Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights Portland Cider 9th Anniversary Ciders (Review)

I’ve been enjoying ciders from Portland Cider quite a few years, and each time that I think they’ve pushed the boundaries of cider flavor combinations to the edge, they find a way to push beyond the edge of the cider-envelope even further.

Coming to us from Clackamas, OR, Portland Cider not only produces six different year-round ciders, but also an impressive list of seasonal and small batch ciders. With their 9th Anniversary upon us, Portland Cider is producing a bunch of new and unique ciders to celebrate their birthday. Of course I’m excited to get my hands on all of these new birthday treats and I can’t wait to try them, so off we go.  zzubreebym

Portland Cider True Brut

ABV:  6.9%
Style:  Dry Cider
Packaging:  19.2oz cans
Appearance:  Clear Golden
Aroma:  Fresh apples
Taste:   Dry apples & tart berries
Overall: True Brut is dry and really effervescent and loaded with fresh and tart apple flavors. The mouthfeel and flavor combination makes for a really drinkable cider and perhaps the easiest-drinking cider in the bunch.

Portland Cider Holy Habanero

ABV:  6.5%
Style:  Spicy Cider
Packaging:  19.2oz cans
Appearance:  Clear Straw
Aroma:  Spicy pepper, ginger & tart apple
Taste:   Tart apples, spicy habanero, ginger and dull honey sweetness
Overall: Holy Habanero is a collaboration with HAB Sauce and it uses their Sauce Lord hot sauces, so it should be no surprise that hot pepper dominates the flavor palate. After a few sips, you’ll also find that the ginger and honey on board manage to even out the hot sauce and make for a really tasty and somewhat addictive cider combination.

Portland Cider Strawberry Pineapple

ABV:  6.5%
Style:  Sweet Cider
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Clear rose pink
Aroma:  Bright berries, citrus and herbal
Taste:   Sweet strawberry, sticky pineapple, citrus and floral flavors
Overall: Strawberry Pineapple has a really enjoyable combination of flavors that come from the Pacific northwest strawberries, Costa Rican pineapple, tangerine juice and hibiscus. This has to be one of my favorite ciders so far and the sneaky little injection of oak flavor in the late sips made for a really enjoyable and complex cider.

Portland Cider Kinda Dry

ABV:  6.9%
Style:  Dry Cider
Packaging:  16oz cans
Appearance:  Clear light straw
Aroma: Tart apples
Taste:   Tart apples, berries with a dry finish
Overall: Kinda Dry is made with 100% Northwest apples and it pays tribute to some of the dry ciders coming from Somerset in the UK. This cider is clean, crisp, well balanced and really drinkable.

Portland Cider was also kind enough to send along the latest packaging for their Imperial Peach Tea which I’ve already reviewed here. I should mention the new packaging for Imperial Peach Tea looks great.

Happy 9th Birthday to Portland Cider and a big thank you to them for including me in the celebration. I’ve not only enjoyed the birthday ciders they were kind enough to send, but all of their ciders that I’ve sampled in the past…and if this is their 9th birthday celebration, I can’t wait for the 10th!

Be sure to get out there and try all of these ciders from Portland Cider for yourself. And when you do try them, be sure to let us know what YOU think.