Sampled a couple of this years Sider variations this evening, and below are my tasting notes (as they stand at the moment!)
Brew 1 Demi 1 (added raisins) – soft, dry raisin flavour. Not too overpowering, takes the edge off the sharpness that the Sider tends to come out as.
Brew 1 Demi 2 (light brown muscovado sugar added) – Rich, dark, caramel colour. Nice strong, but soft flavour. Could be quite potent at around 8% abv!
Brew 1 Demi 5 (whisky oak chips added during secondary fermentation) – subtle hint of whisky both in odour and flavour, very tasty one!
Brew 2 Demi 1 (Cinnamon stick added to secondary fermentation) – nice light colour and odour, tastes a little sharp and not enough cinnamon flavour coming through yet (more cinnamon sticks added)
Brew 2 Bin 1 (larger quantity of whisky oak chips added during secondary fermentation) – strong whisky flavour and odour, but easy drinking. The oak chips have taken the edge off the sharpness that is sometimes present.
More to come when the latest batch of Sider has completed fermentation (currently bubbling away) and another taste of the cinnamon batch in a couple of weeks.
Bottling to take place soon on some of the above in the next week or so…