Raven Ridge Fuji Iced Cider

Brewed by Raven Ridge Cidery
Style: Ice Cider
Kelowna, Canada

Hazy amber colour...why is this hazy? The nose has a depth of apple crisp with hints of caramel and nutmeg. The flavour has a hint of alcohol amid the brown sugar richness, Fuji apple notes and complex spiciness. Not on a par with the greats, but this is still a very decadent treat.

2002 vintage. Dark caramel colored, large lasting legs, clear. The typical concentrated apples feel sharp and aptly pointy, while decent tartness ensures its coherence. The sweetness level feels quite reasonable bringing potent emanations of strudel and pastry, spicy cinnamon and french toast, an interesting registry. Comfortable ABV level, sticky palate. Greatly accomplished caramelly cider. A nice apple brand which I was experimenting for the first time.

A clear, light orange paints striking legs on the glass...Honey-smeared apples and warming alcohol honestly announce the ice cider signature...The full, heavy mouthfeel is lip-smacking and satifsying, again exactly what I expect from a quality ice cider...

375 ml bottle. Still, red-orange tinted copper coloured cider. Sweet, appley aroma, strong nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom aromas. Flavour also shows baked apples, sweet cinnamon, warming feeling, rich body. Probably could use a bit more acid to balance it a bit better, but this is a serious cider and a seriously tasty drink.

375 ml bottle shared with several Quebecois and one other drunk American at tiggmtl’s going away party in Montreal, from a New Belgium glass. Very dark, oily amber with just a bit of bubbling, long stable legs in the glass creating beautiful entrancing patterns....very sweet aroma, touches of whisky, alcohol and butterscotch amidst the thick apple haze....smooth, juicy and very sweet to the tongue, with little alcohol presence, caramel sugar, a touch of burning at the finish, rather syrupy and very dessert-like (as you’d expect). Truly excellent concoction worthy of comparison with Quebec’s finest.

2002 Vintage: Sweet apple sauce, leafy, woody aroma with plenty of pastry dough offset by a tangy underlying character. Clear, deep copper coloured body with excellent legs that coat the sides of the glass. Brown sugar, apple sauce, woody, leafy, herbal notes, some alcohol and a musty overripe apple character that prevents the sweetness from overwhelming. Mild alcohol warming. Syrupy, sweet and sticky, thick rich and luxurious texture without ever becoming cloying or heavy. Thanks to Oakes for sending me back to Montreal with this after Grey Cup 2005. As promised I shared it with a gang, though it had to wait until the last tasting before I moved out to Vancouver! Going Away Party.

Bottle 鶷ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow, jerc, mabel and tupalev, jerc’s bottle - 2005. Lovely - right up there with the La Face offerings. Slightly amber gold, oily-looking, small bubbling cap of foam - lovely lasting legs one this one. Tangy ripe apple aroma, slightly tart, not much oxidation noticeable - fairly sweet, moderately strong alcohol, but it all seems to hang together beautifully. The taste follows - very sweet but balanced by the tang of what reminded me of a very dry white wine - simple, but very nice. Fairly thick and sticky on the tongue, quite ear-warming, with a nice ripe appleskin linger - top drawer for me, well done.

2005 Vintage. Bottle. Golden yellow, syrupy body coats the glass beautifully. Modest alcoholic accent to the aroma, lightly musty sweet apples. Ɨ+) Very sweet, sugary apples in the middle, baked apple skins, light notes of generic fruit. Sticky syrupy smooth medium palate. Very nice, its quite tasty but it lacks the depth and acidity to balance to sweetness and take it to the next level.