 FlacoAlto (2085), Tucson, Arizona, USA
Aug 21, 2008 Pours with a nice, fizzy, almost champagne level of carbonation. The head is a pale, just off-white color and the cider is a nice, brilliantly clear gold color. The carbonation makes an expressive, aromatic, apple note quite noticeable as I am pouring this cider. This smells of fresh, aromatic apples that are backed by a bit of flinty yeast and a touch of alcohol towards the end.
Fairly sweet tasting, though not sticky in any way and there seems to be a touch of butter to the finish (seems to be a bit of diacetyl, though it can be hard to pick out at times from underneath all of the fruit notes). The carbonation provides a nice, almost peppery note and there is perhaps a touch of spicy notes that also help to balance the up front sweetness. Lightly tart tasting throughout the flavor profile, which also helps to provide some balance. This is quite aromatic in its apple flavors / character, almost floral in a sweet nectar sort of manner. Definitely very apple like, though not in a simplistic Red Delicious way, instead it has a complex, aromatic apple character that is quite refreshing and quite tasty. This has a substantial level of tannin to it as well, which really helps with not only the texture, but also the complexity and balance of this brew.
This is definitely a great example of a cider that captures the apple character quite well. I’ll admit to preferring the funkier and drier examples, but this one is certainly no slouch and is very enjoyable. Even the diacetyl note that is softly in the finish of the flavor is not able to detract very much here.
Immy (1555), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Aug 11, 2008 Richmond Summer Gathering. C&C 750, 2004 vintage. Lightly hazed gold with tons of carbonation. Funky nose, green apple and some barnyardy notes. Sweet apple, light and easy to drink, crisp. Yeasty flavors, some tartness creeps in. Crisp, dry finish, akin to a gueze. Side note: lots of funky mold on the cork. I thought this was a BIG winner, my second fave of the tasting. Well done!
jcwattsrugger (3862), Florida and, New Jersey, USA
Aug 10, 2008 ’04 @ Richmond/Williamsburg Gathering-750ml Bottle-pours a disappearing white head and straw color with effervescence. Aroma is apple, grain, towards a Gueze. Taste is champagne, sweet, bready, tart, apple, grain, towards a Gueze, some grassy, slight musty/funky. Good effervescence. Occasional. Thanks Immy for sharing.
Papsoe (9998), Frederiksberg, Denmark
Aug 7, 2008 (Bottle 75 cl) Courtesy of Storm. Clear golden with a lively fizzy head that dissipates fast. Fresh and clean apple aroma. Medium body with lightly swet apple notes - very clean apple - and a high carbonation. Rather dry finish. Very clean and drinkable. 190608
The_Beer_God (2829), Newport News, Virginia, USA
Aug 6, 2008 Bottle courtesy of Immy at the Williamsburg Gathering. 750mL corked and caged. Hazy golden pour. Lots of bubble strands throughout the body and a short fizzy white head, Nose is candy apple, apple skins, green apple and some yeasty/funky notes. Some wet wood begins to come through as well. Taste is sweet apple, some soft candyish notes, more green apple and apple skins along with funky yeast flavors. It was mentioned that this tasted like "cheap champagne" at one point, though I disagree with that synopsis. Body was very light and fizzy. Crisp at times and dry. Ended with more sweet apple, green apple, soft spice and more funky yeast. Nice!
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