Time for some cider reviews! I’ve got five reviews of ciders from Portland Cider, showcasing the company’s recent package redesign efforts as well as new additions to its lineup. The cider sent me samples of these recently, representing a solid cross-section of the current offerings, so let’s get right to the reviews.

Kinda Dry

Portland Cider’s flagship cider is English-style and 6.9% ABV; the website says:

An ode to our Somerset heritage, Kinda Dry is our take on a classic English-style cider. From 100% Northwest apples, this cider is balanced, off-dry, and crisp for timeless satisfaction.

I originally reviewed Kinda Dry two years ago, and here was my overall note:

A nice representation of “apple,” with an apple essence that’s straightforward and unfrilly and rather good. This is a good “base” cider to fall back on for casual drinking and to develop other flavors.

It’s changed a bit in the past couple of years, I think. My notes:

Appearance: Bright, golden, with great clarity. Near-sparkling in the glass.

Smell: Rustic and slightly farmhouse-y, with an earthy aroma, and maybe even a hint of sulfur. Tannic?

Taste: Definitely dry, with tannic notes and a slight hint of horse blanket/barnyard. Not too tart or acidic, but there’s a strong impression of very under ripe apple, where you’d get that dry, almost-astringent character, perhaps like crabapple.

Mouthfeel: Dry finish, fairly crisp, semi-active carbonation.

Overall: Drier, more… English?… than since I last reviewed this. I’d venture to say there’s more complexity than I remember as well.

Imperial Peach Tea

This cider lives up to its name, with 9.5% ABV and created with peaches and black tea; more specifically:

A rich, golden imperial cider from crisp Northwest apples and mouthwateringly juicy Washington peaches. Steeped Assam black tea from Steven Smith Teamaker adds an extra zing that puts this cider a notch above the rest.

Appearance: Shiny copper color, quite clear, moderately active carbonation.

Smell: Super subtle with tea being the first aroma that I can distinguish, a bit like iced tea. Hints of Southern Comfort, a touch of caramelized apples.

Taste: Semi-sweet and semi-dry simultaneously, with some acidity and a subtle peach skin flavor, steeped in mild black tea (just as described). Balanced. No hints of its strength. Some apple character comes out at the back, rich but tempered by the tea.

Mouthfeel: Semi-sweet and semi-petillant, with a rich impression in the finish.

Overall: It’s nice, super subtle, and it doesn’t taste strong (booze-wise) so watch out.

Holy Habanero

Holy Habanero is a small batch cider crafted in collaboration with Portland’s HAB Sauce, so if you wanted a hot sauce inspired cider, then this one’s for you. It’s 6.5% ABV and the cidery says:

A collaboration with HAB sauce means endless flavor possibilities. Taking inspiration from the ever-tasty Sauce Lord hot sauce we paired 100% Northwest apples with fresh habanero, ginger, honey, and a touch of carrot. Experience Portland Cider quality with a kick.

Carrot is an interesting addition, inspired by the ingredients of HAB’s Sauce Lord sauce—though I don’t know if it was part of a sauce blended with the cider, or if Portland Cider used carrot juice in the formulation. My notes:

Appearance: Clear and golden, and fairly lively carbonation.

Smell: Dry cider notes of green apple, with a light kick of hot pepper spice, and an earthy aroma. The pepper character seems fairly fresh.

Taste: Semi-dry, to a lightly tart cider (similar to Kinda Dry) but the pepper takes over fairly quickly, earthy-fruity with blooming heat that starts on the tongue but gets hot and bright at the back. There’s a fair amount of spice here. Hints of raw ginger, clean and crisp apple, and finishes with a nice snap.

Mouthfeel: Semi-dry and pretty crisp; lingering spicy heat.

Overall: As advertised! It’s good especially if you’re looking for spicy foods or drinks.

Strawberry Pineapple

One of the new additions to the core lineup, Strawberry Pineapple is 6.5% ABV and available year round. In addition to pineapple and strawberry, there’s a bit of orange in the ingredients list as well. The website says:

The tantalizingly tart taste of fresh pineapples perfectly balances red ripe strawberries and 100% Northwest apples. Simmered in citrus, you’ll find tropical paradise in every sip.

Appearance: Golden-pink color, kind of a rosé wine appearance, with a bit of fizz and sparkle.

Smell: Bit of a tropical note with pineapple over the apple. Nothing I could identify as strawberry but there’s a hint of tartness that points to a rustic berry impression.

Taste: Semi-dry with some splashes of sweet fruit; a bit like if Kinda Dry is the base and some pineapple juice and some strawberry syrup were added. Nothing artificial tasting, however, there are good flavors with fresh pineapple and mellow berry.

Mouthfeel: Light and crisp with a semi-dry finish. Semi-petillant.

Overall: Decent, though I’d love more fruit.

True Brut

True Brut is the other new year-round core addition to Portland Cider’s offerings, and it takes the Kinda Dry concept and stretches it as far as it can go:

Fermented with a sophisticated champagne yeast, True Brut is exceptionally dry and perfectly refreshing. With zero sugar this bubbly beverage is truly a cider to celebrate.

Zero sugar and 6.9% ABV, it’s clear the cidery was able to get all of that residual sugar to ferment out. Notes:

Appearance: Clear and golden, fizzy, with an active stream of bubbles.

Smell: Light and estery, with dry green apple and some apple skin; it does have some champagne yeast esters in there, a bit grassy and grape skin-like.

Taste: Oh this is quite dry, bordering on astringent, like a dry, partially tart crabapple with a splash of dry white wine. Some gooseberry, apple skin, willow bark.

Mouthfeel: Extremely dry, crisp, light. Semi-active.

Overall: This one is interesting and complex.