Small Acres Cyder Sparkling Perry 2021

 

Sparkling Perry hits the tasting bench for the first time in a while. For a change of scenery, this is a fabulous aperitif or partner for a roast pork. 

Small Acres Norfolk Still Cyder 2020

 

A traditional medium dry alcoholic cider reflecting the style of apple wine produced in the eastern English counties when labourers were paid in cider back in the 17th century. This is a smart alternative to a crisp white wine. 

Small Acres Heritage Blend Apple Cider

 

It's been a while between cider reviews so this sample was Small Acres in Orange, NSW, was very much welcome. This is a good get for those that enjoy real cider.

Sunshine Coast Cider Brut+ Cider NV

Wowsers! Super smart cider. An excellent substitute for sparkling wines yet not skimping on interest or pleasure.

Sunshine Coast Cider Dry & Still Cider

Dry and still cider made on the Sunshine Coast from Granite Belt apples.

Sunshine Coast Cider Cloudy Perry

A good alternative for those who don't want apples because you can have your pears instead.

Sunshine Coast Cider Sunshine Cider

Long hot days and a tall glass of this cider ice cold will cure your ills. Beautiful!

Sunshine Coast Cider Bottle Fermented Cider

There's a big kick to this but you wouldn't know it. Weighing in at 7.2%, it's made with apples grown on the Granite Belt.

Chain Ring Cider Co Granny Gear 2018

Granny Gear cider. Not one for yo mumma, just a cider made from a field blend of Granny Smith and Fuji apples.

Chain Ring Cider Co Mosaic Madness 2018

A refreshing neck massage awaits. Such a delicious cider to throw back.

Chainring Cider Co Mosaic Madness 2017

The brainchild of Golden Grove Estate's diminutive winemaker Ray Costanzo and self-described mountain bike 'warrior'. 

Chainring Cider Co was founded simply because a mate of his doesn’t drink beer. After a mountain bike ride he would always drink cider while the rest of the group drank Costanzo's homebrew. Costanzo said he'd make his mate a cider but couldn’t help throwing in some left-over hops. 

St Ronan's Apple Cider

Here's a tasty way to start your afternoon. An ideal aperitif though I couldn't sit down and have a sesh with these. They are more rustic than gluggable and certainly a far cry from the sugar laden crap made from concentrate that's for sure. And that's what sets it apart from other ciders out there. There's plenty to chew on and think about. Real cider made from real apples sums up where maker Troy Jones is coming from here.

Tastes skinsy and yeasty. It's dry but a touch of sweetness lobs up at the finish. Textural, there's poached apple and canned apple washing about. It has a red apple skin taste too though Jones tells me he used a number of varieties some of which are red. Doesn't matter anyway really coz I like what it is.

Give me one or two watching the sunset.

Good+

Region: Yarra Valley
RRP: $16 (4 pack)
Source: Sample

www.stronanscider.com.au

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Friday Drinks on Radio 4BC 14 March - Cider

The topic last Friday was something a little different. To mix it up we had a chat about Cider.
I spoke about how it's made and the difference between "Real Cider" and those made from concentrates which make up over 50% of the market.

My picks this week are:
Napoleone Apple and Pear Cider from the Yarra Valley - around $15 for a pack available from Drinx outlets.
Hills Cider Company (apple and pear) from Adelaide Hills - also around $15 and is readily available.
One of my faves is St Ronans from the Yarra Valley. This Pear Cider (apple is also produced) is fermented in the bottle (750mL) and you can grab it for around $28 at Craft Wine Store.

Click here to listen in

St Ronan's Pear Cider

I absolutely love the apple cider these guys punch out, and as tasty as that was, this is just as good. Both are made exactly the same, the only difference being one is apple and the other pear.

Icy cold, I was having this on a stinking hot day. Super refreshing, crisp, fresh and textural. I felt like someone had just dropped some freshly cut pears in my mouth.

Enter the pig on a spit and the experience went to a whole new level. A great match!

I shared this with a few friends and, well, the bottle (750ml) was gone before we could top up. Unanimous love and lots of talk about the textural appeal.

Available on tap too, it is hitting all the trendy Melbourne bars and independent stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Give your insides a treat with the apple or pear. You deserve it!

Who: St Ronan's Cider
What: Pear Cider (7% alc)
Where: Yarra Valley
How: $27 (750mL)

www.StRonansCider.com.au

St Ronan's Apple Cider

This is real cider folks! Method Traditionelle Apple Cider. Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

The brains behind St Ronan's are two great mates Troy Jones and Eric Driessen. Their goal was to create cider which was different to everything in the market place and this they have achieved.

St Ronan's is going from strength to strength with their cider which also comes in kegs and is poured in various venues in the Melbourne CBD including Brother Burger and Cider House.

A perfect aperitif with the acid balanced nicely enabling food to be partnered easily. A golden appearance not too dissimilar to a lager, it is still a little cloudy. The only addition made was some sulphur and yeast (of course!). No acid, concentrate, no water and no tannins thrown in. 100% real cider.

Pure and cleansing, it tastes like, well, freshly cut apples! Not too hard on the fizz, the fruit sits and lingers for a while with a little yeasty finish. Bloody good and very refreshing.

Serve icy cold and be taken to cider heaven.

Who: St Ronan's Cider
What: Apple Cider (8% alc)
Where: Yarra Valley
How: $27 (750mL)

www.StRonansCider.com.au

Sitting Ducks Cider

A change from the norm here with a post on cider.

Cider has been a boom product of late with so much of it saturating the market. But that saturation is not necessarily the good gear. Many big companies, most of which have their hands in the pockets of supermarket distributors, are pumping out incredible amounts of cider made from concentrate. Yep. Concentrate. Consumers have no clue what they are drinking nor where it is from, and in the vast majority of cases they don't care. It's cold and sweet so bottoms up!

I read a tweet recently stating that 893,378,000 Litres of Chinese apple concentrate has been imported into Australia and I'd suggest much of it is going down the necks of those reaching out for a cheap, sweet, mass produced cider kick.

Then I stumble across this. Sitting Ducks. A new comer on the scene with two ciders made in the Adelaide Hills from 100% juice, not concentrate.

The apple cider is a mix of the Fuji, Pink Lady and Granny Smith varieties. A dry style and a perfect food type to accompany a roast pork. Roast pork and cider, you can't go wrong! It's clean and crisp and weighs in at a big 6% alc.

My preference of the two is the Peary cider. Many pear ciders have a near clear appearance but this looks light golden. It really hit the spot for me. Not too dry and certainly not too sweet. Smack bang in the middle. A great drink to sit back with on a warm afternoon to knock back a few (4.5% alc).

Availability is increasing across the nation but at this stage it is mainly available in good independent bottle shops in Adelaide and Melbourne or online.

Who: Sitting Ducks Cider
What: Apple & Pear Cider
Where: Adelaide Hills
How: $15 (per four pack)

www.sittingduckscider.com.au