Shale Ridge – Raspberry Lemon Verbena

Cider Profile:

Name: Shale Ridge – Raspberry Lemon Verbena
Sampled September 2023

Brand: Shale Ridge Estate Winery Type: Flavoured – Tea Infused Location of Brewing: Thedford, ON ABV: 5% Website Link: shaleridgewinery.ca Ingredients: Cider, Lemon, Verbena Tea, Raspberry Juice, Sulphites Gluten Free: Yes Sugar Content: N/A Size(s) available: 355ml (can) Availability: Shale Ridge Retail Store and Online Flavour: Lemon, tea and raspberry Colour: Transparent rose gold Carbonation: Small streaming bubbles

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Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Medium aroma. Herbal/black tea notes with some dessert apples. Jammy raspberry, no lemon.
Initial Taste: Light bite from carbonation, Dessert apple with a semi-dank tea element.  Dry with a hint of raspberry upfront.
After Taste: Apple dissipates and leaves a slightly more dry tea focus.  Muddled raspberry becomes more present in the aftertaste. Some lemon zest elements in the aftertaste that is somewhat long lingering.
On ice: Thinner, less raspberry and more tea like

Additional Notes:  The Shale Ridge’s Raspberry Lemon Verbena cider is alight and bright tea-infused offering. Starting off with herbal tea notes and dessert apples, a jammy raspberry becomes more present along with the tea in the aftertaste.  Not overly powerful so would compliment a meal or a midafternoon “tea-time” spread. Less raspberry on-ice.

Rated on a scale of 1-5
Sweet – 2.5
Sour – 3
Crisp – 2.5
Dry – 3.5
Fruity – 3.5

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Howell Rd – Raspberry Lemonade
More Sour – Stock & Row – Cold Tea
More Dry – Slabtown – Lemon Tea Cider
More Crisp – Thornbury  Raspberry Apple Cider

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