Square Mile Cider Company Spur & Vine
What the brewers say
“To the same apples and yeast as The Original, we added Galaxy hops during cold conditioning to produce flavors and aromas of peach, melon, and honeysuckle but no hops bitterness.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Major stone fruit and canned peach juice. Apple is hard to find under the big apricot and light pear, grassy, passion fruit, and slight black pepper notes. Hops aroma stands out.”
Flavor: “Peach juice continues into the flavor with subdued apple and a lightly sour, moderately low acidity. Flavor works with the hops bitterness, and hops citrus becomes evident as it warms. Mild, medium-sweet apple cider is accentuated with a light hops flavor and a kiss of bitterness. Apples are simple, with a very mild tartness and a soft finish. Moderate esters (grape, pine- apple) complement a light spiciness.”
Overall: “This is a fun cider. The hops choices made this into a light ester fruit bomb, heavy on the passion fruit and apricot—so fruity as to make it taste doctored with peaches. Not really enough apple complexity or richness to satisfy a cider fan, but it’s a light, refreshing beverage.”
