Wife and husband team Michelle and Steve Faris make this Aurora-born cider with a touch of honey from a Halton family farm. This full-bodied sparkler is dripping with notes of rich dessert apples, pie crust and a refreshing hit of acidity.
One of the driest craft ciders readily available in Ontario grocery and liquor stores comes from Kitchener-Waterloo’s only cidery, founded in 2014. Reminiscent of an off-dry Riesling with aromas of white lily and apple, and a bright [what?] of wet stone and zingy citrus.
A decent starter cider at a good price from Andrew Peller made from Nova Scotia apples with a nose of fresh apples and lightly spritzed. It fills the mouth with McIntosh apple flavours in an almost-still style after the bubbles quickly disappear on the palate. There is sweetness here along with apple goodness but could use a little more zippy acidity.
This is a blend of Valencia oranges and Citra hops and apples. The nose shows a rich and sharp mix of marmalade, spiced apple, hops and ginger. On the palate, the tasty apple and orange rind/marmalade notes intermingle with spruce needle in a crisp, hoppy style carried on a gentle bead. Completely cerebral and delicious!
A softer, mellower cider — that’s what barrel aging in Kentucky bourbon oak barrels for 2.5 years does — with a gentle bead in the glass and a nose of bin apple, pie crust, touch of marmalade character and barrel notes of vanilla and spice. Lovely texture on the palate, a bit of a whisky thang going on, joined to mature apple and a range of spice notes.
A gentle but persistent bead in the glass with a nose of apple pie, cream, toast, a touch of citrus and even a note of tropical fruit. It’s crisp and bright on the palate with forward green apple and a smidge of citrus-lemon all bolstered by brilliant, mouth-watering acidity in a perfectly dry style.
A Tortured Path was inspired by ciders from Somerset, UK and made from bitter-sharp and bittersweet apples blended with Golden Russet apples with 6.5% abv. The nose shows funky/earthy baked apple notes, subtle spice and cinnamon with a soft mousse. It shows complexity on the palate with creamy apple, depth of flavour, spice notes and brilliant acidity to give it freshness through the finish.