West Avenue – Wild Oak

Cider Profile:

Name: West Avenue – Wild Oak Barrel Fermented Heritage
Sampled September 2022

Cider Crate Tasting Notes:

Smell: Strong aroma. Pungent heritage apples. Hint of crab. Fermentation and oak. Acetic.
Initial Taste: Medium bite from acidity. Crab and heritage apple notes. Some sharp tannins and fermentation notes. Some sourness/pungency/acetic elements.
After Taste: Cider becomes smoother and the body creamier. Acidity dwindles, as do tannins. Soft vanilla and oak notes emerge. A hint of lemon and orange marmalade.
On ice: Bolder/harsher elements very reduced. More creamy apple throughout.

Additional Notes:  West Avenue’s Wild Oak is a very bold cider that is quite the journey for the palate. It starts off with very sharp and intense elements – tannins, fermentation, sourness, acetic and pungency. A lot of heritage and maybe even crab apples here (sure tastes like it). It then in the aftertaste becomes a very different cider – bolder elements dwindle, while the apples become creamier. Vanilla and oak notes emerge, probably from the barreling process. Citrus notes are also noticeable at the finish. If too sharp or intense for you, try on ice, it helps reduce the upfront elements a lot.  

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

Next recommendations:
More Sweet – Niagara Cider – Maple Whisky Oak Aged Cider
More Sour – 
More Dry – 
More Crisp – Ernest – Oaked Rose Cider

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