Maker Notes
Research and development (but with cider!)
Why notes?
Taste, of course, is a highly subjective thing. But cider making is an art and a science. Cider apples have unique flavor characteristics - which for nerds like us - are worth noting, helping expand our appreciation and enjoyment of each cultivar. Tasting notes can also identify how apples respond to growing conditions – helping us make better, more delicious choices in how and where to grow varietals. This library details nearly every cider we’ve made since 2019, using a common “spider chart” format ranking 18 criteria ranging from basics like sweetness, tartness and astringency to how each cider recalls other fruit and spice categories. Members of our Core Club receive copies of these with each shipment, along with a crib sheet providing background on how we define our criteria - making it easy and fun for fans to compare their experiences with ours.
Use the search tools below to explore the archive, noting batch numbering for each release, wherein the first digit(s) represent product sequence followed by abbreviated year of release. Above all, enjoy cider!
Crimson Gold
Reserve Series | Batch C.24
A main ingredient in our Sixpenny cider, Crimson Gold (a.k.a. Little Rosy-bloom) is a close cousin to the famous Wickson crabapple. This example presents quince, pineapple, green grape and apricot notes, soft tannins and creamy, honeysuckle overtones. Could it pass as a dry white wine (Albariño, perhaps)? We think so.
Core Club 2024 Q1 Selection
Wickson Crab
American Singles Series | Batch 1.22
Patented in 1944 by famed pomologist Albert Etter, Wickson Crabapples are among a very few cider varietals developed in post-Prohibition America. This stellar example presents grape, pineapple, lychee and honey notes, with a white pepper and mildly tannic finish.
General Release
Crimson Gold
Reserve Series | Batch 3.22
Close cousin to the Etter-developed Wickson, plum-sized Crimson Gold crabapples offer honeysuckle and tropical aromas; this example presents Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, apricot and custard on the tongue, underlaid with soft tannins and hints of allspice.
Core Club 2022 Q1 Selection
Wickson Crab
Reserve Series | Batch 1.22
One of pomologist Albert Etter's finest creations, Wickson crabapples (introduced in 1944) were developed with west coast conditions in mind. True to form, this delicious cider exhibits a balance of green apple, white grape, honeysuckle and dried apricot notes.
Core Club 2022 Q1 Selection
Crimson Gold
Reserve Series | Batch 03.21
Close cousin to the Wickson, plum-sized Crimson Gold crabapples offer honeysuckle and tropical aromas; ours expresses ripe pineapple, apricot and Meyer lemon on the tongue, underlaid with hints of allspice.
Core Club 2021 Q1 Selection
Whiskey Wickson
Reserve Series | Batch 02.21
This Wickson cider finished with high ABV and around 2.8% residual sugar, making it naturally semi-sweet. Aged in one of our Raven Oak barrels, we taste honey, pineapple and pear flavors, backed by mild whiskey notes.
Core Club 2021 Q1 Selection
Wickson Crabapple
Reserve Series | Batch 05.20
One of pomologist Albert Etter's finest creations, Wickson crabapples (introduced in 1944) were developed with west coast conditions in mind. True to form, this cider exhibits a bright, spicy character with green apple, nectarine, lemongrass and stone fruit notes.
Core Club 2020 Q3 Selection
Sixpenny
Craft Series | Batch 1.20
Refreshing all-American apple blend, featuring Crimson Gold applecrabs (a.k.a. 'Little Rosybloom'), a plum-sized, close cousin of Albert Etter's famous Wickson Crab. This batch, including American cultivars from Bishops' Orchard, expresses floral aromas with crisp pineapple, quince, nectarine and honey flavors.
General Release