Shale Ridge – Blueberry Hops

Cider Profile:

Name: Shale Ridge – Blueberry Hops
Sampled November 2020

Brand: Shale Ridge Estate Winery Type: Flavoured – Blueberry + Hops Location of Brewing: Thedford, ON ABV: 8% Website Link: shaleridgewinery.com Ingredients: N/A Gluten Free:  Yes Sugar Content: N/A Size(s) available: 750ml (bottles) Availability: Shale Ridge retail and online store Flavour: Blueberry + Hops Colour: Dark rose with hints of purple Carbonation: Still

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Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Tart blueberry with hints of orange and lemon. Pulpy apple.
Initial Taste: Mild bite from acidity. Quick natural blueberry that is tart, slightly earthy. Pulpy apple base.
After Taste: Blueberry becomes smoother but remains strong and hops notes come out. Slight astringency. Ends dry with lingering blueberry flavours.
On ice: Slightly less tart and astringent but flavours are the same.

Additional Notes:  Shale Ridge’s Blueberry Hops features two flavours we cannot recall being paired together prior. The blueberry is very natural tasting, slightly tart and slightly creamy. The apple base is bright and pulpy but the blueberry is stronger. The hops are minimal but they add nice citrus undertones. Well balanced and runs more dry overall.

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 2
Sour – 3
Crisp – 3
Dry – 4
Fruity – 3.5 

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Thornbury – Blueberry Elderflower
More Sour – Steeltown – The Northman Sour
More Dry – Duxbury – Titled Barn
More Crisp – Ernest – Wild Blueberry

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