Don't be an outcider part 5: Crispin Honey Crisp

At some point I am going to stop listing all of these cider posts as part of the outcider series...but I just like the pun too much to do so now. At this point I am on a roll with my cider writing...so much so that Rick has put up a cider tab on our main page - thanks Rick! The thing of it is...cider is hot right now, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. I can't go to the store without finding something new I have not gotten to sample. It's awesome because I have always liked cider. From my days drinking sugary-sweet Cider Jack in basement residence hall rooms at college, to toasting the end of the day with a proper pint in London, to reveling in the explosion of craft cider on today's market, I am a cider fanatic.

My recent try was Honey Crisp by Crispin in Colfax, CA. I keep seeing this cider everywhere - the brew store, Bier Caves, and even Corvallis' beer and wine mecca - the Orange Store. I found its elegant and subtle label almost intimidating compared to the down-home advertising most cider is paired with. With words like "artisanal reserve" and "super premium quality" splashed across the label, my curiosity was certainly piqued.

If you are a fan of sweet ciders you HAVE to pick this up for your next drink. Honey crisp is almost mead-like in its rich, honey taste. The apple in the flavor is over-ripe and dripping with sugar and late-fall sunshine. Creamy in mouth feel and pale golden in color, this cider has a remarkable way of drawing you in. As I poured more from the bottle, the color clouded as this cider is unfiltered. That said, I did not want to give up any of the experience to save the clarity of my drink. The sediment actually provided a richness to the flavor, and increased the tangible qualities of the crisp mouth feel.  I would recommend this cider alone, but think it would also be an amazing after-dinner drink to go with desserts such as cheesecake or creme brulee.