750 mL bottle drunk 5/28/16.
Elderberry and honey. Two words that, when taken alone, seem pretty harmless. But add them to a cider and you’ve got a potential disaster on your hand. Knowing nothing of this company (and being fairly familar with the town its brewed in) and being able to dig up even less online, I was pretty skeptical. Was this going to be a sweet, phenolic, fruity mess of adjuncts??
Turns out, no, it wasn’t. Couldn’t be more delighted with the beer, to be honest. After cidery upon cidery has opened recently, many touting a "Farmhouse" cider or a "Dry, rustic" cider, etc...etc...I can’t think of too many that actually were a well-made, obviously rustic, tradition-following example. This smelled delicously brett and lactic-driven right from the pop of the cap, with soft honey fermentation phenols, moderate, but not-overdone oak tannin, vanilla and dry, yet juicy apples. No alcohol and little, if any, of the elderberry in the nose.
Tightly carbonated and fully attenuated, soft apple skin, light tannin and soft, mildly nutty oakiness all comfort the palate. Bits of brett and lactic character do not overwhelm, as the elderberry adds a gentle, yet appropriate acidity and lightly tart fruitiness. Honey adds, at most, a soft stickiness and light sweetness, but is otherwise used showing much restraint. Finishes with a lip-smacking tartness mixing with nutty tannins to give a wonderful balance overall. These guys get it. Excited to try the traditional dry.