NEW Woodchuck Gumption Cider – A First Sampling

Thank you to everyone at Woodchuck for giving me a really early opportunity to sample their new Gumption Cider.  This cider is named for Woodchuck’s “gumption” to re-introduce a “historical American beverage” when they began selling their cider 24 years ago.  This cider also celebrates the spirit of PT Barnum (on the label) as well as all those who have the gumption to follow their own paths.

But enough about the name…how is the cider?  According to Woodchuck, Gumption uses a blend of European bittersweet apples as well as common eating apples…so it should be no surprise that the aroma that first hits you is bright apple.  The color and clarity are near perfect so before we even sampled Gumption, we liked it.  Gumption begins with sweet apple cider flavors but as it warmed slightly the sweetness softened (a good thing).  The finish was a dry-er than I expected and I was waiting for sticky, but it simply wasn’t there (also a good thing).  Gumption finishes clean and I was surprised at how well the sweet beginning and dry finish worked together.  This cider is easy to drink.

Gumption will be available year-round in 12oz bottles (in March) and draft (coming in May) and Woodchuck tells me this is the first core cider package they have done that is style-forward, celebrating the cider and how it represents Woodchuck.

Whatever the goal or styling, you can’t help but to enjoy the cider.  Woodchuck Gumption is of course naturally gluten-free and it comes in at 5.5%-AbV so be sure to try this one for yourself and let me know what you think.