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.
nimbleprop (16838) reviewed 522 (Blackcurrant) from Winchester Ciderworks 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
16oz can pours a starbright purple with no head. Nose has apple cider and green apple skins, some berry/cherry too. Flavor has lots of apples, pure apple juice really, but the end is off set by cherry, blackberry and just a touch of berry tea. Finishes dry, lightly tannic with a bit of strawberry lingering. I expected a catastrophe, but it is respectable.
obguthr (12524) reviewed 522 (Blackcurrant) from Winchester Ciderworks 8 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 7
Punder: Black currant nose, apple and grape highlights. Clear red. Semi-dry apple and black currant. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Respectable.
radagast83 (13601) reviewed Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 9 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Pour from a can at the 2016 YOX anniversary party at Old Ox. Poured a very lightly hazed yellow color with a fizzy white head. Aroma was sweet apples, light sweetness. Flavor was cider booze, with apple, light sweet notes. Okay, better than most other offerings around here these days.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 7
Bottle from Village Market & Bistro, shared with nate2g. Cloudy pale yellow color, occasional coaxed bubble. Aroma of apple flesh, light tannins. Taste is bitter tannic apples with some sort of herb in the finish. Interesting, but a bit strange.
Travlr (30174) reviewed Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 11 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Draft. Hazy pale yellow color, rare bubbles. Aroma of tart and dusty apple skins. Taste is straightforward apple.
Drake (22940) reviewed Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 11 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
16 ounce can from Downtown Wine & Gourmet, Harrisonburg, 8/17/14. Pours a golden color with just a touch of haze. Aroma of sweet apples with a mild bready note. The taste is tart apples, apple juice, mild vanilla and honey and a mildly sweet apple finish. Medium bodied. A little boring, but solid.
obguthr (12524) reviewed Malice from Winchester Ciderworks 11 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6
Pounder: Rich sweet apple nose with blueberry accents, fresh and clean. Crystal clear yellow. Apple flavor, low tartness, semi-dry. Drinks more like unfermented juice than hard cider, fresh regardless. Still watery mouthfeel. Pretty casual and easy drinking. Sessionable.