Skip to content

Let's Learn Beer!

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Let's Learn Beer!

Twitter Youtube Instagram Facebook

Let's Learn Beer!

Twitter Youtube Instagram Facebook

Let's Learn Beer!

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

cider

bubbly berries

  • by

It’s still summer and still hot, so we quench our thirst with something a little lighter. Every once in a while, you have to lighten the mood. This is so light, it was commented on by the bar/store guy, since it’s not my usual dark and sticky or crazy heavy beer. It is in fact a cider, so really on a different path this time. It’s a raspberry cider though, so maybe closer to some of those pastry stouts with the sweetness? We shall see. It’s a Basque creation, from cidery Zelaia, so a northern libation, historically accurate. It’s also supposed to be a very natural process for these folks, so the craft is strong.

There is another thing to be excited about – Beermad is coming! It was pushed into September this year, and has been pushed to a new place. I got my prepaid ticket refunded by surprise, and had to look into what was happening, fearing the worst. I got an email later explaining that the new location is public space so they can’t really charge people to come in and wander around, although you still have to buy a glass to get your beers. Will the change be a positive one? We’ll see next week!

It’s quite a bit paler than I was expecting, since raspberry tends to get a nice bright red in other concoctions, but maybe they’re golden raspberries? There’s a sharp cidery aroma, with that tickle of aged fruit and puff of sulfur. It’s bubbly, but as a cider not heady. It’s sour at first and then dives into a little sweetness and finishes with a weirdly creamy exit. The sharpness remains on the tongue, but more as a pinchy feeling than as a lingering flavor. There are reminders of lambics and sours with its balancing act of sour and bitter, but the nature of the drink as a cider is never in doubt.

Supplier: La Buena Cerveza
Price: ~€7

not far from the tree

  • by

Well, following on from the recent holiday, why not sample some national cider too? Cider was a much more popular drink than beer until the 19th century, especially in the north of the country, where this can comes from. It isn’t hard to find Spanish cider, but this one has a very crafty look to it, and their stated ethos goes along with that. The cidery is named after a 6th century Breton bishop (tradition) and they limit their ingredients to Galician apples (local focus), but they also participate in scientific study to improve apple cultivation and use in an effort to be more sustainable (new ideas). There are several varieties, but I picked up the most standard as a start. Dry Cider might be the most identifiable one as a Spanish cider, but I guess I’ll have to try the others at some point to compare.

It comes out a goldish pink, which looks a lot like some apple skins you see in the store. It’s wildly bubbly, and unlike Magnars a little cap of foam stubbornly sits on top for a couple of minutes. There’s a touch of apple aroma and also a whiff of sulphur, reminding me of not a few fruit beers and seltzers. It definitely has an apple flavor, but it’s also raw and rooty, with a very natural touch, not overly sweet at all. It has a very champagne touch, living up to its promise of dryness. It isn’t as sharp or throat-grabbing as some other, more “traditional” Spanish ciders, but it isn’t syrupy British style either. It’s a very nice balance of fruit flavor with sweet and bitter notes. If the Dry Cider is as smooth as this, I wonder what the others will be like?

plan c(ider)

  • by

Irish craft beers have been around but never especially plentiful in this town. Lots of Irish styles, to be sure, but brought over from the isle itself? A little harder to find. With time pressures of late, I thought I could grab something simple from the supermarket, but it turns out lots of people had that idea. Plan B it is, cider. Also not a lot of choice, to be honest, just one Irish cider on the shelf, Magners. I’m sure I’ve had it at some point in the past, maybe when one of the old import stores was still open, but not for some time. Let’s see if there’s a subconscious reason, or just my overwhelming preference for darkness.

Interesting rosy, rusy gold color. A little champagney maybe. Bubbly, not no lasting head. It has that tangy sour smell that you can expect from a cider, with a touch of sweetness to it. It is very sweet and appley compared to other, more crafty, ciders, and more like apple juice than even American cider. Despite the initial bubbles I find it very smooth and easy to drink, hence the juice comparison. It has a good level of flavor, not overbearing and with a clean finish, no weird aftertaste at all. It also has a smooth texture that doesn’t quite jive with the bubbliness in the beginning, but it’s very pleasant and an encouraging drink. These characteristics could very well make Magners a danger, since you could take down pint after pint in an evening without even thinking. It isn’t a sneaky pastry stout or NEIPA, but it is at the same level of alcohol as a normal everyday beer, so that will catch up to you eventually. I think I will be satisfied with the one, just for the occasion.

en_USEnglish
es_ESSpanish en_USEnglish