Review: Woodchuck Cheeky Cherry and Gumption Hard Cider
It’s time for two new ciders from Vermont-based Woodchuck. Here they are.
Woodchuck Cheeky Cherry Hard Cider – Fresh apple melds with tart, sour cherry notes in this surprisingly balanced cider, which offers nothing unexpected aside from those two simple notes — apple to start, cherry to finish — but which drinks more like a grown-up soda than a typical cider. That said, it’s one of the better ciders I’ve experienced in recent memory thanks to its vibrant fruitiness. 5.5% abv. B+
Woodchuck Gumption Hard Cider – This cider, named in honor of an old-timey drink that P.T. Barnum pushed on his crowds, pairs dry and bittersweet cider apples with fresh apple juice from common “snack apples.” The result is a sweeter cider than most, a fresh-tasting brew that starts with some sweet caramel notes, moves into classic, tart cider character, then finishes with a touch crisp Granny Smith bite. Again, this has a nice balance — but of a much different sort than Cheeky Cherry — offering a kind of tour of the apple universe and a pleasantly summery finish. 5.5% abv. A-
each $9 per six-pack / woodchuck.com
Woodchuck Gumption Hard Cider
$9
I like hard cider and this looks like another one that I need to try. I have tried most of the flavors and this looks like another good one!!!!
Christopher you’re mistaken what you say gumption something PT Barnum, “pushed on his crowds.” Gumption is: Shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness.
PT Barnum had this in abundance but he used it to entertain and increase his business to push it on his patrons.
Mr. Spooky – Sorry, I was a bit unclear there. Per Woodchuck, “P.T. Barnum once noted, “everybody drank cider-spirits called ‘gumption’.”” He pushed an actual cider called gumption that was named, presumably, in honor of shrewd or spirited initiative. So they say.
For some reason I wasn’t a huge fan of Gumption, although it wasn’t bad at all…I just like the regular Amber better, and even that isn’t top of my list. I’m also not too crazy about cherry cider. My favorite Woodchuck varieties are Winter, Barrel Select, and Summer (and Spring, which is no longer made). Their last Out on a Limb release, Oopsy Daisy, was also quite good!