 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Jun 13, 2005
2004 bottle sampled 6/4/2005 at Mondial. Stumbled upon this unknowingly and was left dumbfounded. All I scribbled down on my notes was the phrase, "just so complex!". You better believe I remember the rest, though.
A warm-toned honey and apricot colored cider, with some gleaming copper and brass, and darker caramel shades in the middle. Legs are left in response to swirling the thick, limpid, liquid. Aroma of cinnamon, cloves, sweet apple skins and pulp, rich butter pie-crust with freshly baked, warm apples and a glass of brandy. Vanilla and almonds in there as well. Flavor is explosive, complex and just stupefying. Rich cinnamon-flavored iced cream, with warm cointreau-soaked apples atop. Brandy, luscious caramel and full, sweet red apples, never syrupy or cloying. Powerful finish is warming, well-spiced of clove, allspice, oranges and vanilla. Body is gentle yet strong, very impressive and easy to sip. Finish does not "make you pay for it" by dousing you with alcohol. Tremendously balanced and just pure flavor from start to finish. As David says, this one is seemingly perfect in its own right, and takes the route of the wonderfully balanced, full bodied, strong and complex Belgian Strong Ale, whereas a perfect 5 in my book would also be an ultra funky farmhouse cider, for which I have more preference. This is incredible though. Glad we discovered it.
Mes_and_Sim (4360), Highgate, Greater London, England
Aug 23, 2008 A Mes rate: bottle, HUGE thanks to our Magic.
Big respect to Tom for doing this properly and freezing it first. This is ice cider. Bright orange and very thick. Very very special indeed. Incredible apple aroma. Spice a plenty, sweet as hell and loads of fruit. Those apples are just amazing. Amazing toffee notes in the flavour. Ok you piss taking set of bastards (Tom & Sim) I mean candy apple. Lashings of custard. This is, as Tom describes, like apple pie and custard without the pastry. Big tarty apple bite with plenty of sharp acidty that rather than lingering in the background is brought rushing to the front carried by the alcohol. Darker than the Neige and like a bigger badder brother. A bloody amazing experience that brings back all the fantasticness of last time I tried this stunning nectar.
kegbear (77), Orange, California, USA
Aug 14, 2008 Many thanks to Glouglouburp for this amazing bottle. Unlike anything I have ever had before. Aroma is mainly apples, but the taste was much more complex. There was an upfront taste of blue cheese followed by sweet apples, and apricot. Truely amazing. I would like to get more of this unique cider from Quebec.
jimmack (1210), Nutley, New Jersey, USA
Apr 5, 2008 375ml. bottle thanks a million to Glouglouburp. Crystal clear golden orange color, obviously still, with nice legs. Beautiful aroma of baked apples, especially the skins, with a hint of cinnamon and honey. Flavor was sweet apples, honey, floral notes and a mild warming alcohol finish. Not as pure an apple flavor as the Neige, but a bit more complex and not as sweet. Delicious! Thanks Dany!
ryan (1706), Beltsville, Maryland, USA
Mar 7, 2008 Courtesy of kmweaver. Clear, still, apple juice colored body. The cider is incredibly thick and leaves legs on the glass. Sweet, musty, apple nose with hints of honey and pears and alcohol. Taste is very sweet with apples, raw sugar, fruit skin tannins and honey. Full body is soft, sticky and still with a warm finish.
kmweaver (2010), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
Mar 7, 2008 375mL bottle, courtesy of radiomgb. Thanks, Jeff! Pours a brilliant, oily honey-orange color; headless; so oily it barely grows legs at first; then, thick. Apples you can smell from across the room: slightly tart, fresh apples, a bit of funk and mustiness; nothing overly sticky, though definitely sweet; very well-hidden alcohol; apples, apples, apples. Full mouthfeel: impressively dense and warming; oily, fresh apple character; not juice, not sweetened, just dense, intricate pressed iced apples. Lengthy finish, showing tons of apples (surprise!), residual sugar, and some light tartness; ends without stickiness. Beautifully done.
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