Fox Barrel Rhubarb & Elderberry Review

Cidery: Fox Barrel Cidery, Colfax, California
Cider: Rhubarb & Elderberry
Serving: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: Fox Barrel glass
Information: 6.5% ABV, gluten free.
Style: Specialty Cider
Price: $5.99 / bottle
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Effervescent as always, the cider produces a miraculously short-lived off-white head which disappears into the murky deep ruby mahogany colored cider.

Smell

Refreshing and inviting, this unique aroma offers a plethora of fruit complexity. Rhubarb imparts a small, vegetation-like aroma to the cider that, in conjunction with the elderberry, pear, and organic honey, is very welcome.

Taste

Unlike anything else out there, the rhubarb, while considered a “fruit” still offers slight vegetation flavors between the raspberry-like elderberry and pear sweetness. Honey flavor isn’t so much a part of the taste as much as general sweetness that lingers on the tongue is.

Mouthfeel

Fizzy with sparkling carbonation, the mouthfeel is light and crisp with a moderate dryness to the finish, which aids in balancing out the sweetness.

Overall

It’s hard to deny the bravery and experimentation of Fox Barrel and Crispin, which continues to pay off big for them. Once again, they blend things that might sound unthinkable at first, for a quite delicious and refreshing outcome. The Rhubarb and Elderberry perry is a breath of fresh air into cider-ville much like the craft beer revolution is.

Score: 90 / 100 - Exceptional

Cheers,
-Andy

Fox Barrel Ginger & Black Currant

Cidery: Fox Barrel Cidery, Colfax, California
Cider: Ginger & Black Currant
Serving: 22 ox bottle
Glassware: Fox Barrel glass
Information: 6.5% ABV, “bottoms-up and swirl” to pour
Style: Specialty Cider
Price: $5.99 / bottle
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Dispersing the sediment evenly, this highly effervescent cider pours with a soda-like fizz, evaporating head and all, to fill the glass with a muted grapefruit-like pink-ish ruby color.

Smell

Powerful ginger spice pours from this beer with ease, suggesting a Moscow Mule with it’s citrus fruit notes in tow. Pear is least of all influencing the aroma, as black currant steals the show (after ginger, of course).

Taste

Even though there’s a massive nose of ginger, the cider’s flavor is more toned down, focusing on the fruitiness a bit more; black currant adds a very unique twist to the perry base this cider is made from.

Mouthfeel

Strong carbonation dances on the tongue as this light-bodied cider moves effortlessly from lips to stomach. A lingering, natural honey sweetness is left behind, causing a tasty, reflective lip-smacking.

Overall

Ginger and black currant are quite unusual additions to a pear cider, one might thing, but Fox Barrel pulls them off almost effortlessly. The aroma, while surprising, is crisp and inviting, shifting attention from the ginger root to the fruitiness nicely. One of the most unusual and distinctive ciders on the market!

Score: 83 / 100 - Very Good

Cheers,
-Andy

Fox Barrel English Perry Review

Cidery: Fox Barrel Cidery, Colfax, California
Cider: English Perry
Serving: 16 oz can
Glassware: Fox Barrel glass
Information: 5.3% ABV
Style: English Perry
Price: $7.99 / 4-pack
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

This English Perry has a champagne-like effervescent as it pours, fizzing while the loose white head disappears quickly. The perry itself is a hazy lemonade-like color that’s refreshing to the eyes.

Smell

Fox Barrel’s English Perry isn’t overly fruit, but more reminiscent of a young white wine with white grape overtones and a splash of Bartlett pear skin.

Taste

Dry and clean, there’s certainly some fruitiness going on here, but it’s not overly pronounced or direct, instead, tart and delicious pear undertones absorb into the tongue leaving a dry white grape / wine finish. Quite tasty!

Mouthfeel

Sparkling carbonation dances on the tongue like champagne giving the mouthfeel a bright and lively lighter body that swallows with a delicate crispness that’s not aggressive. While dry, it finishes with a lingering sweetness that balances out for superb drinkability.

Overall

Fox Barrel’s English Perry almost defines the style, crisply asserting it’s mélange of fruit undertones along side the perfect carbonation and dry mouthfeel. Supremely drinkable and purely natural, this here is a can of near perfection!

Score: 91 / 100 - Exceptional

Cheers,
-Andy

Crispin Lansdowne Review

Cidery: Crispin Cider Co., Minneapolis, MN
Cider: Lansdowne
Serving: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: Crispin glass
Information: 6.9% ABV, Gluten Free, With Irish stout yeast and organic molasses.
Style: Specialty Cider
Price: $4.99
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Poured with sediment evenly dispersed, Lansdowne is a muddy pond water brown that’s briefly topped by a tan head. While it’s not incredibly appealing honestly, the cloudy sediment is chock-full of flavor.

Smell

Smooth notes of rich molasses marry the red apple aroma nicely. Faint yeast hints keep this cider rather dimensional in aroma as it finishes out with an earthy undertone.

Taste

Big molasses sweetness blankets red delicious apples with it’s flavorful stickiness making it more of a molasses cider than an apple one. Irish yeast earth tones pull through the background and round it out nicely.

Mouthfeel

Full-bodied and sticky smooth with a lightly dry, bold sweet finish, Lansdowne remains just under cloying in sweetness levels while finishing out nicely.

Overall

A perfect cool fall evening cider, Lansdowne could potentially be awesome warmed up like spiced cider on an exceptionally cool fall day. It’s blend of red apples and gooey molasses make for a tasty treat loaded with soft yeast and it’s inherent nutrients. Quite delicious!

Score: 85 / 100 - Wonderful

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Cheers,
-Andy

Crispin Honey Crisp Review

Cidery: Crispin Cider Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cider: Honey Crisp
Serving: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: Crispin glass
Information: 6.5% ABV, Gluten Free.
Style: Specialty Cider
Price: $4.99 / bottle
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

A nice swirl, as the bottle directs, fills the glass with a hazy, very pale straw white, faint yellow colored cider. An effervescent white head fizzes out quickly.

Smell

Crisp honey crisp apples (who woulda guessed?) are juicy and abounding in mellow sweetness and tart apple skin. Refreshing and inviting.

Taste

Smooth honey crisp apple and light tannin tartness from the apple skins come forwards with a minimal but nice sweetness in tow. Almost a faint yeast touch comes along in the finish.

Mouthfeel

Smooth and well-balanced despite the heavier carbonation, Honey Crisp finishes with a crisp, lingering sweetness that’s very refreshing.

Overall

Lightly fruity and naturally sweet, Honey Crisp reminds me of the apple almost perfectly. Refreshing and clean, it’s one hell of a tasty cider!

Score: 88 / 100 - Wonderful

Download Shelf Talker Here.

Cheers,
-Andy

Crispin Cho-Tokkyu Review

Cidery: Crispin Cider Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cider: Cho-Tokkyu
Serving: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: Crispin glass
Information:
Style: Specialty Cider
Price: $4.99
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

As hazy as they come, Cho-Tokkyu is loaded with fine particles after the Crispin class, “full bottoms-up tilt and swirl”. Pale straw yellow, it’s near the inner color of some red apples. Highly effervescent, Cho-Takkyu produces a head that vanishes before the pour is even complete.

Smell

Hints of gourmet cooked rice waft through the lightly sweet apple aroma. Crisp and fresh, it’s almost got a floral fragrance to it. Yeast plays a minimal role with slight sake aromas to it.

Taste

Surprisingly mellow for a Crispin, the fuji-like apple flavor is rather tame as is the rice syrup addition. Almost indistinguishable, it must be a fermentation addition that doesn’t add much flavor. Faint hints of sake finish out this soft-tasting Crispin.

Mouthfeel

Despite heavy, effervescent carbonation, Cho-Takkyu remains soft and supple on the tongue. The light-bodied cider finishes out with a mild crisp bite and nice refreshing quality with a touch of saltiness blending with natural sweetness.

Overall

Cho-Takkyu is definitely one of the more unique, intriguing ciders I’ve experienced. I absolutely love my sake but, I find this release a bit lacking when compared to the caliber of Crispin’s other Artisanal Reserve series. I respect nuance but, unfortunately, the bulk of rice must be in fermentables and the sake yeast is very mellow. Regarding apple flavor, it’s quite tasty and refreshing but don’t expect the uniqueness of this cider to carry from the label to the glass.

Score: 75 / 100 - Good

Download Shelf Talker Here.

Cheers,
-Andy