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

SALTED PINEAPPLE PERRY ~ POMMIES

This seems to be a one off, made for Ontario Craft Cider week---too bad! Sampled on draught this perry poured a hazy pale lemony yellow. Lots of pineapple with a more subtle pear on the nose. The first sip is loaded with robust sweet tangy pineapple then a complement of subtle saltiness is present., giving it an almost nutty flavour. The cider itself is quite sweet and the finish is off dry. The sweet and salty are nicely balanced and the flavour seems to fill your mouth. I am not so much a cider person, but these gose and cider cross pollinations are to die for I hope to see more of this style appear.

6.2% from Caledon, Ontario

LAVENDER PEAR CIDER ~ SPIRIT TREE

Sampled on draught this semi-sweet cider poured a slightly hazy light golden yellow colour, with moderate streaming carbonation. The nose cont

ained lots of pear with subtle floral notes. The lavender was quite light in aroma. The taste is lovely and rich. There is lots of caramelized pear in the flavour, along with earthy lavender and spice. The lavender is evident but is not cloying or overdone. The cider finishes with a slight astringency. As the pint progressed the carbonation fell off and was on the light side. The mouth feel was slightly syrupy. There is lots of complexity in the finish as the taste lingers and stimulates taste buds in different areas of the palette. This would be lovely with a cheese plate. The cider seems to be a one-off; I hope they make this again! I really enjoyed this cider!

6% from Caledon, Ontario

PERRY  ~ SPIRIT TREE CIDERY

An unfiltered Somerset style Perry made from Harrowgold Pears.  Hazy straw in colour.  The cider is a little on the sweet side with just a little tartness at the end.  Taste is cooked pears and floral notes. It is too sweet to be really refreshing on a hot day, but would have this when the weather gets cooler with a cheese plate. 

5.5 to 6% from Caledon, Ontario
-beer/cider 101-