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

CATALYST 

MK II ~ WEST AVENUE CIDER

Catalyst cider is a dry-hopped (with Santium), barrel fermented with Ontario Montmorency Cherries. Sampled on draught the cider pours bright amber – pink. The nose has lots of tart green apple smell along with a kriek like notes from the cherries. The taste has some complexity to it. The cider starts quite tart, slightly sour with a touch of funk followed by a definite hop presence and cherry at the tail end and in the aftertaste. There is a lovely balance between the elements of this cider: hoppiness - sweet and tart. The cider is Semi dry with lively carbonation. Another cider win!

6.5% from Flamborough, Ontario

Photo courtesty of West Avenue Instagram

CATALYST ~ WEST AVENUE CIDER

Yet another amazing Ontario Cider.  The cider community has really taken off this year and had produced some outstanding and creative ciders.  This little dangerous drink is no exception.  Catalyst is a barrel-fermented, dry hopped farmhouse cider with strawberry and elderflower.  Sampled on draught the cider pours a light golden colour with a pink blush.  The aroma contains fresh apples, berries, floral notes and mild hops.  The cider begins with sweet strawberries and subtle florals.  The sweet berry tastes like summer, and not artificial at all.  The cider, mid sip, loses its sweetness and becomes crisp and finishes with very mild hop bitterness.  I would not categorize the cider as sweet or as dry, but somewhere in between.  I could drink this all night, refreshing and tasty.

6.5% from Flamborough, Ontario

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

FARMHOUSE CIDER ~ POMMIES

Pommies Farmhouse is a delicious dry cider made with saison yeast. The cider is made from only Ontario apples, using no concentrate. Sampled from a tin the cider poured a clear light yellow with a small white head that clears quickly. The mild nose contains lots of fresh tart apples, with a funky grassiness in the background. The flavour too, contains lots of tart green apples (and other orchard fruits) and farmhouse funkiness. The cider is smooth and refreshing while the finish is dry and crisp. The carbonation is lively and effervescent and the cider is medium bodied. Very easy drinking and quite delicious!

6% from Caledon, Ontario