J.K.'s Solstice Hard Cider Farmhouse Organic

"Give me Yesterday's Bread, this Day's Flesh, and last Year's Cyder." -Benjamin Franklin

Our first Winter ale is J.K.'s Solstice Hard Cider Farmhouse Organic purchased at Vintage Estates.

The ingredients are fresh apple juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and yeast - no sulfites are added. It is USDA organic and gluten free. It is 6.9% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.9/10

It pours a straw yellow, like apple juice. It is slightly cloudy and traslucent with no carbonation. We smell apple, cinnamon, and honey. The taste is crisp and smooth, and we don't taste alcohol at all. The other flavors are very complimentary to the apple flavor. This reminds Shawn and I of the cider at White House Fruit Farm.

Shawn- This reminds me of winter even though apples are more of a fall flavor. I really didn't think I'd like ciders, but this brewery is great, 9/10.
Angela- The slight vanilla flavor gives the cider a creaminess that's very yummy, 8.5/10.
Chris- I taste at least three kinds of apples, but I expected more carbonation. Honestly though, I have to nitpick to truly find flaws with this cider, 9.25/10.

Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale

"Better Beer - Better World"

In honor of the season, we're devoting the next week and a half to Pumpkin ales. So far we have been trying to stick with seven beers for seven days. However, there are so many pumpkin ales, we are trying to do as many as we can, and I think we have done a good job! We are kicking off the week with Vermont's own Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale purchased at Vintage Estates. (Their official website is currently under construction, so they direct you to their Facebook page for now. Here is the official site: http://www.wolavers.com/.)

"Since 1997, Wolaver's has combined a passion for exceptional ales along with a strong belief on the benefits of organic farming." Otter Creek Brewing actually produces the Wolaver's Fine Organic beers. It is brewed with organically grown Vermont pumpkins and four fresh organic spices, and it is unfiltered and unpasteurized. The label shows a farmer holding a pitchfork and a growler (awesome!) along with a picture of wheat and pumpkins.

Overall average rating: 5.5/10

It pours as a translucent orange color with a thick, off-white head that moderately diminishes. The aroma is strongly pumpkin, as well as wheat and spices, primarily nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. The taste is strongly clove with a metallic finish. The pumpkin flavor almost seems to be an afterthought.

Shawn- My previous experience with organic beers is that they have a lot thought put into them. This was well done, but not up to par with other organic beers. It almost seems like it was more of a concern to make an organic beer than to make a good pumpkin beer, 5.5/10.

Angela- This is a very sessionable pumpkin beer because it is not overly spicy. It is very light and refreshing, but not something I would drink if I was in the mood for a flavorful pumpkin ale, 5.5/10.

Chris- It is not a bad beer; I just expected more flavor from it, 5.5/10.

J. K.'s Scrumpy Hard Cider - Farmhouse Organic

We're halfway through Cider Week! Tonight's drink of choice is J. K.'s Scrumpy Hard Cider - Farmhouse Organic, purchased at Vintage Estates.

This hand-bottled, unfiltered, and organic cider is gluten free with no sulfites added. The apples used are grown at the Koan Family Orchards in Michigan. "We have produced hard ciders since the 1860s. This is the same traditional recipe that helped save our farm during the great depression." Scrumpy is an English-style farmhouse cider, and while this is not an English-style cider, it is definitely farmhouse. The ingredients are listed (fresh apple juice, yeast), as well as this quote: "He that drinks his Cyder alone, let him catch his Horse alone" -Benjamin Franklin. It is 6% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.0/10

This cider is golden and opaque with no head; it is not very carbonated. The aroma is a delicious apple juice scent, much sweeter smelling than the previous ciders. The taste is very cidery - very sweet, lightly tart, cinnamon, nutmeg. Yum.

Shawn- This is exactly what I expect from apple cider - cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, honey. I love that it's unfiltered with pieces of apple skin inside. I don't think I'll have a better cider this year. It really reminds me of White House Fruit Farm, 9/10.
Angela- I smell apple juice, but I definitely get more of an apple cider taste like Shawn described, especially the cinnamon and honey. Again, I was proven wrong when I said I liked tart ciders better. It is very drinkable and sooooo delicious, 9/10.
Chris- This reminds me of cinnamon applesauce. It is another cider I would recommend to anyone. It tastes like the apple cider from my youth that would sit in the fridge just a little too long and begin to ferment itself, 9/10.

Samuel Smith's Organic Cider

Day 3 brings us Samuel Smith's Organic Cider, purchased at Vintage Estates.

Samuel Smith's is Yorkshire's oldest brewery, and this cider is produced from organically grown apples. There are three apples on the label (red, green, and McIntosh), and the nutrition facts and ingredients (water, organic apple juice, organic cane sugar) are also listed. We also like that there are food pairings listed: "Serving suggestions: Cream soups; salad with vinaigrette dressing; a classic companion to pork dishes; wonderful to clean the palate after spicy food yet subtle enough to pair with delicate flavours." It is best served at about 44 degrees and is 5% ABV.

The description alone has us very excited: "A medium dry cider with brilliant straw colour, light body, clean apple flavour and a gentle apple blossom finish."

Overall average rating: 8.3/10

This cider is a beautiful golden/straw color with a sustainable white head. Chris thinks it resembles a pilsner. There is a rich apple aroma with a touch of apple blossom. The apple taste is rich, almost buttery, with just a hint of the apple blossom, and it bites on the sides of the tongue. This one is a lot sweeter than the previous two ciders.

Shawn- The bottle could not have described this any better. The bitter finish offsets the sweetness of the initial taste. This is very drinkable and extremely well done. I was not really looking forward to cider week, but this is delicious, 8.5/10.
Angela- I lied before when I didn't think I'd like a sweeter cider. This is the sweetest one we have had, and I like it the best by far. I really enjoy the sweet taste accompanied by the slight bitter bite at the end, 8/10.
Chris- This is one of the ciders I would suggest to anyone to drink. It is a fantastically well-balanced cider, and the fact that it is organic and gluten free adds to its overall amazement, 8.5/10.