Steilhead Cider

Cidery in Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Established in 2017

Contact
1 Steilhead Cottages, Auldgirth, 55.188819, Scotland
Description
Steilhead Cider is situated in beautiful Nithsdale, ten miles north of Dumfries. Since 2013 we have been making cider in the traditional way, from local, naturally grown fruit using wild yeasts and no sweetening or additives. Most of our ciders are still and dry, aged for up to two years before bottling.

From September to December we collect ripe apples from our own orchards. We also criss-cross the Region visiting other growers and gathering a huge range of apple varieties from them. Working in our own Cider Barn, we select, wash, mill and press the fruit at their peak of ripeness before letting a natural fermentation run its course. We then carefully store the cider for many months before final blending and bottling. We use no additives or preservatives and we follow a policy of minimal-intervention with our ciders - we like to let time and terroir work their magic!

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6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

botyle orange cloudy apple leggero ossidato medium acidity tannin bold citric bit funky

Tried on 13 Oct 2022 at 09:41


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle from Taste @ Rheged. Appearance - golden and fairly flat. Nose - fresh apple and dry wood. Taste - soft wood but still surprisingly fresh apple. Palate - light bodied, tangy, light dryness on the finish. Very low to no carbonation. Overall - quite nice.

Tried from Bottle on 09 Aug 2021 at 10:32


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle thanks to Ashton McCobb. Pours still clear golden with no head. Aromas of dry apple, wood and leather. Taste is more of the same. Slightly sweet finish.

Tried from Bottle on 22 Jul 2021 at 17:17


7.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle thanks to Ashton McCobb. Pours clear still golden with no head. Aromas of tart apple, apple skin, oak. Taste is dry, tart apple and more oak. Dry finish. Interesting.

Tried from Bottle on 21 Jul 2021 at 18:03


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle from Taste @ Rheged. Appearance - deep yellow, almost orange. Low carbonation on opening and in the glass. Nose - baked apple, light wood and spice. Taste - baked apple and creamy vanilla. Palate - medium bodied, tangy with low carbonation. Good persistent finish. Overall - quite enjoyed this one.

Tried from Bottle on 05 Jul 2021 at 18:11


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle from Rheged. Appearance - cloudy lemon yellow. Initially not much C02 on opening, then frantic bubbles. No head to speak of. Nose - wild yeast funky notes and apple skins. Very dry underripe apple fruit. Taste - tart apple flesh and apple skin. Still a funky/sour edge to it. Palate - light bodied, tangy/sour texture. Persistence on the finish. Overall - good dry edge to this though not a lot in the way of fruit.

Tried from Bottle on 05 Jul 2021 at 16:18


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

500ml bottle from trade with Danlo. Thanks mate! Shared with Soph in the sun during the Coronavirus lockdown. Misty yellow, still. Coarse, oaky whisky aroma, continuing to taste with woody splinters, and a lightly harsh wild natural fruitiness. Nice.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Mar 2020 at 19:13


6.8
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 7

1/12/2019. Bottle, sample, courtesy of danlo, cheers Ed! Pours clear very pale gold with a short lasting bubbly white head. Aroma of wood, apple, sherry cask and citric acidity. Moderate sweetness and tartness. Moderate body, oily texture, soft carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 01 Dec 2019 at 23:05


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

500ml bottle from Good Spirits, Glasgow. Hazy yellow gold colour, short-lived bubbly white foam head and aroma of muck, apple, citric, leathery funk. Taste is orchardy, apple, fruity, leather, funky, mellow citric acidic and light tannin. Medium bodied, low carbonation, dry tart and citric finish. Nicely drinkable.

Tried from Bottle on 30 Nov 2019 at 21:21


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

500ml bottle from Good Spirits, Glasgow. Slightly hazy yellow gold colour, short-lived white foam head and aroma of juicy apple & barnyard funk. Taste is mucky apple, fruity, mellow, barnyard funk with citric and light tannic notes. Medium bodied, low carbonation, dry tart citric fruity finish. Quite drinkable

Tried from Bottle on 24 Nov 2019 at 20:36