Dirty Dog – Russet

Cider Profile:

Name: Dirty Dog – Russet
Sampled September 2025

Brand: Dirty Dog Cider Co. Type: Apple – Single Varietal Location of Production: Colborne, ON ABV: 9.3% Website Link: facebook.com/dirtydogcider/ Ingredients: N/A Gluten Free: Yes Sugar Content: N/A Size(s) available: 750ml (bottles) Availability: Dirty Dog retail store Flavour: Apple Colour: Transparent golden yellow Carbonation: No moving bubbles, some bubbles on the side of the glass

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Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Bright, crisp apple flesh. Pear drop/banana notes.
Initial Taste: Mild sensation from acidity, tiniest amount of carbonation. A quick, crisp apple base – very Russet tasting (yellow) with lots of apple characteristics. A hint of earthiness from the Russet. Soft apple presence. Banana notes.
After Taste: Apple remains largely the same, maybe a bit more fleshy and soft. Clean finish.
On ice: Waters it down a lot, so less flavourful, but doesn’t change the flavours.

Additional Notes: Dirty Dog’s Russet Cider is a drier, stronger offering at 9.3%, but it certainly does not taste it, While it does have a slight fermented note, the apples taste fresh, juicy, bright and clean. Appears still, it has a slight bit of acidity upfront, but not too sharp, minimal tannins. It is quickly a bright, crisp apple presence, not changing much, but really showcasing the brilliance of the russet apple – with lots of “yellow varietal” notes, and a bit of the natural earthiness/grit one would expect from a Russet. Some unique banana notes. A clean, satisfying, refreshing finish. `

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 2
Sour – 2.5
Crisp – 4.5
Dry – 3.5
Fruity – 4

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Kawartha Country Wines – Golden Russet
More Sour – Last House – Cidre Pétillant Golden Russet (2023)
More Dry – Farm Gate – Russet Craft
More Crisp – 

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