I’ve simply returned from one other cider competitors. This previous weekend, I judged for The Jap States Exposition (normally simply referred to as The Large E), and it was a well-run competitors with the additional advantage of getting to satisfy on-line cider associates in-person for the primary time ever. What a deal with!
That introduced Massachusetts ciders to the forefront of my thoughts, so I did just a little digging in my cellar and located Berkshire Cider Challenge’s Hancock Shaker Village. I picked this up final summer time when visiting the cidery’s Greylock Works tasting room in North Adams, Massachusetts.
Right here’s how Berkshire Cider Challenge describes what they do.
All of our ciders are dry and glowing.
Pure ciders might remind you of white wine and even champagne. Take pleasure in at house, deliver to a cocktail party or as a particular reward, made proper right here within the Berkshires.
Every fall we obtain fresh-pressed juice from native orchards and ferment slowly throughout the chilly Berkshire winter. We age these base ciders in French wine barrels or impartial tanks for 6-12 months, earlier than mixing and bottling.
We’re obsessive about conventional cider apples. These typically forgotten varieties are like grapes to wine, with distinct ranges of acid, aromatics and tannins. We supply from native orchards, forage wild fruit and even import juice from the UK to complement what we are able to’t discover regionally (but!).
Every harvest is totally different so every cider shall be totally different. However you’ll be able to make certain that every one was crafted with care, proper right here within the Berkshires.
I’ve one earlier entry about Berkshire Cider Challenge, however it’s a roundup of a number of of the ciders: Bittersweet, Windy Hill, Hancock Shaker Village (2020), and Dry.
Roundup: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/06/cider-roundup-berkshire-cider-project.html
Go to the Berkshire Cider Challenge on-line: https://www.berkshire-cider.com.
HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE (2021)
Hand-picked heirloom apples.
A wealthy mix of heirloom and wild apples from the historic Shaker orchard. Our 2020 bottling captures the brilliant aromatics of a heat fall and chalky palate of late-harvest russets. Fermented slowly and easily with wild yeast.
Tasting notes: Wildflowers, Oyster Shell and Inexperienced Apple.
500ml, 6.9% alc/vol
65 instances produced
I fairly appreciated the Shaker Village that I tasted final yr, so I used to be interested in this one.
Look: sensible, sunny, bubbly
Brilliant! I really like how radiantly sunny the golden tone is. The cider is fantastically sensible and bubbly as properly.
Aromas: Leather-based, overripe apple, honeydew melon, grain and forged iron
The Hancock Shaker Village smells most instantly of leather-based and overripe apples. I may also detect notes that remind me of honeydew melon, grain and my forged iron skillet.
Sweetness/dryness: Dry
With none doubt, this cider is exuberantly dry!
Flavors and ingesting expertise: tannic, chalky, prickly bubbles, overripe apples
I really like that the tannins on this cider communicate first. The Hancock Shaker Village begins with an preliminary hit of bitterness that smooths out into light fruitiness. I get notes of overripe apple like I seen within the cider’s aromas. The tannins take again over by the end with parts that remind me of oyster shells in that they’re chalky and minerally.
The mouthfeel is austere and structured with prickly small bubbles. The acidity is current and taut however not a outstanding a part of the tasting expertise.
I loved the Hancock Shaker Village tremendously with an ultra-simple meal of summer time squash, blackened fish, and brown rice. It’s funky however not flawed. What a chic and restrained cider!
