Cider Summit Chicago (Part 1)

Greetings readers! This past weekend was slightly momentous. Hawke and Bailey were lucky enough to attend the first ever Cider Summit held in Chicago IL. This heavenly hard cider festival was held in the Lakeview Terrace room of Navy Pier (one of Bailey's favorite places in the whole city.) There had been several days of snow and freezing rain leading up to the event, however the weather decided to give us a break and even let the sun shine for a few hours. All in all, there were 26 different cider producers showcasing their artisanal ciders  for all the thirsty patrons to taste. As soon as we walked into the room, we were hit with a wave of sweet and sour apple aroma that started our taste-buds watering. At first, we were a little skeptical on how many people would actually turn up to a hard cider tasting event, as the market is just starting to get a foothold. Even in a city as big as Chicago, it is still quite hard to find hard ciders on tap (though not impossible) and there are still so many people that have never tried it. Luckily we arrived at just the right time. There were enough people already there to form small lines for each of the vendors, and more attendants were pouring in behind us. Throughout the day, we were lucky enough to chat with some of the vendors and fellow cider lovers alike and spread the word about the blog! There were so many great ciders that we decided to review all of the varieties that we sampled. This means that we will have to do several segments to fit them all in. To simplify the process and keep everything organized in a state of compromised constitution, only one of us will be reviewing each cider with the other chiming in at certain points. Also, we are not including price because many of the ciders will not be hitting the shelves for another few months. To start the first segment, we will go over Hawke's favorites.

#1 The Colorado Cider Company - "Grasshopp-ah Cider"

Bailey commented that this is the closest you can get to beer without actually having to drink the wretched stuff. You can find their website and other cider varieties here: http://www.coloradocider.com/
This cider comes from a blend of lemongrass and hops and is gluten free.

Color:
This ciders has a very pale yellow color that was very pleasing to Hawke's eyes. It also had slight carbonation to it. Hawke wasted no time in giving this cider a 5/5 apples.

Smell:
Bringing the cup to his nose brought an array of different smells. There was a slight alcohol odor present, but not too much. The robust bouquet was mostly an earthy smell of lemongrass and hops, which was very promising indeed. He also rates this category with a 5/5 apples.

Taste / Complexity:
This cider provides a strong and smooth apple flavor. It was both sweet and bitter, but it was the perfect amount of both. The hops and lemon flavors were to follow, but everything blended very well. This cider also scored a 5/5 apples for taste.

Aftertaste:
The aftertaste was slightly bitter but very smooth. It didn't linger too long, and left a pleasant tingle on the back of the tongue. Hawke also gives this a 5/5 apples.

Overall:
This cider was all that is promised and more! Beer lovers and cider lovers alike will love it! It will no doubt be a staple for a hot summer evening on the porch. This cider scored a perfect 15/15 apples, or a green apple!

#2 Julian Hard Cider - "Julian Cherry Bomb"  6.9% ABV

If you love cherries, or a hair band from the 80's called Warrant, this cider will be for you!

Made with Montmorency cherries, this cider definitely packs a flavor punch. 

You can check out their website here: http://julianhardcider.biz/

Color:

Hawke loved this gorgeous display of color. This cider is mostly red with a hint of orange when the light hits it and is very clear. He took no hesitation in giving it a 5/5 apples.

Smell:

The aroma was surprisingly mostly alcohol. There was a hint of cherry mixed in there somewhere, but it was very subtle. He gives it a 3/5 apples. 

Taste / Complexity:

At first you will find a smooth apple taste with this cider....then POW! While definitely containing that familiar tartness of cherries, it is not overpowering. The flavors were very balanced and smooth together. Hawke gives it a 4/5 apples. 

Aftertaste:

The cherries stick around for an encore, drowning out the apple flavors. It is still a very enjoyable aftertaste though. He rates this with a 4/5 apples. 

Overall:

This cider will leave you licking your lips and longing for cherry stems to tie together. It would be great on a hot summer day. This cider gets a 16/20 apples, or a green apple!

#3 Farnum Hills Cider - "F.H Xtra Dry"  7.5% ABV

This cider is made from late harvest apple varieties and boasts an acidic profile. 

You can find all of their ciders here: http://www.povertylaneorchards.com/   

Color:

Hawke commented that this cider had a very eye pleasing golden-orange color to it. It was also very clear with a few bubbles. He rates it with a 5/5 apples. 

Smell:

He was a bit contemplative when asked how this cider smelled. He finally settled on saying that it smelled bitter, with a slight alcohol tinge to it. It was pleasant, yet mild. Hawke gives this cider a 3/5 apples for smell.

Taste / Complexity:

This is where things get interesting. There is a mild bitter flavor with some acidity to it, followed by a wooden and earthy bouquet. Hawke said he had never tasted anything like it. He also explained that this cider made his tongue feel very dry. He gives this cider a 4/5 apples.

Aftertaste:

The aftertaste is a continuation and evolution of the earthy / barrel flavor. If you like savory flavors, you might enjoy this quite a bit. Hawke gives it a 4/5 apples. 

Overall:

If you are looking to get a little adventurous, this cider will take you there. The website tells us that this cider will stand up to some spicy dishes and we believe it. Also, if you don't mind the dry mouth feel, this cider might go pretty well with a cigar. Hawke's overall rating for this cider is a 16/20 apples, or a green apple!

#4 Vander Mill - "Totally Roasted Cider"

A limited edition that would be great for fall or winter drinking, this cider uses a wide array of ingredients. From cinnamon roasted pecans to whole vanilla beans, it will definitely bring something unique to the table. 

You can more information here: http://www.vandermill.com/index.html 

Color:

Hawke really liked the pale yellow color of this curious cider. It is slightly cloudy with some carbonation. This specific sample was also on tap. He gives it a 4/5 apples.

Smell:

The aroma of this cider is delicate. It hints at sweet apples and cinnamon and is very attractive, but leaves you wanting something a little more powerful because of all the ingredients. He gives this cider a 3/5 apples for smell. 

Taste / Complexity:

This cider is somewhat of a kaleidoscope of flavors. Sweet apples are present in the beginning and shifts to cinnamon, and finally pecan. The apples get somewhat muted as the other more powerful ones take over. Hawke rates this with a 4/5 apples.

Aftertaste:

The pecan flavor gets fairly strong and usurps the aftertaste experience. There is also a slightly thick texture left on the tongue. He also gives this category a 4/5 apples.

Overall:

This is a cider to drink while wrapped up in a blanket next to the fireplace. It would also make a great drink around the holiday season. Since they do soak the pecans in the cider, anyone who has a nut allergy is advised to stay away from this one. Overall, Hawke rates this cider with 15/20 apples, or a yellow apple!

Whew! That was only the first round? There are still so many to review! The next post will be a list of Bailey's top favorites (none repeated.) Have a great week and stay warm out there!