Lastly, it rained. I don’t wish to complain about all climate, but it surely’s been damagingly dry right here. This rain couldn’t be extra welcome. It appears like the entire palette of the world has softened and cooled blue-gray. We’re not but out of drought territory however I really feel so grateful. I could even be keen to warmth up my kitchen with among the cooking I’ve been avoiding for days. We’ll see about that although. At the moment, I’m sharing my evaluate of Redbyrd Orchard Cider’s Tompkins King / Stoke Pink.
Redbyrd Orchard cider involves us from the Finger Lakes area of New York, AKA my neck of the woods. I do know the cidery via Deva Maas and Eric Shatt: two anchors of the native cider group. They based the cidery and steward its biodynamic orchard. Right here’s only a bit extra background about Redbyrd from the web site, together with their land acknowledgement and dedication to contributing to the Haudenosaunee.
Redbyrd Orchard Cider is the mixed work of the solar, the moon, the earth, the tides, and som particular animals, timber, and people. We’re glad you might be right here. Our small cidery and at the moment Licensed Biodynamic managed orchards develop heirloom, wild seedling, and cider apples to make one of the best cider we presumably can and supply an area to attach with one another, the land, and the cosmos.
Redbyrd Orchard is situated within the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes area of Upstate New York, on the standard Gayogohó:no nation lands of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Confederacy precedes the institution of New York state, and the USA of America.
In acknowledgment, a portion of gross sales from our orchard are contributed to Ganondagan.
My earlier Redbyrd Orchard Cider opinions embody:
Black is Gold (a collaboration with Black Diamond Cider): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/11/cider-review-black-diamond-farm-and.html
Celeste Sur Lie 2015: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/10/redbyrd-orchard-ciders-celeste-sur-lie.html
The Andromeda Crab: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/01/cider-review-redbyrd-orchard-ciders.html
Their presence at an all FLX pairing dinner: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/09/finger-lakes-cider-week-and-birthday.html
The North Star: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/01/cider-review-redbyrd-orchard-ciders.html
The Starblossom: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/10/finger-lakes-cider-week-special-review.html
The Dry Harvest Cider 2013: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/12/cider-review-reddbyrd-2013-harvest-cider.html
The Wild Pippin (my #1 cider of 2014, the Wild Pippin): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2014/12/cider-review-redbyrd-orchard-ciders.html
It was an journey to search out the official description of this cider, however because of social media I did! Right here’s what Redbyrd Orchard Cider has to say concerning the Tompkins King and Stoke Pink.
2021 Tompkins King/ Stoke Pink
50% Tompkins King 50% Stoke Pink
~notes of~ Toasted coconut, Honey Dew Melon, Black Pepper
Alcohol 7.5% Residual Sugar 0.0%
Pressed 10/14/21 Bottled 12/27/21
That is one other mix of a North American Selection and one from Europe. Tompkins King is an previous American heirloom selection that originated as a seedling from Warren county New Jersey and was delivered to Tompkins County NY in 1804. Among the first Tompkins King timber in New York had been planted close to Jacksonville which is 5 miles from our orchard!! Tompkins King has that traditional vintage apple taste with spicy aromas of apple pie. It’s a giant apple with a number of juice and has all the time been a helpful element to arduous cider in our area over time. Tompkins King lacks these dense tannins so widespread in European cider apples so we blended it with Stoke Pink. Stoke Pink is from Somerset England relationship again to the early 1900’s and is assessed as a bitter sharp, containing each excessive ranges of acid and tannin. This cider blends the fruity spicy fragrant traits of Tompkins King with acid and tannins from Stone Pink. There’s extra acidity on this cider from each varieties which provides it a contemporary and full of life character.
Look: heat harvest orange, medium depth, few seen bubbles
As a result of I used to be having fun with my cider outdoors at a restaurant, the glassware was enjoyable and sensible slightly than designed for final cider ogling. Nonetheless, the Tompkins King / Stoke Pink is gorgeous. The colour reminds of all of the oranges of harvest season in a medium depth. I may see some bubbles in my glass as properly.
Aromas: malic acid, twiggy, vanilla, candy orange citrus
Redbyrd Orchard Cider’s Tompkins King/Stoke Pink begins with deep and highly effective malic acid. Tree twigs. Creamy and vanilla. Candy citrus: oranges.
Dryness/sweetness: Dry
This can be a dry cider. Interval. Deliciously, delightfully, dry.
Flavors and ingesting expertise: excessive tannins, petillant, minerals, full mouthfeel
The Tompkins King/Stoke Pink brings stress and intense flavors; the cider has each excessive acidity and excessive tannins with a number of austere minerality and 0 sweetness. I respect the cider’s lengthy end: pointed and lingering. My glass had a comparatively mild stage bubble, extra petillant than glowing. I’m by no means positive although after I get a glass of cider from an open bottle if the total presence of bubbles can be there. It’s a skillful mix of British bittersharp with American excessive acid; the tannins hit quick: tasty and textural. I respect that they don’t overpower, pulling again to permit the fruitiness of the cider to talk.
I sampled this cider as a part of a stunning outside meal at a brand new Ithaca restaurant: Lev Kitchen. I paired it with one in every of their Malawach wraps: Halloumi with strawberry jam, marcona almonds, and greens. It was outstanding! I liked having toothy tannins with the mosaic of textures within the wrap. It was an altogether yummy expertise!
