Rev. Nat's Hard Cider
Grade: 89 B+
New Moon Mandarin is fairly translucent with a fair amount of bubbles and a muted gold color. There is a nice bright bouquet in the nose with honey as the most dominate aroma. Like most of Rev. Nat’s ciders, this develops in phases. First you get this smooth mouthfeel of soft honey followed by an acidic apple mid-note which then turns to the tangy citrus flavor of the mandarin oranges. It is a fairly dry cider with plenty of flavor, and each of the unique characteristics gel together nicely. With Rev. Nat’s you feel you always get a polished cider as he is expert in bringing together unique flavors while giving each their time in the spotlight.
On an overland to the Tien Shan mountains in Northwest China, I checked into in a hostel in a village along the Xingzi River. Having lost my diary a week before during a sudden retreat from a bar, I was unaware of the impending New Year’s celebration. Never one to miss a party, I proceeded to nocturnal wandering and firecracker watching, passing decorated doorways draped in red. I became hopelessly lost as the invisible New Moon rose in the small hours, but awoke at Dawn on a snug park bench to find that a reveler had left, atop my satchel at my head, a red envelope containing six gold coins and one radiant Mandarin orange. Upon my return to America I set about working with this orange, ever fickle and not one upon which many fermentative discoveries have been published. Eventually I determined that a combination of juice and zest, with a hint of chamomile flower, create a flavor so unusual that it had to be shared. I hope you enjoy this cider as much as I do.
Oranges in the Pacific Northwest?