and trees whose fortunate fruit go into Winchester Ciderworks' creations.
The foundation for the Ciderworks' tasting room was laid in 1900, and the building served for decades as a barn for the orchardists until it was converted to an apple cold storage facility in 1946.
Winchester Ciderworks' tasting room is a natural evolution of this space, and overhead you can still see the refrigeration lines which once kept crops of Malus cool and fresh until processing.
jgb9348 (11828) reviewed Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 1 year ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6
S: crisp - apples (duh!) - citrus A: clear light golden body - no head (of course!) T: granny smith apples - good sugars - mineraly P: honey sweetness - floral near end - clean-drinking O: nicely balanced - dry but slightly sweet - polished 16 ounce can - Wegman's (grocery): Fairfax, Virginia - 06-October-2024 - US$2,33 (part of a mixed six pack) - sampled: 13-October-2024
obguthr (12465) reviewed Cider Of The Siren from Winchester Ciderworks 1 year ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Cranberries aroma, vinegar on the edges. Ruby red and clear. Cranberry, apple. Slightly musty finish. Light body, easy carbonation. Maybe a bit overdone with the berry addition as I like the glimpses of the base cider better.
kangareuben (5049) ticked WyldCide from Winchester Ciderworks 1 year ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
On tap at NC Ciderfest AVL. Clear, magenta-plum, soda pour. Didn't seem to capture any notes on the nose. Half-tart apples, funky semi-sweet currants, middle sharpness kicks in earthy bitterness, very vinous, soda acidity. Strong, mostly dry flavors. Good.
SaltyGrog (4618) reviewed Va-Ginga from Winchester Ciderworks 2 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
On tap at NC Cider Fest. Pale gold, spirited, filtered brew. Earthy, softly soapy, bit spent. Floral, prickly ginger. Bitter sharp apples, juicy kinda sweet ginger, sorta juicy, soda acid. Good-ish.
SaltyGrog (4618) reviewed Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 2 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8
On tap at NC Cider Fest. Pale gold, clear, spirited pour. Earthy, creamy, soft & saline-like nose. Warming, rounded citrus, lingering floral, touch of paper oxidation, bitter sharp through & through. Really great.
kangareuben (5049) ticked Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 2 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Reddish tan with a medium sized head. Dry and tartish with apple and berry. Medium finish and body.
SHIG (13882) reviewed Pious Pear from Winchester Ciderworks 3 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Draft: Poured a clear with bubble head. Aroma is is mushy pears and apple. Taste is pear, light tartness, apple, tannin.