Stonewell Medium Dry

This second Stonewell is labelled medium dry but is not really that sweet compared to most medium-dry ciders. Very light apple-must bouquet with an excellent apple flavour that finishes a little drier. Again, a first class product. 9/10

Stonewell also make a non-alcoholic cider. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks very promising considering the complexity of the production process. From their website:

"Traditionally we’ve been an alcoholic beverage maker, namely cider. So in order for to us to produce a non-alcoholic beverage we’ve had to go back to the drawing board and return to our studies to find out what was the best way to square this circle. Instead of simply trying to make a concoction with fresh apple juice, we opted for the more complex route of removing alcohol from a normal cider.
We fermented a cider using typical bittersweet apples. Once fermented we then used a process of osmosis, or to be precise reverse osmosis to extract the alcohol from the cider. This leaves a lot of the characteristics created by the fermentation process but with the added bonus that there’s no alcohol. At this stage of the process the cider is still “dry” in other words contains no sweetness, so to finish off this blend we add a small amount of apple juice which broadens the mouthfeel and brings a delightful fresh fruit aroma.
Stonewell 0% is a refreshing alternative for all those looking to avoid the sickly sweet mocktails or fizzy rock shandys at a social occasion."

Stonewell Medium Dry

Stonewell 0%

Stonewell Dry

Bright yellow with a light bouquet, this award winning cider from Ireland is a winner. They note that theirs is a pure cider with no additives. Nicely dry and smooth with excellent apple flavour. Probably one of the best I have tasted. 9.5/10

From the bottle label: "Originally handcrafted in this farmhouse [in image on label] built in 1912 our Irish Farmhouse Cider is made with apples picked from trees planted 100 years ago in Co. DOwn. Using a traditional rack and cloth press this unique cider is made from pure juice. Later we blend in the sweet juice from late season eating apples to our fermented cider to give you a fresh apple finish. Suitably chilled our fresh Irish Farmhouse Cider is enjoyed on any occasion."

Orchard Thieves Wild

This is supposedly the drier version of the standard Orchard Thieves that I have tried, but it is still off-dry. I tried this at Toner's Pub in Dublin and it was the landlord who said it was the drier version. Light yellow colour like Chardonnay with a slightly floral bouquet. The taste is initially sweet but finishes drier. Considering that this is their "dry" version, I still find it a little sweeter than I like. 6.5/10

Rockshore

A Guinness brand of cider that I had on tap at the King's Head pub in Dublin. It is pale yellow like a chardonnay and the bouquet of apple must (pleasant). Taste is initially off-dry but finishes a little lighter with a very light tannic feel. A hint of pear in the aftertaste though it is made with only apples. Sweeter than I like but quite good. 7/10

KW Wild Cherry Craft Cider

A new offering from KW with the only flavour of cider that I usually try. Of the cherry flavoured ciders I've tried this has the lightest cherry taste. A reddish-burnt-orange colour with a very light cherry bouquet. The taste is initially light cherry and a slight astringency that is lightly sweet, finishing with light cherry and slightly drier.

Ironwood Cider House Classic Dry

From Niagara-on-the-Lake comes this slightly off-dry cider with a pale amber colour and light bouquet. The taste is pleasant with a medium apple taste with a off-dry aftertaste. 7.5/10