Orchard Gold

Gwynt y Ddraig Orchard Gold (4.9% ABV, 500ml). Deep, clear golden colour, tiny head. Rather wan yellow apple flavour, a wee hint of floral notes. Not much. Light to medium body, modest carbonation. Yellow apples, hints of lemon and very mild acidity on the palate. Moderate tannic bitterness toward the middle and finish, apple skins. Rather weak aftertaste with hints of apple skins. Not terribly fruity stuff, "neutral". 6/10.

Smooth session cider, sweet with a dry after taste. Quite earthy. Quite enjoyed it.

Nothing on the nose - but I have recently had Covid, so my sense of smell is only just returning. So maybe not an entirely fair assessment. Taste? It’s fairly sharp and quite tart, but there’s a softness there at the same time. There’s a balance in the flavour and it’s down the middle as medium cider (as it says on the label) with a dry aftertaste with a kick od bitterness. It’s nice. I like it. Could easily sink a few of these - although the tart, biting first blast may get a bit tiresome. Colour - it’s a lovely orange/bronze and looks terrific in the glass. There’s medium carbonation and it’s very welcome. It looks like alcoholic Irn Bru - and there’s a small hint of that in the aftertaste as well (Irn Bru is a soft drink made in Scotland, with girders, if you believe the 1980s UK TV commercials - it’s not, but we all loved it as an advert!). At 4.9%ABV it doesn’t pack the biggest punch and this too is welcomed as it’s nice to drink a lower ABV cider. It has a sharp, thin apple taste evoking red apple peel and zesty tartness with medium to light body. It’s unremarkable but very drinkable. You wouldn’t write a postcard about it, nor would you pour it down the sink. It’s highly drinkable, very pleasant and worth a punt as I’m sure some cider drinkers would give it a higher score, some lower. I’m going for 3/5 but only because I’ve had better - and - I’ve had worse.

Transparent gold colour with medium carbonation. Pleasent apple aroma, hint of floral notes. Initially sweet with crisp bitter apple flavours coming in at the end with a drop of acidity. Really pleasent cider but not mind blowing. Bought at Woodlake Park GC. It was especially refreshing after 18 holes.

Orchard gold from Gwynt y Ddraig is a glorious golden medium cider full of traditional farmhouse character. It's smooth balanced flavours of fresh crisp apple ignites the taste buds leaving a tangy, earthy astringency to its finish.

Orange coloured, clear with moderate fizz. Light but sharp apple aroma. Flavour is earthy and meaty. I think a still version of this would be very nice.

Copper orange, with a fresh aroma of fruit and skin. Tangy apple flavour, with little aftertaste. Not much depth or complexity, but a really nice, refreshing flavour. Very sessionable, and I could happily sink a few of these in the pub.