Wickson Crabapple

Wickson Crabapple by Snow Capped Cider is being judged according to BJCP category C1A, New World Ciders. These ciders are usually made with table-culinary apples, sometimes blended with bittersharp and/or tannic varieties/crabapples to provide acid, tannins and diverse, complex flavors.

The cider is presented in tall and tapered glass at 50 F. The color is a brilliant bright gold with outstanding clarity and modest but steady outgassing.

The nose is also bright and fruity with a complex array of apple notes: some light sweetness, some earthiness and a hint of spice. It has a lovely light-buttery sweet apple note reminiscent of sweating that provides the body to the lightly acidic/carbonic and faintly spicy-white pepper from the ferment that complement well. It has a super clean, crisp and fairly dry nose overall. Really nice.

The flavor mirrors the aroma, but adds a number of angular features to the tight and dry package: bright crisp fresh apple notes early with a complex light spiciness and very light tannin note that melds almost perfectly with the lingering fruitiness and limited residual sweetness that keeps the cider from being overly dry. While the fresh apple fruit flavor is less sweet than detected in the nose, the fruit backbone of the flavor profile still shines top to bottom, with the long and well-balanced dry finish demonstrating both some old-world and new-world character. The conditioning is well into the sparkling range, which makes the cider exceedingly refreshing. Low to moderate mouthfeel adds to the drinkability and overall approachable character. Said another way, its relatively low apparent alcohol and lovely bright fruitiness make this cider one easily drank by the pint.

In sum, this is an excellent dry and sparkling New World cider with brightness and directness of fruit at the forefront, with excellent acidity and mild tannins that make for a great example of the style. Simply delicious.