Alongside Got here a Cider: Cider Overview: Seminary Hill Cider Roundup

I had the chance to companion with Seminary Hill Cider final week and go to the Callicoon, New York cidery. They hosted the tall one and me for 2 nights at The Boarding Home, shared an attractive pairing meal (with vegetarian choices), and confirmed us a whole behind-the-scenes tour of the rising orchard, manufacturing facility, and tasting room. And it wasn’t going to be the total expertise with out tasting a number of extra of the ciders. Fortunately, we had way more sunshine than we anticipated and actually received to see the Catskills at their autumnal best. In the event you’re curious, try my Instagram to see the visible storytelling.

For full disclosure, I used to be hosted fantastically and handled to a beautiful time by Stuart, Chef Jack and the type people at Seminary Hill in alternate for some social media protection of the expertise. Nothing concerning the weblog was a part of the association. I’m selecting to share a number of notes on a choose few of the ciders we tasted, as a result of they have been most actually the cider spotlight of my week. For this roundup, I select to incorporate 5 ciders that left huge impressions. Different ciders may seem later in particular person evaluations, however right here’s a enjoyable smattering of what may be discovered on the Seminar Hill Cidery Tasting Room.

First, right here’s the web site that features data on the ciders, Restaurant, Boarding Home and Tasting room: https://www.seminaryhill.co/

For every of those, I’ll embody the official description and a fast summayr of what the Tall one and I assumed. 

2021 Beechwoods

Alcohol 7.7% – pH 3.86 – Titratable Acidity (TA) 3.5 g/L g/L – Bottling Date 7/21/22

Nonetheless, Dry, Unfiltered

A comparatively low-acid, gentle, spherical, tannic cider. Maybe the dry cider equal of consolation meals.

Bronze and evenly cloudy.

Nostril: Apricot, Jasmine

Palate: velvety with gentle acid, apricot, peach, and Minneola. End: Medium bitterness and beneficiant astringency.

Mix:Chisel Jersey 44%, Dabinett 35%, Wickson17%, Porter’s Perfection 4%

Bronze Medal GLINTCAP

To us, the Beechwoods smelled instantly like ripe apples, golden raisins, and once we tasted the first impression was certainly one of deep gentle ripeness. This cider must be nonetheless, all the higher for it to specific the graceful worn wooden, softened leather-based, with good tannic bitterness.  I appreciated the dried apricot notes together with papery tannins.

Nicksen 

Alcohol 7% – Titratable Acidity (TA) 5.23 g/L – Bottling Date 12/6/22

Mix: Dabinett 37%, Harry grasp’s Jersey 29%, Baldwin 13%, Wickson 5%, Puget Spice 5%, Zaubergau Reinette 4%, GoldRush 4%, Yarlington Mill 3%.

RS 1.5% TA 5.2 g/L

Good Gold Petillant

Nostril: Recent. Apple, spice, deeply floral, toffee, mineral water

Palate: Candy contemporary apple and spice hit you first. Then the spice turns into extra natural and woodsy (is there a touch of wintergreen?) and the astringency kicks in. Filled with taste, however reasonable on acid. Very simple ingesting.

This cider makes me consider mud within the daylight from the primary sniff by tasting. Alex discovered it redolent of dried leaves and darkish chocolate; I don’t disagree. The cider feels candy, maybe even a bit sweeter than its residual sugar as a result of the acid isn’t angular and highly effective. The cider tastes darkish reasonably than vivid, with a fruity crimson bell pepper end. 

2020 Semi-Candy Cackling Hen 

Alcohol 7% – Titratable Acidity (TA) 6.3 g/L g/L – Bottling Date 10.5.21

A evenly carbonated semi-sweet cider. A layered expertise with a number of fruit. Harmony grape, cherry, wooden resin.

Residual Sugar 1.4%

Mix: Yarlington Mill 32%, Ellis Bitter 29%, Northern Spy 19%, Tremlett’s Bitter 12%, Newtown Pippin 6%, Chisel Jersey 2%

Zing! This cider rings like a struck cymbal. Although it’s nonetheless received some sweetness, the impression is extra that of an austere acid bomb. The cider is subtle and restrained with notes of lemon and Bing Cherry. We seen the official descriptions use of the phrase resin; that captures one thing necessary.

Tom’s Beard

Alcohol 7.5% – Titratable Acidity (TA) 8.4 g/L – Bottling Date 1/6/23

A Semi-Dry New World cider with tropical fruit notes and vivid acidity. Nice with meals but in addition fantastic by itself.

Silver Medal GLINTCAP

Mix: Golden Russet 62%, Newtown Pippin 20%, Wickson 13%, Northern Spy 5%

Nostril: Citrus, ardour fruit, mango

Palate: Shiny acidity, citrus, ardour fruit, citrus pith.

RS 1.6% Malic acid 8.4g/L

For folk who desire a little bit of funk of their cider, begin right here! It has a smoky phenolic scent however the flavors are dazzlingly intense with tropical fruit. Sure that acid makes it very a lot a New World/East Coast cider. It’s very juicy and apple-y with a golden ribbon of pineapple as properly. I think about this one’s a crowd pleaser. It’s candy, huge, wealthy, and thick.

Spy Who Got here in From the Chilly

I don’t have all the data on this one, however this can be a evenly petillant dessert cider.

I used to be instantly impressed by it’s pleasant excessive acid. This one oozes golden raisins however is sharped up with a powerful taste of Crab apples. What a beautiful deal with to discover a petillant dessert cider that’s not too thick in mouthfeel. The general impression is a candy cider that’s blooming and thrilling however not too boozy. Secondarily I get notes of  crimson currant, shortbread, and the tiniest trace of funk. Single varietal Northern Spy.

I believe I’d like to return to Seminary Hill alone for a self-directed author’s retreat, perhaps to catch the great thing about one other season on this attractive spot. It is quiet and peaceable. The farm and panorama actually supply inspiration aplenty; I stored considering of Grimm’s fairy tales once I peeked throughout the well- cared-for-orchards into the forest past.