Woodchuck Fall Cider

Brewed by Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC
Style: Cider
Middlebury, Vermont USA

Serve in Bowl, Flute, Lager glass

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THOUGHTS: Pretty much all the spices of a pumpkin beer but with apple instead of pumpkin and/or malt as the base. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, light golden, with nice, tiny bubbles and an average, white head that mostly diminished and left barely fair lacing. The aroma contained apple, hints of wood, brown sugar, tons of fall spices, and autumn potpourri. The initial flavor was lightly sweet and acidic; while the finish was moderately sweet, lightly acidic and slightly sour with a sort of short duration. The light body was dry with lightly fizzy carbonation and a dry finish.

Okay, so my wife is a celiac, and cannot enjoy beer the way most of us lucky SOBs do. She hasn’t yet been able to develop a palate for the newly available, gluten-free beers, as she is accustomed to more watery offerings like Bud Light (actually a fairly safe beer for celiacs due to the fact that the gluten has been virtually processed out of the poor liquid). So, upon meeting her, I’ve indulged in one of her favorite drinks: Hard cider, which is her (and many others like her) choice when grabbing a cold one. Most of these offerings are okay; refreshing, tolerable, and even quite delicious on the right occasion. There is one brand/style that stands out miles above the rest, and that is Woodchuck Fall Cider. This stuff is (comparatively) a gift from the gluten-free gods. As a New Englander, this kick-starts the autumnal nostalgia wonderfully. The gentle cinnamon, and warming nutmeg bring you deep into an autumnal leaf-laden orchard, where you know you have a warm cozy farmhouse waiting for your company just over that hill (mind the mud-hole from the tractor wheels).

On tap. Strong Christmas aromas here. My favorite Woodchuck offering so far.

Bottle. Clear copper in color. Reminds me of apple pie in both taste and aroma.

Not bad - but overall an odd combination that leaves the taste a little "meh"

Darker pour than the average cider. Smells like popuri, tastes like liquid apple pie and popuri. I’m not a huge fan of cinnamon which may explain why I rated this lower than most of you have.

Bottle as shown. Pours a cloudy golden with a small white head that diminishes quickly to nothing. The aroma is cinammon and nutmeg. Thin mouthfeel with a sweet spice and fruity malt. A good cider from Woodchuck.

Horrible. Strong flavor of nutmeg and cinnamon, but in the worst ways possible. I regret trying this cider. The worst of the Woodchuck collection.

Serving: 12 oz. bottle from Wegmans Leesburg. It pours a deep gold color but it can’t muster any kind of head. The nose smells like spiced apple cake. The flavor is on the sweet and spiced side. Sort of like spiced apple juice. Light florals emerge as it warms. The finish while leaning towards dry, leaves a sort of spice potpourri lingering on the tongue. Not terrible.

This fall cider is delicious. Just the right amount of cinnamon and nutmeg. Sweet up front with a nice effervescent feel to it at the end. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone