CiderScene & Austin Eastciders – Exclusive Case
September 16, 2021
Blue Cooler: Keeping Our Cider Cold
September 23, 2021
Written by Tas Fraser (@girlwithaciderreview)
As we have seen, this summer has absolutely been a blast with the release of so many new ciders! Here in Canada the scene continues to expand with increasing variety of all flavours and styles. I’m sure you’ve seen me reviewing all summer so I figured i’d share some of my favourite places I reviewed a cider during these toasty months
- In June: Drinking Liberty Village on my French River, ON cottage trip, sampling ciders at West Avenue Cider House, Releasing “Afternoon Delight” by Chill Street Beverage Co & Kings Court Estate Winery at the Virtual Release Party
- In July: Visiting Heartwood Cidery with Incidersam, Reviewing ciders (and seltzers) as Cider Chad on Cider & Life (EP 48), Visiting Collective Arts Hamilton (trying cider and sour beers), Popping by Brickworks Cider to try their new offerings
- In August: Visiting Shiny Apple Cider & Ironwood with cider friends, setting up a cider tasting with family, sipping cider poolside, getting ENGAGED at Duntroon Cyder House (THE BEST cider day ever)
Honestly, after the engagement I can’t even top that cider day. But some other favs included reviewing on a slip and slide and attending the Toronto Cider Festival Road Trip! There has been so much cider for me this summer, and before we slip into fall….here you have it: my favourite Canadian ciders of summer! Many I have posted about on my IG but some I haven’t. If you’re looking to buy them, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 are available at the LCBO. For the others you’ll have to attend the cidery or order online!
- Brickworks Cider House: “Lime Margarita”
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Pours a cloudy yellow colour (due to added lime juice). On the nose you smell apple but it is gone when you take your first tip. There is a bit of sparkle to it and it is full of lime flavour that made me pucker up. The finish was quite salty and honestly was such a fun sensory experience…not to mention they really got this flavour down! I don’t like Margaritas…so this says lots.
- Seagrams: “White Peach”
ABV: 5.3%
Style: This is definitely one of the sweeter ciders i’ve liked this summer…but surprisingly it is only 47g/L for sugar content. Compare this to a Somersby which is 94g/L (WOAH). It is also a cheaper option as well compared to the others in the LCBO. I reached for this often this summer as it had a peachy sweet taste and was so easy to enjoy poolside or while day drinking. I’d say it’s semi-sweet (as there are sweeter) but it is my only fav sweet cider this summer! My only note is while this is classified as a cider, the apple was nowhere to be seen (or tasted). Don’t worry though, ingredients confirm its presence.
- Duntroon Cyder House: “Empire Extra Dry”
ABV: 5.5%
Style: This single varietal (empire…obviously hehe) cider I fell in love with this summer. At 0g/L of sugar…I was hesitant and thought my mouth would end up feeling drier than a raisin in the sun. BUT I was proven wrong. It has an apply smell on the nose and is undeniably fresh tasting. I honestly felt like I was drinking right out of an apple…if that was a thing. It is a pale yellow colour and comes in super clean with its taste. This one is another i’d recommend to those who are watching their sugars!
- Heartwood Cidery: “Blue Bear’s Brother”
ABV: 6.8%
Style: This unfiltered cider was such a lovely cider that showcased blueberries without extreme sweetness. It was such a pretty deep red colour as well (what can I say i’m a sucker for it). It was bone dry but it really held the flavour with some added tartness. I really appreciated the craft put into this one and would most definitely drink it again!
- Chill St. Beverage Co x Kings Court Estate Winery: “Afternoon Delight Wine and Peach Cider Blend”
ABV: 6.9%
Style: This peach cider and riesling blend is new to the Ontario scene and is a collab between an Ontario winery and Nova Scotia cidery. It contains a delicious peach sweetness balanced out with some dryness of the wine. It was a popular seller this summer and is actually one of Chill St.’s most popular in NS…we can see why!
- Loch More Cider Co: “Savvy Pomme”
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Pours a lovely golden yellow colour and is super sparkly. It is a single varietal cider (pomme gris) and is semi-dry. I tasted subtle pineapple notes followed by a full apple middle and finish. It was overall crisp and deliciously fresh tasting. I also enjoyed some tartness in the finish.
- Liberty Village: “Extra Dry Peach”
ABV: 4.5%
Style: Okay okay…another peach. Honestly, it’s worth it though. For those of you who want some flavour but with less sugar- here’s your gal! This semi-dry peach was one of my go to’s this summer for good reason. It is light, crisp, refreshing and peach forward. Liberty Village is awesome as they have 0g of sugar in their ciders and no sweetener added: just apples (oh and peaches). My fiance loves these as he has diabetes so they’re perfect (and I mean…the more cider I can get him to have the better).
- West Avenue Cider House “5Star”
ABV: 5.4%
Style: I would give this one 10 out of 5 stars if I could! If you want an indication of how much I liked it…I took a growler of it home from the cidery. It is a semi-dry cider that is summer in a glass. The blend is apple, strawberry and rhubarb mixed with stone fruit and peach. Perfect level of acidity and is light and fresh tasting.
- Heeman’s: “Blueberry Hard Apple Cider”
ABV: 5%
Style: Pours a gorgeous purple-red colour and is their newest cider this season. It is on the drier side and is lighter on carbonation but it really blends fruits perfectly. It had a wonderful fresh blueberry flavour (as if you just picked them!!) but it does not ignore the apple at all. It in no way tasted artificial which was a bonus for me.
- Chainyard Cider’s Hazy Fraisy
ABV: 6.5%
Style: This is an unfiltered dry strawberry cider and pours (of course) a strawberry blush colour. On the nose you get a berry smell and it packs a nice amount of carbonation. The taste begins with subtle fresh strawberry and turns into a herby tangy taste. It was fresh all over and I adored that it was a dry one! Chainyard consistently impresses….word is they also have a watermelon cider I have yet to try!
