I’ve been saving my notes on Huge Fish Cider Co.’s Monterey Maple since December twenty seventh. I bought to get pleasure from this cider with the Tall One and my dad throughout our vacation get collectively. My dad’s superior cat KB is in one of many photos. Right this moment is a day that jogs my memory that whereas Winter is right here, Spring is coming. I assumed it solely proper to share this cider that connects these seasons as nicely, with its hearty winter-friendly heat and maple’s nod to Spring’s operating of the sap.
For extra background data on Virginia’s Huge Fish Cider Co. I like to recommend trying to my earlier evaluations. I’ve loved reviewing these ciders for a couple of years now. Right here’s an inventory of all of this weblog’s earlier evaluations of Huge Fish Cider Co. ciders. There’s a really excessive ratio of those ciders’ appearances on the weblog and within the yearly favorites record. It’s not a coincidence, as Huge Fish Ciders are typically completely scrumptious.
Wassail: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/01/cider-review-big-fish-cider-cos-wassail.html
Punk and Henry (my #2 Favourite cider of 2022): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/03/cider-review-big-fish-cider-cos-puck.html
Virginia Hewes Crab(my #1 favourite cider of 2020!): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/10/cider-review-big-fish-cider-co-virginia.html
Wild Meadow: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/05/cider-review-big-fish-cider-cos-wild.html
Allegheny Gold (my #3 cider from 2019): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/01/cider-review-whitewood-cider-company.html
Highland Scrumpy (my #3 cider from 2018): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/08/cider-review-angry-orchard-ciders.html
Church Hill Blush: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/05/very-perry-may-aeppeltreows-orchard.html
Take a look at all the ciders that Huge Fish Cider has accessible by visiting them on the internet: https://www.bigfishcider.com/
Right here’s the cidery’s official description for the cider.
Glowing gold clear Off-Dry cider that includes Stayman, Gold Rush, Winesap and Pink Woman. This cider is fermented with native Maple Syrup, after which barrel aged in apple brandy barrels, 8.4% abv.
We develop wonderful apples right here in Highland, however we’re higher identified for our maple syrup; this cider is an ideal marriage of the 2. Within the olden-days, cidermakers would add additional sugar to their cider to spice up the alcohol content material so as to make a extra secure drink (with our lengthy, chilly winters, who may blame them?), and at one time maple syrup was cheap and available. They’d ferment the cider in barrels, and with the maple flavors, this is able to add complexity to the cider. We used apple brandy barrels, which add one other dimension to the flavors of this cider.
The Oak of the barrel comes by on the nostril, however the first sip quickly provides technique to the brandy and flavors together with vanilla and caramel notes, from the barrel, and when swallowed the essence of the maple is left on the palate, together with the tannins from the oak. Much less maple taste than most count on, and never candy. We didn’t need the Maple to dominate, solely be a supporting taste on this cider.
Monterey Maple goes nicely with smoked meats and significantly grilled meals.
Look: shiny jeweler’s gold, sensible, bubbly
I like how intense and shiny the jeweler’s gold colour is within the Monterey Maple. In any other case the cider is plentifully bubbly and sensible.
Aromas: barrel, baking spices, maple, botanical notes, apple butter
The Monterey Maple cider smells of a mild aged spiciness of the brandy barrel. I additionally get notes of concentrated apple butter, baking spices, and one thread of wildness.
Dryness/Sweetness: Semi-sweet
This cider is described as off-dry, however the maple provides presence to its sweetness, so it might operate like a semi-sweet in case your tastes are like mine.
Flavors and consuming expertise: brandy, creamy mouthfeel, medium excessive acid, maple,
Huge Fish Cider Co.’s Monterey Maples tastes unbelievable. Bubbles caress the thick boozy mouthfeel. The cider brings medium excessive tannins and medium excessive acid. The acidity stands out as excessive profile for a barrel-aged cider; I admire the impact tremendously. The maple is properly built-in, however the brandy barrels converse simply as clearly. The cider awakens the salivary glands.
I like how this cider tastes warming and shiny directly. The maple speaks with further readability within the end and aftertaste, which is a good place for it to indicate up. I additionally get floral notes because the cider leaves my senses. The one notice of wildness from the aroma does persist, including a burr of texture. The bubbles are a pleasure. General an ideal delight for Winter or Spring.
