Lisbon > Madrid > Ibiza > Algarve (Portimao)

From September 7 to 24th, 2018, we took a trip to Spain and Portugal, and documented our cider experiences. Follow along below, starting at the beginning of our Trip.

Lisbon

Day one in Portugal and all we are seeing is #somersby very much an untapped market
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #OntCider#Cider #portugal #lisbon

 

 

 

 

Stop two for sidra turned out to be also not what we were looking for. #strongbowgold though a little less sugary then the North American version. The pizza however looked absolutely amazing. .
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #portugal#lisbon

 

 

 

 

 

Stop 3 last night found us “the good cider” from San Sebastian at the British pub with the England game on. Very sweet desert apple smell. Apple forward, smooth with less carbonation them most ciders. Comes off as creamy and sweet not that sugary. Has a syrup feel to it. More commercial in the aftertaste. Maybe the Spanish equivalent of commercial cider? Still hunting. .
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #OntCider#Cider #portugal #lisbon

 

 

 

Our hunt continues on night two, more “the good cider” but decided to stick to beer. The @mongozo_beers banana was so good we had to have two! Enjoyed the #floris apple also. Rumour is something is down the street from us.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #lisbon#portugal

 

 

 

 

Ah yes, success. 6% from Portugal a Corrupia Cider made just 4 km from here by a few ladies who did research into apples! Medium apple-forward acidity, and considerable tannin presence in the smell. Light apple flavour with strong acidic characteristics. Acidity builds as the aftertaste continues. Long lasting and becomes less apple in aftertaste. Smooth with some light peppery elements. It’s midway between a commercial cider and a Spanish sidra. .
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #lisbon#portugal

 

 

 

A sweet mild apple smell with some earthyness. @musa_brewing_company“Pesta & Sidra” found at @duque.brewpub in #Lisbon is a cross between a commercial somersby cider and a French influenced cider. Starts sweet and carbonated but quickly becomes creamy and more earthy. A #Lisbonmade cider collaboration with a French brewer at their beer brewery, you can pick influences from both sides of the spectrum and is quite refreshing. Nice tannin levels. 4%
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra

 

 

Returning to #CraftyCorner to try the Spanish @maelocway – Ecologica Sidra Extra. Strong extra earthy smell with a bit of funk. Smooth, with lots of easy to drink carbonation. Caramelized notes. More apple forward than most Spanish Sidras we have had before, but has a nice light drivability. Slightly musty but sweet and not as dry as other typical Spainish sidras. Organic in nature, not your traditional sidra. 4.1%
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #lisbon#portugal

 

 

 

Madrid

Made it to Madrid. Basically a cider fan paradise. One stop we didn’t even know what brand we were drinking but you can’t wrong with 2€ glasses!
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #spain#madrid

 

 

 

 

We stopped into Sidreria El Escarpin just north of Plaza Mayor for a @sidracortina natural. Extra musty and rustic in smell, vinigar like almost. Little bite and extra smooth, that quickly dissipates. Easier to drink then a lot of other sidras, it has natural carbonation with a fun built in cork for pouring. 4.9 Euros and 6% with some tapas.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #madrid#spain

 

 

 

A stop just outside Plaza Mayor, we got a more commercial @ladrondemanzanas Sidra from #Sevilla. Apple forward – served with a lemon – it’s a sweet commercial cider with little carbonation. Not much more than a simple apple juice. Clean and crisp but nothing unique or worth the hunt for. 4.5% and very much a pub style cider. .
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #madrid#spain

 

 

 

El Gaitero Sidra purchased at the local supermarket discount store for 3€, not much high hopes for this 4%, and its a good thing we didn’t. Vinegar in smell and taste it, has lots of carbonation compared to other sidras and is not very smooth or apple forward. Might pair well with some food but on its own, it leaves something to be desired. There is not as much commercially around as we had thought there might be.

 

 

 

 

 

A few euro more from an independent small shop the La Sidra de San Sebastian has a rustic look and a bit more if a northern Sidra then we have found in stores. This however has little apple, is very smooth with minimal carbonation and overall doesn’t offer much. More flavour as you get to the funk at the end of the bottle. A no-name product with a similar taste. Thinking it’s best to stay at the pubs/restaurants at this point for sidra in #Madrid.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra

 

 

 

On our way out of #Madrid one last stop for Sidera Peñón. 6.5% with a medium aroma. Musty. Sweet hints. Vinegary. Smooth from start to finish and somewhat apple forward compared to our previous offerings. Long lingering. Light carbonation. Ends semi-dry. Crisp. More sessionable. Let’s see what #Ibiza has to offer before a stop in #Seville. PS. Owner of #casaparrendo really has a rocking stash.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #spain

 

 

 

Ibiza

On our way out of #Madrid one last stop for Sidera Peñón. 6.5% with a medium aroma. Musty. Sweet hints. Vinegary. Smooth from start to finish and somewhat apple forward compared to our previous offerings. Long lingering. Light carbonation. Ends semi-dry. Crisp. More sessionable. Let’s see what #Ibiza has to offer before a stop in #Seville. PS. Owner of #casaparrendo really has a rocking stash.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #spain

 

On our way out of #Madrid one last stop for Sidera Peñón. 6.5% with a medium aroma. Musty. Sweet hints. Vinegary. Smooth from start to finish and somewhat apple forward compared to our previous offerings. Long lingering. Light carbonation. Ends semi-dry. Crisp. More sessionable. Let’s see what #Ibiza has to offer before a stop in #Seville. PS. Owner of #casaparrendo really has a rocking stash.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #spain

 

 

 

Let’s try a second sidra available at @sidreriapoma; this time the #sidraswinchic apple cider- which is served with a slice of apple. Mild smell with a candied tannic taste. Very different as it’s a sidra with a bit of a commercial flair. Chic is a good term. A cute can, it is probably the most commercial traditional Spanish Sidra you can get but it’s not something you can find at the corner store. .
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra #Ibiza #spain

 

 

 

Algarve (Portimao)

Pool side comparison of the strawberry lime in #Portugal@kopparbergworld (4.5%) is more sweet and artificial in flavour and overall character. The good cider (4%) has more strawberry – and shows lime on the can but not in the ingredients list – has a more natural taste with an apple base. You can’t taste any apple in the koppaberg. Depending on your preferences for a commercial option, your might like either one – but for us The Good Cider is ok, and the Koppaberg will do if necessary. If you like more traditional cider, don’t even bother.
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra

 

Returned and refreshed after a tour of #spain and #portugal last week. Back to reviews and posts shortly but first, @magnersuk does taste better in a bottle and in #europe
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#cider #hardcider #hard_cider #liquor#alcohol #notbeer #cidre #sidra

 

 

 

 

 

 

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