46. Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select Hard Cider

"Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Select is our ultra-limited cider crafted in small batches for a rare taste of sweet, crisp apple cider combined with smoky, dry bourbon flavors.  Aged in genuine white oak Kentucky bourbon barrels, this copper-hued gem pairs excellently with cheese, pork roast and chocolate cake.  Served best at 50 degrees, Barrel Select is truly an exclusive joy to relish."

I had picked up two of these bad boys and hadn't had any cider for a while, so I thought I would crack one open.  With some venison stew on tap for dinner, I thought this would be a solid compliment for it.  The private reserve series is supposed to host their rarer brews.

There was little to no head.  No retention, no lacing.  No big deal, since after all, it's a hard cider and not a beer.  It looks like carbonated apple juice.  So if you know what apple juice looks like, there's your color.  The aroma was very pleasant.  Full of sweetness, filled with aromas of apples (duh), maple syrup, and bourbon.  

Now on to the taste.  I know woodchuck tends to be the sweeter of the ciders, but I forgot how sweet it can be.  This one is sweet.  Too sweet.  Maybe I've been drinking too much Crispin, I don't know.  Nevertheless, the apple, wood, and bourbon was evident in the cider.  Made for an interesting combination, but I'd have to think that the wood and bourbon would have shone through a bit more if the apple sweetness wasn't so overpowering.  I like the beer, and I'll drink the other barrel select that I have, but I hope the next iteration won't be so sweet.

Edit 1/2/14: I had the other barrel select cider and found the bourbon taste to be tremendous and potent.  The beer is still sweet, but the bourbon, vanilla, and oak flavors were much more pronounced and it made for a much better experience.  I guess my recommendation would be to let this beer sit for a while and let the bourbon flavors soak in.

Grade: C B

Price Paid: $1.99 (12 oz bottle)