I have had a few ciders for review on this site. Some have been
very good, but some
not so much, and
hibiscus has been seen and was a terrible effort. I will not let those or the
cherry issues deter me from trying this beverage that was thoughtfully provided to me by my eldest brother. He made up some reason that he was sending it, but I suspect he just likes the beer he sent and wants me to try it - no other reason needed.
It definitely smells unexpectedly like a proper adult beverage. I thought it would be more cherry smelling than it is, given that the color is that of Cherokee Red, a cherry soda I remember having at the Little League ball park either before or after my team lost (I was never very good at most sports). Instead, the aroma is more like wine made from cherries. There's no head to speak of. I was afraid when I got this in the mail that the cap was not seated correctly, as the inside of the box definitely had remnants of Cherried Away spread around, but it had carbonation like a thin soda when I poured it, so it's not flat.
First sip is sour as all get out. It says "sour cherry" right on the label, but I don't usually read much past the name when I review them. They aren't messing about, either. That is so sour that it overwhelms the rest of the taste. I'm not saying it's bad - it's clearly been formulated to bring out that sour taste. Maybe the beverage as a whole will balance out a little. Time for a swig.
Tip-in is unexpectedly sweet like cherry juice. The middle comes along with the floral taste from the hibiscus giving an interesting, almost malty taste with a syrup hitting the back of the throat smoothly and carbonation flicking at the tongue the whole way down. When the finish comes, it hits with the sour cherries that seem to overwhelm the mouth. A sweetness lays on the lips as the sour melts away.
It's a good beverage. I'm not sure I would opt for it over a more traditional beer on most nights, but it would be nice to break up the monotony of barley beverages.
3.75/5