Seeing as it is summer, I have all sorts of light, easy-drinking ciders stocked away in the fridge. But the sun never really made it out, so I changed gears, going with Merridale’s Scrumpy Cider from Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island.
This isn’t a starter cider.
If you like Growers Blueberry cider, this will be a bit of a shock to the system. You may have noticed I’ve already referenced Growers a few times, not always in a positive light. If that’s your thing, I’m cool with that. Recently, I read a quote that stuck with me: “Just because people drink bad beer, it doesn’t make them bad people.” (Quote from beer blogger Chuck Hallett/@Barley_Mowat)
You’re not bad, but I think your sickly sweet cider is.
Anyways, this cider is dry. That’s the main theme I get from it.
From the Merridale website:
In old England, Scrumpy was made by farm workers who stole or ‘scrumped’ apples from the orchard. This cider is strong, sharp and rich in the flavours of our strongest cider apples. If you’re a Scotch drinker, try this one. Winner of Gold & Silver North American Brewers Awards in Idaho Springs.
The mouth-dry feel of this cider is combined with a level of tartness probably attributable to the apples used. It doesn’t have any overwhelming outside flavours like the honey in Merridale’s Cyser cider or the other barrel aged ones.
There is a moderate level of carbonation. The smell is slightly of apples (but having consumed an amazing New Zealand IPA from 8 Wired before this which smelled of something so delicious I wanted to rub it on my body – it was comparably unremarkable.) It has an alcohol finish that evaporates quite quickly.
I still find it to a be a likable beverage, but for nearly $7 for a 341mL plastic bottle, it’s not the best deal, nor do I think it’s even as good as Cyser or Traditional in the Merridale line.
Oh, and at 11%, it’s fairly potent.
It’s fairly easy to find, but not in BC-run liquor stores. In Vancouver, I’ve seen it in places like Brewery Creek or Lennox Liquor store.
The West Cider 