PROSTHETIC CONSCIENCE ~ REVEL

Occasionally I venture onto the cider taps at my local. This one came recommended. Prosthetic Conscience is a pretty perry (pear cider) with hibiscus. It has been fermented with ten strains of Brett and the hibiscus flowers were cold infused. Sampled on draught the perry was a stunning colour. It was cloudy and very opaque bright golden-peach colour with hints of pink. On the nose this was MASSIVELY funky - All I got was barnyard funk, the fruit was buried far beneath. The taste too was also massively funky. Lots of tart brett funkiness at the front, giving was to sweet pear at the end. I liked it while I was consuming it, but would not want anymore than a tulip glass full.

6.4% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo Courtesy of Revel Facebook

SPIRIT OF INDIA ~ REVEL CIDER

Revel Cider has produced some stellar and creative ciders this year. This is another winner. Spirit of India is a cider aged on gin botanicals with tamarind fruit, no added sugar and wild yeast. Sampled on draught the cider pours a slightly opaque straw yellow, with the slightest tinge of green with a small ring of bubbles. The smell of fresh baked spiced apple crisp is most prominent on the nose but the gin botanicals (juniper) are also evident. The cider begins with tamarind and juniper first. The tamarind offers a rich tangy sweetness, followed by subtle fruit. The cider then finishes tart with notes of the gin botanicals and spicy wild yeast. The carbonation was moderate and the body was medium. This is a lovely combination of flavour. Revel Rocks!
6.9% from Hamilton, Ontario
Photo Courtesy of Revel Cider

WINDFALL ~ REVEL CIDER

Another brilliant offering form Revel Cider! Windfall is a apple cider made with Ontario Blackberry, wildflower honey and maple syrup and juniper berries. Sampled on draught, the cider poured a bright reddish pink hue – it looked almost like a rosé. A beautiful melange of flavours in this – the blue berry presence is not overpowering but does lend a beautiful flavour and colour to the cider. The juniper berries were very subtle. The finish is smooth and has a subtle honey sweetness to cut the tartness. Definitely order this – if you see it on draught!

6.4% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo courtesy or Revel Cider

ABEL’S REVENGE ~ REVEL CIDER

As I have mentioned before in my posts, this seems to be a bumper year for ciders – some many creative and delicious new flavour combinations to try! Revel has released several fabulous ciders this year. Abel’s revenge is apple and pear scrumpy made with Ontario raspberries. Sampled on draught, it pours a lovely rich peachy-pink colour with visible effervescence. Lots of raspberry on the nose! There are lots of flavour happening here – at first very tart – but on second sip, some of the sweetness of the berries shines through. The Brett adds to the tartness and gives it a little funkiness. The finish is dry and tart. Very summery!

6.9% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo Courtesy of Revel Cider

CARDINAL ~ REVEL CIDER

This year seems to have a bumper crop of great ciders this one is no exception! Cardinal is a wild fermented cider using Cortland apples, with hibiscus and citra hops. The cider contains no added sugar – just the sweetness of the apples is all that’s needed. Sampled on draught the cider is the most beautiful rich reddish-coral blush. The nose has floral notes along with tart apples, hay, a bit of funk and hops. The cider has a full mouthfeel, with lots of fruit, sweet hibiscus, and flavours of berries and white wine. There is a lovely sour lambic tartness and subtle hops. Very refreshing, and flavourful!

6.9% from Hamilton, Ontario

LUCY IN SKY ~ REVEL CIDER

I am not usually a cider person, but this one is superb. Lucy in the Sky is a citra and Perle hopped sour apple cider, made with a wild fermented Cortland base. Fermentation happened outside in the spring when the temperatures began to climb. A bit of brett was also added too giving it a bit of complexity. Sampled on draught the cider poured a pale yellow with hints of green. Both sourness and citra hops hit you on your first sip, this mellowed as I continued to sip. The nose contained citra hops, fresh green sour apples and lots of farmyard funk and earth. The taste is quite sharp and sour at first with lots of green apple, funk and notes of green grapes and grapefruit. Mid glass I began to get some gose –like salty notes. A recommended summer sipper - Look for it!

6.9% from Hamilton, Ontario

Photo: Revel Instagram

APFELGOSE ~ REVEL CIDER CO

What a wonderful marriage! This is cider made using brewing techniques from the traditional German style gose beer. The cider was soured for four months with lactobacillus and Brett Q (from the Niagara Escapement Yeast Labs) and finished with sea salt and coriander seed. It is the first in their “Brett Series.” Revel uses all locally sourced Ontario apples from local orchards.
It  poured a slightly hazy very pale yellow. The nose was light and perfumy with hints of tart apples and a grassy funkiness. The taste had a dry sweetness, almost like wine. There was both sweetness and tartness to this beer. The coriander was subtle but added spice. There was almost a nuttiness in this, reminding me of honey-salted nuts. There was a familiar flavour I couldn’t quite put my finger on either. The cider ended with a dryness and a sea salt after taste. The cider was both light and flavourful. A really good merge, I look forward to tasting more from this series.

7.7% from Hamilton, Ontario

Picture: Revel Instagram

TRIPLE  X CIDER ~ CLIFFORD & REVEL & WEST AVENUE

This cider is a collaboration between three Hamilton breweries/cideries. It is aggressively hopped using several different types of hops. The brew masters brewed the cider more like beer, by bring it almost to the boil and adding high alpha acid hops at different times to extract the hop bitterness. Galaxy, Citra and Hop X from Clear Valley Farms, were used in the process. The cider pours a hazy blonde with a minimal head. The nose is primarily apples but also a bit of Brett. Taste is of tart apples and Brett, with a hint of lemon tartness. The hops are well hidden but have reduced the sweetness of the cider. Nice clean dry finish. A very enjoyable cider.

6% from Hamilton, Ontario       34 IBU