88 and Eighty- Nine.

Elephant's Rock Cider Company: Apple Cider and Sweet Cider

Australian; 6.5% Alcohol Content.

$5 (AUD); The Toffee Factory and a Bit on the Side (Denmark, WA)

The 'Apple Cider' is a bit on the scrumpy side, maybe even just downright bitter and vinegaresque. A let down. Rating 6.9

The 'Sweet Apple Cider' is still more bitter than I would prefer, but as expected, sweeter than the apple cider. Somehow, the sweet apple cider is very smooth, but in an unpleasant way. I don't like this one either. Rating 6.9

Cider Number Eighty- Seven

Cidre De Normandie Brut Dry Dumanoir

French; 4.5% Alcohol Content.

$11.99 (AUD); Dan Murphy's (Kelmscott)

An interesting cider; I thought the scent was unpleasant initially, almost scrumpy, but the taste was nice. Not much carbonation and the taste is a little scrumpy, but it's not bad. An acceptable drink, but sadly, nothing special.

Rating 7.2

86

Cidrerie d' Anneville Cidre Doux Variete Binet Rouge

French; 2.5% Alcohol Content.

$16.99 (AUD); Dan Murphy's (West Perth, WA)

Fancy bottle. Low alcohol. Apple juice with a bit of carbonation. That's it.

Rating 8.2

Number 85.

5 Seeds Cloudy Apple Cider

Australian; 5% Alcohol Content.

$2.99 (AUD); Dan Murphy's (Kelmscott, WA)

Upon discovering this cider in the depths of a Dan Murphy's shelf, I was instantly consumed by an inner conflict. 5 Seeds is one of my favorite ciders, but generally, I hate cloudy apply ciders; 5 Seeds Cloudy Apple Cider (5SCAC) is obviously both; my greatest enemy and closest friend, all in one cleverly marketed bottle. As for the cider itself, 5SCAC is a good pick; it still retains most of the crispness of the original 5 Seeds while reducing the carbonation levels and adding a richer apple taste (no doubt courtesy of the apple detritus that make 5SCAC 'cloudy'). I cannot really complain about this cider; if you liked the original 5 Seeds, you should like this too, but because it's cloudy, you can give yourself a pseudo-organic-product-supporter pat on the back.

Rating 9.2

The Eighty Fourth Cider

Thatchers Katy Rose

English; 5.4% Alcohol Content.

$11.95 (AUD); The Re Store (Leederville, WA)

Thatchers Katy Rose (TKR) is singular amongst ciders for several reasons. For starters, TKR is a rose' cider, I have never seen or heard of such a thing, yet, here we are. I can't quite put my finger on taste either, it's almost weak; maybe I'm just expecting a rose' wine... actually, I think that's what we have here. A weak rose' wine with apple overtones and a nice amount of bubbly. Certainly interesting, but not a great cider.

Rating 6.9

Cider #83

Ecusson Normandie Brut

French; 5% Alcohol Content.

$9.99 (AUD); Dan Murphy's (West Perth, WA)

Like sparkling apple cider (ie; Martinelli's) except instead of being super sweet and delicious (and non-alcoholic), Ecusson's is slightly scrumpy leaving a bit of an aftertaste. Not terrible, but not great either.

Rating 7.1