Schilling Hard Cider of Seattle offers a line of imperial ciders under its Excelsior series, all at least 8% alcohol by volume and branded with a space theme (or “Space Giraffe” might be a better descriptor, based on the labels). The latest in the series is an imperial pineapple cider, named Spaceport, that is 8.4% ABV and created with pineapple and passion fruit. I received samples of the cider from Schilling to review.

The description from the website says:

Pining for the perfect pairing, Excelsior Pineapple combines our passion-for-fruit with a tantalizing cosmic creation that makes its landing at 8.4% ABV.

Start your journey with its vibrant pineapple aroma and let it lead you to your first sip of this celestial cider! The combination of fresh-pressed Pacific Northwest apples, tart passion fruit, and juicy pineapple bursts with the tropical flavor of the getaway you’ve been daydreaming about.

The company also includes a bit of nutritional info on its site, which is useful; for Spaceport, a 12-ounce can has 250 calories and 24 grams of carbs.

Appearance: Bright golden color, crystal clear, semi-active with tiny bubbles.

Smell: Apple and pineapple juice; fresh-cut pineapple and a bit of pineapple candy. Jolly Rancher candy-like sweetness in fact.

Taste: Sweet cider with an extension of that Jolly Rancher candy aroma character into the flavor, so it’s akin to a bit of hard candy; also fresh pineapple juice for a good fruity presence. Light bit of tang for a touch of balance in acidity. Fresh chunks of pineapple in that tangy bite.

Mouthfeel: Sweet and crisp, bit of a tang at the back, semi-active on the tongue.

Overall: This is a big, sweet pineapple blast and a fun tipple.