Tag: beer

Pours fizzy, creating a beige/eggshell-colored foamy head that’s dense image and wonderfully laced, sticking to the glass and also retaining magnificently. In fact, the lacing stays until the end. Beneath, a deep brown brew with rich tawny hues. This beer has some serious legs. Complex aromas: soft and powdery on the nose, with aromas of malt, chocolate chip cookie dough and a deep-rooted fruitiness, notes of plum skins, spicy phenols and a soft bready yeast character.

Very smooth on the palate with a creamy carbonation buildup, seltzery feel and tonic-water bite. This is followed by a quick and sharp tannic tartness that oddly lingers in the background and into the finish. Layered on top of this is something quite sweet, but not cloying, with a rosewater-like base, notes of strawberries, faint berry-like sourness, white grapes, orange pith, floral honey, over-ripe peach meat, pear juice, hints of mint, and a cutting peppery edge that segues into a somewhat-spicy and increasingly warming booziness, thanks to its 8 percent alcohol by volume. Pleasingly herbal, akin to sweetened cold Chinese tea. Light tannins linger in the bone-dry, powdery finish.

We sampled a few 12-ounce bottles of this cider, chilled down to 40 degrees. Light, fizzy bubbles rise to the top while pouring. Very pale yellow color. Low carbonation. At first glance, you might almost think this is a white wine. Smells of a blend of Pink Lady, Granny Smith and McIntosh apples; a bit buttery and musty in the back. Sulfites are very hard to detect. Very light body, very white-wine-ish. Tartness leads the way, soft but with a bite. Light, earthen notes; apple skin and apple pulp, middle to back. Sweet and sour apple flavor in the middle. Kiss of warmth from the alcohol. Wet and refreshing; almost too drinkable. At 6 percent alcohol by volume, any more than a few glasses will make you loopy.

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