Celebrating tonight as I have accomplished a milestone. I have passed the entry level exam to be a certified competition cider judge.
Cidre – Stella Artois
Several months of study and tasting (hard) ciders have paid off. I still have to pass a tasting exam for full certification. However, as of today, I am a certified entry level competition cider judge.
Color of light amber. Moderate carbonation.
The bottle says European Style Cider, we would classify it as French Style Cider.
Semi-sweet, medium bodied, with a pleasurable fruity component in the nose and on the palate. Balanced with moderate tannins and mouthfeel.
4.5 % ABV
How would we grade this one in competition. It’s a really nice drinking cider, fairly true to it’s style. I’d score this one as a high silver medal winner.
The cider certification exam consist of 100 questions and only 30 minutes are allowed to complete. A passing score is 70.
The questions are really technical and one could not pass without significant study.
Tonight enjoying a bottle of Green Apple from Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
Green Apple
Taste study for my cider judge certification.
Green Apple and tropical on the nose, crisp, sweet to sharp Green Apple on the palate, with medium – high acidity. Pleasantly tart with balanced sweetness.
Very light carbonation.
Apple varieties Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, and Braeburn.
5% ABV.
Angry Orchard Hard Cider – Walden N.Y.
A pleasant drinking cider which lives up to it’s green apple name.
In judging this cider I would grade favorably with minimal deductions for aroma, balance, and complexity.
Our wine tonight is the Caramel Apple Cyser from Wandering Bard Meadery in Greenville, South Carolina.
A Cyser is a combination mead and cider.
Honey and Apple Juice fermented together.
Color of light gold.
Nose of honey and caramel.
Semi-Sweet.
On the tongue the sweetness of the locally sourced wildflower honey is balanced by the lingering tartness of biting into a fresh county fair caramel apple!
The bottle notes carmalized South Carolina sourced wildflower honey blended with Carolina apple cider with added spices for extra flavor.
Recommended serving temperature @ 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Our wine tonight is the Mount Pisgah artisan cider from Appalachian Ridge. Appalachian Ridge is from the same group as Saint Paul Vineyards. The Mount Pisgah is grown, squeezed, and bottled in the mountains of North Carolina. Alcohol content is 8% and the Cider is Slightly bubbly with a really nice nose of freshly picked green apples. #NCWine
