Like its counterpart (reviewed here), &more Cider Sweet hails from Cider Barn &more in Iida, Nagano Prefecture. The apples used are picked from their own orchard and then made into cider by local cidermaker Kikusui Sake Brewery.
Ciders evaluated at Japan Cider Guide follow the American Cider Association‘s Certified Cider Professional Programme‘s Structured Sensory Analysis (below). Leave a comment if you have any questions about the Structured Sensory Analysis, or if you’re interested in learning how to become a Certified Cider Professional, contact me.
APPEARANCE
Clarity
Cloudy
Intensity
Low
Colour
Straw/Yellow
Carbonation
Sparkling
AROMA
Intensity
Low
Aroma Characteristics
Cooked Apple, Green Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Melon
PALATE
Sweetness
Sweet
Acidity
Low
Tannin
Low
Intensity
Low
Flavour Characteristics
Cooked Apple, Lemon, Pear Drop, Pineapple, Lychee
Complexity
Low
Body
Low
Finish
Medium
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Summary of above considering balance, integration, and character
This cider opens with a burst of bubbles and sparkling carbonation within a pale yellow hue. Its pome and tropical-rich aromas are deep in the glass, with notes of cooked and green apple, pear, pineapple, and melon. Sweet, but soft on the palate; very low intensity and undetectable levels of acidity or tannin. Warm in cooked apple, lemon, pear drop flavours, this cider is balanced by a medium finish with minimal complexity and body.
Honest thoughts before moving on…
Seeing as how both the Semi Dry and Sweet were so similarly made, it’s not unfair to “simply” say this is a sweeter version of its semi dry sibling, without the latter’s subtle acidity. Those who enjoy French cidre will almost certainly dig this, although keep in mind this cider drinks a bit brighter and less savoury than standard French fare. As with the Semi Dry, lees are clearly evident in the bottle, but as previously extolled, a good thing and fantastic way to finish the last drop.
If you’re one to make up your own mind, you can purchase (both) bottles from Cider Barn &more’s orchard’s online store, Sunnyside Farm. The site’s in Japanese but is easily translatable, and in addition to cider, offers a range of apples, apple juice, and farm grown vegetables, too.
