Tasting #49 Hard Cider

Name: Foggy Ridge Hard Cider Pippin Gold
Fruit: Newtown Pippin
Color: light yellow
Smell: brandy, apple
Taste: sweet, Brandy, hot on the finish
Dryness/Sweetness: sweet
Food: just tasting
Country/Region: Dugspur, VA

Alcohol Content: 18%
How much? $25.95 (for 375ml)
Would you drink it again? I’d try it again – This was definitely for sipping.

Extra thoughts? The finish is a little hot which is accounted for by the 18% alcohol content. This cider was described as a similar to a brandy.

Other reviews:
From the website:
“Pippin Gold is a unique blend of 100% Newtown Pippin hard cider and apple brandy from Laird and Company, the country's oldest distiller. Pippin Gold is delicious as a dessert cider or sweet aperitif. Some have swooned over peaches soaked in Pippin Gold served with homemade pound cake.”

My rating scale works as such:
1. Never Again
2. If someone else bought it
3. I'd keep it in mind
4. At least one more time
5. Going to get another bottle right NOW!

Tasting #48 Hard Cider

Name: Foggy Ridge Hard Cider Pippin Black
Fruit: Newtown Pippin and Arkansas Black apples
Color: more rich golden color
Smell: butterscotch, candy, apply
Taste: brandy, butterscotch, sweet, still little hot on the finish
Dryness/Sweetness: sweet
Food: just tasting
Country/Region: Dugspur, VA

Alcohol Content: 18%
How much? $25.95 (for 375ml)
Would you drink it again? I’d try it again – This was definitely for sipping (like the above mentioned).

Extra thoughts? The finish is a little hot which is accounted for by the 18% alcohol content. This was aged in Hungarian Oak for a few months, which I think accounts for some of the brandy flavors.

Other reviews:
From the website:
“Newly released Pippin Black combines hard cider from Newtown Pippin and Arkansas Black apples with Virginia apple brandy. To gild the lily we age this blend on Hungarian Oak. Butterscotch and caramel notes combine with rich apple flavor, making this apple port ideal with blue cheese and walnuts.”

My rating scale works as such:
1. Never Again
2. If someone else bought it
3. I'd keep it in mind
4. At least one more time
5. Going to get another bottle right NOW!

Tasting #47 Hard Cider

Name: Foggy Ridge Hard Cider Serious Cider
Fruit: English Cider Apples
Color: light yellow
Smell: apple
Taste: crisp, tart, dry, carbonated
Dryness/Sweetness: mildy dry
Food: just tasting
Country/Region: Dugspur, VA

Alcohol Content: not sure
How much? $17.25
Would you drink it again? I’d try it again.

Extra thoughts? This particular hard cider was better than the First Fruit Cider above. It was more smooth than the previous one.

Other reviews:
From the website:
“Mixes traditional English cider apples like Tremlett’s bitter and Dabinett with tart American favorites like Ashmead’s Kernel and Roxbury Russey. This crisp light food friendly cider is a refreshing apertifi paired with cheesy nibbles.”

My rating scale works as such:
1. Never Again
2. If someone else bought it
3. I'd keep it in mind
4. At least one more time
5. Going to get another bottle right NOW!

Tasting #46 Hard Cider

Name: Foggy Ridge Hard Cider First Fruit
Fruit: Crab Apples
Color: light yellow
Smell: apple
Taste: crisp, dry, carbonated
Dryness/Sweetness: mildy dry
Food: just tasting
Country/Region: Dugspur, VA

Alcohol Content: not sure
How much? $17.25
Would you drink it again? I’d try it again – I haven’t had many hard ciders but this was tasty.

Extra thoughts? This particular hard cider was made with non edible apples (crab apples).

Other reviews:
From the bottle:
“Cider blends early season American heirloom apple to create a rich fruity cider with lively acidity to drink, like Thomas Jefferson, on its own or with a meal.”

My rating scale works as such:
1. Never Again
2. If someone else bought it
3. I'd keep it in mind
4. At least one more time
5. Going to get another bottle right NOW!

Tasting #45 Hard Cider

Name: Foggy Ridge Hard Cider Serious Cider
Fruit: English Cider Apples
Color: light yellow
Smell: apple
Taste: crisp, tart, dry, carbonated
Dryness/Sweetness: mildy dry
Food: just tasting
Country/Region: Dugspur, VA

Alcohol Content: not sure
How much? $17.25
Would you drink it again? I’d try it again.

Extra thoughts? This particular hard cider was better than the First Fruit Cider above. It was more smooth than the previous one.

Other reviews:
From the website:
“Mixes traditional English cider apples like Tremlett’s bitter and Dabinett with tart American favorites like Ashmead’s Kernel and Roxbury Russey. This crisp light food friendly cider is a refreshing apertifi paired with cheesy nibbles.”

My rating scale works as such:
1. Never Again
2. If someone else bought it
3. I'd keep it in mind
4. At least one more time
5. Going to get another bottle right NOW!

Foggy Ridge Hard Cider

Foggy Ridge Cider was at the Vintage Cellar on Saturday. At the time, the only hard cider I have ever tasted was Woodchuck and I’m happy to say that all the ciders mentioned below are much better. Here is some information from their website. "At Foggy Ridge Cider in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Cidermaker Diane Flynt combines innovation and tradition. Over 30 American, English and French apple varieties—ugly and hard to grow but full of the tannin, acid and aroma needed for fine cider—are blended to create a traditional hard cider crafted with modern techniques.The Blue Ridge mountains have long produced fine apples. Queen Victoria so prized Newtown Pippins from Bent Mountain and central Virginia that she removed the export tax from this spicy aromatic apple. The orchards at Foggy Ridge Cider continue this tradition of well grown apples, carefully selected for flavor and hardiness.Quality cider begins with quality cider apples. Foggy Ridge Cider blends heirloom American apples like Harrison, Graniwinkle and Roxbury Russett with traditional English and French cider apples to create cider with uncommon depth and balance."