COMPARATIVE LIT ESSAY:
If there is one thing Oregonians are proud of it is their beloved marionberries—a blackberry variety developed at Oregon State University. Any Oregonian will tell you this is the superior strand of blackberry. Right or wrong, tonight I have three blackberry ciders that are not merely blackberry, but all brag about being marionberry ciders. So how do these Pacific Northwest ciders breakdown:
Swift has the best nose that is rich and jammy, whereas Seattle’s nose is lighter, and Incline has an interesting hoppy lemongrass aroma. Seattle also has the lightest mouthfeel and a fresh blackberry taste. Even though the flavor profile only has one note, it does give you the clearest blackberry flavor of the three. Incline is the most complex of the three as it goes beyond tart blackberry and gives you an earthy sour taste. The flavor really builds in your mouth and intensifies all that is going on. Finally, Swift is the darkest and stillest (with a light-to-medium body though) and is the driest of the lot.
In choosing a winner, all are great, and I recommend all of them. Seattle is the lightest and fruitiest and if you’re looking for a sweet drink that has a straightforward blackberry taste, try this lighter cider that has a great balance of sweet and tart. It is the most refreshing of the three. The Incline is excellent and the most complex and interesting of the flight and would do well on a cold night sitting by the fire, when you still want something slightly sweet and tangy to accompany you after a long day. And this is especially the drink for you if you like sour beers. But, finally, my choice is the Swift Oregon Marionberry. I went with this cider not just because it is from Oregon and it may be sacrilegious to allow a Washingtonian win the marionberry contest—Marion County is in central Oregon after all and Washington is just trying to glam on to its success and name recognition—but because Swift has a natural simplicity that is still and very mildly earthy, it takes me away to the Cape Falcon trail in Oswald West State Park. There the thick blackberry bushes on either side of the path produce a planty fragrance and juicy ripe blackberries while the ocean mist gently reminds you you’re on the coast. It is not showy, but deep, rich and simple. A little taste of Oregon in a bottle. Cheers to Oregon. Cheers to the marionberry. And cheers to Swift for making an outstanding blackberry cider!