Farmgate – Wild Apple Cider [Bar Lupulus – Ottawa]

Sampled January 2018

 A super hot spot on the Wellington West strip – that we have always have to get reservations at or risk waiting a while for a table, is the newly opened Bar Lupulus. With a large collection of very rare beers, plus extremely unique and quality food offerings, make this Ottawa hot spot a place to get too if you are in the area.

One of the core values of Bar Lupulus is supporting local beverage makers as much as possible. As part of this, it was the first place for Carp’s newest cider startup – Farmgate Cider – to be available on draught at a bar. Their Wild Apple Cider is a fermented organic drink at 7% AVB.  It’s a clear, deep-golden colour with fine, semi-streaming bubbles. It has an extra strong smell which is very musty with a lot of sulfur notes. It also has a pretty strong vinegar-like smell from the acidity.

Initially, there is a medium bite from acidity and carbonation. It has strong must and depth with very noticeable vinegar notes, similar to the smell. There are barreling elements present, and it has some grape/aging white wine must noticeable. The aftertaste has lingering vinegar-acidic notes – with the apple flavours become more obvious on the pallet. Its quite dry and long lingering overall.

In summary, it’s a front forward cider. Very deep at first and becomes more shallow in flavour intensity into the aftertaste. A lot of competing flavours at first and it almost has an iced cider/wine feel and taste as it finishes. Looking forward to sampling more Farm Gate and seeing them hopefully at more Ottawa bars and restaurants soon. You can find them every Sunday at the Ottawa Farmers Market with bottles to buy until then.

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