5.6/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 2
Overall 4.5
Bottle from Astor Wines. Batch 013.2014 SN Sidecar glass. Hazy orange amber, lightly carbed pour. Smells French. Earthy, low acid, wood, pear-like perceived sweet scent. Taste is earthy, macerated, almost orange-like sweetness, chewy tannins, yeasty middle, with a late developing acid bite. Boozy & borderline flat. Not crispy as described on the label. More on the goopy side. Meh.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jan 2019
at 19:50
4.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Somewhat affordable flip-top bottle 750 from Astor Wines. Cider selection was quote sad here for a bit, even during cider week, but they currently carry a dozen or so bottles & this west coast brand not seen much around here. Top heavy Sierra Nevada Sidecar glass. Darker then expected amber pour. Clear. Seriously voluminous head. Smells like a Crispin cider, not certain why. It's this slightly oxidized, slightly too rich, faintly produced product. I think gravenstein is a major apple in California & it just sticks out a little too much & triggers memories of apple sauce. Apple sauce & dry, cracking slabs of 2x4 is what I smell. Faint varnish, a little white wine. Taste is better. Whiskey notes on apples sauce, sans barrels. Varnish fumes again, something like rosewater, oxidized/browned flesh. Faint to good underlying acidity, low tart, dry but slick body. Moderately tannic, but nothing to seriously contrast it. Okay carbonation that exhausts itself way too fast. This looked like a steal at $15 for an heirloom cider, but it was just fancy packaging. Seek out blended stuff from West County or Farnum for great stuff at the exact same price.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Dec 2018
at 22:39
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle. Batch 25, 2013. Pours with a clear, pale golden hued body with a fizzy white head that fades to nothing. Minimal legs. Aromas are of mild spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice), earth, tannin, apple skins, oak, caramel, vanillin, graham cracker, mild cardamom. Flavors are bone dry, a hint of raisinated fruit, the mildest hint of sulfur, light 4EH phenols, tannin. Rich but very dry. Nice stuff! Hints of spice. Medium+ Carbonation. Body is medium low, but there is balancing tannin and acidity. Not bad at all, quite good in fact. Hides ABV quite well.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2017
at 01:27
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
[1/25/17] Draught at Almanac Taproom in San Francisco. Clear golden. Aroma of apples, a bit of funk, a bit of sulphur. Slightly sweetish and slightly tart flavor with apples.
Tried
from Draft
on 21 Feb 2017
at 12:43
8/10
A bit farmy/funky
Tried
on 09 Apr 2016
at 18:17
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Pours pale golden, fizzy with minimal head and lacing. Aroma is apple, strong funk, light bourbon, a bit of whiskey sour. Flavor is light sweet, medium funky, apples and Brett, whiskey sour. Light plus body.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Apr 2016
at 16:52
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
375ml bottle pours a dark, straw gold with some light bubbles. Maybe a little head clinging to the edges. Nice nose, sweet apple cider, a little hard wood smoke, some candy, a little bubblegum. Flavor is sweet, apple juice, pears too, wet apple skins, not as much smoke as the nose. Clean, crisp finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jul 2013
at 08:43
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle shared by argo, thanks! Poured a clear yellow color, small off-white head. Aroma was light apples, some light crisp notes, smoke in there. Flavor was some notes of apples, sweetness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jul 2013
at 18:46
8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle courtesy of argo0, thanks you! Hazy straw color, few bubbles. Aroma of dried apple skins, subtle spiced applesauce, distant and subtle smoke. Taste is burnt apple flesh. Very tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jul 2013
at 18:23