Clafeld – In Sheep’s Clothing

Cider Profile:

Name: Clafeld – In Sheep’s Clothing
Sampled May 2020

Brand: Clafeld Cider and Fruit Winery Type: Apple – Malted Location of Brewing: Picton, ON ABV: 7.5% Website Link: Ingredients:  Fermented apple juice, barley, sugar, potassium sorbate, sulphites Gluten Free: NO Sugar Content: N/A Size(s) available: 500ml (bottle) Availability: Clafeld Retail Store + Waupoos Winery Online Store Flavour: Apple Colour: Deep amber Carbonation: Large, semi-streaming bubbles

Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Strong aroma. Notes of barley and sherry. Mild tart apple.
Initial Taste: Medium bite acidity but clean. Woody/oak notes quickly emerge. Then sherry-like notes appear, with some astringency. Date and straw notes. Mild tart apples.
After Taste: Barley notes come in decent, with wood aspects remaining. Mild savoury and nutty spice notes come through like nutmeg and black pepper. Dry, muddled flavour finish. Chocolate hints.
On ice: Thinned out body but flavour doesn’t change much.

Additional Notes: Clafeld’s In Sheep’s Clothing is one of the most unique ciders we’ve had, and we think its okay that it confused our palates. There are a lot of flavours and elements that happen within a short period that we found hard to describe and they don’t warrant traditional cider terminology, though as a whole, its not overly flavourful in any direction – it’s muddled. The best way to describe this is an amber-ale inspired cider that starts off with a sherry-like taste to it. It then transitions into the barley flavour near the end with spices and minerality obvious – like a good amber/brown ale beer has. With some chocolate notes right at the end, its honestly so different. With only a mild apple presence, we’d drink this one more like a beer. This is not a gluten-free cider as it has barley in it. 

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 1.5
Sour – 2
Crisp – 2
Dry – 3.5
Fruity – 2

Next recommendations:
More Sweet –
More Sour – 
More Dry – 
More Crisp – 

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