Opre’

I tried two ciders from Slovakian cider maker Opre’: regular and Metzen. They are hard to find – I finally found some at 100 piv craft beer bar & shop, Medená 33, Bratislava.

The regular cider is made from 100% apple juice. Bright yellow colour and light fresh apple bouquet. Full flavour with slight apple skin notes. Semi-sweet at first finishes drier. 4.7% ABV. My rating 7.5/10.

Metzen has a medium yellow colour like Chardonnay and a dry old apple bouquet. Taste is dry with a light old apple taste with a little tannic finish. A little too old apple for me. ABV 7.0%. My rating 6.5/10.

From their website:

"We have made this unprecedented Slovak apple cider Opre' Metzen Cider from apple fruits of exceptional yet old varieties, which are rare to find nowadays. Fermentation of 100 % apple juice in an honest craft way created a 7 % dry cider. Metzen will enchant lovers of straight cider without any flavours. Its name comes from an ancient legend in which the brave Matilda (or Metzen) knocked down a local dragon. Best served chilled."

Stari Lisac

This Croatian cider is made by a company part of the Heineken group. This might explain its very commercial formula and taste.

Tried it at The Beertija Bar in Zagreb. Stari Lisac means old fox. Deep yellow like an oaked Chard. Strong apple bouquet. Slightly artificial taste and semi-sweet. Finishes with sweet apple. Not pure cider - 1st ingredient is water. Made by Heineken or a subsidiary. 4.5% ABV. My rating 6/10.

Aspall Pip & Wild Sparkling Cyder

Had in Zagreb, looks to be bottled in Croatia but part of Aspall UK (see label). Pale yellow colour; bouquet is artificial apple like Sommersby. Taste is like apple candy, sweetness is 7/10. Aftertaste is mostly sweetness. 4.0% ABV. My rating 5/10.

Malner Bora

Tried in Sir William’s Pub, Ljubljana. Pale yellow colour like a Chardonnay. Bouquet is light slightly musty old apple. Taste is intially medium sweet with medium apple then finishes drier and quite good aftertaste. 5.9% ABV. My rating 7/10.

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