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The Hills Cider; Apple

Australian; 5% Alcohol Content.

$3 (AUD); Corker's Cellars (East Victoria Park, WA)

Ah-ha!  The cider quest continues!

The Hills Cider; Apple (THCA) is almost too crisp in its apple taste; it almost causes you to wince with each sip.  With that said, THCA is a pretty good pick!  It has good carbonation levels and the sharp sourness of the apple taste is balanced with the sweetness of the cider.

Rating 8.3

Cida Numba 96

Organic Etienne Dupont.  Cidre Bouche' Brut de Normandie

French; 4.5% Alcohol Content.

$18.99 (AUD); Dan Murphy's (Kelmscott, WA)

Sadly, I think that this might be my final cider review.  I have just not been able to find other hard apple ciders and I only have a few days left in 2011.  Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in the final four, but it's not looking good...

Well; this cider smells scrumpy, but only has a scrumpy aftertaste.  There is certainly some pleasantness in the initial apple flavors, but it is lacking in the high carbonation and sharpness of my favorite ciders.  Neat because it's organic, French, and comes in champagne bottle... but that's about it.

Rating 7.1

Cider 95

Batlow Premium Cider

Australian; 5.5% Alcohol Content.

$5.50 (AUD); Camperdown Cellars (Darlinghurst, NSW)

Batlow Premium Cider almost tastes as bad as a scrumpy cider; there's not much sweetness or carbonation; not quite as bitter as scrumpy, but still not a great cider.

Rating 6.9

Cider 94!

Samuel Smith's Cider

English; 5% Alcohol Content.

$9 (AUD); Camperdown Cellars (Darlinghurst, NSW)

There is a subtle sweetness in this smooth, mildly carbonated cider.  Samuel Smith's Cider has a taste that is not common, but with that said, it still is not a special cider.

Rating 7.2

The 93rd Cider

Fat Ass Scrumpy

New Zealand; 9% Alcohol Content.

$9.99 (AUD); Cellabrations (Kings Cross, NSW)

This is a pretty typical scrumpy... vinegar overtones, somewhat bitter, sour apple taste.  However, as Cate says, "Not the worst scrumpy I've ever had."  With that said, a litre of cider for ten dollars is a great deal... if you like scrumpy ciders, but as you know, I don't.

Rating 6.9

#92

Bilpin Original Cider

Australian; 4.7%

$4.99 (AUD); Cellabrations (Kings Cross, NSW)

This is a GREAT cider!  Good balance between all of the sweetness, sharpness, carbonation and sourness that a wonderful cider experience encompasses.  This cider company was established this year, so if you can find Bilpin, go get it and enjoy!

Rating 8.7

Cider Ninety One

Custard Scrumpy Cider

Australian; 6% Alcohol Content.

$4.99 (AUD); Corker's Cellars (East Victoria Park, WA)

When I purchased this cider, the shop attendant asked me if I had tried it before.  I told him that I had not, but I was familiar with scrumpy ciders.  He replied that this was not like British scrumpies; it was unique.  He was correct.  While this cider maintains the characteristic bitter. apple-vinegar essence of the scrumpy cider, there's a pleasant spiced apple cider feeling as well.

Rating 7.3