Aspall English Demi-Sec Draft Cider

Greetings readers! We hope all of you had a great holiday season and that the reality of returning to work hasn't hit you too hard. But if it has, we have a new cider to recommend to take the edge off! We received this cider as a Christmas present from one of Bailey's roommates (and we are very thankful.) Let's get this rolling!

Aspall English Demi-Sec Draft Cider is made in Suffolk, England. It has an ABV of 6.8% and take it from us, it packs a punch! This company makes a few different varieties of cider, but sadly the website was not working properly when we tried to access it. We will list it for you anyway and hope you have better luck.
                                                         http://www.aspall.co.uk/

Color:
Bailey really loved the color of this cider. It is a very crisp light gold that is very clear. She rates it with a 5/5 apples.
Hawke also enjoyed the color, however he has become a fan of the more unfiltered ciders as they seem to have richer flavors. He rates this one with a 4/5 apples.

Smell:
Bailey started to feel a bit let down after taking a whiff. She felt there is an overbearing smell of alcohol with a faint sour apple aroma. She rates this with a 2/5 apples for this category.
Hawke also felt that the apple smell was there, but it definitely took a back seat to the wine / alcohol. He gives it a 3/5 apples.

Taste / Complexity:
You will understand then, when Bailey took a cautious sip and loved it! She feels that this cider is very crisp, with a slightly sour apple flavor. The alcohol flavor is also very present, but it seems to complement and balance with the apples. The flavor is very mellow, but enjoyable. She rates this with a 3/5 apples.
Hawke got the alcohol flavor right away, but also detected a bittersweet apple flavor that left a tingle in the back of his throat. He felt that there were no extremely bold flavors here, but also enjoyed it. He rates it with a 4/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
The mellow taste continues as Bailey felt this cider has a sweet (but not too sweet) aftertaste. It is a very simple and clean aftertaste. She rates it with a 3/5 apples. Hawke felt that the aftertaste was very fleeting, but it was somewhat sweet. He rates it with a 2/5 apples.

 Price:
$8-10 for a pint bottle. Bailey feels that this is a very nice cider and feel that the price is reasonable for a pint.  She gives it a 4/5 apples for price.
Hawke definitely agrees that the price is reasonable considering that it is an imported cider. He feels like that it is a solid cider. He gives it a 4/5 apples.

Overall:
We have to say, out of all the English ciders we have tried so far, this one ranks pretty high. Usually we feel that they are very bitter or that the taste of alcohol is just too overpowering to enjoy. We feel this cider would be great for a spring or summer evening possibly paired with a seafood dish. Hawke also commented that he could definitely see this cider being served with a basket of fish and chips at the local pub. This is a great mellow cider for someone who doesn't want or need big bold flavors in their drink of choice.

Overall Bailey rates this cider with a 17/ 25 apples or a yellow apple.

Overall Hawke rates this cider with a 17/25 apples or a yellow apple.

An Afternoon With Tom Douglas (Time Out For Some Food Part 2)

It's the Holiday season! That means spending time with family and friends... around mountains of delicious food. Although this blog is mostly dedicated to hard cider, we do try to spend some time on libation's perfect partner. This week Bailey was lucky enough to be a part of Tom Douglas's cooking demonstration at Macy's on State Street in Chicago!

I will start by giving you some basic info on this amazing chef. Tom Douglas was born in Delaware and moved to Seattle in 1977. He never attended any type of formal culinary school. Instead, he climbed his way up the ropes by working in restaurant kitchens around Seattle. He currently owns a whopping 13 restaurants in the Seattle area and cultivates an array of ingredients used in their kitchens on his farm in Prosser, WA. He also produces a line of seasonings called "Rub With Love." As if all this wasn't enough to keep him busy, he also co-hosts a weekly radio show called "In the Kitchen with Tom and Thierry."
His website can be found here, and there is also a link directly to the shop containing the "Rub With Love" seasoning line:
http://tomdouglas.com/
http://store.tomdouglas.com/storefront.aspx

On to the show!

Upon arriving to the lovely and festively decorated lower level of the Macy's on State Street, I was greeted by the always friendly staff and ushered to my seat. I couldn't help buy notice the Christmas music playing in the background and the upbeat attitude in the air. Chef Douglas was setting up his cooking area and was dancing to the beat of "Run Run Rudolph" and I couldn't help but chuckle. Throughout the entire cooking demo it was easy to see that he was enjoying himself and really wanted to be there with everyone in the crowd.

The first course was a variation of his recipe for Coffee-Bean Turkey with Sweet Onion Gravy. In this variation he used prime rib instead of turkey to spare us from our post Thanksgiving nightmares of having to eat more roasted gobble-gobblers. He had a few general tips for cooking meat in your kitchen. Most importantly he stressed using a meat thermometer to judge when meats are done instead of relying on time. Secondly, he suggested buying a thermometer to place in your oven to make sure that the heat runs true to the digital (or dial) display. I personally never attempt to cook prime rib or any meat with a fat cap on it because the one occasion I did, it came out very dry and left me disappointed. Luckily Chef Douglas debunked a common misconception for these type of meats. He suggested trimming most of the fat cap off because it does not baste the meat, but melts and sits in the bottom of the pan with no purpose. He prepared a rub for the prime rib made out of ground coffee (for a smokey flavor,) salt, pepper, fennel seeds, and coriander. Then he did something genius by placing the sliced onions underneath the slab of prime rib on the baking sheet so they could brown while cooking the meat. The gravy was a very simple process of using the browned onions with a few sprinkles of flour and adding in turkey (or chicken) stock. To complement the meat, he then mixed together some stuffing made with dried cherries, hazelnuts, and oyster mushrooms. Luckily, I was able to sample all of this and it was amazing. The flavors meshed so well together but they also contrasted one another. I like to use the example of an everlasting gobstopper, and this is a perfect time to use that analogy. The stuffing was very moist and the cherries brought a very bold flavor to the bread chunks used for the base. The hazelnuts were not overpowering, but added another subtle layer to the overall flavors. The prime rib was seasoned very well and I was surprised that the coffee flavor did not overtake the other spices. The gravy was the blandest of all, but it was very savory and complimented the other flavors.

For the second course Chef Douglas prepared Pear Tarts with Dreamy Caramel Sauce. They were pretty dreamy. He first poached halved pears in syrup. He then mixed together a filling made from almond paste, sugar, butter, and egg yolk. The tarts were then assembled on a puff pastry and baked to a golden brown. I was sitting in the audience thinking this could not get any better when Chef Douglas made a caramel sauce to drizzle on the top. These tarts do not leave anything to be desired (no pun intended.) These were served in about 3" squares that were small enough to be considered finger food. They would definitely disappear at a holiday party.

Sadly, that was the end of the cooking demonstration, but the Chef did stick around to answer various kitchen questions from the audience. He also signed copies of his new cookbook entitled "The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook." Overall this was a great experience, and I would recommend going to Macy's on State Street for one of their many cooking demonstrations that happen throughout the year.


Disclosure:
I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with the compensation for this post about Macy's Culinary Council. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Gold Rush Hard Cider

This week Hawke and Bailey selected Gold Rush Hard Cider. This cider boasts using over 20 different varieties of somerset cider apples. It is 6.8% ABV and it is made in the UK. The quaint company website can be found here: https://www.sites.google.com/site/goldrushcider/contact

Here we go!

Color:
Bailey loves the light caramel color of this cider. It is very clear and appears to have a few bubbles after opening. She rates it with a 4/5 apples. Hawke also enjoys the light golden color and crisp appearance. He also gives it a 4/5 apples.

Smell:
Hawke gets a very bitter smell from this cider and also a heavy wine smell. He does not detect much apple aroma. He sadly gives 2/5 apples for smell. Bailey detects a powerful sour and alcohol smell. The apples are there for her, but faintly. She did not enjoy the experience, 1/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
Hawke taste buds were bombarded with an extremely bitter flavor. He did find some apple in the complexity, but was not overly impressed. He gives it a 2/5 apples. Bailey thinks this cider is all over the map. She found it to be bitter, sour apple, and mostly alcoholic in flavor. She also felt that her mouth felt like it was "coated" after drinking this cider. She also gives this cider a 2/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Hawke sadly did not get much of an aftertaste from this cider. He said it felt more like a bitter sensation. He rates this portion with a 2/5 apples. Bailey detects a bubbly sensation at the back of her throat and mostly just taste the alcohol even stronger in the aftertaste. She gives this cider a 1/5 apples.

Price:
$7-9 for 500ml or 16.9 fluid oz. Bailey thinks that even though this is a cheap option for cider, the flavor quality is very poor. She rates it with a 2/5 apples. Hawke agrees and was very disappointed by this cider. The color was very attractive, but everything else fell flat. He gives it a 2/5 apples.

Overall:
This cider is definitely for people who enjoy bitter or sour flavors and need a cheap option for cider. We realize that our tastes lean toward sweeter ciders and apologize if this is one of your favorites. That being said, we still feel that this cider should have way more apple flavor considering apples are pretty much the only ingredient.

Overall Bailey rates this cider with a 10/25 apples, or a red apple.

Overall Hawke rates this cider with 12/25 apples, or a yellow apple.

 

Woodpecker Premium Cider

This cider has been a staple at the local liquor store for sometime, and today Bailey and Hawke finally give it a try. This is a simple cider. In fact the brand only makes one variety of cider. With a relatively low alcohol rating of 4.2% abv, this cider can offer a different flavor.

Color:
Hawke found to be very clear with a bright golden yellow color and a few air bubbles scattered around the glass. Likewise, Bailey was interested in the crisp champagne color but also felt there was a slight carbonation to the cider. Bailey: 4/5 Hawke: 4/5

Smell:
 Bailey detected a very slight sour apple smell, it was almost nonexistent. As well, she felt there was a subtle alcohol smell. Hawke felt there was some wine/alcohol smell but he also felt there was no smell of of apples at all. Hawke: 2/5 Bailey: 2/5

Taste:
Hawke thought that there was a very subtle apple flavor, minor alcohol flavor, but not as overpowering as the smell. It was a little surprisingly, but disappointing in that the flavor was not more pronounced. Bailey got a very bubbly flavor with a slight sweetness. It was also very crisp with nothing offensive about it to note. Hawke: 4/5 Bailey: 4/5

Aftertaste:
Hawke did not detect any aftertaste. If it did occur it happened really fast. Bailey felt more of a tingle in the back of the throat than a flavor, maybe a very slight sour flavor. Bailey: 2/5 Hawke: 1/5

Price:
8-10 for a six pack. Hawke thinks that  the price for a six pack is very reasonable, the cider is enjoyable for the price. Bailey thought that this price is very good for the quality. It's not an over-the-top quality cider, but it is good. Bailey: 5/5 Hawke: 4/5

Overall:
Hawke felt that this was a decent cider that is inoffensive because of lack of harsh flavors.
Bailey thinks that this cider is another good starter cider. The flavor is very light, crisp, and clean. This would be a great cider for summer, and to pair with foods that are bursting with flavor.
Overall Bailey gave this cider a 17/25 or a yellow apple.

Overall Hawke gave this cider a 15/25 or a yellow apple.

Bean Blossom Strawberry Hard Cider

This week's cider was a gift from a friend, picked up on their vacation in Tennessee! Bean Blossom Hard Cider comes from Oliver winery in Indiana. It is 8% ABV, which is high for a cider. All of their ciders come in aluminum bottles or cans. Their full line of ciders can be shipped to most U.S States and can be found here: http://www.oliverwinery.com/ciderstore?orderby=PXPC.DisplayOrder%20Asc,%20P.ProductName%20ASC&startrow=1

Color:
We were both surprised that this cider boasts a very light golden color. No traces of red can be found. This cider is very clear and slightly carbonated. Hawke rates the color with a 5/5 apples. Bailey also gives it a 5/5 apples.

Smell:
Hawke commented that the odor of this cider is overwhelmingly strawberry. He could not detect any apple smell, but it was very pleasant. He rates it with a 4/5 apples. Bailey loves the smell of this cider. It is very sweet, most definitely all strawberry, and all together pleasing to the senses. She gives it a 5/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
Bailey was a bit disappointed that this cider was very sour to her palate. Because the apple and strawberry flavors had mixed completely, it tasted more like an ambiguous berry. She was hoping that the two flavors would stand alone from each other. She rates the taste with a 3/5 apples. Hawke thought this cider was very bitter. He tasted mostly strawberry with a tiny bit of apple, but all together the taste was a bit off-putting. He also rates it with a 3/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Bailey didn't get much of an aftertaste from this cider. There is some of the berry flavor that lingers, but only for a second. She gives it a 2/5 apples. Hawke did not get an aftertaste either, but the bitter flavor did remain on his tongue. He rates it with a 1/5 apples.

Price:
$7-9. Hawke thinks that this cider is of a low quality for the price. The smell is very promising, but the flavor does not deliver. He gives it a 2/5 apples. Bailey also feels that the quality of this cider is a bit low, although you do get a decent amount of cider per bottle. She gives it a 3/5 apples.

Overall:
Hawke does admit that the smell of this cider is tantalizing, but it was much too bitter for his tastes. If you do enjoy bitter or sour flavors, this cider is for you. Bailey felt that either they could have done a better job of balancing the flavors, or they just do not mix well together. She also wonders if this cider is allowed to age to maturity or if it is rushed by the presence of sulfates.
Overall Hawke gives this cider 15/25 apples or a yellow apple.

Bailey gives this cider 18/25 apples overall, or a yellow apple.

Woodchuck Farmhouse Select

This particular Woodchuck Cider came to us as a surprise. As we had not seen it on the local shops until recent. Then Hawke researched it and found it was available year round. The cider promises a taste of the original Woodchuck Cider back when it was first made. They use Vermont apples and Belgian beer yeast to produce the flavor. Information about this and other Woodchuck ciders can be found at : www.woodchuck.com

Color:
Bailey thought highly of the champagne gold color. Not quite the usual tinge we have seen from the other Woodchuck products. She rates it with a 4/5 apples. Hawke was delighted by the slight yellow tinge and slight cloudiness of the drink. He gives it 4/5 apples.

Smell:
Bailey detected a smell of sweet apples, but it was very faint. It was almost masked completely by a more alcohol smell. The smell was however very crisp. She gives this cider a 2/5 apples for lack of a pleasing smell. Hawke smelled the alcohol that was strong but not quite overpowering. Under this was a slight apple smell, but it wasn't very prominent. Hawke wished the apple smell was more present. He rates it with a 3/5 apples.

Taste:
Bailey felt that this was a very light cider. She delighted in a sweet apple taste, with the alcohol taste not overpowering. This cider doesn't have a jaw-dropping powerful flavor, but Bailey did like it. She gives it a 4/5 apples. Hawke found the flavor extremely light filled with a mix of apples and alcohol. He also gives it a 4/5 apples.

Aftertaste:
Bailey detected a strong sour apple aftertaste. It reminded Bailey of fermenting apples, yet it did not linger for a long time. She very much enjoyed the short lived sour contrast to the sweet flavor. She gives it a 4/5 apples. Hawke felt a sweet aftertaste that does not linger but a minor alcohol flavor accompanying it. He rated it with a 3/5 apples.

Price:
$11-13. This bottle contains 750ml, the same as a wine bottle. Bailey felt one would get 4 generous glasses worth of cider. For the price it is a good quality cider.She gives the price a 4/5 apples. Hawke thought that it was a decent cider. He thought it was reasonable for those that want a change from the usual Amber cider. He rates it with a 4/5 apples.

Overall:
It is a good cider for summer or spring. The flavors are not necessarily as robust as the other ciders that have been sampled thus far, but it is still a high quality cider. Also, because it is so light, it can be paired well with a lot of different food.

Overall, Hawke gives this 18/25 apples or a yellow apple!

 Bailey also gives this cider 18/25 or a yellow apple!

Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Hard Cider

This week Hawke and Bailey try Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Hard Cider! We have tasted a few of the other varieties from this company and were eager to try their newest addition. Their website can be found here: http://angryorchard.com/ and it's a pretty awesome website (if we may say so.) This company is very creative, using bittersweet apples from France, and culinary apples from Italy which are sweet and acidic. This cider is 5% ABV. Here we go!

Color:
Hawke was a little apprehensive as soon as we poured this cider out. It is extremely clear, which can mean one of two things: it's over filtered and lacks taste, or the producers actually know what they are doing and made a quality product. On looks alone however, Hawke gives this cider a 4/5 apples. Bailey loves this golden color giving it a 5/5 apples.

Smell:
Bailey took one whiff of this cider and was in love. She immediately detected sweet apples (her favorite apples for flavoring cider.) She did comment however that there was no trace of ginger in the smell. She gives it a 3/5 apples for the lack of ginger. Hawke did detect ginger with his olfactory sensors, but not much of the apples. Instead he could smell the alcohol. He did enjoy the smell though, and gave it a 4/5 apples.

Flavor / Complexity:
When Hawke sampled this cider, he tasted sweet apples and alcohol. The ginger was not prominent for him. He did comment that the quality of the cider (even without the ginger taste) was very good. He gives this a 3/5 apples for lacking ginger taste. Bailey did get a very sharp ginger flavor, but that wasn't the first thing she tasted. What stood out for her the most was the very crisp, sweet apples. It was like biting into the juiciest apple ever! The ginger taste was there for her, but it was short lived and did not stand out as much as she would have liked. She rates this cider with a 4/5 apples because the taste was great either way.

Aftertaste:
And...cue the ginger. Both of us found the sharp ginger in the aftertaste. It didn't last very long, but it was definitely there. Hawke rates this with a 4/5 apples. Bailey really enjoyed the aftertaste because for her, ginger can sometimes taste very spicy and be overpowering. In this cider, it is enjoyable, but doesn't knock you out of your seat. She rates it with a 4/5 apples also.

Price:
$7-10
This cider comes in a six pack of bottles and is very reasonably priced. With the gap allowing for tax and difference in price due to different areas, we purchased our six pack for less that what beer might cost. Both of us agree that the quality of this cider closely rivals Woodchuck ciders (one of our favorites.) Both of us rate the price with a 5/5 apples!

Overall:
All in all, this cider is excellent! This is an excellent pick to add a tiny bit of spice to your drinking agenda. We highly recommend trying this cider along with all the other Angry Orchard varieties.
Hawke rates this cider overall with a 20/25 apples, or a green apple!

Bailey loved the crispness of this cider and the sweet apples! She rates this cider overall with a 21/25, or a green apple!