Feeling kind of autumnally festive, Dan samples Left Bank Ciders Wild Duchess, a native yeast cider made from a unique apple variety.
Left Bank Ciders Wild Duchess
STYLE: Natural Apple Cider
INGREDIENTS: Duchess of Oldenburg apples harvested mid-season; fermented in stainless steel with native yeast
ABV: 8.0%
AVAILABILITY: 750ml bottles, Draft (Limited)
Stats above taken from the brewery’s bottle.
Appearance
Super clear and light yellow/golden in appearance.
Aroma
The native yeast gives this a bit more of an Asturian cider feel, with notes of straw, a bit of funk, after the spiced, bright fruit character hits your palate.
Taste
Sweet apple meets a binding acidity for great balance with a hint of funk and a tannic note/structure behind it all.
Mouthfeel
Residual carbonation enhances the mouthfeel, and when moved around one’s mouth, the effervescence flows back.
Overall
This is definitely my kind of cider, since it blends acidity and funkiness along with a great expression of the unique apple’s qualities. Not sure how mid-season picking compares on the sugar/acid balance, but would love to know. I think this would be a festive choice on the afternoon before your autumn or Thanksgiving dinner.
Cheers and remember:
Life’s a tap…drink up ’til it’s dry.
All music on this show came to us from the now defunct Music Alley.
Intro: “Meet Me At The Bar” by The Beer Drinking Fools
Outtro: “Bubblegum and Beer” by The Supersuckers
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS