Woodchuck Belgian White

I first heard about Woodchuck Private Reserve Belgian White a couple of months ago. I was intrigued enough to post the cidery's promotional video here. We added Belgian White to our  "must try" list and waited for this cider to hit local shelves. Recently, sharp-eyed Colleen spied it at our local grocery and brought some home. I finally had an opportunity to sit down and try it out this week.

This interesting style blend between a Belgian Wit and a hard cider pours a cloudy orange color. Carbonation is moderate, but the head is thin and short-lived. The prominent aroma is Belgian-style spice, with coriander in the forefront. Citrus fruit and apple aromas linger in the background. The flavor is, as expected, somewhat unique. The taste is slightly tart, reminiscent of sour apple, with orange and grape notes as well. The spices in the nose carry over to the flavor; coriander and white pepper are notable. The finish is dry with a lingering yeast funk and fruit blend. 

This new release from Woodchuck Cidery blurs the line between beer and cider. And it does so in a winning fashion. Whether you are a fan of ciders, or Belgian beers, or both, seek this out and give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

What Next To "Belgianize"?

There's a trend among brewers to create new beers that are a blend of traditional styles. The cider makers are picking up on that too. The folks at Woodchuck Cidery have added a new product to their Private Reserves lineup. They've added a belgian yeast strain to cider to create Private Reserve Belgian White. We've previously look at other "Belgianized" styles, such as the "Belgian IPA" from Flying Dog Brewery, Raging Bitch. I've recently come to enjoy ciders, and have written about a couple from Woodchuck already, so this is intriguing.

There was a time when the thought of adding belgian yeasts to disparate beer (and cider) styles would have turned off this fan of hoppy beers. However, there's something about the sharpness of hops and the funk of Belgian yeast that makes for a good mix. I'm pretty sure I'll like it in a sharp cider too.

We seem to be limited to finding the basic Woodchuck ciders in our area so I don't know if I'll get to try it or not, but it does sound interesting.

Of course this trend will probably only serve to increase the enormity of the beer styles guides.

H/T to Draft Magazine.

Woodchuck Winter Cider

I was perusing the beer aisle at the local grocery store recently and noticed Woodchuck Winter Hard Cider on the shelf. The label described this cider as "Oak aged with a hint of vanilla." Knowing that a friend who is a fan of ciders would be visiting soon, I decided to pick up a six pack. Of course I sent him a photo of the display as a tease too.

We cracked into the Woodchuck Winter Cider one recent late evening. The cider pours an attractive dark copper color. It was a very different appearance from the Spring release reviewed previously. It reminded me of the color of the apple cider one finds at roadside stands in the fall. The aroma was faint sweet fruit but rather non-descript otherwise. The flavor is slightly sweet with some earthy undertones. Hints of caramel and vanilla come through. The mouthfeel is mildly effervescent with a lingering sweetness.

I enjoyed the refreshing crispness of this limited release from the Woodchuck Cider folks. It was an enjoyable late night treat before retiring for the evening. In fact, lately I've found myself opting for a cider on occasion, rather than a beer, when I'm looking for a late-evening "light" refreshment.

For the Love of Maple

Recently I came across a press release from Woodchuck Cidery announcing the release of their Spring offering. Woodchuck made use of locally produced maple syrup to create Woodchuck Spring Cider Limited Release. Even though I've had very few ciders the description of the maple syrup and brown sugar flavors was enough to entice me to search it out.

I visited my two local beer shops to no avail. I then used the locater on the Woodchuck web site to search for a source in my area. Nothing! So I wrote the Woodchuck folks and asked. I was pleased to get not one, but two replies with suggestions and I found the cider at the second suggestion. That's customer service!

Upon pouring the bright, straw colored cider I immediately noted the sweet maple aroma. Interesting. My first remark was "Breakfast!" The flavor is very refreshing. The sweet maple syrup and brown sugar flavors do not overpower the cider tartness, but they are definitely the dominant flavors. I'm reminded somewhat of the maple candy, though not as strongly flavored, that we enjoyed during a trip to Vermont many years ago.

Our local distributor is apparently already out of the Woodchuck Spring, so it may be hard to find now, but it's certainly work seeking out.