Woodpecker Cider

12 oz bottle. It pours a very clear and very pale yellow color with a tiny quickly vanishing white head. It has the aroma of tart smelling apple juice. It has a crisp apple taste and is sweet, tart and a little tangy. I didn’t really care for this cider.

A fresh apple aroma. This is nice. Quite a bit of apple, pretty sweet. Not too sugary finish. Still, can’t drink too much of this.

50cl can. Pale golden colour, no head. Medium carbonation. Aroma indeed vaguely reminiscent of vomit - I got to say! Taste is better: refreshing combination of sweetness and granny smith-like citrus. Dry finish. Rather simple. Not as good as the same company’s "Bulmers Original", but passable.

Bottle. Pours a light cold color, very similar to champagne. Virtually no head at all. Almost tastes like champagne. Fair amount of carbonation. Hints of apple and sugar. Light bodied.

It’s so clear looking. Aroma is of apples and sugar. Flavor the same. Not sure why I decided to get this.

Of the big boys out there, this is one of my least favorites. If my fiancee wants cider, I usually grab Woodchuck.

Pint glass pour. 4.2% ABV. Inch of white wash soda-esque head. Faintly golden, active body. Smells of lemon seltzer, mushy stewed & green apples, vodka, & sulfites. Taste is alright. Apple skins, mild juice that is neither tart nor sour, salt, soft caramel, & a little oak & tin on the finish. Carbonation is light. Feel turns dry after the mild initial sweetness. "Less then 1% of: Molasses, natural flavor, sulfites & sorbate to protect flavor. Lightly carbonated." Sulfites are toned down in comparison to everything other 12oz cider out there. Soft. Combination of juice & caramelized sweetness gives this a more reasonable taste. Be reasonable! Honestly, one of the better six pack ciders available.

I don’t get to partake of ciders nearly as much as I would like to, especially some of the finer gourmet ciders such as Ice Ciders. Cider has a long history and heritage that varies from country to country.

She is very pale, though not quite totally clear; more blanched straw than gold or yellow. No head to speak of, though a steady stream of bubbles lazily swim for the surface where they burst in tiny pockets of apple delights. Crisp, crunchy apple skins give way to juicy apple meat, ripe and ready for consuming. A faint whisper of confectioners’ sugar adds a bit of extra sweetness without the artificial finish. As she sparkles in my glass, I dive into her bubbly body for a crisp, crunchy bite as apple juices trickle down the sides of my mouth. Very light and delicate, she has a subtle body and palate. Crunchy red apples with a light body that is buoyed further by crisp carbonation. Clean, easy to drink, and no lingering finish whatsoever. While the Woodpecker Cider is not the most complex or rich cider I have tasted, she makes up for it in easy refreshment.

Ciders are one of the venues where I wish I had more time and better access to a wider selection of ciders. Some can be just as rich and complex as some of your finest beers, single-malts, and wines. In the meantime, I shall keep an open eye for more cider excitement, and if you’re in the mood for some easy cider sipping, the Woodpecker Cider is just what the doctor ordered. An apple a day, after all…