Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
Angry Orchard Cider Co., Cincinnati
angryorchard.com
Hard cider can be a confusing beverage to pinpoint.

Cider is apple juice, though the general thought seems to be that real cider is not pasteurized and contains no outside sugars. Hard cider is even trickier. Since it is fermented apple juice, it seems that it would naturally be classified as wine -- a fermented beverage made from fruit.

However, some states have strict definitions as to what is hard cider and wine. Under some laws, a fermented apple beverage with less than a 7% alcohol content is hard cider; above that, it's classified as wine. Some industry people say adding sugar to produce a higher alcohol content separates a hard cider from apple wine. Those are good enough boundaries for me.

I've had a number of ciders in bottles and on tap from the United States, England and Canada, and I can't say they floated my boat.

Most were well made, but my personal tastes got in the way. No. 1, apples are not at the top of my

Some people look forward to spring because of the warmer temperatures and blossoming flowers and trees. I look forward to it because I know Bob will be returning to Wisconsin from a winter stint in Arizona with some barley treats from the Twisted Pine brewery.

Bob's friend, Wisconsin native Bill Marshall, co-owns the Colorado brewery with Bob Baile. They have introduced a number of unique and/or quality beers, such as Hoppy Boy, Billy's Chillies, Sacred Spice Chai Porter and Ghost Face Killah.

The 22-ounce La Petite Saison compares favorably with the Belgian and French offerings of the style. Its light color and body, and prominent but delicate malt flavor, reflects the pilsner and white wheat malt grains that form its base. It has a fruity, citrusy aroma, solid mouthfeel, slight sweetness, nice coriander spice notes and a refreshing dry and crisp finish with a bite from the Perle, Saaz and Williamette hops.

A more unique Twisted Pine beer, but limited only to Colorado, is the 750 ml West Bound Braggot, which, although called a braggot, tastes and drinks like a saison and includes orange blossom honey, buddha's hand and Tasmanian pepper berries.

Braggot is a malt-honey beverage dating back to medieval times. There are no hard and fast rules to the percentage of ingredients. It may or may not contain spices and/or hops, and can have as much as 80% malt.

Marshall said that West Bound is about 35% to 40% honey and a saison yeast is used. It's a far cry from the thick and heavy braggots I am used to.

The honey gives it a huge floral and orange aroma, accompanied by lemon rind from the Buddha's hand, a southeast Asian fruit without much flesh or juice. The rind is used for zest and the fruit is hung in rooms as a fragrance.

It adds a sharp, tangy lemon taste to the beer, while still allowing the saison characteristics to come through. The pepper berries provide a touch of spiciness in the background. It's a delicious beer.

Current distribution of Twisted Pine is in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Nebraska and Texas; West Bound is only available in Colorado.