Today we’ll be sampling not just one, but two cider varieties coming from Portland Cider….and one is just perfect. Actually the name is "Perfect 10” and you’ll see why when we start sampling…so off we go.
Portland Cider Perfect 10 is an English Scrumpy-style cider and it uses a unique blend of 100% Northwest apple varieties. The cider ferments for longer and at colder temperatures and it includes a 2-month rest for even deeper flavors. This leads to the “10” in the name, aka 10%-AbV and let me tell you, it’s a sneaky 10%. The cider pours a bright and clear golden color and the aromas start and finish with sweet and tart apples. We thought the cider had a distinct baked apple pie-like personality with just a bit of sweet caramel and a mild nuttiness. There is some deeper and dull (in a good way) fruitiness in Perfect 10, thanks in part to the addition of fruit juice. The cider finishes just a bit tart and acidic (also good things) and the balance and complexity make it really drinkable. We sampled Perfect 10 on a warm late summer evening, but I can imagine that it would taste even better in cooler weather.
Next up we leaned full on into fall and opened Portland Cider Pumpkin Spice. This cider has a very spicy aroma with fresh apples in the nose to balance it out nicely. The flavors just scream “fall” and “campfire” with loads of mulling spice flavors and tart bright apples. I suppose you could call it a pumpkin pie-flavored cider, and while you wouldn't be wrong, you’d also miss the mark a bit as well. Yes there is cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove in there, but they lay differently on the slightly tart fresh apple flavors. This cider uses Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious and Fuji apples to create a really nice cider with great depth and complexity. Pumpkin spice hits 5.5%-AbV and it is packaged in 22oz bottles.
Both ciders are available in Sept in bottles and kegs and both Perfect 10 and Pumpkin Spice will take your taste buds on a tour of apple flavors. Be sure to try Perfect 10 and Pumpkin Spice for yourself, and when you do, be sure to let us know what YOU think.
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