Gwynt y Ddraig Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy

After the everyone’s favourite the Black Dragon (see the review here) the Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy is another cider from this Welsh cider maker that I have the pleasure to sample. The Farmhouse Vintage Scrumpy has picked up a number of awards in the UK and Australia. 
Company: Gwynt y Ddraig Cider and Perry Company
Place of Origin: Pontypridd, Wales, UK
Apples: cider apples grown by traditional methods in ageing orchards
Sweetness as per label: medium
ABV: 5.3%
Package type: 500ml clear glass bottle with crown cap
Recommended type of glass: pint glass or flute

Appearance: pours a clear orange with no head. Low petillant-type carbonation. Body is medium.

Aroma/Nose: the aroma is dominated by sulphur, with notes of red apples in the background and caramel. This is all I picked up.

Taste: it begins with a high amount of caramel-like sweetness, which classifies this cider in my opinion rather as sweet than medium. The acidity level is low and lemon-like. Similarly as on the nose, a hint of sulphur with notes of red apple and apple juice. The finish has a low to moderate astringent taste with a refreshing note of crisp apple.

Overall: a sulphur note is not exactly my favourite flavour. Especially, if the sulphur flavour dominates the aroma, thus simply acting as a turn-off to me. The palate is much better than the nose overpowered by sulphur as it comes with a pleasant apple forward taste. But still, I can’t call this flavour not superb. In addition, I found the level of sweetness way too high to my liking. But again, if you don’t mind the sulphur flavour and you have a sweet tooth you may find this cider refreshing. Personally, I wouldn’t buy it again. 3/6

Availability: from their online shop. in the UK from BeerRitz, Dylans Wine, N.D. John Wine Merchants, Mumbles Fine Wine, Blas Ar Fwyd , CWM Deri, The Old Railway Line.In Finland from Alko.fi.  In Berlin from Hopfen & Malz. Online in Germany from Cider and More. in the Netherlands from Het Ciderhuis, Speciaalbierenwinkel.nl, Biernavigatie.

Price: purchased locally in Berlin from Hopfen & Malz at 3.5 EUR.

Henry Westons Perry Vintage 2014

Westons is the largest UK traditional cider brand selling million liters cider per year. You can find one of their ciders literally in almost every pub in the UK. You might have tried it already but you weren’t even aware of it. Does Stowford Press, Henry Westons Vintage Cider, Caple Rd Cider, Old Rosie, Mortimer’s Orchard or Wyld Wood Organic Cider sound familiar to you? I thought so. Henry Weston’s Perry Vintage 2014 comes from the crafted cider range Henry Weston’s Vintage Cider

Company: Westons Cider
Place of Origin: Much Marcle, Herefordshire, UK
Pears: pears grown in Herefordshire
ABV: 7.4%
Package type: 500 ml glass green bottle with crown cork
Recommended type of glass: pint glass

Appearance: pours a clear, golden yellow with a small white head, which quickly dissipates leaving a ring around the glass. Medium carbonation. Body is light.

Aroma/Nose: The aroma has perfume and floral notes, pear and interestingly apples with a distant vanilla touch.

Taste: it has a medium sweet and pear juice-like first sip with honey and gentle caramel notes. Also, an unpleasant sulphuric note appears for a second. The medium palate has ripe pears with quite intensive bitter taste. The finish is only a little bit dry with some minimal astringency. Despite ABV of 7.4% alcohol is well hidden. I can’t taste any acidity.

Overall: Henry Westons Perry 2014 Vintage is drinkable. If I were at a pub that wouldn’t sell proper cider I wouldn’t mind buying it again. But, to my palate, this perry is too sweet and not complex enough. It’s just ok. A small advice from me in case you bought a bottle of Henry Weston’s Perry. Don’t drink it straight after taking out of the refrigerator. Let it warm up a little as it will improve the overall taste impression. 3.5/6

Availability: Seems to be available through supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco at approx. 2.50 GBP. For the rest of Europe, mostly good beer shops as they usually sell also UK cider.

Price: purchased from Hopfen & Malz in Berlin at 4 EUR. If you are craving for nice UK cider you should pay them a visit.