UpstateMike

Recipes 

So I went shopping today and picked up six retail ciders that I haven't tried before, but have wanted to. I will be posting my reviews as they are drunk, or I am drunk.

__________________
"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." ~ 1 Timothy 5:23

Currently Fermenting:
Skeeter Pee
Blueberry Cider

Bottle Conditioning:
Blackberry Cider

In Bottles / Drinking:
Cranberry Cider
Citron Cider
The Five Eight Five

FantasticMisterFox

Recipes 

Samuel Smith's Organic Cider is my mass produced standard bearer.

I love Bellweather Original and Liberty Spy also, you should be able to get that in the ROC... or just talk to Lebreton

UpstateMike

Recipes 

I have tried some of Bellweathers ciders. The Black Magic is pretty good too.

__________________
"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." ~ 1 Timothy 5:23

Currently Fermenting:
Skeeter Pee
Blueberry Cider

Bottle Conditioning:
Blackberry Cider

In Bottles / Drinking:
Cranberry Cider
Citron Cider
The Five Eight Five

UpstateMike

Recipes 

First up, Strongbow.

Clear glass, pryoff crown cap, not a twistoff, so now I have another source for clear bottles to reuse other than my Corona bottles with the paint removed.

Light carbonation. Although advertised as a dry, it tastes like a semi-dry, with a tart apple finish. Their website recommends "drinking it over ice for a crisp, refreshing taste that always hits the spot", although I think that would water it down a bit. Put the bottle in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then pour into a chilled glass.

I think this is one that could grow on me in time.

It is a bit expensive though, because it is an import. Close to $11 for a 6 pack here.

Out of a maximum of 5 Dancing Bananas, I will give Strongbow:

__________________
"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." ~ 1 Timothy 5:23

Currently Fermenting:
Skeeter Pee
Blueberry Cider

Bottle Conditioning:
Blackberry Cider

In Bottles / Drinking:
Cranberry Cider
Citron Cider
The Five Eight Five

eandersen

Recipes 

I'm totally spoiled on my cider selection in the northeast. Bantam wunderkind...mmmmmm

WilliamSlayer

Recipes 

Love it Mike! I Look forward to the reviews. I just don't visit my local liquor store all that much any more since starting this hobby.

UpstateMike

Recipes 

Tonights selection is Magners Original Irish Cider

Brown bottle, pryoff crown cap, so it will be suitable for reuse in home brews. As long as you dont mind the embossed signature of William Magners on the bottle.

Smell is that of a typical eurocider.

Lightly carbonated, somewhere in the dry to semi-dry range. The finish is that of "tart Budweiser". I know it isn't a beer, but even the belch I just had tasted like a "Bud Burp".

Being an import once again, it is a bit on the expensive side as far as retail ciders go.

I am glad I tried this one, but I can't see myself going out of my way to get more.

Out of a maximum of 5 Dancing Bananas, I will give Magners Original Irish Cider:

__________________
"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." ~ 1 Timothy 5:23

Currently Fermenting:
Skeeter Pee
Blueberry Cider

Bottle Conditioning:
Blackberry Cider

In Bottles / Drinking:
Cranberry Cider
Citron Cider
The Five Eight Five

UpstateMike

Recipes 

A bit slow tonight, so I cracked open another. Woodchuck Raspberry.

Nice short brown bottle (Is woodchuck no longer using green bottles?), pryoff crown cap, and will be reused in my future ciders.

Can definately smell the raspberry.

Light carbonation. It is a sweet cider. First impression is that it is watery, with a raspberry taste, and then a bitter finish, as if it fermented too long and took on the flavor of the seeds.

It is a domestic, brewed in Vermont, and priced about average with other ciders, $8 for a 6 pack.

It isn't bad, but I'm glad I didn't buy the 6 pack just to try this.

Out of a maximum of 5 Dancing Bananas, I will give Woodchuck Raspberry:

__________________
"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." ~ 1 Timothy 5:23

Currently Fermenting:
Skeeter Pee
Blueberry Cider

Bottle Conditioning:
Blackberry Cider

In Bottles / Drinking:
Cranberry Cider
Citron Cider
The Five Eight Five

WilliamSlayer

Recipes 

Interesting. I wonder if the Magnars is fermented with a Lager yeast which might give it that 'Bud' taste. I've had it before, years ago, so the refresher was nice. :-)

WilliamSlayer

Recipes 

Never had Woodchuck Raspberry. Love the Regular and Amber. How many varieties are there now?