The Beer Chronicles Continue: Anthem’s Hops Cider

I know, I know, it’s a cider, not a beer. But ever since I got wind about a cider made with hops, I have been dying to try it. And, since Anthem’s Cherry Cider is the most popular hit out of all of the beer I’ve covered, I felt it was necessary to review this one as well. That my excuse — I’m doing it for the people!

Ahem.

Anyways. I’ve mentioned that I love hoppy beers. I especially love the season when many Oregon micro breweries do their “fresh hopped” beers. These tend to be less bitter and more herbaceous and floral than their regular run-of-the-mill counterparts. While this cider is dry hopped, not fresh, I still held on to the hope that the palate might be similar. I was also hoping it would blow me away — which Anthem’s cherry version failed to do.

Let’s just say, as visions of apples and hops danced in my head, I was pretty anxious to open this bottle!

The Beer Chronicles Continue: Anthem Cherry Cider

I bought this bottle without reading the label and up until the moment I opened it I thought I had bought a cherry sour beer. Then I took a closer look at the label — oh, a cider! Well, I’m not one to turn down alcohol (except whiskey perhaps) and a cider certainly sounded quenching, so I rolled with it. I was also very curious because I realized this label is produced by Wandering Aengus, a local cider producer. The Salem-based company is very well-known in town and I’ve often bought their ciders at the Farmer’s Markets.