Craft CIDER Review: Arsenal Cider, Fighting Elleck

I always loved the the idea of the Cider House named Dickens!  For today's craft beer CIDER review I'm sipping on a local cider, made with local apples, that was hand delivered by the brewer in 1/6 barrels right to my door!

That's right! Bill Larkin of Arsenal Cider House in Lawrenceville, PA personally drove up 2 sixtels of fresh hard cider, straight to my door following a visit I made to their house just 2 weeks prior! My Brew-nette lover, Emily Kate, is a die hard for good cider and while we were on a date night to see one of our favorite musicians perform a solo acoustic show, I made sure to treat her to a buffet of glassware filled with excellent local cider.  


Im enjoying an 8oz pour on tap of a 8% ABV hard cider known as Fighting Elleck. And it will be waiting for you at The Stone House

It poured a very pale, straw color with bubbles dancing up and down the center of the liquid.  It had a very spritzy, soda like head that puffs and falls rapidly.

The nose provides that of tart Braeburn apples with hints of golden raisin and honeysuckle. There are also touches of fresh cut grass, like that of a New Zealand Sauv Blanc and yeasty essences.

The flavor was very similar and resembled that of a champagne, but with fresh local, hand pressed apples.  Bright, refreshing, grassy, and biscuit are the prominent features. It is hard to decide if this falls into the semi-sweet or the off-dry category, but Im going with semi-sweet. The combination was fresh and quenching. 

The mouthfeel was light bodied.  Fresh, crisp, tart.  The carbonation was mild and right for the style.  The finish on the cider can be lengthy and left the mouth watering and puckered.


I'll be sure to share some findings more often and as always, Drink Good America! And for additional fun with beer, food and service, be sure to check out the other blog with Hunt Chef and I

Click, BOOM!
- AGtheDir