Ramborn Hopped Cider Cascade 2016

Hopped Cider is becoming a thing also in Europe now. Started a while ago in the US, now hopped cider is becoming more and more in demand from consumers also in “the Old Continent”. Following this trend, Ramborn created a cider with Cascade hops.

Cascade hops were discovered in the 1960ties in Oregon as USDA 56013 but released only in 1972 when import prices of noble hops from Germany went to the roof due to a hop disease. Cascade is the hop that gave rise to the craft beer movement in the US and is one of the most popular hops among craft brewers.  Company: Ramborn Cider Co.
Place of Origin: Born, Luxembourg
Ingredients: local apples and Cascade hops from Oregon (US)
Sweetness as per label: medium dry
ABV: 7.4%
Package type: 330ml clear glass bottle with crown cap
Recommended type of glass: pint glass, white wine glass or snifter

Appearance: pours a clear golden with amber hues and a tiny short-lived white head. Almost no carbonation. Body is low to medium.

Aroma/Nose: the nose is not rich, but quite powerful with notes of elderflower, pear and green notes and hay.

Taste: my first taste is medium dry, medium acidity, smoky note, low to medium astringency, lemon, elderflower, crisp red apple and green apple. it finishes dry with a distant bitter note and a touch of green or unripe apple.

Overall: Ramborn’s Hopped Cascade is a definitely rich cider with depth and structure. But I must agree with Cider Says who reviewed Ramborn’s Hopped Cider a few months back. Indeed, this is a pleasant cider but doesn’t stand out like some of the ciders from the Ramborn’s range such as the Original, Farmhouse of Erbachhofer. The influence of hops is slightly stronger, the flavour of cider is much less noticeable. Perhaps not dominating, but still powerful. Long story short, for me there is not enough apple in this cider. But I think that those who like their cider hopped will be more than satisfied.  4/6

Availability: all over Luxembourg. In Germany from The Hop Shop Trier. In the Netherlands from CiderCider. In Italy from Sidro&Cider. In the UK through Crafty Nectar.

Price: Hopped Cider Cascade 2016 was a sample provided by Adie from Ramborn Cider Co.