Gales Hard Cider

Pale yellow body. The nose is rich apples with some dry oak notes. Very sweet smelling. The taste is very dry with only a little bit of apple core. It is a very muted flavor. The finish is lingering with some more of that apple core character and hints of black pepper spice. The alcohol isn’t really noticed. This is a weird one in that it seems like it wants to have more character than a macro cider, and it does with obvious real ingredients. However, it is still fairly muted in the taste. I would like a little more character.

750 ml bottle. Very pale yellow with almost no head. Strong apple aromas. A nice tart, dry apple flavor with a hint of pears as well. Very dry finish. My first "micro-cider". Very drinkable, I’d have it again.

Name: Gale’s Hard Cider
Date: 07/21/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Indy

clear pale yellow, frothy white head, strone apple aroma with a good balance between the sweet and the tart, very dry apple flavor with wave after wave of tartness, very clean finish

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Sweet aroma of apples. Light yellow in color, no head. Light mouth feel with mild sourness. Pleasant, sweet body. Very akin to white wine. I’m a fan.

Sampled on 10/14/2006 at the winery... Sample was poured from a large pitcher. Color was *almost* the color of water and just as clear. Barely any carbonation. Light apple aroma. Crisp, subtle apple flavor. Not really sweet, but not really dry either. Finish reminded me of a generic white wine. Palate was very thin, again like water. Everything about this cidar seemed to be light - too light. I was hoping for a little more fruit flavor and carbonation. Overall this cidar was not very exciting, but I will give this winery credit for offering something a little different besides just having wine. I also grabbed a bottle of the Gale’s Hard Cidar "The Chieftan’s Blend" which might be a bit more interesting...

(draft- Indiana brewers fest) Yellow fizzy and smooth commerical cider with a sour apple nose, and a dry lactic taste with fresh apple.

750 ml bottle, labeled as 7% ABV. Very pale, almost totally clear yellow with slight bubbling and no top fizziness, no "pop." Light fresh nose, slight hints of alcohol. Very light and dry, rather bland actually...lightly alcoholic, lightly buttery, but overall lacking in fruity sweetness and too smooth. A disappointment. Purchased at that Mecca of great cider and beer in S. Indiana, New Albanian/Rich-O’s.

Though described as "strong and dry", I'd have to cast my vote differently. It is actualy more sweet and crisp than strong and dry. It is up to par with most most domestice ciders made at small orchards. Its light with little to no carbonation. Very clear and tastes best well chilled. Mild alcohol aftertaste.